Does My Life Make A Difference?
This is the title of our Parish Mission which starts next week, Feb. 5-7. Each night of our mission, Father Richard Fragomeni will help us to see how the lives of each one of us do make a difference in the world. Does My Life Make A Difference? On Monday: God Thinks So! On Tuesday: The World Expects So! On Wednesday: How Do You Do So?
I hope that many people of our parish will come to the Mission, something that is designed to be a kind of retreat for the parish. Each night will involve prayer and song, two talks by Father Fragomeni and two witness talks. This promises to be a powerful experience of renewal and inspiration. I know that it is not easy to arrange to be away from home for three evenings in a row but you will find it time well spent.
We have canceled the third Religious Education session for this week so that our catechists may be able to attend the Mission. While these evenings will be geared more toward adults and older children, another evening will be planned later in the year for Father Fragomeni to spend time with all our children and their families.
The mission will begin each evening at 7:30 p.m., with the hope that families will be able to eat dinner together before parents and older children come to the mission. The Mission will last until 9:00 p.m. and there will be a wine and cheese reception afterwards each evening (soft drinks will also be available).
Besides being a professor at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Father Fragomeni is a nationally known preacher and liturgist, and has been a popular Catholic consultant for the film industry. We look forward to having him with us and hope you can join us. Please feel free to invite family and friends. There is no cost to attend the mission because of grant funding from the Catholic Education Foundation. A basket will be available in church for free will offerings.
Baptism
The call to make a difference in the world originates in our baptism, the beginning of our life as Catholic Christians. I have had some questions lately on the subject of baptism and would like to provide some general information here, especially for parents.
For children under 7 years old, we have baptisms every first and third Sunday of the month, except during the season of Lent. This means that our last baptisms before Lent will be on February 18. So, anyone thinking of having an infant or young child baptized should contact the parish office very soon. After February 18, there will be no baptisms at Mary Queen until the Easter Vigil on April 7.
Requirements for baptismal sponsors are that there should be one male and one female, and at least one Godparent must be a baptized and confirmed Catholic, one who is practicing the faith (attending Mass regularly) and is in good standing with the Church. It is possible for a Christian of another denomination to serve as the second Godparent. There is a baptismal preparation class offered on the second Tuesday evening of each month. Parents must register in advance and take this class prior to the baptism of their child. I am happy to have children from outside of Mary Queen baptized at our church, as long as there is a letter of permission from the pastor where the child lives (this happens fairly frequently when family members live here). Many children are given Christian names (the names of saints of the Church) when they are born. If not, a saint's name, chosen by the parents, may be added to the birth name at the time of baptism.
For children ages 7 and older, arrangements for baptism are made through our RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) program and for adults, through our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program. Anyone interested in our RCIC or RCIA program should contact Mimi Wolak or Tom Nanak. Their telephone numbers appear on the front of the bulletin. Adults or parents of children needing other sacraments of the Church should contact me at the parish office and we can make whatever arrangements are necessary.
Feast of St. Blaise
Next Sat. Feb. 3 is the feast of St. Blaise, who is patron saint for those with throat disorders. We will be having Mass with blessing of throats at 9 a.m. All are invited to come and have their throats blessed.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
A Vocation View The Lord says: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I dedicated you." Always listen to an Old Friend Parish News Preschool Open House After months of study by the parish Finance Council, after multiple surveys of parents by the Preschool Committee, and after receiving much positive feedback from parents of preschool-aged children, we are moving forward with registration for our new preschool, starting in January. The Preschool Board is in formation, with two subcommittees already established. The Safety and Environment Committee will be headed by Terri Kevil and the Preschool Finance Committee will be headed by Jim Japczyk. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Mary Jo Young has joined our Preschool Committee. Dr. Young, who is also a Franciscan Sister, is the Director of the Elmhurst College Department of Early Childhood Education. She will be helping with the development of our Multiple Intelligence Curriculum. We welcome Dr. Young and look forward to collaborating with Elmhurst College! Our first classroom is filling up! Join us at our last January open house: Sun. Jan. 28 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Please register by Jan. 31 for the early bird $75 .00 savings on tuition! Parish Mission February 5, 6, and 7, 2007 Mark it on your Calendars! As part of the Parish 50th anniversary activities, the Adult Education and Spirituality Committee and the Liturgy Committee are sponsoring a Parish Mission on Monday, February 5; Tuesday, February 6; and Wednesday, February 7; at 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the Church. The theme of the Mission is "Does my life make a difference?" Fr. Richard Fragomeni, an Associate Professor of Liturgy and Preaching at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, will be the presenter. Mark your calendars for this not-to-be-missed pre-Lent experience. Eucharistic Adoration Eucharistic Adoration will be held on Monday, February 12th instead of Monday, February 5th because of our mission. Family Dinner and Game Night The 50th Anniversary Committee in conjunction with the Religious Education Program and the Mary Queen of Heaven Men's Group are sponsoring a "Family Dinner and Game Night" on Saturday February 17th immediately following the 5:00 p.m. Family Mass. Mark your calendar now and invite your family and relatives to attend. It's an evening planned for all, moms, dads, grandparents, relatives, children of all ages, parishioners of all ages. Dinner will be served in Barrett Hall and the Family Game Rooms will be in the school building. There are plans being made for several game rooms with fun for all ages. There will be a game room for younger children, several rooms for older children, teens and their families. Plenty of games for other parishioners and seniors too. A cake walk, a room with raffle baskets, cookbooks to purchase, spirit clothing, 50th Anniversary MQH key chains, etc. Some of the activities we have planned are Uno, Yahtzee, Various Card Games, Bunco, and Kid's Bingo and Adult's Bingo. A room for "Twister" and room for the younger children with the Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Bozo's Buckets, a Bean Bag Toss, etc. Dinner at the "Family Game Night" will include a salad, Mostaccioli, Meatballs, bread, butter, coffee, tea, pop and dessert (make your own Sundae) served buffet style. Donation for dinner is $8.00 per adult (ages 12 and up), $4.00 per child (ages 6 thru 11), children 5 and under are free. Your ticket donation includes dinner and entrance to the game night activities (with exception of the Cake Walk and Raffles, Spirit Wear and Key Chains). All children are expected to be accompanied by a parent(s) or a adult who is responsible for their well being. Tickets will be available for purchase after all the Masses beginning the weekend of February 3rd and 4th and can also be purchased at our religious Education Office on Wednesdays. For further information, please contact Sheila Reiter (833- 6657), Karen Vicary (279-4108) or Phylis Twardowski (279-6239). Christian Education Commission Religious Education News HELP!! We are in need of assistant catechists at the 5:30 session on Wednesdays beginning immediately. Please call the REO for more information if you are interested. Please mark your calendars: FYI-Family Mass is this weekend at the 10:30 Mass. For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. Community News Marianjoy to Offer Presentation: Caring for Your Aging Parents Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital is pleased to offer a panel discussion on caring for an aging parent or loved one. This free presentation will offer a panel discussion which will include a Marianjoy Medical group physician who specializes in senior health, a psychologist and an individual well-versed in resources for the elderly. The presentation will include practical information about what to expect physically and psychologically from again parents, along with help and information on available resources. Call to register at 630-909- 7102. Marianjoy to Offer Presentation: Working Through Grief and Loss Whether it is the loss of a loved one due to death or separation, or the loss of mobility due to illness or injury ,there are ways to not only cope with loss, but to learn from it. Marianjoy is offering a free presentation on grief and loss, led by a Mariajoy chaplain and a psychologist. For more information or to register, please call 630-909-7102. January 7, 2007 Ms. Mary Foley C/O Mary Queen of Heaven 426 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126 Dear Mary, Please accept my sincere thanks for your generous Christmas gift of the Mary Queen of Heaven Choirs CD! I was truly touched by your thoughtfulness and want you to know how much it meant to me. I am doing well in the Diocese of Joliet, and everyone has gone out of their way to welcome me. The Church is alive and strong here, and I am enjoying getting to know everyone. God blesses me in many ways, most especially with His steady hand and His peace, and at Christmas time I realize more than ever just how good God is, far beyond my understanding. After Christmas I went south to visit family and friends in Tennessee and Arkansas, and I'm back in Illinois to start the New Year with the priests and people of my new flock. I have offered Mass for your intentions and those of your loved ones, and I will always remember your kindness. Sincerely in Christ, (Signed) Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain Bishop of Joliet P.S. I enjoyed listening to the CD! Theology of the Body St. Joseph Parish 330 E. Fullerton, Addison Presenter: Fr. Tom Loya Please join us for a 5-week session exploring some of the doctorate written by Pope John Paul II Sun., Jan., 28: "Who is Man for Woman and Who is Woman for Man" Sun., Feb. 4: "Iconography and the Sacred Art of the Church" Sun. Feb. 11: "Knowing Ourselves as Sexual Beings" Sun. Feb. 18: "Theology of the Body and Art: The Naked Truth" Sun. Feb. 25: "Theology of the Body and the Hot Button Issues" Contact: Claudia Strope (630) 832-6894 We will serve a meal at 5:30 p.m. except for Sun. Feb. 18 Discussion will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Immaculate Conception High School Class of 2011 Make-up Placement Exam Saturday, February 3, at 9:00 a.m. It is open to all 8th grade students who have not taken a private high school placement test yet. Pre-registration is required and there is a $20 fee. Please bring two #2 pencils. No calculators or dictionaries allowed. To pre-register, please call the main office at 630-530-3460 by Wed., Jan. 31st. Catholic Schools: Our Children, Our Faith, Our Future St. Charles Borromeo Grade School , Bensenville Full-day Kindergarten - 8th grade with After-school Day Care until 6:00 pm Catholic Schools Week-Activities.... January 28 OPEN HOUSE 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Registration for Fall 2007 begins Jan 30 OPEN HOUSE 9:00-11:20 AM Registration Jan 31 School Spirit Day Feb 1 Academic & Science Fair 7:00 - 8:00 PM Feb 2 Mass 8:30 For more information, please call 630-766-0116. Rest In Peace Russell Gusloff, Henry Jaime, James Williams 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. St. Vincent DePaul Society The St. Vincent DePaul Society will hold its meeting on Wednesday, January 31st at 7:30 p.m. in Mary's Gathering space. This is a change from our previously scheduled meeting due to a conflict. We will be reviewing the Christmas Holiday Giving, expenditures, and discussing our plans for Needy Families and Easter Baskets. Bereavement Ministry There is an adult grief support group meeting at Elmhurst Hospital starting January 29th. The group will continue to meet every 1st and 3rd Monday for 10 sessions in the Bates Conference room at the hospital. Each session begins at 6:30 and ends at 8:00 p.m. There is no cost for this program. For more information please check the bulletin board in the back of MQH church. On a green colored flyer you will find a listing of the topics to be presented. You are welcome to join the group at any time. For additional info. please call: 833-1400 ext. 4758. MQH Men's Group Mary Queen Of Heaven Men's Group is sponsoring a family friendly football event, Super Bowl Sunday, in Barrett Hall. Come join us as the Chicago Bears compete in Super Bowl XLI Sunday, February 4th - Pre-Game 5:00 P.M. Bring your own beverage. Pizza will be served. A nominal fee will be charged. For reservations or more information. please contact Mike Launius (941-8773 or Bob Glick (833-5725). Record of Parish Contributions If you would like to receive a record of your 2006 financial contributions, please call the parish office at 279- 5700. Volunteers for Katrina Missions People from the parish have previously indicated that they were interested in participating in a Katrina disaster recovery mission. The Katrina Hurricane aftermath is still a very real disaster to the people in the Gulf Coast. There is a great need in terms of volunteers to help in the recovery. The Catholic Construction Corps of the Joliet Diocese has been active in providing volunteer help over the past year and we plan to continue to provide help. It has secured two work weeks with the Mennonite Disaster Service and will schedule additional weeks as needed. The first week is February 19-23 and the second is March 5- 9. (We will be traveling on Saturday and Sunday prior to the work weeks and returning on the following Saturday and Sunday. If your are interested in voluntering for this service work, please call Milt Honel (279-7078, Bill Barnds (782-5966) or the Office of Peace and Social Justice at the Diocese of Joliet (815-834-4028). Please respond as soon as possible: We will be scheduling an information and planning session shortly. Widowed? If you are widowed, the Office of Family Ministry of the Joliet Diocese invites you to join us for a 2-day, faith-based program designed especially for widowed men and women. Topics include: Understanding the roller coaster of feelings you are experiencing-Loneliness Dealing with the reactions of family and friends Regaining self-confidence Treasuring your memories while moving forward on your new path in life.. Mark your calendar now for March 10 & 11, 2007 What: Retreat for Widowed Men & Women When: March 10 & 11, 2007 Where: St. Chas. Borromeo Center (Near Hwys 53 & 55, Romeoville) Donation: $115. (incls meals/lodging) Register by calling: 708-354-7211 50th Anniversary Committee The 50th Anniversary Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 30th at 7:30 p.m. in Barrett Hall to discuss the upcoming events of our Parish Mission, Family Game Night, Special 50th Anniversary Raffle and closing Anniversary Mass on Palm Sunday. All committee members are asked to call Sheila (833-6657) if you are unable to make this meeting as representatives from the Parish Mission Committee and the Family Game Night will be there to give us an update on their plans. Peace & Justice Committee The Senate Set to Debate Minimum Wage - Urge Senators to Increase the Minimum Wage! Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the USCCB Domestic Policy Committee (United States Council of Catholic Bishops) has written to the United States Senate to urge them to support the minimum wage bill, S2. This bill would raise the minimum wage by 70 cents 60 days after enactment; to $6.55 one year later; and to $7.25 one year after that. In his letter, Bishop DiMarzio said: "Work has a special place in Catholic social thought. Work is more than just a job; it is a reflection of human dignity and a way to contribute to the common good. Most importantly, it is the ordinary way people meet their material needs and community obligations. In Catholic teaching, the principle of a just wage is integral to our understanding of human work. Wages must be adequate for workers to provide for themselves and their families in dignity. The United States bishops' conference has supported the minimum wage since its inception as a just means to protect the human rights and dignity of workers." Debate on this bill began on January 22, 2007. A number of amendments are also considered likely; each will require debate and a vote before final consideration of the minimum wage substitute. The USCCB is asking that we call our senators (202-224- 3121, the Capitol Switchboard) and urge them to support an increase in the minimum wage. For more information contact: Thomas Shellabarger tshellabarger@usccb.org.