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
L.O.S.S. Support Group
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Through the collaboration of Catholic Charities (from the
Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet), support groups
are in place for anyone who has lost a relative or friend to
suicide. A trained facilitator and a mental health professional
assist these groups.
The groups meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on either the first
Tuesday of the month, the third Wednesday or the fourth Tuesday
of the month.
The next meeting dates are as follows:
Feb. 1 Catholic Charities Office
270 N. Schuyler Ave. in Kankakee
Feb. 16 St. Paul the Apostle Activity Center
130 Woodlawn in Joliet
Feb. 22 St. Daniel the Prophet Parish Center
101 West Loop Drive in Wheaton
For further information, please call the L.O.S.S. Program
Center at 312-655-7283.
Help Others With Your Extras
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting house
wares that are clean and in good condition to help people in
need. Check around your household. Do you have items that you
just don't use anymore? Do you need a little space? There are
people that would be delighted to receive your extras.
The Society is looking for glassware, dishes, pots and
pans, bake ware, utensils, small working appliances, lamps,
knick-knacks, and miscellaneous household items.
Please call 630-231-4658 for the society to send their
truck to your home to pick up your donations. Clothing donations
will be accepted along with your house wares. Receipts are
always gladly given.
Scripture Study Starting Soon:
The Acts of the Apostles
"Now when they [rulers, elders, and scribes] saw the
boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated
and ordinary men, they were amazed..." Acts 4:13
We are looking for additional facilitators and co-
facilitators for our Bible study groups, which will begin in the
spring. Even if you are an "uneducated and ordinary man" (or
woman), you would be amazed at how easy facilitating can be.
Training and support will be provided, including four
training sessions (on Saturday mornings in February) and
facilitator materials. Each group will have a facilitator and a
co-facilitator.
If you would consider becoming a facilitator, please
contact Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523 or the Parish office at
630-279-5700. A firm commitment does not need to be made until
after the training sessions. Also, the facilitators get to select
when the study group will meet!
Christian Service Commission
Pre-Lenten Mission:
"Resolving Our Conflicts - Growing in Care"
Immaculate Conception Parish, Elmhurst.
Saturday, February 5, at 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Conflict seems to be a way of life. This day will offer
constructive ways to explore conflicts, and grow in care. Tools
to make our relationships more affirming and hopeful will be
discussed.
Father Michael Crosby is a nationally known speaker, and an
annual presenter at Retreats International at Notre Dame
University. He has written 15 books.
Babysitting is provided. Suggested Donation of $15.00
includes continental breakfast and lunch. Space is limited, and
reservations are recommended by February 1. Call 530-3483 for
reservations.
Community News
Host Families Sought for
Children of Northern Ireland
The Irish Children's Fund is seeking host families to
welcome children from the troubled areas of Northern Ireland into
their homes during the summer of 2005. This will be the 24th
summer that the ICF has brought an equal number of Catholic and
Protestant children to the Chicago area. During their visit, the
children will participate in activities designed to foster the
spirit of cooperation and friendship, breaking the barriers of
mistrust they have been brought up with.
Upon returning to Northern Ireland, the children have a
follow-up program available to them through which they can
continue to come together in ICF-sponsored activities and
maintain the friendships formed in the United States.
For additional information, call 630-833-1910.
Youth Groups Reminder
Meeting Dates: January 30, Feb. 13, and February 27
Wings to Heaven 5th-8th grade,
6:00-8:00 PM in Barrett Hall.
Destiny-High school
8:30-10:10 AM, School Building
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, alone or as a family. Thank you.
Pam Bondfide Heather Marie Brennan
Kathleen Bryers Rose Caffarelli
Kathy Calzante Jim Clynch
Jenie Colletti Trudi Dolato
John Doyle Jeannette Elderkin
Dan Focht Paul Francetic
Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt
Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes
Maureen James Tom Janicke
Irene Kmieciak Baby Emma Ann Lynde
Nancy Maloney Robert Manion
Bobbi Nannini Jeff Smith
Tyler Vincer Myron Watry
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.
Rest in Peace
Lillian O'Laughlin
Candlelight Bowl
Friday, February 18th
The Council of Catholic Women and the Men's Group are co-
hosting a Scotch Doubles Candlelight Bowl at Stardust Bowling
Lanes, 27 E. Lorraine in Addison. Dinner will be served at 8:30
p.m. followed by three games of Scotch doubles (including one
"crazy bowl" game). There will be raffles and prizes will be
awarded. The cost is $45.00 per couple. Call your relatives,
neighbors, and friends and invite them to join in the fun!!
For reservations, call Mary White (833-9809) or stop at the
table in the church vestibule starting this weekend. The final
deadline for selling tickets will be Sunday, February 13th, but we
would like to get as many reservations as possible in by the 6th
so that the bowling alley can make food arrangements.
Christian Education Commission
Religious Education News
Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, February 9th is Ash Wednesday. There is no
regular class scheduled for that day. However, all RE families
and children are invited to attend a Communion Service with
Distribution of Ashes at 4 PM. in the church. If you are not
free in the afternoon, please plan on your family attending Mass
with Distribution of Ashes at 7:30 p.m. in church.
Saturday, February 12th at 5:00 p.m. will be Family Mass.
Please plan on attending with your family. We have asked Grade 4
and their families to be responsible for the readings, gift
bearing, altar dressing, etc. Hope to see all of our RE families
there.
Reminder to all Parents
Please caution your children to be extra careful when
crossing the parking lot, walking on the sidewalks, etc. We ask
that all our parents be extra careful as well when driving in and
out of the parking lot. With the snowy, icy weather we want all
of our children to be safe.
Have You Ever Thought
Of Being a Catechist?
This is the perfect time to start thinking if you are being
called to be a catechist in our Religious Education Program next
fall. It's a great time to come by on a Wednesday and see what
goes on after the children arrive. The only qualification is
that you love children and you want to share your faith with
them. Everything else is provided. With our enrollment nearing
the 500 mark, the need for catechists is even greater. If you
have ever thought about it or know someone who might be
interested, call the office for details.
For more information on any of the above, please call Mary
Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962
Parish Library To Open February 20
Mary Queen of Heaven's new parish library, located at the
north end of Mary's Gathering Place, will open for the first time
on Sunday, February 20 from 9:00 a.m. until Noon. This will
enable parishioners to have the books available for nearly all of
Lent-not that we think reading is a form of Lenten penance, but
rather a chance to deepen our spiritual knowledge.
Members of the Library Committee have divided the books
into various categories and color coded each category to help
parishioners using the library. Among the topics covered are
Church History, The Church Today, Theology, Christian Reading,
Spirituality, Devotional, Saints, Biography, Women, Fiction,
Psychology, Children, and Young Adults. In addition, a number of
magazines will be available in the magazine rack for reading.
Some additional books have been ordered to fill in the gaps
in certain categories, which we hope will arrive before February
20. There is some overlap between a few of the categories, but
since ours is a small library this should not present a serious
problem. For example, Spirituality focuses on the ideas involved
in the spiritual life, while Devotional emphasizes the "how to"
in developing one's spiritual life.
The library will be open from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on
Saturdays and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Books may be
checked out for three weeks at a time by filling out the cards in
the pockets in the back of each book, and leaving the cards in
the library. Members of the Library Committee will be present to
answer questions during library hours.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with the work of the
library should call William Barnds at 630-782-5966.
William Barnds, a former U.S. government official and
author, joined the parish last year. He is also a member of the
Finance Committee.
Joyful Again!
Widowed and Wondering?
Does it ever get better? - Yes, it does.
Does anything help? - Yes, it does.
Times Feb. 12-13, Holy Family Parish, Inverness
Mar. 5-6, St. Charles Center
Apr. 2-3, Lutheran General Hospital
For more information about our program for widowed men and
women, please call 708-354-7211.
St. Charles Borromeo Open House
Sunday, Jan. 30, at 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and
Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 9:00 a.m.-11:20 p.m.
Registration for the 2005-2006 school year will be taken
during the Open House. A birth certificate, baptismal
certificate, social security umber and $40 non-refundable fee are
required at registration. For information, please call the
school office: 766-0116.
Immaculate Conception H.S.
Makeup Placement Test for Class of 2009
Saturday, February 5, at 9:00 a.m.
The test 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 $25 fee. Please bring two #2 pencils.
No calculators or dictionaries allowed.
To pre-register, call the main office at 530-3460 by
Thursday , February 3.
VITAS Hospice Care
Is offering Volunteer Training
To prepare caring individuals to work with terminally ill
patients and their families. Classroom schedule is:
Saturday, and Sunday, February 26 and 27
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (both days)
at VITAS Innovative Health Care, Lombard
Topics include palliative care, spiritual care, and family
dynamics. For further information call Nancy Petersen, Volunteer
Services Manager, at 630-268-6237.
Late Nite Catechism
Saturday, February 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Ascension of Our Lord Parish, Oakbrook Terr.
$25 (Includes Pre-performance Reception)
Call Jim Fennell at 630-629-5810, ext. 201.
Love Letters of Support
We are asking all parishioners to take a moment to write a
letter to the survivors of the tsunami disaster. When things
like this happen it seems that we struggle to know how we can
help. Aside from donating money to various relief funds, we as a
faith community have decided to write letters of love and
support. So far some of our religious education classes and our
wings to heaven youth group have written letters. They are so
beautiful and truly demonstrate what a loving community we are.
I was brought to tears as I read the thoughts and prayers our
young people wrote. Please consider being part of this and write
your letter of support. We will continue to gather letters for
the next couple of weeks.
Letters can be given to Kathleen Gusloff. There is also be
a box in the back of church for your letters. Thank you for
taking time to help us with this.
Lenten Vatican II Series
A five-week series on the recommendations of the Vatican II
Council will be presented during Lent by the Adult Education and
Spirituality Committee. Hard as it is to believe, this ground-
breaking Council occurred about 40 years ago! The Lenten season
is a good time to re-familiarize ourselves with the
recommendations of the Council and to reflect on how they relate
to the Church in 2005.
The series will be presented on Tuesday evenings, starting
on February 15 and through March 15, starting at 7 p.m. in
Barrett Hall. All adults are invited to come to one or more of
the sessions; each session includes a video of the Council
conclusions and guided discussion.
"Gather Books"
You may have noticed that our "Gather" books are looking
tattered and many of them have been lost. A new edition is now
available. The cost for each hardcover book, engraved with our
parish name, is $15.
Replacing our books would be quite an expense to the
parish, so we thought perhaps our parishioners would like to
donate a book. Every book donated will have a donor bookplate
with the words, "Gift Of" and your family name, or inscribed with
the words "In Memory Of." These books are an important part of
our liturgies.
We hope to provide four "Gather" books at each end of our
pews (8 per pew). There are forms available in the church
vestibule. Please return the form with your check made out to
Mary Queen of Heaven. Thank you for your generous contributions
to our thriving parish.
"Dust Thou Art and
Unto Dust Thou Shalt Return."
As in past years, we again plan to burn palms blessed last
year for use in our upcoming Ash Wednesday services. If you have
palms that you wish to return for burning, please do so by
Wednesday, February 2nd. This ceremony will take place at the
8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Masses on Sunday, February 6. A box will be
available in the vestibule of church for the palms.
"Just Women"
(Women of Justice)
This is an opportunity for women to walk with Mary of
Nazareth, pray with women in scripture, stand in solidarity with
women who are suffering injustice throughout the world and within
the United States, and share our own stories.
When: Tuesday, February 1, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Friday, February 4, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
(The same program will be presented on Tuesday evening and on Friday
morning, to accommodate participants' schedules.)
Where: Barrett Hall
Facilitator: Mary Ann Reed 834-4840
Registration is not required. However a courtesy phone call
would be appreciated, so that we may know how many people to
expect. Please call MaryAnn.
Ice Skating at the "Y"
The Men's Group is at it again!. We are sponsoring an Open
Skate for the entire Parish, all families, children,
grandchildren, etc on Saturday, February 5, at 2:20 p.m. at the
Elmhurst Family YMCA.
This is a FREE event. Ice skates are available at no
charge. We will have goodies and hot chocolate. If you have
questions, call Steve Lindberg at: 630-941-1355.
Super Bowl Party
Sunday, February 6, in Barrett Hall
(Details are posted on bulletin board in Church)
Back to Parish Bulletin Page