Mary's Corner
Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church
426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2171
Parish Office: 630/279-5700
Fax: 630/279-4667
A Vocation View
When Jesus comes into your life, grab something and wave
it. Show your joy, your happiness; your dream is fulfilled.
Tell others: Jesus is here!
Parish News
Mary Queen of Heaven Preschool registration continues!
Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and contact
the parish office for more information and registration.
Preschool tours scheduled on request.
50th Anniversary Closing Mass & Raffle
Our year-long 50th anniversary Celebration will culminate on
Sunday, April 22, 2007, with a special liturgy being celebrated
by Bishop Roger Kaffer at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. As we draw this
Anniversary Year to a close, we invite you not only to join us at
the 10:30 a.m. Mass on April 22 but also to participate in our
final event, a 50th Anniversary Raffle. The Raffle Proceeds will
be used to lower our parish deficit.
Only 250 tickets will be sold and the winner need not be
present. The odds of winning a Raffle Prize are great! The
Ticket Donation is $100. Each ticket contains 10 slots so that
the cost of the ticket can be divided with as many as 10 people
if you choose.
1st Prize $10,000
2nd Prize $2,000
3rd Prize $1,000
The Drawing will take place on April 22nd in Barrett Hall
immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Refreshments will be
served. Please consider helping us make this final event a
success and an enjoyable occasion for all. Invite your family,
friends and co-workers to participate in the Raffle.
Tickets will be available for purchase this weekend and
next weekend in the vestibule of church, and will be available
on Easter Sunday weekend in "Mary's Gathering space. They can
also be obtained by contacting the Parish Office or one of the
50th Anniversary Committee members: Sheila Reiter (833-6657),
Ellen Walker (279-4021), Dick Reed (834-4840), Phylis Twardowski
(279-6239), or Mary White (833-9809).
Peacemaking:
In the World and with Each Other
Mary Queen of Heaven Parish
Tuesday, April 3
7:00 p.m. in the Church
Special Guest: Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
of Detroit, Michigan
7:00 p.m. Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
will be speaking on:
"Peacemaking: in the World and with Each Other."
8:00 p.m. This will be followed by our
Lenten Reconciliation Service
with Bishop Gumbleton preaching.
Please join us for this special event on Tuesday of Holy
Week, when we will have with us Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, recently
retired Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, Michigan.
Bishop Gumbleton is an internationally known peacemaker.
He serves with the U.N.'s World Conference on Religion and Peace
and is founder of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace
organization.
At 7:00 p.m., Bishop Gumbleton will lead us in reflection
upon peacemaking in our world and with each other. His talk will
be followed at 8:00 p.m. by our Lenten Reconciliation Service.
All are welcome.
Easter Egg Hop-N-Grab
Saturday, April 7
HELP!
Donations are needed for this fun and festive event.
Donations of time and materials are necessary to make this event
a success. Children and families are welcome to join in on the
fun. The Hop-N-Grab will take place on the parish grounds on
Holy Saturday after the blessing of the baskets, at about 11:00
a.m. It is a great way to spend time with your children,
grandchildren and neighbors. Please consider helping out with
this fun-filled day.
Donations needed by Wed. April 4. Please bring them to
church or RE class. Contact Kathy Rhea at 776-1608 or Wendy
Krafky at 559-4044. To volunteer your time, please call Sandy
Ondrla at 941-1044 or Genet Pinkerton at 220-6521.
Parish News
Learn How to Weave Palms
and learn the Art of Russian Orthodox
Egg Designing, Today.
We will have a demonstration on palm weaving and the art of
Russian Orthodox egg designing in the school after the 10:30 Mass
today, Palm Sunday.
If you wish to learn about weaving palms into crosses, go
to Rooms 2/3, where Rosalie and Jilt Honel will demonstrate this
craft. The art of Russian Orthodox egg designing will be
demonstrated by Marie & Alex Grozik, in Room 13. Both of these
crafts are traditions in many parts of the world. Rosalie
learned the craft many years ago and Alex's family has been
involved with egg designing for many years.
Mary Queen of Heaven
High School Treble Concert
Sunday, April 15, at 12:30 p.m.
Mary Queen of Heaven Church
Mary Queen of Heaven's High School Treble Choir will be
performing a free concert on Sunday, April 15, at 12:30 p.m. in
church. The concert will last approximately 45 minutes.
Mary Queen of Heaven's High School Treble Choir is an
ecumenical choir open to young women of our community who are
high school aged and have a true love of sacred music. This is an
auditioned group. The group is directed by Molly Lindberg
assisted by Tara Cappelletti. This outstanding group of young
women have given generously of their musical gifts to praise His
name. Please come and support them, and enjoy some exquisite
music.
Concert Program:
O Sanctissima, Arranged by Ludwig van Beethoven, (1770-1827),
edited by Alan J. Hommerding
Rest Now in Me, Paul A. Tate
Lord, I Stretch My Hands to You, Jay Althouse
Eucaristica, Pablo Casals (1876 B 1973)
Lacrymosa, from The Requiem, W.A. Mozart (1756-1791), Arranged by
Russell Robinson
Canon of Praise, from Kanon, Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706),
Arranged by Hal H. Hopson
Sign Me Up, Kevin Yancy and Jerome Metcalfe
The Baby in Bethlehem, Raymond S. Beights
Open My Eyes, Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739), Arranged by Dale
Grotenhuis
Days of Elijah, Robin Mark
You Are Holy, Mark Imboden and Tammi Rhoton
Sunday, April 15, is a big day for the Music Ministry at
MQH. We will be introducing the cast of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat at the 10:30 a.m. mass. The entire cast
will sing the Post-Communion meditation that morning. So, come
to Mass, stay for fellowship in Barrett Hall, and come on back
into the church for the Mary Queen of Heaven High School Treble
Concert.
Religious Education News
Thank you to all who donated Easter basket goodies to
Marillac House these past weeks. You have put smiles on the faces
of many children on the near West Side of Chicago.
Attention 8th grade parents and students:
This Wednesday, April 11, both sessions of 8th grade will
gather in Barrett Hall with their parents at 7:15PM. We will be
showing the film, "Sex Has a Price Tag" followed by discussion.
The film features nationally renowned speaker, Pam Stenzel, who
combines her personal story and her extensive pregnancy
counseling experience into looking at the consequences of sexual
activity outside of the lifetime commitment of Christian
marriage. This evening is an essential component of our program
and one that is a "must do" for our young teens before entering
High School. We expect to see you all there.
All members of the parish are invited to come pray the
Living Stations of the Cross with our 7th grade RE class on Good
Friday, April 6th at 3PM in church. They and their catechists have
been working very hard this semester in order to present their
parish family with a very prayerful and memorable experience.
Please join us.
Are you being called to be a catechist?
We only have a short time left of this RE year, so if you have
always wondered what goes on in the building after you drop your
children off, this is the perfect time to stop by and say hi.
Remember you don't have to be a theologian; you just have to love
children, love your faith and want to share it. We are looking
forward to hearing from you.
Mark your calendar:
Good Friday, April 6: Living Stations at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 14: First Communion Retreat at 9-11 a.m. in
School
If you have any questions or need more information, please
call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
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
Pat Caffarelli Rose Caffarelli
Kathy Calzante Cosmore Ciancio
Dennis Ciancio Geroge Cibula
Paul Cirone Ida Corriedo
Cynthia Catalano Family Deacon Bob Delbeke
Trudi Dolato Baby Dobrowolski
Virginia Feret Kathy Filipiak
Cecilia Garstki Mary Goggins
Mary Hagerty Anna Heffel
Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt
Michelle Humann Maureen James
Kathy Johnston Irene Kmieciak
Bernadette Kohn Anne Kostas
Baby Emma Lynde Marie Mangano
Robert Manion Dennis McCabe
Mary Piszczor Raymond Mitchell
Fred Moss Mary Sabel Oye
Geri Pstrzoch Baby Faith Reid
Robert Restivo Vera Rossiano
Agnes Sabel Patricia Sabel
Joaquina Scroppo Jess Smith
Mary Spierowski Rachael Thompson
John Unger
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.
Feast of Divine Mercy
Sunday Celebration, April 15
April 15, at 1:30-3:45 p.m.
At Visitation Parish, Ellmhurst
Sacrament of Reconciliation-1:30 p.m.
Divine Mercy Chaplet-3:00 p.m.
Celebration of Mass-3:45 p.m.
Jesus said: "In this hour I will refuse nothing to the
soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion."
Please come join us on this special day !!!
All are Welcome !!!
Lewis University Lecture
Monday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m.
Lewis University will host a lecture entitled, "A Ruby
Among stones: A Christian Perspective on the Prophet Muhammad,"
in Room A133 of the Academic building, located on the Lewis main
campus on Route 53 in Romeoville.
Dr. Scott Alexander, Associate Professor of Islam and
Director of the Catholic-Muslim studies Program at Catholic
theological Union in Chicago will be the presenter. The
lecture will offer a comparison between the Muhammad of Islam and
the Jesus of Christianity. Discussing the relevance of Muhammad
in Islamic teaching, pre presentation also will interpret how
Jesus is viewed within an Islamic context and will compare this
to the Christian perspective. Free and open to the public
Liturgy Update
We are about to enter "Holy Week," the most solemn week of
our Lenten Season. It is a time for all to come to worship
beginning with Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper. It
has been our tradition the past few years to invite all those who
attend Mass on Holy Thursday to participate in the "Washing of
Feet." As Jesus humbly washed the feet of his apostles, we
invite you to join us in this ritual to have your feet washed and
in turn humbly wash the feet of others. Please help us make the
significance of this occasion as meaningful as possible by
participating.
On Good Friday all are invited to attend the special
services beginning with the live Stations of the Cross at 3:00
p.m. in the afternoon and the Veneration of the Cross at 7:30
p.m. in the evening.
Those of you attending the Easter Vigil this year are asked
to enter through the double doors by the Gathering Space. If
weather permits and you are able to stand outside of the Entrance
to the Gathering Space, we ask that you do so. There will be two
Candle Tables outside the entrances and as soon as the Blessing
of the Fire and the Preparation of the Easter Candle is completed
and lit by the Deacon, assigned attendants will light the candles
and hand them to the people waiting to enter Church through the
Gathering Space Doors. Anyone who cannot physically stand
outside, please enter church and wait in your pew and someone
will make sure you have a lit candle. Please remember our Easter
Vigil Service will begin at 8:00 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration
Monday, April 2
9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Why do we offer monthly Eucharistic Adoration at Mary Queen
of Heaven? The Holy Father asked for it!!! For those who haven't
had the opportunity, Lent is a perfect time. If there's anything
you need to thank or praise God for, to express sorrow for, or to
ask for, know that He waits for you to come and spend some and
spend some time with Him. All are invited to join us any time
during the day, as well as for Benediction.
We are in need of people to sign up for an hour of
adoration. Please see the large sign-up poster in the back of
church.
Parents of Confirmation Candidates:
Please note that Confirmation will be celebrated at the Parish on
Saturday, May 12, at 5:00 p.m.
Market Day
Orders for April due Monday, April 23 with pickup on Saturday,
April 29.
Parish News
Peace and Justice Committee
Good Friday Walk for Peace and Justice
April 6 at 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
At Immaculate Conception Church
MQH Peace & Justice Committee is participating in this
public procession with the cross beginning at IC Chapel at 10:00
a.m. We will visit 10 stations in the community finishing up back
at IC for closing prayers and a simple meal of soup and bread.
Prayers and readings at each station will focus on issues such as
hunger, affordable housing, adequate health care, violence in
society, war and peace, etc.
The walk will be about 1 mile in length. Cars will be
available for those who may have difficulty walking. Families
with children in strollers, wagons, or on foot are welcome. This
is a wonderful way to pass our faith on to the next generation!
For information, contact Mary Ann Reed at 834-4840.
MQH Peace and Justice Committee
The documentary film, "An Inconvenient Truth", which deals
with the threat of global warming and what can be done to change
the situation, will be shown in Barrett Hall on Thursday, April
19, at 7:00 p.m. This film offers concrete suggestions of
actions that can be taken by each and every one of us to "care
for God's creation" as we are called to do by the social teaching
of our Pope and bishops. Even if you have already seen this
award-winning documentary, please join us on April 19. There will
be refreshments and an opportunity for group discussion
afterward.
- The Gathering -
A small Faith Community
at Mary Queen of Heaven
A Thursday evening Community, The Gathering, would like to
welcome new members. Would that be you?
- Not a Bible study group, although Scripture is a key
element
- Not a social group, even though socializing and caring for
one another as friends is very important
- Not a prayer group, but prayer is its foundation
- Not a ministry committee, but service is a vital aspect of
community life
A Small Faith Community is all of these. It is an
opportunity to come together in a manner similar to the very
first Christians more than 2,000 years ago, in each other's
homes. A small church within a larger one. We meet 1st and 3rd
Thursday evening of each month.
How can you tell if this is for you?
COME AND SEE!
Call Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523.
Please join in the special celebrations of this Holy
Week. On Tuesday, we will have as our guest Bishop Thomas
Gumbleton of Detroit, someone who has spent his life making
a difference by trying to build peace in the world. He
will be speaking with us at 7 p.m. and his talk will be
followed by our Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service at 8
p.m. May we be willing to first make a difference within
ourselves and within the life of this community by seeking
reconciliation with our Lord and with one another.
On Holy Thursday, the footwashing ritual and sharing
of the Eucharist emphasize the servant nature of ministry.
We are called to be humble servants of the Lord and of one
another. On Good Friday, we enter into the Lord's Passion
and embrace the cross that we will all carry if we are
truly followers of Jesus. On Saturday, the joy that
overcomes all trial, sorrow, and even death itself, is made
known to us in the celebration of our Lord's Resurrection,
first in the celebration of the Easter Vigil on Saturday
night. We come to the church and to the Easter fire in the
dark. We listen by candlelight to Holy Scripture and the
story of God's work from the beginning of creation
throughout history. We once again joyfully sing the Gloria
and the Alleluia as we welcome the risen Christ. This
celebration continues through the Masses of Easter morning.
Let us begin this Holy Week grounded in the knowledge
that Jesus offered his life to make a difference for us.
As we continue our journey with him during these days, let
us recommit ourselves to making a difference for one
another and for our world. Believe that we can do this and
invite a friend, a neighbor, or even a stranger with you to
church this Easter. Our celebrations on Holy Thursday and
Good Friday are at 7:30 pm. The Easter Vigil begins on
Saturday at 8 p.m. Our Masses on Easter Sunday are at
8:30, 10:30, and 12:30. God bless you all during this Holy
Week and always.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Go Make A Difference
The picture from the front cover of this Palm
Sunday bulletin is worth repeating. The picture is of
Jesus, on the way to Jerusalem, on the way to his death.
Over the picture appear the words, "Go Make A Difference."
This is Jesus, going to make a difference for each one of
us, going to make a difference for the whole world, by
loving us so much that he would give his life for us. "Go
Make A Difference." These words have also formed our
parish theme since early February. That is when we
reflected together with Father Richard Fragomeni and
parishioners who gave witness talks on how our lives do
make a difference to God and how the world expects our
lives to make a difference for others.
Today, Jesus shows us the way. He empties himself of
everything but the love he has for his disciples and for
all those who would follow them. We can look at this
picture today and reflect on how Jesus wanted his life to
make a difference for others. As we enter more deeply into
Jesus' last days with his disciples during this Holy Week,
we can also reflect more deeply on how we are called to
follow Jesus by being people for others and making a
difference in the world around us.
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