Dear Friends,
Well, it certainly felt like summer began this week! It was ninety degrees outside, and sometimes inside, too, in cars or buildings without air conditioning! This change in season brings a change of activities. For students and teachers, work ends for a while. Those who are still working find new ways to spend their hours off, with summer sports, recreation, and get-aways. The change of season brings other change to our lives. Some of us have to think more carefully about how much we can do or carry or walk in the summer heat. Our wardrobe changes in order to stay cool. Our diet even becomes different. We eat more fruit and salads to keep things light. Our grills have been pulled out for more cooking outdoors.
This change of season can be good for our bodies: eating healthier, getting more exercise, and getting more sunshine. It can be good for our souls, too. Who couldn't use time to let go of some burdens and not carry so much around with us for a change? Having some time to play can stimulate and enrich our imaginations, creating greater capacity within us for discovering new joy. The beauty of creation and the glory of the flowers, fruits, and vegetables that are growing all around us remind us of the fecundity of all created life. Like the earth, we ourselves are fertile ground from which new life can spring anew, over and over again.
Practically speaking, some things are slowing down, making more room for having fun. This doesn't mean that work isn't still getting done. For example, with parish activities beginning to slow down for the summer, Sister Marlene has more time to get scheduling calendars out to all our parish committees and ministries for next year's activities, and to put our new wedding booklet together for engaged couples. Other things are more relaxed. Sister Marlene and others can share lunch on the patio in the back of the parish office. And when it is time for her to go home, I know that Sister is enjoying her hobby of working in the garden and sharing more time with the sisters of her community.
I have been having a little bit of fun myself! This past week, I was in a weeklong continuing education class at Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park. Technically, I am still registered as a student there, having only to finish my thesis before receiving my Doctor of Ministry degree. (This is a summer project I hope to work on soon!) This past week, however, was something different. Since I no longer need the academic credit, I audited the class, saving money and also the need to complete homework assignments! As I write you, in fact, I am halfway through the week, writing this column during the two-hour break we have in the middle of the day. On other days, I have used this time for returning phone calls and E-mails, and I have gone back into the office each evening. Today, however, I spend this midday time with you in this writing, and I'd like to share a little of what I've been doing.
For some, going to school might not sound like fun, but for me, it is one of the most fun things ever, especially when I am able to study something I totally enjoy. I am in a class called "Preaching Retreats and Parish Missions," with Fr. Richard Fragomeni as our professor. Here, I have had the joy of meeting some new colleagues in ministry from the Joliet Diocese, including folks from St. Walter, St. Petronille, and Sacred Heart in Lombard. Like all CTU classes, there are also students from all over the Archdiocese of Chicago and other parts of this country, as well as international students from religious communities around the world. I love CTU. It is the largest Catholic theological school in this country. It is also a place full of fecundity, with talented professors and students with inquiring minds and hearts.
Our class, which gathers for lectures by Fr. Fragomeni, is then divided into small groups as we develop a variety of retreat programs and parish missions. Part of the fun is that we all get each other's materials, providing each of us with a rich collection of ideas. Who knows? One of the retreats developed here this week may be used later in the Philippines. A parish mission developed for a parish in Michigan may also benefit another in Chicago. Would that we would have the opportunity to share creative work with each other more often! I wonder what the world would be like if we would invest as much energy in freely sharing with one another as we often do with protecting our turf, or our company secrets, or our copyrights. Certainly, folks deserve credit for their work. But it can be an amazing thing to discover how, when the good of all is valued more than that of the individual, everyone actually has more, benefits more.
My group is planning a parish mission entitled: What Am I Looking For? A Lenten Mission on Longing and Fulfillment. This parish mission is planned for several nights and has conference talks under the following headings: We Are Full of Desires; Longing for Relationships; Longing for Healing; and Intimate Union. I would love to share it with you! Maybe one day I will be able to lead this parish mission here. For now, however, I offer the title of the mission and its parts as food for thought for you this summer.
Let us take these summer weeks and months as not only time of refreshment for our bodies, but let it be fruitful time for our souls, as well. Reflect more deeply on what are the desires of your heart and how God desires to be in intimate relationship with each one of us. Spend time this summer developing this relationship by enjoying the beauty around us. Take some time for spiritual reading. This doesn't have to be formal theology books. It can be religious fiction, or poetry, or a new prayer book - whatever can provide some refreshing summer food for the soul.
And have some fun. You deserve it!
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Joyful Again! (A Widowed Ministry) Are you widowed? Do you know someone who is widowed? If you have been recently widowed and are still struggling with the loss, of 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, Elmhurst, IL. 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. What: Weekend retreat for widowed men and women. When: July 16-17, 2005 Where: Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Elmhurst Donation: $75 - includes meals (Adjusted if needed) For further information, call: 708-354-7211. 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. * Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 156 N. York St. in Elmhurst, has an employment position for a Sales Clerk (Part Time) with flexible hours. Qualifications: mature, energetic, reliable, positive, outgoing, hard worker. Call -834-2005 or pick up an application. * Lynn Suwanski, who works for an Elmhurst Memorial Hospital physician hospital organization, occasionally hears of openings for positions in physician offices in the Elmhurst area. If you would like to give her your name and phone number in case she finds out there is a need, she will contact you. Please call her at work 630-833-8200 X73714, or home 630-530-2523, and be able to provide a resume. May Celebrations We welcome into the Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family the following who were baptized in May: Autumn Tracy Caraher, Fabian Cecelio Escatel Reyna Savanna Hudson Vivian Lianna Hudson Katelyn Nicole Guerra Liam Cassidy Nolan Ryan John Procajlo Brook Lynn Valdez Joseph Goryl and Michelle Pringle MQH Auction/Dinner Dance Update Friday, October 7, 2005 at Alta Villa First Planning Meeting Tuesday, June 14 7:00 p.m. at the Parish Office Much help is needed to make this event a success. We are especially interested in new ideas and volunteers. If you are interested in working on this special parish event, please call Sheila Reiter at 833-6657 and let her know if you can come to the meeting on the 14th. Sunday Evening Prayer From 6 - 7 pm on Sunday evenings, there will be gathering for prayer in the back of church. These are not structured liturgies. Rather, this is time set aside for informal prayer and reflection in a peaceful setting. If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please feel free to come any Sunday evening. Marriage Ministry at MQH As was mentioned at last weekend's Masses, we are expanding marriage ministry in our parish. We are looking for people to become part of a leadership team that will work on providing support and social events for married couples. We are also in need of couples who will become part of our Pre-Cana team. Pre-Cana couples, along with Mary Foley and Deacon Tom, help to prepare people for marriage. Pre-Cana couples receive training and materials and meet with an engaged couple for five sessions, arranging these meetings at their convenience. Pre-Cana couples serve on rotation, so this is not a year-round activity. Whether you are young or old, you are welcome to become part of our Pre-Cana team. Mary Foley extends a special invitation to couples who are in a second marriage that is blessed by the church. Please contact the Parish Office if you are interested in becoming a part of Pre-Cana or marriage support ministry in our parish. Religious Education News First Communion Banners The banners that our First Communion children made have been adorning the walls of the church are now available for pick up in the REO. Please call to make arrangements to do so. Registrations We continue to take registrations all summer. We urge you to get those registration forms in as soon as possible if it is essential that you have your children in at a particular session. Grade 5 at Session 2 (5:15-6:30) is already filled to capacity. Other classes are filling quickly and we are trying to keep the class sizes down to continue our high quality of religious education. So please if you have not registered, do so ASAP. Tell your friends and neighbors to do the same. Are you being called to be a catechist?? Thank you to the wonderful people who have come forward to be catechists in our program. We are slowly and we hope surely filling our positions for next year. However, help is still needed. We need help at the following sessions and grades: Session 1- (3:15-4:30) Pre 4 - 1 catechist Grade 4 - 3 catechists Session 2 - (5:15- 6:30) Pre 3 - 2 catechists Grade 7 - 1 catechist Grade 3 - 2 catechists Grade 8 - 2 catechists Grade 6 - 2 catechists Session 3 - (7:15-8:30) Grade 5 - 2 catechists Grade 6 - 1 catechist In addition we still need folks to help direct traffic in the parking lot at all sessions (at least 3, preferably 6) and office helpers and hall monitors. We have a thriving and, as you can see, growing religious education program. But we cannot do it without you. Please pray about whether God is calling you to minister to our young people. If you have questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. Market Day (Last Chance to Order until Fall) Orders are due Monday, June 13. Pickup on Sat., June 18, 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. 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 Paul Cirone Peggy Delbeke Trudi Dolato Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes Maureen James Tom Janicke Albert P. Kabat Irene Kmieciak Bernadette Kohn John Lane Robert Manion Bobbi Nannini Vincent Scilluffo Eileen Shea Jeff Smith Cathy Ward Rest in Peace Virginia L. Roche 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. Summer Schedule With Mary Alice Steck moving out of town there will be a change in the leadership for the RCIA. Mimi Wolak who has been part of Mary Queen for the past six years, will assume this role. More information about Mimi will be published in the future. For now, however, we would like to share with you the summer schedule. We will meet at 9:00 on the following Sunday mornings in Room 6 of the school building: June 19 and 26, July 17 and 24, August 14 and 21. We will spend an hour "breaking open the word" as we explore the readings of the day. After our discussion we will all go to the 10:15 Mass together. Call Mimi at 941-3851 You are invited to "Come and See" * If you would like to inquire about the Catholic Faith * If you are not Baptized * If you are a Baptized Catholic but have never received the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation * If you might like to bring someone you know who is interested in our Catholic Faith * If you would like to be a sponsor for someone along the journey Hunger Walk Thank You Thank you from the bottom of our hearts: to all those who walked in the S.T.E.P. (Steps Toward Eliminating Poverty) Hunger Walk, to all those who contributed to the S,T.E.P. Hunger Walk Fund, to the many who sponsored Father Brad's dog Wrigley ("Bow- Wow, Woof, Woof"). Thanks to the following businesses who supported our S.T.E.P. Hunger Walk: Red Dragon, Elmhurst 832-8373 Basai Thai, Oakbrook Center Bambu Thai Cuisines, Elmhurst 993-9392 P.F. Changs, Lombard 652-9977 Spice Merchants, Elmhurst 941-7288 Pastries Plus, Elmhurst 530-2243 Emperor's Kitchen, Elmhurst 530-9888 Dunkin Donuts,.Elmhurst 279-1933 Please patronize these establishments and remember to thank them for supporting the S.T.E.P. Walk. And to our dedicated and our hard working chairperson Nora Hipskind and her committee: Ed & Linda Hohman, Cheryl Hurley, Mary Fran Jones, Carol Yesko, Milt & Rosalie Honel, Collette Borland and Alicia Knegge. Fr. Brad's dog Wrigley raised $2,230.00 The S.T.E.P. walkers raised $1,656.00 Total Amount Raised (to date) $3,886.00 Donations gratefully accepted. Catholic Relief Services will receive 75% of the donations and the Elmhurst Walk-in Ministry will receive 25%. Next year's S.T.E.P. Walk will be sponsored by Mary Queen of Heaven and the committee co-chairs will be MQH parishioners Collette Borland and John Menarek. Joliet Diocese 50th Anniversary Mass The Diocese of Joliet will hold its twenty-seventh annual Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet. If you were married in 1955 and are celebrating your 50th anniversary this year, please contact the rectory so that we may submit your name to the Diocese for a formal invitation Effective Choices, Effective Parents For parents of children ages 0-19 You are invited to attend a 3-hour workshop that helps parents build on their existing strengths in order to win greater cooperation with their children. Topics discussed include: increasing mutual respect, positive communication and trust in the parent/child relationship; understanding how parent's behavior affects child's response; developing disciplinary techniques that work; providing children with the tools they need to survive and thrive in today's society. Let us help you become the parent you want to be. Dates: Sat., June 18, at Catholic Charities, 26 W. St. Charles Rd, Lombard OR Sat., June 25, at The Center for Family Ministry, 402 S. Independence Blvd, Romeoville Cost: $20 per person; $25 per couple. Parenting Instructor: James Gilligan, MSW, RSW. Pre-registration is required. Please call Catholic Charities at 630.710.8226 for more information or to pre-register. Congratulations to our Parishioner, Dr. Mary Selke will begin a new position as Associate Dean of the College of Education at Lewis University! In-Home Respite for Family Caregivers of Older Adults. The In-Home Senior Respite Program is a partnership between Metropolitan Family Services DuPage and local area churches. Volunteers are recruited from the churches and are screened, trained and matched with families in the community who are caring for older adults in the home. Volunteers provide a weekly 3-hour social visit to the older adult, which allows the family caregiver the opportunity to leave the home, or take a needed rest, knowing that their loved one is in good hands. Families do not need to be affiliated with any particular church to receive services, and there is no cost for the service. For more information, call Monica Lockie, program coordinator at 630-784-4875. Communication From the Bishop Just recently I received a letter from the Chairman of Catholic Relief Services informing me that CRS had received over 145 million dollars in contributions from U.S. dioceses and thousands of individuals. The amount received from the Diocese of Joliet was $1,595,675.11. What outstanding generosity from the people of this diocese and from the Catholic communities throughout the United States. This generosity has allowed CRS to become fully engaged in community rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in areas affected by the tsunami. On behalf of CRS and all of the people affected by the tsunami, I want to thank you for your exceptional generosity. You willingness to assist your brothers and sisters in need is a truly Gospel response to the Lord's admonition, "Whatsoever you do to one of these..." May the Lord bless you for your generosity. Sincerely in Christ" (Signed) Most Reverend Joseph L. Imesch, Bishop of Joliet Mayslake Village Ceramics Looking for an enjoyable and interesting pastime? Please join us in Mayslake Village's Ceramics Studio where we make many lovely ceramic items. We are open Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 to 11 a.m. Attendance is by your own choice. Gentlemen, you are most welcome. We need a few people to pour molds. All paints and most supplies are furnished. You don't have to be an artist. Our instructor will teach you. It is possible that you could make items for your parish events at low cost. Mayslake Village is on 35th Street between Route 83 and Midwest Road. For details and directions please call Mary Ann, 630-920-0264. We'd love to have you. Joliet Diocese Catholic Charismatic Healing Mass Friday, June 17, 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 Rev. Pat Murphy, Presiding Deacon John Freund, Assisting For information, please call 630-964-0216 (Next Healing Mass will be August 19.)