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February 24, 2008

3^rd Sunday of Lent

Elmhurst, Illinois

Mary Queen of Heaven Church

Mary’s Page

Look Within

and Return to the Way of the Lord

          Last weekend, we published the Pope’s Lenten message, in which he focused on almsgiving, which (along with prayer and fasting) is one of the three primary spiritual disciples of Lent.  Almsgiving means to share what we have with those who are in need.

            For these remaining weeks of Lent, we have the opportunity to do this through our parish in two ways.  One is to make contributions to our Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the arm of our church that reaches out to those who are in need in our own parish and surrounding community.

            In today’s bulletin, you will find information about another opportunity to help the poor in our country and around the world.  Today’s bulletin contains materials from Operation Rice Bowl, a project of Catholic Relief Services.  CRS uses 75% of the money that is collected to help those in other countries and 25% helps people in the United States.

            In today’s bulletin you will find a Home Calendar Guide, which offers simple, daily Lenten activities for families and helpful information about Catholic teaching for everyone.  Also, you will find an Operation Rice Bowl container, in which money can be deposited during these remaining days of Lent.  On Easter Sunday, baskets will be available in church so people can pour out their Rice Bowl containers and this collection will be brought to the altar and blessed at the offertory.   

            This week, we have the opportunity to deepen our prayer life by participating in our special Mini-Retreat to be offered by Sister Jane Schlosser, R.S.M.  This event will take place in the church on Friday night at 7 p.m.  This retreat, titled, “Women at the Cross,” is intended for both men and women.

            We will celebrate our Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service on Tuesday, March 4, with Father John Enright presiding.  Many of you know Father Enright, who has helped with sacramental ministry here at Mary Queen for many years.  He has recently been recovering from an accident and we are glad that he is now well enough to return as our regular Friday morning Mass presider.  Father Enright is a holy man, one who has devoted his life to caring for the poor, here and abroad.  He serves on the committee for missions in our diocese and has participated in a great number of mission trips over the years, most recently to Bolivia and to a Navajo reservation.  For a number of years, he served the people of Panama, in a parish outreach established by the Archdiocese of Chicago. 

            Father Enright is preparing the liturgy for the reconciliation service and I encourage everyone to celebrate together this sacrament of healing and reconciliation.  For those who have been away from “confession” for a long time, I would like to explain what happens at a communal reconciliation service.  It is much like a Liturgy of the Word, with scripture readings and prayers.  Added to this is an examination of conscience that we do together.  The benefit of a communal celebration is that it helps us to better realize that sin in our lives is never something that is just personal.  What we do affects others.  Communal celebrations also remind us that there are ways that we participate in social sin, or sinful structures in society.  Communal celebrations help us remember how our lives affect others and we are reminded, too, that we need the help of each other to become the people God calls us to be.

            After our examination of conscience, everyone is invited to individual confession with a priest.  We will have a number of priests sitting in different places around the church where people can go and talk face-to-face, confessing their sins and receiving absolution.  When everyone is finished, we all pray together once more before going home.  With this communal way of celebrating the Sacrament, there is no longer the fear that some of us had in the old days, when we had to line up to go inside a confessional and everything seemed dark and secret.  Now, our sins are certainly still held secret by the priest, but our being together in the light of the church helps us to gain strength from each other and have a greater sense of responsibility toward our community.  Every priest who will be here will be a good confessor and I hope that many of us will take advantage of this opportunity.

            This afternoon, we have our Lenten Concert, offered by our Music Ministry.  This is also Molly Lindberg’s last weekend as our Music Director.  I want to personally thank Molly for all of her hard work and dedication in service of our parish for the last four and a half years.  Her incredible giftedness has made an indelible impression on this parish and in the lives of all the adults and children who have worked with her.  May the seeds that she has planted continue to grow and may God continue to bless you, Molly, in all your future endeavors.  

Dr. Mary, Pastoral Life Coordinator

Lenten Mini-Retreat: Women at the Cross

For all men and women

Presented by:   Sister Jane Schossler

                   Enrich your Lenten journey by participating in a mini- retreat on Friday, February 29.  As part of a year-long celebration of Women in the Church/Bible, the Adult Education and Spirituality Committee is proud to present Sister Jane Schlosser, who will present a Lenten mini-retreat on Women at the Cross, at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 29 in Church. This mini-retreat will take the place of our weekly Stations of the Cross for that evening.

                   All interested men and women are invited. For further information, contact the Church office at 630-279-5700.

Mixed Marriages and Blended Families: A Day of Refreshment and Renewal

Saturday, March 8, 2008

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mixed Marriage = Catholic and Protestant Couple

Blended Families = his kids + her kids

The Mary Queen of Heaven Adult Spirituality and Education Committee is pleased to sponsor a day of refreshment and renewal for couples who are in mixed marriages and/or blended families.  This is a wonderful opportunity to enrich your faith and the life of your family. This free program runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, and includes lunch, speakers from different denominations, break-out sessions on issues unique to mixed marriages and blended families and sharing opportunities for couples and small groups.

This program is being funded by a gift from Marion Young-Bodmer and Gerald A. Bodmer.  Jerry Bodmer was a faithful member of Mary Queen of Heaven from 1986 until his death in May 2007.  He was a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School and Loyola University.  Marion is an elder at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, where she serves as church librarian and is active in the church mission and adult studies.  The couple raised a blended family of nine.

To RSVP for this special program please call the Parish Office at 630-279-5700 by Wednesday, February 27.

PARISH LENTEN SCHEDULE

Lenten Mini-Retreat

Sister Jane Schlosser

Friday, Feb. 29

7:00 p.m. in the church

Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service

Tuesday, March 4

Father John Enright, presiding

7:30 p.m.

Stations of the Cross  

Friday evenings at 7 p.m.

March 7 and 14

Good Friday

Friday, March 21

Living Stations at 3 p.m.

Passion of Our Lord at 7:30 p.m.

Holy Saturday

Saturday, March 22

Blessing of Easter Baskets at 11 a.m. in church

Easter Vigil Mass at 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday

Sunday, March 23

Masses:

8:30 AM

10:30 AM

12:30 PM

MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN

CHOIR CONCERT

Today, February 24th 3:00PM in Church

            The tickets have been purchased, the choirs have been practicing, and now the time has arrived!  Please come enjoy the concert at 3:00PM in Mary Queen of Heaven Church!  We want to thank Molly for all of her hard work over the last four and one half years and for sharing her incredible talent with us.  We wish her the very best blessings in her future career pursuits!

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

THE HOLY FATHER ASKS FOR IT!!!

            …Pope John Paul II says: “The encouragement and the deepening of Eucharistic worship are proofs of that authentic renewal which the Council set itself as an aim, and of which they are the central point. The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and in contemplation... May our adoration never cease.”

            If you would like a chance to spend one hour, or any part of an hour in prayer, our next Day of Eucharistic Adoration is Monday, March 3^rd, from 9 AM to 7 PM.  The day of adoration and prayer closes with Benediction at 7:00 PM.  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, especially the hours of 3 and 6 PM.  Please see the large sign-up poster in the back of church.

SEARCH PROCESS FOR MUSIC DIRECTOR

            We are beginning a national search process for our new Music Director.  The search process will be led by parishioner Paul French, who is Music Director of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Chicago.  Paul is a nationally known liturgical musician who has served on the Board of Directors for the American Federation Pueri Cantores, the official student choral organization of the Roman Catholic Church.  If you are interested in being part of the committee working together with Paul, please contact the Parish Office.

FELLOWSHIP MARCH 2nd

            Religious Education Department will be our hosts for Fellowship on March 2 following the 10:30 AM Family Mass. All are invited to join us in Barrett Hall for conversation with parishioners, while enjoying juice, coffee and goodies.  Our Religious Education Department will have a table with information on their programs and activities.  Our Preschool will also have a table with information and registration forms.  We hope you will stop in and visit.

Received via the Internet:

            On the first day, God created the dog and said:

“Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past.  For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.”

            The dog said: “That's a long time to be barking.  How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?”
So God agreed.
            On the second day, God created the monkey and said:  ”Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh.  For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.”
            The monkey said: “Monkey tricks for twenty years?  That's a pretty long time to perform.  How about I give
you back ten like the dog did?”
And God agreed.
            On the third day, God created the cow and said:

“You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and toil under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family.  For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.”
            The cow said: “That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?”
And God agreed again.
            On the fourth day, God created man and said:

“Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life.  For this, I'll give you twenty years.”
            But man said: “Only twenty years?  Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?”
”Okay,” said God.
            So, that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves.  For the next forty years we work to support our family.  For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.  And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone!

Christian Education Commission

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE  Please call the Preschool for information.  Become a part of our growing school.  Schedule a visit, meet the teacher, come “Light the Way” with us.

The Preschool is accepting Registration for the 2008-2009 school year.  We have opened up a second classroom for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday class and look forward to being able to serve your child and your family for the 2008-2009 school year.  We are offering Open Houses for those interested in visiting our classroom.

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 6, 2008  6:00p.m.-8:00p.m.

Monday, April 14, 2008  6:00p.m.-8:00p.m.

May date to be scheduled

Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and contact the school office for more information and registration.                  (630) 833-9500

            Preschool tours scheduled upon request.

Religious Education News

RE families please mark your calendars:

Saturday, March 1^st

Our 8^th grade Confirmation candidates will be interviewed for the final time from 9:00AM to Noon in the School classrooms. Parents of candidates should have received an Interview time in the mail this past week. Please let us know ASAP if there is a conflict with the date and/or time.

Please note the date has been changed from the original March 8 which appears on the RE calendar.

Sunday, March 2^nd at 10:30AM – RE Family Mass.  All are invited to attend.

Thank you Molly.

On behalf of the entire RE staff and all of our RE families we thank you for sharing your gift of music with us over the years. You have truly shown us the meaning of the words, “Those who sing, pray twice.” We wish you all of God’s blessings as you begin your new journey.

For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.

Sunday, March 2^nd at 10:30AM – RE Family Mass. All are invited to attend.

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.

      Aurora Arce                                                            Margaret Barone

      Jim Brankin                                                 Katherine Brennan                               

      John Brennan                                              Pam Bondfide                                      

      Pat Caffarelli                                              Rose Caffarelli                                     

      Kathy Calzante                                           Josephine Castro                                 

      Cosmore Ciancio                                         Dennis Ciancio                                     

      George Cibula                                           Paul Cirone                                                      

      Ida Corriedo                                               Cynthia Catalano Family          

      Rosemary Davis                                          Deacon Bob Delbeke               

      Trudi Dolato                                                            Baby Dobrowolski                                

      Virginia Feret                                              Cecilia Garstki                                     

      Mary Hagerty                                            Anna Heffel                                                     

      Bob Hummell                                               Jen Huwalt                                                       

      Tom Huwalt                                                 Maureen James                                               

      Richard Jones                                             Kathy Johnston                                    

      Sr. Emmanuel Kattner, OSF                          Irene Kmieciak                                     

      Anne Kostas                                                            John Larkin                                                      

      Baby Emma Lynde                                      Marie Mangano                                               

      Robert Manion                                            Mary Martin                                        

      Dennis McCabe                                           Mary Piszczor                                      

      Jennie Milazzo                                           Raymond Mitchell                                

      Fred Moss                                                   Baby Faith Reid                                               

      Robert Restivo                                            Vera Rossiano                                      

      Patricia Sabel                                             Vi Sabel                                                           Joaquina Scroppo                                 Joan Skimina                                       

      Jess Smith                                                   Steve Snyder                                      

      Rachael Thompson                                      Richard Vanni

REST IN PEACE

Daniel Parmenter

Eric Peterson

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.

Market Day

            Orders for March are due Monday, March 10, at noon.  Turn in your order form in the box in the back of church or at the rectory.  Pickup on Saturday, March 15, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. 

            If you have questions or would like to place an order, please call Karen at 279-4108 or Beth at 833-5469 or email her at ekujawa121@sbcglobal.net .

Diocesan News

Eastern DuPage Deanery

Joliet Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

Lenten Evening of Reflection

Open to all Women of the Parish

Thursday, February 28^th

            A Lenten Evening of Reflection is being planned for members of the Eastern DuPage Deanery. It will take place at Christ the King Church at 1501 South Main Street in Lombard.  Fr. Peter Jarosz, Pastor of Christ the King Parish and Moderator of the Council of Catholic Women  Eastern DuPage Deanery will be the Spiritual Director of the evening.  Mark your calendar and plan to come.  The date and time for the event is Thursday, February 28th at 7:30 PM.  The Eastern DuPage Deanery Council of Catholic Women sponsors this event.

A Get-Away Weekend!!!

            Are you worn out from the holidays?  Are you tired of being cooped up, shoveling snow, traffic is a mess?  Why not give yourself a weekend away from it all?  Meals prepared!  Time away from the pressures of work and everyday responsibilities!  A chance to talk and listen to that special someone who loves you!  If that sounds good to you, sign up now for a Marriage Encounter Weekend.  Upcoming Marriage Encounter Weekends are April 11-13th, June 6-8th.  Call 630-577-0778 or visit us at  www.wwmejoliet.org

Inaugural Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast

            Lay Catholic leaders across the state have organized the Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast, scheduled to hold its inaugural event on Thursday, March 6th at the Chicago Hilton.  The event is aimed at bringing together Catholics and all people of good will from across the state to pray for our nation and leaders.

            Registration and information is available at: www.illinoiscatholicprayerbreakfast.com

A Vocation View

Only the Lord can give true living water, fullness of life.  Our body cannot survive without water;  our spirit cannot survive without living water.  Now is the time to renew our lives in the waters and Spirit of Baptism.

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,

February 17, 2008

 amounted to $4714.90

Thank you for your support.

Readings for the Week of February 24, 2008

Sunday: Ex 17:3-7/Rom 5:1-2, 5-8/Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

Monday:            2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Lk 4:24-30

Tuesday:            Dn 3:25, 34-43/Mt 18:21-35

Wednesday:      Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19

Thursday:           Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23

Friday:              Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34

Saturday:          Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14

Next Sunday:     1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

Community News

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT

ANNUAL FREE HOMEOWNERSHIP FAIR

MARCH 1, 2008

            Get a jump start on the spring home-buying season by attending the 16th Annual Free Homeownership Fair, Saturday, March 1st at the DuPage County Administration Bldg., 421 N. County Farm Road, in Wheaton

            The DuPage Homeownership Center, a non-profit housing counseling agency, and the DuPage County Department of Community Services, are sponsoring the Fair, which runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.  The Fair offers one-stop shopping for consumers to get answers from the experts to all of their home ownership questions..  We will be offering our free Home Buyer Education classes (with certificate) as well as workshops on Understanding Credit, Mortgages 101, Shopping for a home, and Foreclosure Prevention.

            HUD will be on hand to talk about FHA  loans and HUD homes, and local agencies will be available to discuss fair housing and other issues important to first-time homebuyers and current homeowners.

Your dining out and your checking account can help the parish!

            Parishioners who dine at the Elmhurst Family Restaurant on Lake Street can help contribute to the parish.  Just identify yourselves as being from Mary Queen of Heaven and 10% of your restaurant bill comes back to the parish.

            Also, parishioners who open a new checking account with $100 at Standard Bank and Trust in Villa Park will receive $75 from the bank and another $75 will come to the parish.  For details, please contact parishioner and banker Karen Biggs at (708) 499-2062, ext. 61115.

Seniors Invited to Defer Property Taxes

            Qualified senior citizens, aged 65 years and older are invited to apply for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program.  The program allows participants to defer property tax payment until the property is sold.  The deferral is treated as a loan and accrues 6 percent simple interest until paid.  To qualify, the applicant’s household income cannot exceed $50,000.  Additionally, the property must be used exclusively for residential purposes.

            The application period closes March 1, 2008.  For more information, contact the DuPage County Treasurer’s Office at 630-407-5900 or www.dupageco.org/treasurer.Gwen Henry, Treasurer

Mary Queen of Heaven   March 2000        Elmhurst, Illinois                                                                       Elmhurst

If you have any questions  please call Sheila McCann at (630) 260-2507.  Thank You!

Parish News

Mass Intentions for the Week

Sunday, February 24, 2008

     8:30 AM     +  Gene Rudolph

   10:30 AM     +  Steve Cleary

Monday, February 25 2008

     8:30 AM         MQH Parishioners

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

     8:30 AM         Communion Service

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

     8:30 AM         MQH Parishioners

Thursday, February 28, 2008

     8:30 AM         Communion Service

Friday, February 29, 2008

     8:30 AM     +  Al Fuchsen

Saturday, March 1, 2008

     8:30 AM         Communion Service

     5:00 PM      MQH Religious Ed. Children

Sunday, March 2, 2008

     8:30 AM     +  Dino Fuggiti

   10:30 AM     +  Al Fuchsen

+ indicates person is deceased

Use GoodSearch search engine & earn money for MQH!

Enter www.goodsearch.com for web site.

Type “Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church” into the

“I support” box, & click “verify”.  Continue your search.

Third Sunday of Lent

The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

- Jn 4:9-10