Thanks once again to all of those who supported the John Michael Talbot Concert, which provided a wonderful evening of prayer and music for all who attended. Ticket sales and donations also provided approximately $3000 that will go towards furnishing the first preschool classroom. Painting of the school building has begun and is being organized by Terri Kevil and Mike Launius. Parishioner and artist Deb Conroy will be working with a team to paint murals in the school building hallway and classrooms. Work on the school building will be continuing over the next year so that the space can be made more beautiful for all of our religious education students and others who will use the facility. We will continue grant writing and fundraising for remaining start-up costs in order to be able to open the preschool next year. Total start-up costs are estimated to be $25,000, so the first $3000 puts us on our way to achieving this necessary goal.
Much work still needs to be done, not only in terms of fundraising but in terms of overall planning and oversight. Several important things are underway in this regard. First of all, Jim Japczyk has joined the Preschool Committee to help with financial planning for the preschool. Here are his comments so far:
"The majority of budgeted start-up costs have been identified. The operating budget expenses have also been identified, and will be finalized upon completion of the operating revenue budget. The revenue budget is the most important element of the Preschool operating budget, and will require additional analysis to determine the proper tuition price point that will result in acceptable operating results."
Secondly, our Preschool Committee will soon be converting to a Preschool Board with working committees. We have been working with the Office for Catholic Schools to learn more about school board formation and we will be establishing a discernment process to identify members soon. If you are interested in serving on the school board or on a committee, please call the parish office with your contact information. Third, Pete DiCianni is developing our marketing plan and we will be looking for others to help with these efforts.
Another very important step taking place at this stage is planned for next Sunday, October 29, after the 10:30 morning Mass. At this time, we want to engage interested parishioners, especially those who are parents of young children, in helping us evaluate work done thus far in areas of mission and vision, educational philosophy, cost factors, materials design, etc.
Letters have gone out to registered parishioners known to have young children. The invitation is being reprinted here so that you can share it with other young families you may know in Elmhurst and the surrounding area.
If anyone has questions about preschool planning, please feel free to contact me. I am aware that we are living by faith and not by sight at this point, since we still have to raise the remainder of our start-up costs for this preschool to become a reality. However, we are reaching out to alumni of the school who have longed to see our classrooms reopened for Catholic education and we are hoping for additional income from grant writing and other fundraising. Most of all, we are hoping to expand upon the mission of the church with this new ministry of outreach and evangelization to young families. With the support of the parish through prayer and financial donations, the development of our preschool will take us in a direction that may seem new but has strong connections with the historic mission and values of this parish. I hope that everyone in the parish will come to support this effort in whatever ways they can. Thank you.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Food For Revival
Healing Meals
We are "officially" establishing a Healing Meals ministry
here at MQH. If and when a fellow parishioner experiences
illness or loss, we will collectively share the happy experience
of providing a meal that truly heals. Dinnertime hits right
when all the energy you could muster for the day begins to fade
and the foreboding loneliness of nightfall creeps in.
Great cooking skills are not required. Nutritious, hearty
carry-out food or a restaurant gift certificate is equally
appreciated. I humbly ask each person in the parish who wishes
to make a small but significant contribution to another, to reach
out and offer a meal to the hurting, the numb.
If you will please contact me at jamjdm@aol.com with your
name, phone number and email address, I will add you to the list,
provide you with the simple details of the ministry program, and
then contact you - a miracle worker - for the gift of a
nourishing healing meal for a family truly in need. Thank you
for your consideration and help.
Jill Adams McDonough
Clergy Appreciation Dinner
Sponsored by
The Diocese of Joliet Chapter
Knights of Columbus
Monday, November 6
Bolingbrook Golf Club
Formal Attire; Dinner $45 per person
Honorees
Bishop J. Peter Sartain
Bishop Joseph L. Imesch
Bishop Roger L. Kaffer
Proceeds will provide continued support of
Diocesan Vocation Efforts.
Donations to Diocesan Vocation Support Welcomed!
Contact: Co-chairman Ron Ziemba at 815-609-9224
or E-mail: RAZ5733@aol.com
Religious Education News
Reminder to all RE families
Sunday, October 22, at 10:30 a.m. will be our first Family
Mass of the year. Sixth graders will receive their Bibles in a
special presentation. As always, all of our RE families are
invited to attend.
Reminder to RE catechists: there will be a meeting for all
catechists Monday, October 23, in Barrett Hall at 7:00 p.m.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann
Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
With the start of RE, please be very cautious in the
parking lot on Wednesday afternoons and evenings. Our little ones
and even our not so little ones are our precious gifts from God.
Christian Service Commission
Prayer Requests
To pray for our sick is an important privilege of our
parish family. We hope that you will pray for these
persons every day.
Natalie Baker Pam Bondfide
Heather Brennan Kathleen Bryers
Doresa Brugler Pat Caffarelli
Rose Caffarelli Kathy Calzante
Cosmore Ciancio Dennis Ciancio
Paul Cirone Margaret Conroy
Cynthia Catalano Family Ida Corriedo
Trudi Dolato Baby Dobrowolski
Virginia Feret Cecilia Garstki
Modesta Goggins Mary Hagerty
Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt
Tom Huwalt Michelle Humann
Maureen James Kathy Johnston
Irene Kmieciak Bernadette Kohn
Anne Kostas Tim Kowalski
Baby Emma Lynde Marie Mangano
Robert Manion Dennis McCabe
Raymond Mitchel Fred Moss
Geri Pstrzoch Baby Faith Reid
Robert Restivo Della Schroedl
Joaquina Scroppo Jess Smith
Mary Spierowski Rachael Thompson
Cathy Ward
Rest in Peace
Beatrice Steward
If you or a family member would like to be included in our
prayers, please call the rectory at 279-5700. Also, please let
us know when a name should be removed.
Dinner & Dialogue with the
Wheaton Franciscans
This session on Franciscan Spirituality will be presented
on Monday, November 6, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Our Lady
of the Angels Convent, 26 W. 171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton.
The "Dinner..." will begin with a simple meal, followed by a
prayer, engaging presentations, and then a table discussion.
This session: The Prophet Walks in the Light, nourished by a
distinctive relationship with God. Presenters will be Sr.
Rosemarie Burian, OSF, Healing Touch Practitioner and Workshop
Facilitator and Sr. Diane Pryzborowski, OSF, Pastoral Counselor
and Spiritual Companion. Cost $15 for this final session in
2006. To register, please call the Justice, Peace and Integrity
of Creation Office at 630-784-2555, or email us at
justicepeace@wheatonfranciscan.org.
Holiday Craft Show & Bake Sale
Saturday, November 4
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. Matthew Catholic Church, Hughes Center
1001E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL.
Enjoy a visit to our Craft Show. Begin your holiday
shopping early this year! Refreshments available. Raffles
throughout the day! See you There!!!
MQH Garden Club
Saturday, October 28
Calling all Garden Club enthusiasts! Come one! Come All!
Join us on Saturday, October 28, at 9:30 a.m. to tear down the
MQH gardens.
We will gather the hoses and dispose of plant material.
What to bring: gloves, yard-waste bags, manual trimmers, etc.
Meet on the south side of the church. Questions can be addressed
to Sheila Reiter at 833-6657 or Rose Wilkes at 833-7238.
Community News
Tree of Light Infant Memorial Mass:
Sunday, November 5, at 3:00 p.m.
St. Charles Pastoral Center
All families and individuals are welcome to attend this
Mass in remembrance of babies who have been lost through
miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, other pregnancy losses or
early childhood death. A special outdoor tree-lighting ceremony
for family members will take place to commemorate these babies.
Family members may wish to arrive at 2:30 to sign in and to
gather in the chapel. Friends and all family members are
invited. A reception with light refreshments will be served
immediately following.
To register, call 815-838-5334 to indicate the number of
those planning to attend or if you cannot attend, please call to
include your baby's name in the mass.
Diocesan News
Elmhurst Catholic M.O.M.S.
(Moms Offering Moms Support)
Elmhurst Catholic M.O.M.S. is a social and spiritual
organization that provides an opportunity for mothers of young
children from Elmhurst Catholic parishes to meet other mothers.
Bi-monthly meetings include one morning mother/child activity and
an evening activity just for moms. There are no membership fees,
and everyone is welcome. M.O.M.S. meets in Msgr. Plunkett Hall,
lower level of the Immaculate Conception chapel, from 9:30 to
11:00 a.m., unless otherwise noted.
On Thursday October 26, top off the fall season with the EC
MOMS annual Halloween Party! Spooktacular music, ghoulish
dancing, a frighteningly fun Halloween craft and terrifyingly
yummy treats will be the order of the day! Be sure to dress your
little ones up for fun photo opportunities!
Community News
Immaculate Conception High School Open House Night
Sunday, November. 5
ICHS invites you to our OPEN HOUSE for 7th and 8th grade
students and/or parents. We hope you take the time to come and
see the many opportunities we have to offer. To begin the
evening, a general presentation will take place at 7:00 p.m.
After the presentation, IC students and parents will be available
as tour guides. In addition, the administration, faculty and
coaches will be available to answer your questions.
To learn more about this special event, call Kathy Kowieski
in our Admissions Office at 630-530-3484.
Donate a Raffle Prize or Purchase
an Ad to help Pregnant Women and Babies
MOST REVEREND J. PETER SARTAIN, Bishop of Joliet, will
keynote the Woman's Choice Services "CHOICES FOR LIFE" Benefit
Banquet on Friday, January 26, 2007.
The proceeds from this banquet are vital to sustaining the
work of WCS to help pregnant women in need and their babies.
Could you purchase an ad in our banquet ad book and/or donate a
prize for our banquet raffle? Please call our office at 630-261-
9564 for more information. Thank you for your generosity!
Mayslake Ministries
Women's CIRCLE OF STONES will be held on Thursday evenings,
Nov. 9, Dec. 14, Jan. 11 and Feb. 8.
This gathering of women pray, contemplate and share,
meeting at 760 Pasquinelli Drive, Ste. 304 in Westmont from 7:30
to 9:00 p.m. Cost is $15 and facilitator is Mary Jo Valenziano
of Mayslake Ministries.
Call 630-323-1620 to sign up but walk-ins welcome. Light
refreshments are served.
"Evening Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance
Our 50th Anniversary "Evening Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance, will take place on Friday, November 3, at
Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. This is less than two weeks
away. Cash Bar at 6:30 and dinner at 7:30 p.m. The dinner menu
will include beef and chicken, soup, tossed salad, potatoes and
vegetables, dessert and tea and coffee. Our celebrity guest for
the evening is Carla Eboh, a reporter for NBC Channel 5 News.
Since this is our 50th anniversary year, we are hoping to
make the event a really special occasion, so please invite your
friends and relatives to join us, and don't forget about inviting
previous parishioners. Get your table together now! The tables
are arranged to accommodate 10 people and the Ticket Donation is
$40 per person.. Tickets will be on sale at all the masses the
weekends of October 21/22 and October 28/29. Reservations can
also be made by contacting Joel and Diane Bernstein at 630-279-
7252.
In order to meet our program printing deadline, all gifts
for the auction from parishioners must be in by Monday, October
23. If you have not already turned in your gift, please contact
Donna Glick (833-5725) or Terri Kevil (279-4165) and they will
make arrangements to pick them up.
This year we have engaged a new DJ for the Dinner
Dance/Auction. Guests of the dance may request songs in advance.
If there is a particular song you would like to hear, you can
access the request web page at
http://www.kausphoto.djintelligence.com/request/queenofmary Once
the web page is accessed you can type in a request or search for
songs by both artist and song title. The DJ will do his best to
play all the songs that are requested. If you have any
questions, please contact Eileen Glick at 630-833-5725 or by
email: eileenglick@gmail.com
Volunteers are still needed: to help with set up and
decorations, ticket sales, raffle tickets, helping as ushers,
etc. If you would be willing to help, you may call Sheila Reiter
at 630-833-6657 and let her know you are willing to help in a
certain area.
The proceeds from this benefit will be used to help support
our Church Mission of reaching out to those who are hungry, sick
and otherwise in need; supporting our youth who are the future of
the Church and our world; and supporting the various ministries
in our parish which allow us to live our lives through faith,
hope, and loving service to all.
New Permanent Diaconate Classes
to Begin Soon
Men who are 35 years of age or older are invited to
consider if God might be calling them to the ministry of
Permanent Deacon for our parish. This is what Deacon Tom is:
someone who works in the world but is ordained for particular
ministries in the church. The Diocese of Joliet is holding
informational sessions on these dates:
* St. Joseph Parish in Bradley on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
* St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville on Nov. 9
at 7:30 p.m.
* St. Joseph in Downer's Grove on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
If you are married, you are invited to bring your wife. If
you are interested in exploring the Permanent Diaconate as a
vocation or would like more information, please contact Mary
Foley, the parish office at 279-5700.
Infant Jesus of Prague
(Czech Republic) Healing Mass
Christ the King Church
1501 S. Main Street, Lombard
Friday, November 10, 2006
7:00 p.m. - Chaplet of Infant Jesus of Prague
7:30 p.m. Healing Mass
Veneration of the Infant Jesus of Prague
(replica of the Image and Relic)
Celebrant: Fr. Jerome Moras
(Carmelite priest from Infant Jesus of Prague Shrine, Czech
Republic)
Christ the King Church - Pastor: Fr. Peter Jarosz
MQH Peace & Justice Committee
"...to educate the parish family regarding the
social doctrines of the Catholic Church,
and to encourage and support appropriate actions
in keeping with those teachings."
The Seven Major Themes
of Catholic Social Teaching
(From statements of the U.S. Catholic Bishops)
#1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
"Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent
dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the
principles of our social teaching." Every person is
created in the image of God. Every person is precious. All
social laws, practices, and institutions must protect, not
undermine, human life and human dignity - from conception
through natural death.
Questions of Faith
* What do the gospels tell us about Jesus' concern for human
dignity?
* What are today's challenges to human dignity between the time
of conception and that of natural death?
* What would Jesus have us do in 2006 to preserve both human
life and human dignity?
* What will I do about it?
(The MQH Peace & Justice Committee meets
on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the
Conference Room adjacent to Mary's Gathering Space)
Bereavement Ministry
The entire parish is invited to the All Souls Day Mass on
Thursday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the church. Everyone present
will participate in special candle lighting ceremonies. This is a
wonderful time to present to God our praise and thanksgiving for
family members and other loved ones who have gone before us. If
you have any questions, please contact Mimi Wolak 941-3851.
Biblical Pilgrimage to Egypt
March 3 - 16, 2007
Led by Fr. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm
Land of Pharaohs, Pyramids and Sphinxes; Journey of the
Exodus - Experience ancient Egyptian civilization as we visit
Cairo, cruise the Nile, climb Mount Sinai, and relax at Sharm-el-
Sheik. Reflect on the Exodus, Joseph and the ancient
civilization which influenced the biblical chosen people. Cost:
$4,100 - double occupancy.
For further information, flyer and registration form,
please contact: Darlene Jindra, Carmelite Spiritual Center at
630-9669-4141.
Communion of Saints
Wed., November 1 at 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Fr. David Simpson, O. Carm. Leads an investigation into the
secular and divine culminating in the world of holy women and men
who are our Communion of Saints. Join us at the Carmelite
Spiritual Center in Darien. Celebration of Eucharist at the
National Shrine of St. Therese is part of this program.
Cost: $40/person includes lunch. Please pre-register by
Oct. 25. Call the spiritual Center at 630-969-4141.
Dear Parents,
We want to invite your help as we continue developing
plans for our new preschool. Your input as parents of young
children is invaluable. Please help us to evaluate what has been
developed thus far in terms of mission and vision, educational
philosophy, cost factors, materials design, etc.
You are invited to a special Interest Group Meeting on
Sunday, October 29, following the 10:30 morning Mass. We will
gather in Barrett Hall around 11:45 a.m. Talk and tables will be
organized so that we can make the most out of our time together
and we will finish in about one hour.
Babysitting and lunch will be provided to make this meeting
possible for you to attend. Please R.S.V.P. by calling the
parish office at (630) 279-5700 so that we can plan for lunch and
for an adequate number of babysitters.
Thank you for considering this special event and we hope
you will be able to join us.
Peace and all good,
Mary Queen of Heaven
Preschool Committee
A Vocation View: Life's rewards are tied up in the spirit of
service. Just as the Son of Man came to give His life, so too are we
then called through our profession of faith to serve others. Lord we
pray, 'let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You to do
your will.'