ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS:
SHOW THE FACE OF CHRIST
Last evening, I stopped by our Wings to Heaven Youth Group's Christmas Party. As the children enjoyed their Christmas treats, I visited each table to say hello and ask the children what they looked forward to at Christmas. I was struck by the responses I received.
Many children told me they were looking forward to receiving presents but when I asked them if there was anything in particular that they wanted, they all said no. Not one child told me that they wanted any special toy, game, or electronic device.
I came away from my visit with the children thinking about how different their responses were from what could be expected in a day and age when Christmas has become so commercialized and our society as a whole is so fixated on individualism and materialism. I have no doubt that the parents of these children, along with our youth group leaders and catechists, have all made a difference in the outlook of our children and in their judgment about what really is of the highest value in life. I also came away from my visit with the children reflecting on the purity of their expressions of hope, as they talked with excitement about presents they would receive. Whether or not they had special wishes they didn't tell me about, they said very clearly that they were just excited knowing that they would receive gifts. There is something essentially Catholic about this kind of hope and it is at the heart of what Christmas is all about.
Sometimes as adults, I think we lose our sense of this kind of hope. We confuse wanting what we think is right with hope and then when things do not go our way, we become angry or depressed, sometimes even to the point of despair. This can happen in all kinds of ways, from times when we experience life's greatest sorrows to times when we experience other kinds of disappointments. There is something in the way that our children express themselves that can teach all of us something about the true meaning of hope.
Very recently, Pope Benedict issued an encyclical message titled, Spe Salvi, meaning On Christian Hope. As he says, our "great, true hope, which holds firm in spite of all disappointments can only be God - God who has loved us and who continues to love us 'to the end,' until all 'is accomplished'" (Jn. 13:1, 19:30). Our children even have some early sense of this in their knowledge that the gift they expect to receive is itself more important than whatever is their desire.
In his encyclical message, the Pope shares many stories of people of faith who experienced great trials in their lives; discovering the presence and love of God sustained them through their suffering. Surely in one sense, they, like us, could have had hopes for an easier life, with less struggle or pain. However, their "great, true hope" was anchored in God and their lives became transformed in spite of the circumstances around them.
Pope Benedict quotes St. Augustine in describing his daily life: "The turbulent have to be corrected, the faint-hearted cheered up, the weak supported; the Gospel's opponents need to be refuted, its insidious enemies guarded against; the unlearned need to be taught, the indolent stirred up, the argumentative checked; the proud must be put in their place, the desperate set on their feet, those engaged in quarrels reconciled; the needy have to be helped, the oppressed to be liberated, the good to be encouraged, the bad to be tolerated; all must be loved...The Gospel terrifies me." The Pope goes on to describe this kind of fear as a "healthy fear which prevents us from living for ourselves alone and compels us to pass on the hope we hold in common." For Augustine, Pope Benedict says, "Amid the serious difficulties facing the Roman Empire... this was what [Augustine] set out to do: to transmit hope, the hope which came to him from faith and which, in complete contrast with his introverted temperament, enabled him to take part decisively and with all his strength in the task of building up the city."
St. Augustine shows us that his hope was anchored in God when he says, "[Christ] intercedes for us, otherwise I should despair. My weaknesses are many and grave, many and grave indeed, but more abundant still is your medicine. We might have thought that your word was far distant from union with man, and so we might have despaired of ourselves, if this Word had not become flesh and dwelt among us."
The very heart of Christmas is the story of this Incarnation. How can we renew our sense of hope in the season when we celebrate the greatest gift of all? How can we renew our hope when things are not going the way we wanted? How can we renew our hope when we are in pain - physical, emotional, or spiritual? How can we renew our hope when there are so many troubles in the world today? Pope Benedict has suggestions for us. One is that we renew the practice of "offering up" (or entrusting to God) our daily hardships, a common devotional practice of the past. Another is prayer. "When no one listens to me any more, God still listens to me. When I can no longer talk to anyone or call upon anyone, I can always talk to God. When there is no longer anyone to help me deal with a need or expectation that goes beyond the human capacity for hope, he can help me."
Whatever trials we face in life, our loving God, made Incarnate in Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate, is there to save us. Let us then, through prayer and perseverance, and through offering up our sufferings to Christ, become renewed in the "great, true hope" that can never disappoint, God's all powerful and abiding love. Like the children this Christmas, let us rejoice in the gift itself, infinitely more valuable than anything we could ever ask for ourselves.
Dr. Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
A Vocation View
Vocations from God are not always clear. Not all of us are like
Joseph who had an angel appear to him saying: "Take Mary as your
wife, and fear not."
Parish Office
426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone (630) 279-5700
FAX (630) 279-4667
Parish Office Hours:
Mon.-Thurs.. 9:00 am-7:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Evening and weekend appointments can be made with the Pastoral
Life Coordinator by calling the Parish Office.
Parish News
Catholic Perspectives on Immigration
Save the Date: January 23, 2008
On the evening of Wednesday, January 23, 2008 the
parish will sponsor a panel discussion on the topic of
immigration. Bishop John Manz, of The Archdiocese of
Chicago, who worked together with the U.S.-Mexican Bishops'
Committee, which produced the pastoral letter Strangers No
Longer, will discuss Catholic Social Doctrine and
Immigration. Other speakers will discuss the role of local
churches regarding immigrants and the issue of reform of U.
S. immigration laws and procedures. Questions and
discussion will follow.
Christmas Mass Schedule:
Children's Mass with Nativity Pageant
Monday, December 24 at 4:00 p.m.
(Please note the NEW TIME this year)
Christmas Eve, Monday December 24
Prelude Concert at 10:00 p.m.
"Midnight Mass" at 11:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, Tuesday December 25
8:30 a.m. Mass
10:30 a.m. Mass
New Year's Eve, Monday December 31, 2007
5:00 p.m. Mass
New Year's Day, Tuesday January 1, 2008
9:00 a.m. Mass
ParishPay
Making it Easier to Give
Please consider this option when choosing how to best support our
Parish Family at Mary Queen of Heaven.
Contact www.parishpay.com, or call 866-PARISH-1 for further
information.
"God loves a cheerful giver"
Collection total for Sunday,
December 16, 2007
amounted to $5713.00
Thank you for your support.
Gospel Reflection
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
He became a child, so that the Word could be grasped by us.
In this way God teaches us to love the little ones. In this
way he teaches us to love the weak. In this way he teaches
us respect for children. The child of Bethlehem directs our
gaze towards all children who suffer and are abused in the
world, the born and the unborn. Towards children who are
placed as soldiers in a violent world; towards children who
have to beg; towards children who suffer deprivation and
hunger; towards children who are unloved. In all of these
it is the Child of Bethlehem who is crying out to us; it is
the God who has become small who appeals to us. Let us pray
this night that the brightness of God's love may enfold all
these children. Let us ask God to help us do our part so
that the dignity of children may be respected.
Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Midnight Mass, Christmas 2006
MAYSLAKE MINISTRIES
"Naming God's Grace" with Sr. Marianne Saieg, OSF will
be presented at the Mayslake location in Westmont. 9:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cost is $50. Call 630-323-1620 with
reservations by 1/4/08.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
Through your generous support and donation of monies and
gifts, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, was able to make
Christmas a little brighter for low income families in DuPage
County. This year, through the agency's Holiday Outreach
Program, hundreds of families were "adopted" by participating
parishes. Surely each of the families that received the gifts
collected by your parish will have cause to celebrate this
season of the birth of Our Lord Jesus.
Again, we offer our most sincere thanks and wish you and
your families every blessing of the New Year!
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.
Aurora Arce Natalie Baker
Katherine Brennan Pam Bondfide
Pat Caffarelli Rose Caffarelli
Kathy Calzante Cosmore Ciancio
Dennis Ciancio Lou Ciancio
George Cibula Paul Cirone
Ida Corriedo Cynthia Catalano Family
Rosemary Davis 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
Sr. Emmanuel Kattner, OSF Irene Kmieciak
Anne Kostas Wendy Kraffky
John Larkin Baby Emma Lynde
Marie Mangano Robert Manion
Mary Martin Dennis McCabe
Mary Piszczor Jennie Milazz
Raymond Mitchell Fred Moss
Mary Sabel Oye Geri Pstrzoch
Baby Faith Reid Robert Restivo
Vera Rossiano Agnes Sabel
Patricia Sabel Joaquina Scroppo
Joan Skimina Jess Smith
Steve Snyder Mary Spierowski
Joen Szypulski 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.
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER:
Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend experience for
any married couple who wishes to enhance their life together.
Most marriages can use some tender loving care, and every
marriage deserves it! Weekends will be held on the following
dates in 2008:
February 22-24 April 11-13 June 6-8
September 19-21 November 14-16 December 5-7
To register, or for more information, please call ((630-577-0778)
or see www.wwmejoliet.org
MASS IN CELEBRATION OF ALL LIFE
Sunday, January 13, 2:00 p.m. - The first annual Mass in
Celebration of All Life in honor of those who respect & protect
life will be held at the Cathedral for parish Respect Life
coordinators and their families. Bishop J. Peter Sartain will
serve as celebrant and homilist. Bishop Roger L. Kaffer will
concelebrate. There will be a Children's Candle and Roses
Procession. Special blessings will be given to all who are or who
have worked for Respect Life as well as those traveling to the
March for Life in Washington or San Francisco. A reception will
follow the Mass. For more information, contact John or Mary
Therese Egizio ((815-722-1600) or the Life Office ((815-838-
1002).
YOGA CLASSES
FOR THE NEW YEAR
Start something new for yourself this New Year. New Yoga
Class Schedule - Come for one or more classes. Recommended for
ages 15 to 75 (however, everyone is welcome)
Increase your flexibility, strength, and decrease your
stress. It is about balance, strength, and mobility.
Tuesdays 9 am to 10 am
January 8, 15, 22, and 29
$4 per class ($6 for families) Call Debbie Styka at 630-
941-7224
Please bring a non-slip yoga mat if you have one.
Required: comfortable clothing, socks that can come off
PRESCHOOL BLESSINGS
May the Light of Christ burn brightly within you
during these Holy Days. A Blessed Christmas to all from
Mary Queen of Heaven Preschool.
Please note: There is no RE on December 26th and January 2nd.
RE Class sessions will resume at the normal time on Wednesday,
January 9th.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at
the REO, 832-8962.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
On behalf of all of us in the REO, we wish you a most holy
and happy Christmas.
Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and
contact the school office for more information and registration.
(630) 833-9500
Preschool classes have begun. We still have some openings in our
Tuesday/Thursday class.
Come join us!
Preschool tours scheduled upon request.
The Preschool will begin Registration for the 2008-2009 school
year beginning in January. We will be offering Open House for
those interested in visiting our classroom.
OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 2008
Saturday January 12, 2008 9:00am-11:00am
Sunday January 13, 2008 9:30am-12:30pm
After the 8:30am and 10:30am Masses
Tuesday January 29, 2008 6:30pm-8:00pm
Parish News
DESTINY HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP
Mark your calendars and plan to join us.
June 27-29, 2008
Youth Leadership Conference
Lewis University, Romeoville
It is an awesome weekend of
praise, friendship and worship. We hope you will plan on joining
us. Questions? Call Mrs. Gusloff
Christian Education Commission
EXPLANATION OF MASS CHANGES
There will be no morning Masses on Monday, December 24
or on Monday, December 31. We will be having Masses later
in the day on each of those days and it is a hardship to
stretch our priests any further than they already are
during this busy liturgical season. Please check the
schedule on page 3 for up-to-date days and times. Thank
you for your understanding and we look forward to your
worship with us later on those days.