Dear Friends,
There was something vaguely familiar about the phone calls and E-mails I started to receive yesterday. People wanted to know if there was going to be a collection for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. As it happened, the fax from the U.S. Bishops arrived within hours, calling for a national collection for Catholic Charities' relief effort. I let people know that we would arrange for a second collection. Still, I was left with a very uneasy but familiar feeling.
By the time I got home late last evening, I was able to learn what this was. First of all, I saw for the first time the incredible devastation wreaked by the hurricane. Seeing pictures of people who had desperately torn through attics to reach rooftops in hopes of rescue, watching film of rescue attempts made through the night hours, looking at hundreds and hundreds of homes and buildings so submerged that reconstruction efforts seem inconceivable - it was overwhelming, and frightening. Then, when Ted Koppel came on to give his last words and he talked about the need for emergency preparedness - especially because we are now in danger of terrorist attacks - I suddenly realized what had been familiar throughout the day. I had begun to feel like I did on Sept. 11.
All of a sudden, I could remember what is was like to have been serving in a parish then. The attacks on the World Trade Center occurred as we were celebrating morning Mass. After that, the whole day was turned upside down as we, like everyone else in the country, tried to take in what had happened. From late morning on, we scrambled to deal with the hundreds of children we had on campus, from pre-school to high school, dividing up the pastoral staff to go with the school principal to each classroom to pray. We met in the afternoon to plan a Mass for that evening.
What was most familiar to me yesterday was the feeling I had in the days afterward. People were coming in to talk because they were so afraid or so terribly sad about the victims of the tragedy that they were overwhelmed, some not even able to sleep or do their regular work. So many people called because they wanted to do something. They wanted to somehow help people who had survived. That is what yesterday's calls were like. There are tragedies that happen all the time, but the calls I received yesterday hearkened back to that time in 2001. The trauma wrought by the unparalleled violence of this hurricane awakened in our individual and national consciousness the terror of Sept. 11.
In the early hours of today, I reflected back to the ways we came together as the people of God in that parish back then. We collected money for relief efforts. One among our staff was able to go to Ground Zero and represent us all as he helped with the pastoral care of survivors. We held prayer services. Our children wrote letters. The following year, we planned and celebrated a memorial prayer service, together with churches of all denominations in our area.
Before the first year had passed, though, I became involved with someone directly affected by the tragedy. A member of our parish was the daughter of a man who had been a victim. Her father was a New York public safety official who was killed when the World Trade Towers were hit. She was away from the parish during all the early weeks of prayer services and letter writing. She had gone home to be with her family during the long time they were searching for her father, staying and grieving with them when his body was found. She did not return to the parish for a long time. She was gone for so long, in fact, that the initial horror had worn off for some people. But not for her.
I met with her several times (and she has given me permission in the past to write about this), accompanying her in her struggle to find God in the midst of her suffering. She could not. Always a person of strong faith, now God was absent. To her, God was not there. She was no longer sure that God even existed. I remember the different scriptures that came to mind as she talked about fear and abandonment, and I shared these with her. Mostly, I thought about the agony of Jesus in the garden as he faced absolute terror, and his words as he hung on the cross, asking God why he had been so abandoned. Just as Jesus was held in the embrace of God every moment of his life, I knew that this young woman was, too. In the early hopeless months with her, I wondered when would come the new life to follow death.
It did eventually come. A year later, we honored her father's life at a memorial service. High school aged children spoke a script that was written by her family about her father and his life and work. Years after that, she and her husband and children made a new life in another community, their relationships now strengthened after being tested by the ravages of tragedy.
We have stayed in touch, though our letters are less often now. I remember writing to her two years ago, when my son's girlfriend was killed in the waterfall accident. Death by violence in nature is not the same thing as death by murder at the hand of terrorists. But there was something familiar in the event as we struggled to cope with unbearable sadness in our family at the sudden, tragic loss of innocent life.
There are countless people feeling that way now in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. So many people have lost loved ones, some literally ripped from their grasp. Countless people who will struggle with how to begin again. It is overwhelming to consider their suffering.
Let us bind ourselves together as a parish family to reach out to them, in our donations and in our prayers. Let us pray in the hope of the resurrection and help them to build again.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Sr. Helen Prejean to Speak
Sr. Helen Prejean, whose prison ministry and staunch
opposition to capital punishment have earned her international
renown, will give the 2005 Cardinal Bernardin Lecture at Elmhurst
College. The public lecture will take place on Wednesday,
September 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.
Sr. Prejean, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, seeks
to educate the public about the death penalty by lecturing,
organizing, and writing. As the founder of Survive, a victim's
advocacy group in New Orleans, she counsels not only inmates on
death row but also the families of murder victims. Admission is
free.
Mark Your Calendars!
The Mary Queen of Heaven Annual Parish Picnic
Sunday, September 11, from 12:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Come spend time with family and friends.
Enjoy music, games, food and good old family fun.
Meal tickets will be sold after each Mass this weekend.
Tickets will be $8 for adults and $6 for children (under 12).
The menu will include: fried chicken, sausage, salads (potato,
fruit, & pasta) and roasted corn.
There will also be a dessert contest. If you are
interested in entering your special dessert, please submit your
name, phone number and a copy of your recipe to Bob Glick, Tim
Conroy or Ed Hayes.
For more information please call: Bob Glick 833-5725, Tim Conroy
834-1631, or Ed Hayes 279-5325.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Our journey through life is seldom a straight path. Our
personal choices or decisions that others make for us can impact
our lives including our spiritual lives.
* Are you, or do you know of someone who was baptized in the
Catholic faith, but for various reasons never completed their
sacramental preparation by receiving Eucharist and Confirmation?
* Perhaps your family moved frequently, or you never connected to
a parish family in your younger years and were not part of a
Religious Education program.
* Have you been attending Mass with your Catholic spouse, and have
an interest in learning more about the Catholic faith?
* Do you know someone who is interested in becoming Catholic?
If you can relate to these situations, consider completing
your sacramental preparation by looking into the RCIA!
Contact Mimi Wolak at 941-3851 to learn more about how you
can enrich your spiritual life through full participation in the
life of the church through the sacraments.
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 John Brennan
Kathleen Bryers Pat Caffarelli
Rose Caffarelli Kathy Calzante
Family of Cynthia Catalano
Cosmore Ciancio Paul Cirone
Rhonda Colletti Trudi Dolato
Gerald Foley Dino Fuggitti
Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt
Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes
Maureen James Tom Janicke
Valorie Kaffka Irene Kmieciak
Bernadette Kohn John Lane
Baby Emma Lynde Robert Manion
Bobbi Nannini Vincent Scilluffo
Eleanor Sikorski Jeff Smith
Karen Sutkus 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.
August Celebrations
Marc Robert Fisher
and
Jacqueline Nichele Fisher
Angel Villalvazo
and
Sabrina Marie Naranjo
We welcome into the Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family the
following who were baptized in August:
Liesl Noll Grace Anderson
Kiefer Kroll Kyra Kroll
Jennifer Niemann Frank Rofrano
Effective Choices, Effecting Parenting
Offering a variety of workshops and seminars to assist you
in becoming the parent you want to be.
Making Sense of This Thing
Called Parenthood
(For parents of children ages 0-4)
Tuesday, September 6, at 7 - 9 P.M
Catholic Charities inLombard
This two-hour workshop assists parents of infants and
toddlers in gaining a better understanding of their children's
needs and behavior as they grow. In addition, it presents the
well-researched and successful "Systematic Training for Effective
Parenting Method" that enables parents to increase positive
interaction with their children.
$20 per person; $25 per couple; Pre registration required.
For info or to pre-register, please call 630-710-8226
Community News
M.O.M.S.
(Moms Offering Moms Support)
Elmhurst Catholic M.O.M.S. is a social and spiritual
organization that provides an opportunity for mothers of young
children from Elmhurst Catholic parishes to meet other mothers.
Bi-monthly meetings include a mother/child activity or a guest
speaker with babysitting provided. There are no membership fees
and everyone is welcome. M.O.M.S. meets in Msgr. Plunkett Hall,
lower level of the Immaculate Conception chapel from 9:30 to
11:00 a.m.
Please join M.O.M.S. on Thursday, September 8, for fun and
refreshments at the Welcome brunch and Mixer. Babysitting is
optional and will be provided for a nominal fee. For more
information please contact Kelly at 630-833-7223 or Colleen at
630-832-4664.
Fr. Charles Faso Mission
St. Irene Faith Community, invites you to its Parish
Mission conducted by theologist/liturgist Fr. Charles Faso,
O.F.M., from September 10-15. Fr. Faso is well known in the
western suburbs as a dynamic speaker who moves people to deepen
and expand their Catholic faith.
The introduction to the Mission will take place at the
weekend liturgies, and daily Mission talks will be held at 9 a.m.
and 7 p.m. Sept. 12-15 (morning and evening talks will be the
same), with the Sacrament of Reconciliation available on these
four days from 5:30-6:45 p.m.. The Mission will close with a
Eucharistic Liturgy at 7:00 p.m. September 15. Hospitality will
be offered after each talk.
St. Irene Faith Community is located on Warrenville Rd.,
just northwest of the Winfield exit of I 88.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Catholic Charities, coordinator of the DuPage County Back
to School Fair, would like to thank everyone for helping make
this year's Fair at the County Fairgrounds such a wonderful s
uccess. Through the generosity of your parish collection and
individual donors, we were able to serve 1,050 low-income
families living in our County.
We were also able to provide over 2,200 children with a $10
voucher for school supplies at local Jewel-Osco stores. Your
generosity of time and resources ensured a happy and healthy
return to school this fall for many of our client families. God
bless you for your generosity!
St. Petronille Parish presents the
Dinner & Discourse Series
"How Do We Defend Our Faith Today?"
Presented by Most Reverend Roger Kaffer,
Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet
Bishop Kaffer has recently completed his manuscript on
apologetics for the college campus. His insights will empower us
to discuss and defend our faith.
Sunday, September 11
Buffet Meal at 1:00 p.m.; Speaker to Follow
St. Petronille Parish Center, Glen Ellyn
To register, please call 630-469-0404 x2107
or email lessmeistera@stpetschurch.org by Sept. 6.
Registration Fee is $8 per person.
"Evening Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance
Plans are well under way for our "Evening Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance which will be held on Friday, October 7, at
Alta Villa Banquets in Addison.
Letters have been sent to businesses and parishioners
seeking donations for our Live and Silent Auctions. We still
need people to help follow up on these letters, with telephone
calls and visits. Do you have some time to spare and help us
with this task? With the help of willing parishioners, the task
of obtaining items from businesses will help make our event
successful. We need you!
Volunteers are also needed to help with decorations,
parishioner donations, ticket sales, raffle tickets, etc. If you
can help in any of the above areas, call Sheila Reiter at 630-
833-6657.
This is the eighth year for our "Evening Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance and many are looking forward to a wonderful
evening socializing with parishioners and friends, and the
opportunity to purchase auction items at great prices that can be
given as gifts for the holidays or special occasions.
The proceeds from this benefit will be used to help support
our Church Mission of reaching out to those who are hungry, sick
and otherwise in need; supporting our youth; and supporting the
various ministries in our parish which allow us to live our lives
through faith, hope and loving service to all.
Fall/Winter Bible Study
October 10 to November 11,
January 9 to February 6
"Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account
of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they
were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were
eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after
investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write
an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that
you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have
been instructed." Luke 1:1-4
Last spring over 50 parishioners in 5 groups studied the
Acts of the Apostles. Beginning during the week of October 10, we
will be joining Theophilus in studying the Gospel according to
St. Luke. The study program, sponsored by the Adult Education and
Spirituality Committee, will again utilize the Little Rock
Scripture Study.
Facilitator training will take place during the month of
September. The 11-session program will run from the week of
October 10 to the week of November 11, will break until after the
first of the year, and will resume from the week of January 9 to
the week of February 6. Morning, afternoon, and evening groups
will be offered.
Sign-up will be at all of the masses on October 1-2. If you
would like to be a facilitator, or if you have any questions,
contact Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523 or the Parish office at
630-279-5700.
Bread for the World
Many thanks to all those who took the time to write letters
to their representatives in Congress after Mass the weekend of
August 20/21. This project, Bread for the world, was part of a
larger effort (many members of many churches) urging
Congressional representatives to fund the Hunger-Free Communities
Act of 2005. (S.1120 in the Senate; H.R. 2717 in the House of
Representatives).
Particular commendation to Mary Jean Adkins' 8th graders and
all of the other young people who urged their representatives in
Congress to support funding these federal nutrition programs so
that hunger would be history in our country.
A project of this magnitude depends on the generosity of
individuals who contributed money to purchase stamps for the
envelopes. Our parish should be VERY proud that we sent 173
letters to Washington, D.C. This Bread for the World offering of
letters was a project chaired by Joseph Sapien of our parish
Peace and Justice Committee.
Elmhurst Townhouse Walk
Friday, September 9, 2005
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
2:20 p.m. Free Refreshments at Elmhurst Art Museum
3:00 p.m. Tour Mies van der Rohe glass house at the Museum
Tickets: $15 advance $20 at door. Call 530-3312. Price
includes a $5 City Centre certificate for Restaurants &
Businesses on day of walk. Tickets available at: All Things
Elegant, Carousel Flower, Pfund & Clint Florist, Pat's Hallmark,
The Uptown Shop, Vallette Drug Store.
Proceeds benefit E.C.A.F. (Elmhurst Children's Assistance
Foundation) & RRAF a day program for young adults with
Developmental Disabilities.
Religious Education News
We still need you!!!
It is rare that this far along in the summer, we still have
some catechist's slots to fill. But because of our new session,
our "needs" have been much greater than in the past. So once
again a huge thank you to the almost 70 volunteers who have
stepped up to answer "His" call. If you have seen any other
Church bulletins recently, you know how blessed we are here at
Mary Queen.
It is really getting down to the wire. Please consider
joining our team of dedicated men and women just like you who
weekly share their Faith with the young people of the parish. If
you can help, call the REO today. We really, really need you.
Remember what Pope Benedict XVI said to the young people
gathered in Germany for World Youth Day: "Anyone who has
discovered Christ must lead others to him. A great joy cannot be
kept to oneself. It has to be passed on."
Class begins in just a few weeks. Help our children to get
to know our God. Help us pass on this great joy. It would be a
shame to have to delay the start of class for grades four and/or
six because of a lack of catechist. I look forward to hearing
from you.
Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 PM
General Catechist Meeting in Barrett Hall
Have you registered yet?
Registrations are still being taken in the REO. Our opening event
family concert is 6:30PM in Church on September 14. It will be
here before we know it. If you have not registered, please do so
ASAP. Pass the word to your friends and neighbors.
Life is Christ
Coming soon!
Catechetical Sunday 2005
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann
Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
As of this week we still have just three slots to fill
with catechists:
Wednesday, 3:15-4:30 PM
Gr. 4 - two catechists
Wednesday, 5:15-6:30 PM
Gr. 6 - one catechist
Parish Ministry Fair
Come one, come all to our Parish Ministry Fair, which will
be held on September 17-18 after all weekend Masses. This will
be an opportunity to learn all about the ministries and
activities of the parish. Come meet your fellow parishioners and
take advantage of opportunities to become more active in the
church. Refreshments and smiles will be served. For information
about the Ministry Fair, please contact Sister Marlene at the
parish office.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Dr. Corrina and Bryant Wojcik, on the
birth of their first child, Eva Marie! Eva weighed in at 6 lbs.
12 oz. Welcome to Mary Queen of Heaven, Eva Marie!
A Vocation View
How much would the world be changed if everyone were
completely forgiving? Probably totally! Jesus' stories of
forgiveness are so loved because they are so needed. Re-tell
them! Re-live them!
Yoga Class by Debbie Styka
The benefits of yoga are a gradual increase in energy level
and stamina, improved joint health & flexibility, and a feeling
of relaxation
A new class starts Sept. 21 thru Oct. 19
Wednesdays at 8:40 p.m.
$16 for one person; $24 per family
All monies will be donated to Mary Queen.
Please contact debbie at 941-7224.