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

Happy Father's Day to all of our Dads! As I write this, I think of a conversation I had yesterday with my son Jason, whose first child Emma Michelle is due to be born on or around July 15. I told Jason that I know he will be a wonderful father. He is someone naturally gentle with children. He will be a wonderful father to a girl because he also has a natural respect for women. In fact, he probably had a feminist consciousness before I did. I remember when he was little, probably about 7 years old. One night at the dinner table, he asked me, "Mom, if we say we are all born in God's image, then why do we always call God a 'He'?" The question took me by surprise! In saying this, Jason provided a wonderful opportunity for reflection on the ways we image God and each other. In any case, I have never forgotten and have seen again and again the depth of Jason's insight. Emma will be blessed with a loving father - someone devoted to his wife Briana and his daughter. This is so wonderful because the relationship girls have with their fathers affects all the other relationships they will have with men in their lives. With sons, fathers can help to shape the kind of men their sons will be. Thank you to all of those who are fathers, or grandfathers, or godfathers, and those men who have tried to fill these roles for others.

I am also aware that Father's Day can bring sadness for some people. I hold in my heart fathers of our parish who suffer the illness of their children or who mourn their loss. There are also those who grieve the loss of their father in death. There are those, too, who lament the loss of a father they never really had because of absence or neglect. Today is a day to remember all of these people in our prayers, even as we give other fathers all of the praise and recognition they deserve. Happy Father's Day to my own father, who reads this column every week, and to both of my sons who are new fathers (who will also read these words). Happy Father's Day to the clergy who serve our faith community. And happy Father's Day to all fathers of our parish!

Joseph - Looking back to last weekend, I want to once again thank everyone who was involved in our Music Ministry's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. If you were not in attendance, you have probably already heard from those who were that the concert was incredible and it was an amazing display of the talent we have in our parish. More than this, it was a magnificent example of what happens when people share their God-given gifts with the church. People were drawn not only by the music but by the joyful Christian spirit of our parishioners. This, in turn, draws people to Christ because they yearn for what they see. This service in faith to the parish also helped the entire parish since this was a major fundraiser. Thanks to all the singers and musicians, to all of those who labored over stage-building, to all who helped with ticket sales or soliciting advertising, and for all of those who financially supported the parish through their donations and/or ticket sales. Most of all, thanks to Molly Lindberg, whose own gifts offered in directing music ministry here have made such a difference. Molly, thank you again.

New Wine - I would also like to take a moment to look ahead just a little bit. You may have seen another bulletin column earlier this year that mentioned the New Wine program. This is a three-year lay ministry formation program of our Diocese, intended to help educate and inform volunteer lay leaders of any kind of parish ministry. The program can benefit those already serving in ministry by deepening their understanding of the church, scripture, ministry and theology, at the same time that it provides formation in stronger leadership. The program can also be good for others who are interested in beginning or new parish ministry.

I serve on the steering committee for the New Wine program and classes for the new session which will begin this fall will be held at Mary Queen. We already have three parishioners who have made a commitment to becoming part of the New Wine program. They are: Terri Kevil, Ellen Walker, and Rory Villamil. Applications are still being accepted through July 6. So, if you think you might like to consider this opportunity, please get in touch with me as soon as possible. It is a terrific program. Many of the New Wine instructors teach in graduate theology programs. So, in New Wine, you can receive a top-notch teaching but you do not have the cost or homework involved in graduate school. I would especially recommend New Wine for people who are or have been part of the RCIA team, for those interested in Adult Education and Spirituality or Young Adult Ministry, or for anyone now involved in parish ministry who would like to go a step further - either becoming a stronger leader in what they are doing now or preparing for new possibilities in the parish. Again, please contact me if you would be interested in New Wine or if you would like more information about this good program.

Happy Father's Day to all of our fathers. Also - happy summer vacation to all of our young people and those who are catechists or school teachers. Enjoy these days with your families!

Mary






A Vocation View
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Never let the sun set upon your anger.  If you are to forgive, 
follow the Master of forgiveness:  Jesus the Lord.




Like many other parishes in our diocese, we hold an annual 
discernment process rather than elections for new PPC members.  
This prayerful process can help people to know more about what is 
involved in serving on the PPC and it helps to discern those 
persons with the gifts most needed at a particular time in the 
life of our parish.

The discernment process will begin when nominations are taken 
after weekend Masses on June 23-24 and June 30-July 1.  If you 
are interested in being nominated (or nominating yourself) for 
the PPC, you may want to consider attending the next PPC meeting, 
which will be held on June 25 at 6 p.m.  

Those who are nominated must attend an orientation session and 
Discernment Day to continue in the process.  These are the steps 
involved in selecting our new PPC members for next year:
        
1.	All nominations will come from the parish at-large.  All 
registered parishioners, adults and teens, are invited to 
nominate a candidate.  A nomination must include the name of 
the person being nominated and the reason why he or she is 
being recommended for the PPC.
2.	Those eligible for the PPC must be Roman Catholics in good 
standing with the Church, who have already received the 
Sacrament of Confirmation and who support the parish.  There 
will be two positions open for adults and two for youth 
members.
3.	All nominees will be contacted by telephone on July 1.  
4.	Those accepting the nomination will be required to attend both 
an orientation session and Discernment Day.
5.	The orientation session is scheduled for July 5 at 7 p.m., 
with an alternate date available for anyone on vacation that 
week.  The orientation session will be held at the Parish 
House, where PPC meetings usually take place.
6.	The Discernment Day will be held on Sat. Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 
noon in Barrett Hall.  Attendance is required and there is 
only one date available because we use an independent 
facilitator to help us.
7.	Attendance at one of the orientation sessions and at 
Discernment Day is mandatory for nominees.  These dates are 
being published in advance so that anyone who is interested in 
serving on the PPC can hold these dates on their calendar.  
Those who cannot make the sessions may consider entering the 
process the following year.

Our parish will once again use as our Independent Facilitator, 
Ms. Rita Kattner, Director of the Office for Consultative Bodies 
for the Archdiocese of Chicago.  She has served as a consultant 
for many years for parishes in Chicago and also in the Diocese of 
Joliet.  Rita is a specialist in Parish Pastoral Councils who 
earned her doctoral degree on this subject from the University of 
St. Mary of the Lake.  She also works at the national level to 
develop tools and processes for parishes.

The Orientation Session is designed to help nominees know if this 
is a ministry to which they are truly called.  During the 
Discernment Day, those present will prayerfully discern our new 
PPC members.  Some of the nominees may discover that they are 
well suited to service on the PPC.  Others may find themselves 
interested in another ministry or to service on one of the PPC 
Commissions.  

The PPC is a visioning and planning body.  PPC members should not 
be the "do-ers" in the parish.  This should be their primary 
ministry and they should be able to devote the time their service 
requires.  Qualities that are desirable in candidates include the 
following:
*	Persons who possess good "people-skills"
*	Persons who are able to see the parish in its "big picture" 
- beyond special interests
*	Persons of compassion, care, and integrity
*	Persons open to the Holy Spirit
*	Persons that model tolerance, as Jesus did
*	Persons who are bridge-builders
*	Prior experience serving on a Commission would be helpful 
but this is not a requirement.
*	Persons who have a sense of humor

Please prayerfully consider nominations and submit yours after 
one of the Masses during the weekends of June 23-24 or June 30-
July 1.  Thank you for your consideration!


DISCERNMENT PROCESS FOR NEW PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS
NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED JUNE 23-24 AND JUNE 30-JULY 1

In two weeks, parishioners of Mary Queen of Heaven will be 
invited to nominate candidates for our Parish Pastoral Council.  
For the coming year, we are in need of adding two adults and two 
teenagers.  Please read the important information that follows 
about our PPC Discernment Process.


	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.



University of St. Francis to offer "Kidz Camps" in June and July.  
Parents can choose from nine different educational and 
motivational camps for their children to express their creativity 
and teamwork that may put them a step ahead when they go back to 
school. Topics include Art Workshops, Kid Biz Entrepreneur, and 
Investigations in Forensic Science among others. For more 
information call (815) 740-3600 or visit:  
www.stfrancis.edu/news/kidzcamps.htm 


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			Lou Ciancio
	George 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			Richard Jones
	Kathy Johnston			Irene Kmieciak
	Bernadette Kohn			Anne Kostas
	John Larkin			Baby Emma Lynde
	Marie Mangano			Robert Manion
	Dennis McCabe			Kathryn Passarelli
	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				Richard Vanni



	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.


Volunteer Tutors Needed

	The Congregation of St. Joseph (formerly the Sisters of 
Joseph of La Grange Park) is in need of volunteers for its adult 
literacy program, School on Wheels. 

	Tutors are needed to teach one hour per week from  9 a.m. 
to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Hodgkins, Summit, Westmont, and 
Woodridge.  

	A Two-day training will be provided from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 
p.m. on two consecutive Saturdays: June 23 and June 30. 
Volunteers must attend both training sessions. No prior second 
language skills are needed. 

For more information, 
call 708-354-9200 Ext. 5060, 5085, or 5037.


If you have any questions or need more information, please call 
Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.


FYI: Just so you are aware, we are in the RE office during the 
summer. If you need to contact us for any reason, please feel 
free to call and leave a message - 832-8962. 


Religious Education 

Catechists are still needed for next fall. Before you pack up the 
family for your summer vacation, please consider helping out in 
our RE program. At this time we have several openings at various 
grade levels at all 3 sessions. If you love children and you love 
your faith, we invite you to join our staff. We will help you 
with the rest. Our Religious Ed Program is one of the best in the 
area, which is reflected in our continually growing enrollment. 
But we cannot do it without you. Please call for more information 
to see how you can help.

Have you mailed in your RE registration form? Classes are filling 
up quickly. In order to insure your first choice of session time, 
please mail in your registration forms today. 


THE SOCIETY OF 
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

SENDS OUR SINCERE 
APPRECIATION

TO THE COMMUNITY OF
MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN CHURCH

FOR THE GENEROUS DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM THE CLOTHING DRIVE

THANK YOU FOR
HELPING US TO HELP PEOPLE


Theology on Tap 2007
July 11, 18, 25, and August 1
Mark your calendars!

Mary Queen of Heaven in Elmhurst will be the Northeast 
DuPage Collegiate Site for Theology on Tap this summer. 
College-age to mid-20s young adults are invited to hear 
exciting speakers four Wednesday nights in July.
July 11 - "From the Pew to the Street" - presented by 
Bill Johnson, an ordained deacon and Director of 
Campus Ministry at Marmion Academy in Aurora.
July 18 - "Why Should I Tell My Sins to a Priest" - 
presented by Bishop Roger Kaffer, Auxiliary 
Bishop of Joliet.
July 25 - "You Have a Call" - presented by Sal Solo, 
Director of ACTS Evangelism and Worship and 
former British rock star.
August 1 - "God's Gym: Health & Spirituality for Young 
Catholics" - presented by Sarah Jarzembowski, 
Apostolic Board of Advisors for Charis 
Ministries, the Jesuit outreach to young adults 
in Chicago, and a consultant for Jenny Craig 
weight loss center.
Come and hear interesting speakers and mingle with other 
young adults. For further information, contact Joe Goryl at 
joseph_goryl@yahoo.com


Message to the Parish from the Finance Council:

        Toward the end of the last calendar year, the Finance 
Council agreed to support the development of a Catholic Preschool 
at Mary Queen of Heaven.  We recognized the deep commitment and 
involvement of members of the parish to make this program happen.  
At the time, since we were still facing a shortfall of offertory 
revenue and we were not meeting parish operating expenses, we did 
not want to add to overall expenses for the parish.  With strong 
faith and prudent responsibility we authorized financial planning 
for the program so that start-up costs would be raised in 
advance.
        At this time, we are pleased to say that we will have all 
of the funds needed to start-up our preschool with both a three 
day program and a two day program using our first classroom.  
These costs total approximately $11,500.  This amount includes 
costs for consultant fees, open houses, all classroom 
furnishings, playground improvements, and a new telephone and 
security system. The actual total startup expenses for this 
program will be well below what we estimated, thanks to many 
parishioners helping to offset startup costs with their labors 
and a minimum of actual out-of-pocket expenses.
        Preschool start-up costs have been covered by the following 
sources:
*	The John Michael Talbot Concert fundraiser - $1,725
*	Contributions designated for the Preschool -    $9,876
        The Pre-School budget anticipates expenses and revenues 
which are proportioned to class size expectations that are 
reasonable and appropriate for these grade levels.  The operating 
budget of the Preschool has been planned so that operating 
expenses will be completely covered by tuition.  In addition to 
the money raised for start-up costs, an additional amount of more 
than $6000 has already been received in registration and fees for 
the coming year, with first tuition payments due by June 30.  The 
Pre-School program will be self supporting and we do not expect 
any operating subsidy from the parish.
        There are no other startup costs that we anticipate for 
this program and we are pleased to report that our financial 
objective with regard to start-up costs was a success.   We would 
like to congratulate not only those who diligently worked very 
hard to achieve this milestone, but also, we would like to 
gratefully send thanks to all those of you who continue to 
support the Preschool with your generous gifts of time, talent 
and treasure. 
Gene Suwanski, Chair, Mary Queen of Heaven Finance Council




Market Day

	Orders for June are due by Monday, June 18, at noon.  Turn 
in your order form in the box in the back of church or at the 
rectory.  Pickup on Saturday, June 23, 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.


Christian Service Commission


Come and see a classroom and meet our Preschool Director

Open House, Thursday, June 21, 2007
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.


Even the smallest action in our lives-like giving to the Catholic 
Ministries Annual Appeal-can be an opportunity to praise and 
serve God.  As God is generous to us, He asks us to be generous 
to those in need.  Please give in proportion to your own 
blessings.



Meet our new Preschool Director
Mrs. Elizabeth Lowrey
	We are happy to announce the newest addition to our staff, 
Elizabeth Lowrey.  Mrs. Lowrey is recognized as a Master teacher 
in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  She brings with her experience in 
Early Childhood and Elementary education.  She is involved with 
the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC) 
and has had  classroom accreditation by NAEYC for the past ten 
years.  Her enthusiasm for the development of young children is 
evident in her dedication to providing best practices for her 
students.  She has served on the Early Childhood Advisory Council 
for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and has presented workshops for 
parents and teachers.  She will be introducing herself at next 
weekend's Masses.  Join us in welcoming Mrs. Lowrey to our Parish 
family.

Back to Parish Bulletin Page