Today's Reflections From Pax Christi USA
The National Catholic Peace Movement
Prayer Chain for Peace, Advent 2006
During the season of Advent, Pax Christi USA is inviting individuals and groups to undertake a commitment to prayer and action for peace in Iraq. The season of Advent goes up until midnight on Christmas Eve, December 24. For this entire season of Advent, Pax Christi USA will undertake a round-the-clock, seven- days-a-week 'prayer chain for peace in Iraq.' We are inviting all people of faith to join us in this prayer chain. Our hope is to have an individual or group of people praying publicly for peace in Iraq for every hour of the Advent season.
This is how it works: There is a calendar on the Pax Christi USA web site where we are listing the individuals and groups which are praying for peace in Iraq on the days and at the time that they have committed to undertake their prayer and witness. Please check the calendar (http://paxchristiusa.org/adventcalendar.asp) and, if possible, consider signing up for a slot that is still open.
To sign yourself or your group up for time slots, you simply send an email to Johnny Zokovitch of Pax Christi at johnnypcusa@yahoo.com with the following information: Name of individual or group (you can request to be listed as anonymous), your city and state, time and date you will be praying for peace. If you want to share information about what your prayer and action will be (rosary for peace; prayer service; Mass; etc) and where it will be held in case anyone wants to join you, feel free to include that information, too. The calendar will be updated each morning so that people can keep up-to-date on open time slots and who is praying for peace each day as well.
Let our prayer this season of Advent be rooted in our belief that peace in Iraq is possible. Let us pray that this time of waiting for the birth of the "Prince of Peace" will also usher in a new era of peace in Iraq and throughout the world. Let our commitment to prayer and action be a sign of our hope and belief in the Incarnation, Emmanuel, God-with-us! Amen!
This poem was written by Nicholas Peters just after the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Peters, who lived for some years at Grande Pointe, Manitoba, Canada, had emigrated from Russia in 1925 as a boy of 10 and had seen firsthand the horrors of revolution and war in his native country. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and trained as a flying officer. He died on the night of March 7-8, 1945 after his aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The poem is from a collection of Peters' work entitled Another Morn.
THE WARS WE MAKE
I gaze into the world with sorrowing
eyes
And see the wide-abounding fruits of
hate.
We fight, we say, for peace, and find
The wars we make
To be a spring of hate and source of
future wars.
Is there no peace for man?
No hope that this accursed flow
Of blood may cease?
Is this our destiny: to kill and maim
For peace?
Or is this 'peace' we strive to gain
A thin unholy masquerade
Which, when our pride, our greed, our
gain is touched
too far,
Is shed, and stands uncovered what we
are?
Show me your light, O God
That I may fight for peace with peace
And not with war;
To prove my love with love,
And hate no more!
- Nicholas Peters
A Vocation View
Who, today, is willing
to make ready the way of the Lord,
to clear Him a straight path?
Good, I prayed you would.
Joliet Diocesan Life Office (JDLO)
Join us on Sunday, January 14, 2:00 p.m.
34th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Decision
Commemorative Prayer Service for the Unborn & All whose lives
have become endangered since the January 22, 1973, Supreme Court
Decision, Roe v. Wade.
The Celebrant of Benediction and Homilist will be
Bishop J. Peter Sartain.
Refreshment and fellowship will follow.
Sponsored by the Knights, and the Joliet Diocesan Life Office.
The Cathedral of St. Raymond.
402 S. Independence Blvd. Romeoville, IL 60446
prolife@dioceseofjoliet.org
(815) 838-1002
Volunteers Needed
for DuPage Community Clinic
The DuPage Community Clinic is a free medical/dental clinic
serving low-income, DuPage County residents who have no insurance
or governmental assistance with offices in Wheaton and Villa
Park.
Our medical clinic is seeking Nurses, LPNs, CNAs, and EMTs
to volunteer at either office. Primary care physicians,
cardiologist, dermatologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists,
nephrologists, optometrists, orthopedics, and surgeons are also
needed to volunteer at the clinic or as referral specialty site
at your private office.
Dietitians, social workers, certified or experienced
medical translators, data entry, receptionist, and
clerical/office volunteers are also needed for our Wheaton
office. Our dental clinic is also seeking dentists and dental
hygienists for our Wheaton office.
Anyone interested in volunteering or seeking more
information contact Yessica Cabrera at 630-682-0631 or e-mail
ycabrera@dupagecommunityclinic.org
50th Anniversary Cookbook Sale
Are you in need of a hostess gift or thinking about what to
give someone for Christmas? We have the perfect gift, our 50th
Anniversary Cookbook. The Cookbooks contain recipes from current
parishioners and previous members of our parish and make
especially great gifts for family members and friends who love to
bake.
Cookbooks will be available for purchase after all the
Masses this weekend (December 9 & 10). The donation for each
Cookbook is $15. Should you wish to purchase additional
cookbooks during the week, please call Mary Nanak (530-4502) or
Ellen Walker (279-4021).
Little Rock
Scripture Study
Do you think you would like to know more about your
religious roots in the Jewish faith? Now is your chance. The
next Bible Study sponsored by the Adult Education and
Spirituality Committee will be the Book of Exodus. This study
was chosen for its relevance to the preparing ourselves for the
celebration of Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The Themes of Exodus are liberation, wilderness, Passover,
covenant, and God's dwelling among us. We will see how the
Israelites passed from bondage to freedom as we prepare to
celebrate our passage from death to new life through Jesus.
We will begin the week of January 8 and go 10 weeks with
one break for our Parish Mission the week of February 5. Sign up
will be the weekends of December 9/10 and 16/17. If you are
interested or have any questions please contact Lynn Suwanski at
630-530-2523 or Alex and Marie Grozik at 630-530-0503.
Please note: The last session of RE
before Christmas is Wednesday, December 13.
Religious Education News
Advent Service Projects:
Just a reminder, this year we will again be collecting new
unwrapped toys for Marillac House on Chicago's West Side...not so
very far from Elmhurst. Sister Antoinette tells us that they are
in great need. There is a "toy box" in the school on Wednesday,
December 13, during class times. Toys for all ages are
welcome...no violent toys please. Please be generous.
Our children also have the opportunity to add global
dimension to their acts of service. They will go to the "polls"
to vote for the animal of their choice to be sent to a 3rd world
country. The RE children are asked to come to class with a
donation of 50 cents that will be donated to Heifer
International. They can then "vote" for a pig, a sheep, or a
goat to be sent to a small village, which will drastically
improve the quality of life of its residents. Our "polls" are
open on the first two Wednesdays of December. Over the years,
our children have really enjoyed this project.
For more info on any of the above, please call
Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Market Day
Orders for December are due Monday, December 11, at noon.
Turn in your order form in the box in the back of church or at
the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, December 16, from 9:30 - 10:30
a.m. in the Social Hall.
If you have questions or would like to place an order,
please call Maria at 279-2238 or Karen at 279-4108.
Bible Study
Facilitators Needed
If you think you are interested in facilitating one of our
groups studying the Book of Exodus this winter, training times
will be tailored to the trainees. The facilitator merely makes
sure that all aspects of the study (prayer, discussion, video)
are completed within the allotted time each week.
If you are interested or have any questions please contact
Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523 or Alex and Marie Grozik at 630-
530-0503 or the Parish Office at 630-279-5700.
Christmas Trees
Enjoy cutting down your own special Christmas tree at
Marmion Abbey, Aurora. Your fresh-cut tree will hold its needles
longer. And you will help ease the financial burdens of Marmion.
The trees are only $25 and $30.
For more information and how to get to Marmion, call (630)
897-3011.
Retirement fund for Religious
The total amount donated since 1988-almost $ 500 million-
would pay for just one year of skilled nursing and assisted
living for more than 11,000 religious in need of such are today.
Even the extraordinary response to this appeal actually
represents a donation of only one dollar per year per adult
Catholic in the United states. Please give generously.
Elmhurst Catholics
M.O.M.S.
(Moms Offering Moms Support)
Elmhurst Catholic M.O.M.S. (Moms Offering Moms
Support) 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, December 14, please join us for our EC
M.O.M.S. Christmas party! The kids will love decorating
gingerbread houses. Christmas treats and, if they've been very
good this year, maybe Santa will make an early visit just for EC
MOMS!!
Christmas Food Collection
Our Annual Christmas food Collection takes place this
weekend (December 9 & 10). We are collecting perishable items
for food baskets for 25 needy families. If you wish to donate a
turkey, we ask that you purchase Jewel of Dominick's
certificates, put them in an envelope marked "Christmas turkey"
and drop them in the collection basket or turn them in at the
parish office.
We will be preparing the baskets for distribution on
Sunday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. in church. If you have an hour
free and would like to help, call Sheila Reiter (833-6657) or
come to church. The more people we have to help, the faster and
easier the work.
Christmas Giving Tree
The deadline for returning gifts for the Giving Tree is
this weekend (December 9 and 10).
These gifts will go to needy families and the Elmhurst
Extended Care Nursing Home. Please tape the gift tag to the
package with the written side facing up so that we will know to
which family the gift belongs. Thank you for your generosity.
Christian Worship 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
Johanna Mesner Mary Piszczor
Raymond Mitchell Fred Moss
Geri Pstrzoch Baby Faith Reid
Robert Restivo Agnes Sabel
Joaquina Scroppo Jess Smith
Mary Spierowski Rachael Thompson
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.
Christmas And New Year Schedules
Christmas Masses
Sunday, December, 24, 2006
8:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, 2006
5:00 p.m. Mass with Children's Pageant
10:30 p.m. Choir Prelude
11:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil
Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 2006
8:30 a.m. Mass
10:30 a.m. Mass
New Year's Masses
Sunday, December 31, 2006
8:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
New Year's Eve, December 31, 2006
5:00 p.m. Mass
Monday, January 1, 2007
Feast of Mary, the Mother of God
and World Day of Prayer for Peace
9:00 a.m. Mass
November Celebrations
We welcome into the Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family the
following who were baptized in November:
Alexander Francis Flores
Matthew William Gleason
Charlotte Elizabeth Patel
Krystina Lynne Turkula
Organ Donation
The Diocese of Joliet supports organ and tissue donation as
the gift of life, an expression of the highest humanitarian
ideals.
You are encouraged to talk with family members and consider
this gift in the name of Christ, who gave his life so that all
might have life to its fullest. Register in Illinois' new donor
consent registry and make your wishes to be an organ and tissue
donor legally binding, without the need for additional consent.
The new registry will help save hundreds more lives each year.
For more information, contact Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor
Network at 888-307-DON8
or www.giftofhope.org
The Compassionate Friends
Worldwide Candle Lighting
In loving memory of all children who are no longer with us,
The Compassionate Friends extends an invitation for you, your
family, and friends to join tens of thousands of persons around
the globe for the ninth annual Worldwide Candle Lighting.
On Sunday, December 10, at 7 p.m. local time around the
world, the intense darkness of grief caused by the death of a
child will give way to light. Hundreds of thousands of candles
will spread their flickering flames to light the night in honor
and remembrance of all children who have gone too soon.
Please light a candle wherever you are at 7 p.m. on Sunday,
December 10, in memory of all children.
The local Candle Lighting program will take place in The
Normandy Room of the Elmhurst American Legion Hall (Spring Road
and Butterfield Road) and it will begin at 6:30 p.m.
For more information contact Lynn Callister at 630-834-4829
or at Lynn949@aol.com.
Mayslake Ministries
"Circle of Stones," for women, will be held on
Thursday evenings, 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. The cost is $15 and the facilitator is Mary Jo
Valenziano from Mayslake Ministries.
Please call 630-323-1620 to sign up but walk-ins are
welcome. Light refreshments are served.
"Breakfast in Galilee" is a quiet retreat for men held
at Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein on January
12 - 14, 2007.
Come sit with Jesus on the shore. He's just risen from the
dead and has such stories to tell you! Presenters are Fr.
Jonathan Foster, OFM and Mary Jo Valenziano. The cost is $180
for private room and bath.
Reservations are due by December 15. Please call 630-323-
1620.
Attention Bulletin Editors and Leaders of
High School / College Youth / Family Youth Groups
Volunteers are Needed !!
The DuPage Continuum of Care, whose members provide services
to individuals and families in need throughout DuPage County will
be conducting it's third area wide survey count of unsheltered
homeless persons the evening of Thursday, January 25, 2007 into
the morning of Friday, January 26, 2007.
The survey is being performed by the Continuum in conjunction
with the requirements set forth by the Department of Housing
(HUD). The purpose of the survey is to gather statistical
information on the unsheltered homeless population. This count
takes place all across the country to help various levels of
government allocate dollars to fund the appropriate agencies that
assist the homeless population throughout the next calendar year.
The survey will be conducted with the assistance of local law
enforcement agencies. Catholic Charities is recruiting and
training volunteers to perform the overnight survey count.
Needed funding for helping the homeless depends on the
accuracy of the count. Please help spread the word and recruit
the volunteers.
A training session will be held at Catholic Charities, in
Lombard, on January 16.
Groups and volunteers should RSVP to Jane Tyshenko, Catholic
Charities, 630-495-8008.