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
New Gather Books-Choir Edition
Thanks to the generous response of parishioners, we will be
able to replace our Gather Book hymnals in church with almost
twice as many new books. Music Director Molly Lindberg has
recommended that we purchase the brand new edition of the Gather
hymnal, which costs the same but contains much new music. We
will still use the green Gather Books, placing them in Barrett
Hall for use with overflow Masses and Religious Ed children.
Since we are purchasing the new edition, the choir will
need new books. These cost $25 each and, like the congregation
books, may be donated by parishioners.
If you would like to donate a choir book with your
inscription inside, please fill out the order form found in this
bulletin or in the back of church.
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.
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.
Parish News
Fall/Winter Bible Study
October 10 to November 11,
January 9 to February 6
"And Mary said,
'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is
his name.'" Luke 1:46-49
Last spring over 50 parishioners in 5 groups studied the
Acts of the Apostles. Beginning during the week of October 10,
we will be studying one of the most well-known gospels, 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.
The cost: $10 covers The Gospel of Luke (text and
Commentary), and Study guide. (Don't let the cost deter you.
Talk with Mary Foley at the Parish Office, 279-5700, for
assistance.)
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.
Market Day
Orders for September are due Monday, Sept. 12, at noon.
Turn in your order form in the box at the back of church or at
the rectory. Pickup Sept. 17, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
If you have questions or would like to place an order,
please call Mary at 832-8263 or Karen at 279-4108.
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.
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 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.
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.
Sister Helen began her prison ministry in 1981 when she dedicated
her life to the poor of New Orleans.
She personally came to know the residents of Louisiana's
Death Row, and has witnessed the executions of five prisoners.
Her book, Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death
Penalty in the United states, was on the best seller for 31
weeks, has been translated into 10 languages, and was developed
into a motion picture which received four Oscar nominations.
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 and a book signing will follow.
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
420 Glenwood, Glen Ellyn IL 60137
To register, please call 630-469-0404 x2107
or email lessmeistera@stpetschurch.org by Sept. 6.
Registration Fee is $8 per person.
Effective Choices, Effecting Parenting
Offering a variety of workshops and seminars to assist you
in becoming the parent you want to be.
Winning Cooperation with your Child
For parents of children ages 0-19
Saturday, September 17, at 1 - 4 P.M.
This workshop 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.
3-Hour Workshop: $25 per person; $30 per couple
Pre-registration is required
For info or to pre-register, please call 630-710-8226
Community News
Rachel's Vineyard Retreats
For post-abortive men and women
Sponsored by the Joliet Diocesan Life Office
Retreats are scheduled for Sept. 23-25, 2005, March 3-5,
2006, and Sept 22-24, 2006 at the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral
Center in Romeoville. Confidentiality and privacy will be
strictly observed. To learn more about a Rachel's Vineyard
Retreat or to register, contact Kay Corcoran at 815-838-7171.
Diocesan News
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 at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, and 7:30,
9:00, and 11:00 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Daily Mission talks will
be held at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. September 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
presentation.
St. Irene Faith Community is located on Warrenville Rd.,
just northwest of the Winfield exit of I 88.
This issue of the bulletin continues our new monthly series
that will examine the liturgy and teaching of the Catholic
Church.
Are You clone-fused?
With all the hope and hype about embryonic stem cell
research as the cure for many dreaded diseases, there are a
few items you should be aware of regarding this issue and
the position of the Catholic Church. Below is a brief
summary.
Definitions: Clone - creating a new being of a particular
species through a laboratory process using the DNA code of
another member of the species. Dolly the sheep was cloned
and was genetically identical to another sheep that had
been used for its DNA.
Reproductive Cloning - an alternative to normal sexual
generation of a species done for the sole purpose of
creating a new member of a specific species.
Therapeutic Cloning - creating a new member of a specific
species for the sole purpose of harvesting its cells - the
embryo is then destroyed. This, too, is cloning.
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is the name of the
laboratory cloning process used to create an embryo for
either reproductive or research purposes.
It is important to remember, in all of these cases the
process is cloning and the result is a living embryo of the
species. Also remember that when human research using
embryonic stem cells is proposed, it will involve cloning
human embryos and destroying them for their embryonic
cells.
The Science. Currently, world-wide, research is being done
and many people are being treated and cured using "adult
stem cells" taken either from infant cord blood that has
been collected and donated at birth or from a living
person. The Catholic Church and Catholic healthcare
institutions promote these activities and all research
advancing the use of "adult stem cells." In addition to
the cord blood from any infant, adult stem cells are found
in skin, blood, fat tissue and bone marrow of every person.
Use of these cells has been successful in treating a wide
range of diseases including spinal cord injury and
diabetes.
The fact is no one has been treated successfully using
embryonic stem cells. These cells face rejection by the
patient's body when recognized as foreign, and due to their
nature tend to grow uncontrollably causing tumors.
Public Monies. With the lack of clinical success together
with the ethics of creating living human organisms for the
purpose of destroying them in order to harvest embryonic
stem cells, is this where our state government should be
spending your tax dollars?
Call your state senator and representative. Call the
Governor. Tell them you don't want public funds spent on
any research using embryonic stem cells. For information
on how to contact your representatives or on this topic, go
to www.usccb.org, www.frc.org, or
www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org
Religious Education News
A huge welcome back to all our families and children.
We open our year with the family concert of Christian music that
has become a tradition here at Mary Queen. Last year we took a
break but the wonderful worship band makes a return this year and
we are all thrilled. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, Sept. 14,
at 6:30 p.m. in Church. Please don't miss it. You will also
have the opportunity to meet your child's catechist and see their
classroom.
Our first in session class begins Wednesday, September 21,
at the 3 session times.
Have you registered yet?
Registrations are still being taken in the REO. If you have
not registered, please do so ASAP. Pass the word to your friends
and neighbors. Note that both our Kindergartens are full to
capacity. Please bear in mind that we will not process
registrations on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of September. Children
registered this week will be put on a class list next week. They
are welcome to join their classes on the 28th.
COMING SEPTEMBER 17-18
Life is Christ
Catechetical Sunday 2005
God is Good and so is the wonderful community
of Mary Queen. Thank you to our almost 80 volunteer
catechists and support staff who make our program a reality. I am
very pleased to report that all of our catechist positions for
this year are filled at this time.
Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, September 14, at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Opening Family Concert of Christian Music
in Church. Bring your entire family.
Wednesday, September 21
RE classes begin. No registrations are processed.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann
Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Lee Daniels Proudly Presents the
13th Annual Job Fair
Tuesday, September 13
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Diplomat West Banquet Hall
Route 83 and North Avenue
Forty companies ready to hire, free admission, open to the
public, free job counseling, free job search workshop.
For more information and details visit:
www.leedaniels.com
Vocation Retreat for Women
You are invited to a weekend retreat for single women to
discern if God is calling you to Religious Life. Learn about
Religious Life with time to reflect and share with others who are
also searching.
Retreats are from Friday night to Sunday noon, September
23-25, October 14-16 and October 21-23, given by the Sisters of
the Holy Cross, at St. Mary's Notre Dame, Indiana.
For registration and more information email
maryssongl@aol.com and www.marysong
or call (574)284-5998
A Vocation View
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us." Make a stand for mercy, empathy, forgiveness and
selflessness!
HURRICANE KATRINA
All around our country, people are coming together to help the
victims of Hurricane Katrina. Here in Elmhurst, there are many
businesses and individuals, including some of our own parishioners,
who have undertaken efforts on their own. As a parish, we have
already collected $4,402.00 to help Catholic Charities, USA in their
relief efforts. I want to thank you for your generosity on behalf
of our fellow citizens, who are brothers and sisters to us in the
eyes of God. We are holding a parish planning meeting to discuss
ways that our parish can continue efforts to aid the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. We will keep everyone informed.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
L.O.S.S. Support Group Meetings
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Next Meeting, Sept. 21
At St. Paul the Apostle Activity Center Joliet
For further information, please call 312-655-7283.
Eucharist the Heart of Racial Justice
Sr. Anita Baird, Archdiocese of Chicago Director of the
Office of Racial Justice, will speak at St. Thomas the Apostle
Parish, 1500 Brookdale St. in Naperville on Saturday, Sept. 24,
at 10 a.m. - lunch to follow.
For more information or to RSVP contact Jana Minor at
JANA31341@aol.com, or call St. Thomas the Apostle parish at (630)
355-8980.
"Evening
Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance
It's time to invite your families and friends to attend the
"Evening Under the Stars" Auction/Dinner Dance which will take place
at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison on Friday, October 7. We begin
accepting reservations and selling tickets this weekend after all
the Masses. The Ticket Donation is $35 per person or $70 per
couple.
As in the past, whether you're a single, a couple or a group,
you will be assigned a table when your reservation is made. Should
you wish to reserve a table of ten for your group, we will hold the
reservation for one week. If payment for the tickets is not
received at the end of that week, the table will be made available
to other individuals or parties. Call your friends and relatives
and invite them to join you at this enjoyable occasion.
Aside form the prefect opportunity to purchase auction items
at great prices as gifts for the holidays or special occasions; the
music is great for dancing and the food delicious. The menu
includes Soup, Salad, Beef, Chicken, Baked Potato, Green Beans
Almondine, Dessert, Coffee or Tea and 2 complimentary Bottles of
Wine per table.
This is the eighth year for our "Evening Under the Stars"
Auction/Dinner Dance, and those who have attended in the past are
anticipating another wonderful evening of relaxation and fun. Diane
& Joel Bernstein are in charge of the ticket sales and are looking
forward to booking a table for you, your families and friends. If
you have any questions, they can be reached at 279-7252.
We are still seeking donations for both the Live and Silent
Auctions from parishioners and businesses. If you would like to
donate something or give a monetary donation, please call Donna
Glick (833-5725), Teri Kevil (279-4165) Phylis Twardowski (279-6239)
or Mary White (833-9809). They will be happy to arrange for pick-up
of your donation, or you may drop it off at the parish office.
The proceeds of this benefit will be used to support our
Church Mission of reaching out to those who are hungry, sick and
otherwise in need; supporting our youth, and the various ministries
in our parish which allow us to live our lives through faith, hope
and loving service to all.
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