Dear Friends, this week's column will focus on some people and activities of the parish that deserve attention.
MARY ALICE STECK
Next Sunday, after the 10:15 a.m. Mass, we will be celebrating the retirement of staff member Mary Alice Steck, as she and her husband prepare to move closer to other family living downstate.
Mary Alice is someone whose ministry has been largely behind the scenes. She has served for years as the Coordinator of our RCIA program. In addition, Mary Alice has headed our Bereavement Ministry. She has been our parish liaison for the New Wine program of lay formation sponsored by the diocese. She is also the one responsible for the attractive bulletin boards and pamphlet racks in our church. In the last year, she has worked closely with others to get our new parish library started.
While these responsibilities may have kept her out of the limelight, Mary Alice has had a stellar role as a pastoral leader of our parish. She has accompanied many people on their journey toward full initiation into the Catholic Church. With her quiet, sensitive, and loving nature, Mary Alice has supported many individuals and families of our parish who have suffered the loss of loved ones. She has been unfailingly available to help prepare for funerals, and her presence at these events has provided great comfort for many families.
Mary Alice, never wanting attention for herself, has worked tirelessly to build up this community of faith, even making sure that our church is beautiful at the moment of first entry! While much of what she has done has been unseen, her ministry has deeply affected our parish. In the case of RCIA and Bereavement, this has been in a most profound way.
Please join us next Sunday for this celebration honoring her. Feel free to also write her a note of thanks and drop it off at the parish office. She will still be working at MQH until May 31. While we will miss her greatly, we know she plans to stay in touch and visit when she can.
SCOTT VICARY
Scott Vicary has long been a volunteer leader of our parish sound ministry. Scott is not leaving the parish! However, he is no longer able to serve in this capacity because of the increasing demands of his regular job. He will undoubtedly remain active in other ways at MQH, along with his family. His wife Karen is the administrative assistant for our Religious Education program, where she also serves as a catechist. His son helps with sound ministry and his daughter helps in Religious Ed. While Scott will continue to be around, I do not want the many hours he has given of himself to our sound ministry to go unnoticed. I want to publicly thank him for all of the help he has given to the parish, and I ask you to do the same.
TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OF THE PARISH
With Scott giving up his volunteer time in sound ministry, however, there are needs that must be addressed. Moreover, as our parish continues to grow, there are more ways we could use the assistance of techno-savvy parishioners.
SOUND MINISTRY
Since many of our sound needs are related to liturgy, I met this week with Music Director Molly Lindberg to get her ideas on how we should move into the future. This is what we will be looking for:
One person to assume the role of "Sound Supervisor." While this person does not need to be present for all liturgies, he/she will work with Molly to supervise liturgy volunteers. He/she will also have oversight of general parish audio- visual needs.
Five adult "Team Captains" who will rotate at weekend liturgies, with the help of...
Teenage volunteers, who will be present at weekend Masses to help set up the microphones and operate the sound system.
Please think about volunteering for a role in our Sound Ministry. We will be meeting soon to hold training. Please call Molly Lindberg at 941-0744 for more information or to register for the training.
GEEK SQUAD
Besides our audio-visual needs, the parish has also depended upon volunteer help as our computer systems have expanded. Randy Styka, who runs his own computer business, has been very generous with his volunteer time in helping with things that come up.
While Randy will be continuing to help us, I do not want to take advantage of his generosity, especially when I know that he, too, has increasing work responsibilities. I would be interested in getting together with other folks who could be resources on computer-related matters. Please get in touch with me if you would be interested, by calling the office at 279-5700.
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
In order to keep up with the changing needs of the parish as we move into the future, we need to develop a combined Technology Committee, one that can make recommendations about the use, purchase, or maintenance of equipment. Whether you are interested in audio-visual systems or computers, please let me know if you would like to serve on our Technology Committee.
May the Holy Spirit which came to the disciples at Pentecost, continue to call forth the gifts of God's people.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Are you widowed?
Do you know someone who is widowed?
If you have been recently widowed and are still struggling
with the loss, or if you have been widowed for some time and need
something to get you "over the hump" because you seem stuck in
one spot, this program is designed to help you move on with your
life while treasuring your past and its precious memories.
This weekend program will be held at Mary Queen of Heaven
Parish in Elmhurst. All are invited. The Joyful Again! Retreat
is for both men and women (all ages) who have been widowed and
are still trying to find hope and joy in their lives.
When: July 16 & 17
Where: Mary Queen of Heaven church, in Elmhurst
Donation: $75 includes meals (Adjusted if needed)
Register by calling 708-354-7211
M.O.M.S. Group
I. C. Parish, Elmhurst
M.O.M.S. (Moms Offering Moms Support) is a social
organization that provides an opportunity for mothers of young
children to meet other mothers. There are no membership fees,
nor are there any requirements to join.
On Friday May 19, at 11:00 a.m., we will meet at the home
of Katie Gallagher for an end-of-the-year cookout and backyard
fun for the kids! Pease bring a side dish or dessert to pass.
Please R.S.V.P. to Stephanie Eder at (630) 220-8315.
For more information call Jean Lawrence at 630-832-0575 or
Melanie Schneider at 630-782-0868. Visit
http:\\calendar.yahoo.com/icmoms for updates.
Community News
All Parish Commissions
Meet on Monday, May 16,
at 7:00 p.m. in Barrett hall.
Is the Catholic Church
Conservative or Liberal?
Overcoming the Great Divide
Wednesday, May 18,
7:00 p.m. in Barrett Hall
An Advanced Introduction
to Catholic Social Teaching
By Msgr. Stuart Swetland
Sponsored by MQH Peace and Justice Ministry
MQH Help Opportunities
For Parishioners
Parishioners may submit ads to appear in the bulletin to
MQHBulletin@aol.com for approval by the Pastoral Life
Coordinator. No ads will be accepted for real estate or by those
offering child care services (although those looking for child
care providers may place an ad and screen candidates themselves).
The parish accepts no responsibility for goods or services
offered. The ads are a free service to parishioners.
* Hard-working, cheerful, female college graduate (non-smoking)
from Peoria, Illinois is seeking summer housing in Elmhurst
with Christian family in exchange for small monthly room and
board payment. She will be interning in an Oak Brook office
from late May to mid-August. If you are interested, please
contact MQH parishioner Elizabeth Dierksheide 993-1931. Thank
you for considering opening your home to this outstanding young
lady.
* Portable Dining Table Top Enlarger. Made to be placed on top
of a regular dining table, felt backing comes in 2 sections &
folds for easy storage. Opened size 72" long 48" wide. Seats
8. Price $40. Please call Barb 630-530-2016.
* Elmhurst Cleaners needs High School Student to work afternoon
and Saturdays. Call 530-2775 or come in at 125 Hahn Street.
* A parish family needs part-time childcare over the summer. The
job involves providing daytime care for 4 children in their
home on two days per week for 6-8 hours per day. There is some
limited in-town driving involved as well. Please call John at
569-0489.
St. Vincent de Paul
Spring Clothing Drive
Mary Queen of Heaven Parish St. Vincent de Paul Society is
sponsoring a Spring Clothing Drive on Saturday and Sunday, June
4/5. Last spring our parish held a clothing drive and it was a
huge success! We filled the truck with items to benefit the
needy.
This seems like the perfect time to do it again. Pick out
those things you have been holding on to. Someone else can use
them right now. People are in need of clean gently used items;
clothing, shoes, purses, linens, bedding, house wares, books,
small working appliances, knick-knacks, toys, etc. There is a
special need for clothing for children.
Donation bags will be available after all masses on the
weekend of May 21/22. The St. Vincent de Paul truck will be in
the parking lot from about 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning until
approximately 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
For pickup of furniture and heavy items, please call 630-
231-4658. Tax receipts are gladly given.
"Thank You for Helping Us to Help People"
"Ladies Night Out" Dinner
The Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring a "Ladies Night
Out" on Tuesday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. This is a wonderful
opportunity to relax and enjoy fellowship with your friends from
MQH. We will be honoring Diane Bernstein, our Woman of the Year,
for her dedication and work in our parish over the years.
The celebration will be held at Casey's Restaurant, 415
East North Avenue, Lombard. There will be a choice of three
entrees: Casey's Prime Rib with baked potato, Broiled Breast of
Chicken with rice and vegetables, and Broiled Orange Roughy with
rice and vegetable. Dinner will also include soup or salad,
coffee, soft drinks and dessert. A cash bar will also be
available. The cost for the evening will be $25.00 per person.
Please make checks payable to Mary Queen of Heaven CCW
The deadline for reservations is Sunday, June 12th as we
have to give the restaurant a one week's advance notice. For
your convenience, there is a reservation form insert in this
bulletin. Please fill it out as soon as possible. It can be
returned to the church rectory or placed in the collection
basket. For further information, please call Mary White (833-
9809) or Sheila Reiter (833-6657).
MQH Auction/Dinner Dance
Friday, October 7, 2005
Watch for more information in future bulletins.
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
Paul Cirone Peggy Delbeke
Trudi Dolato John Doyle
Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt
Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes
Maureen James Tom Janicke
Albert P. Kabat Irene Kmieciak
Bernadette Kohn Baby Emma Ann Lynde
Nancy Maloney Robert Manion
Bobbi Nannini Vincent Scilluffo
Eileen Shea Jeff Smith
Joe Tinnerello Tyler Vincer
Cathy Ward
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.
Feed the Poor
Drop Off Used Printer Cartridges
Mary Queen of Heaven Men's Group continues to collect empty
inkjet and toner cartridges to help the poor in Latin America and
the Caribbean. With the non-profit organization, Food for the
Poor, empty cartridges are recycled, and cash received is used to
buy food.
Please look for the special Food for the Poor box in the
vestibule of church. For more information call Russ DiOrio at
630-617-8811.
Worship Commission Notes
From Meeting on April 18, 2005
Thanks to all who made the liturgies for Holy Week meaningful,
including the Art and Environment Committee and all who
ministered in many and various ways. Currently, Publicity is
working on the CCW East DuPage Deanery Spring Institute held
Tuesday, May 10.
May crowning will take place on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8,
at the 10:15 Mass, with our Woman of the Year, Diane Bernstein
doing the honors, and accompanied by first communicants.
Pope John Paul's death and Pope Benedict XVI's election: The
church was draped in black and purple for nine days following
Pope John Paul's death. On Sunday, April 17, the bunting was
changed to yellow and white to signify the beginning of the
Conclave on Monday and the election of our new Pope, Benedict
XVI.
Gather Hymnal Update: Donations are still coming in. We have
a significant amount of contributions toward our new hymnals.
Year of the Eucharist: All day adoration will be occurring on
the first Monday of the month following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until
7:00 in the evening. This will start May 2, 2005.
All are invited to attend our meetings, which are held at 7
p.m. on the third Monday of the month.
If you have
Family Members
in Military Service
and would like their names printed
in the bulletin so we can pray for them,
please call the Parish Office.
Come join us at Destiny....
High school youth group!!
Destiny youth group is a safe haven where any high school
kids can come to hang out and express their feelings on anything
that is going on in their life with peers who can relate to them.
I have been a member of youth group for 5 years and continue to
be because of the support I get from friends I have made here.
Youth group is open to everyone, even kids that do not go to Mary
Queen or who are not Catholic, which makes it a really good mix
of people. Youth group is a good place to talk about school,
parents, work and pressure. It is also a way to restore your
faith every few weeks and give you a fresh start for the week.
If you are interested in service that is another good
reason to come check out Destiny; we are always looking for new
service ideas and fun people to make them successful! I encourage
you to give Destiny a try May 22, at 8:30 in the school building
join us for breakfast and meet some new faces at church, and
bring a friend!
Lauren McGing
Religious Education News
RE Registrations
If you did not receive a registration for the 2005-2006 RE
year or know of someone who did not, please call the office.
Remember all families must register every year. It is not
necessary to include a check with your form at this time. But it
is important to get your registration in before June 1st. Classes
are filling up fast.
Help Needed in the 2005-2006 term.
If you have ever thought that sharing your faith with the
young people of our parish might be where the Lord is calling
you, you are probably right. If you think you would like to find
out more about being involved in our Parish RE program, call the
REO.
If you cannot help on a weekly basis with the children,
please consider the following: We will be needing one or two
people to help coordinate our Market Day program. Market Day is
the 3rd Saturday morning of the month from September through June.
This takes only a few hours of your time, but it is a very
important part of our RE program. It is our only fundraiser and
with costs rising each year, our modest tuition barely covers
half. Our current coordinators will stay on a few months to show
you the ropes. Please call us at the REO if you can help.
If you have any questions or need more information, please
call Mary Ann Woods, REO, 832-8962.
Diocesan News
Parenting Programs
Catholic Charities will offer the following parenting
programs at Catholic Charities, in Lombard:
Effective Choices, Effective Parenting, a one day workshop
that helps parents build on existing strengths for better
relationships with their children. Saturday, June 18, 1-4 PM.
Cost $20/per person; $25/per couple.
All About Attention Deficit Disorder, a video-based program
of four 90-minute sessions that enables parents to interact more
effectively with children who are suspected to have symptoms of
ADD or have been diagnosed with ADD. Classes on four consecutive
weeks, June 7-28, at 7:00 PM. Cost $50/per person; $70 per
couple.
For more information or to pre-register, please contact Jim
Gilligan, Parenting Instructor, at 630-710-8226.
Volunteer Tutors Needed
Join the Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange in their Adult
Literacy/ESL program, School on Wheels. Volunteer tutors are
needed to teach adults one hour/week at Berwyn, Hodgkins, Summit,
Villa Park, Westmont, or Woodridge, weekday mornings, some late
afternoons and/or evenings.
Training will be provided on Saturdays, June 18 and June
25, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Motherhouse/Ministry Center,
1515 W. Ogden. LaGrange Park. You must attend one 2-day training
session. However, you do not need any prior second-language
skills.
For more information, call (708) 354-9200:
Sr. Marybeth at ext. 5060, Jeanie Pavich at ext. 5085, or Barbara
Bernhard at ext. 5037 .
Market Day
Orders for May are due by May 16.
Pickup on May 21, at 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
in the Social Hall.
Joliet Diocese Catholic
Charismatic Healing Mass
Friday, May 20, Mass at 7:30 p.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation - 6:30 p.m.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
St. Joseph Catholic Church
4801 Main Street, Downers Grove
Father John Harvey, Presiding
Deacon Marty Hetzel, Assisting
For information, please call 630-964-0216
Fellowship Sunday, May 22
Honoring Mary Alice Steck
A very special Day! Bring your family to Barrett Hall
after the 10:15 a.m. Mass for Fellowship hosted by our RCIA Team.
At this Fellowship we will be welcoming new families that have
registered in our parish since February 2005 and we invite
everyone to come and meet them. We are very happy they have
chosen to become members of our parish family
At this fellowship, we especially honor Mary Alice Steck
and bid her farewell and best wishes as she and her husband Bill
move to Hennepin, Illinois. Mary Alice has been a member of Mary
Queen of Heaven since 1997, when she became our RICA/RCIC
Coordinator. She began our RCIA/RCIC programs with a humble zeal
for welcoming and encouraging people to become members of our
Faith. Mary Alice possesses a spirituality that allows her to
let God lead her in everything she attempts to accomplish. Her
strong faith and knowledge of Catholicity has touched all who
have had the opportunity to work with her.
Mary Alice also began our Bereavement Ministry here at Mary
Queen. She and the other members of our Bereavement Ministry
help families at the time of death of a loved one by visiting the
family and offering support in helping them to prepare the
funeral. In addition, Mary Alice coordinated the All Souls Day
Remembrance of those loved ones who passed away during the year
by inviting families to participate in this occasion.
Above and beyond the call of duty, Mary Alice's loving,
giving nature has been evident in the many times she has
befriended elderly and needy parishioners, becoming a support for
them.
Her husband, Bill, has always been there to support and
help her in whatever way possible. He, too, is a very giving
person, always possessing a wonderful smile. He will especially
be missed for his unending support at our Auction/Dinner Dance
and with the St. Vincent DePaul Society food collections and
distributions.
We wish Mary Alice and her husband Bill the best of luck
with their new home in Hennepin, Illinois, thank them for all
they have done here at Mary Queen, and let them know that they
will always be loved and missed!