Saints of the church...
As I write this, yesterday was the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. After school, about 20 families brought their animals for a special pet blessing. It was a lovely event, with the lawn in front of church full of children, parents, a large number of dogs, one cat, and two fish!
We sang together, heard words of Holy Scripture about the creation of all God's creatures on earth, we prayed together some prayers of the church and our own prayers, and blessed the animals. One of my favorite memories was when I was reading a passage about the animals of the sky, the earth, and the seas. I asked the children what animals they could see in the sky. I was surprised not to get an answer right away. Surely, the geese on the grounds should remind them, I thought!
Finally, the silence was broken by a little boy. I went closer to him, expecting to hear we can see birds in the sky. Instead, he told me he could see his cat! I thought perhaps he meant that he could see a likeness in the clouds. But no. He very easily answered that his cat is in heaven. And that his cat was 21 years old!
Another memory from yesterday was when I said, "Let us pray," and a large dog let out a great bark! Everyone laughed.
It was a great day. It was fun to see everyone with their pets, and good to remember and celebrate in a special way the life of one of our saints. Introducing children to saints at an early age can help them to learn about heroes of the church. They can learn how to model their lives after them. They can learn to ask for their prayers as a powerful source of support in their lives.
This week, the children in our Religious Education program are receiving packets of weekly envelopes. These can be used to share with the church each week how they have given of their time to others, how they have shared their talents, or they may choose to share part of their treasure to help with the ministries of the church. We chose these particular envelopes to begin teaching about stewardship of time, talent, and treasure from an early age.
We also chose these particular envelopes because they have information on them about the saints of the church. The lives of the saints are a great source of inspiration for us - not only children, but also adults.
I would like to tell you about someone who is in the process of being named a saint by the church this very day. Today (Sunday), a beatification is taking place at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. I wish I could be there but airfare is too high this time of year! I do know people who are there, though, so I look forward to hearing stories about the event later.
I am still reading stories about the life of this man who is being beatified today. I first became acquainted with him on a visit to Munster, Germany, last winter. His name is Clemens August von Galen. Von Galen grew up a member of one of Germany's oldest noble families, himself a Count. He became a priest for the church, then a bishop, and finally, Cardinal of Munster at the height of the Nazi regime.
Some people have had lifelong devotions to particular saints. For many years, my singular saintly devotion was to Mary. Over the course of adulthood, other saints of the church have found a way into my life, sometimes entering my consciousness powerfully, as with St. Catherine of Sienna. Others have entered more gently, such as St. Ann, St. Dominic, St. Teresa, St. Therese, St. Edith Stein, and St. Francis. Even though his canonization is not yet complete, Cardinal von Galen now has a special place in my life, too.
He was a man of great courage and love. He preached against the Nazis, even though this action caused priests of his diocese to be taken away to concentration camps. He insistently proclaimed the value of all human life, defending victims of Nazi hatred and violence, including the mentally handicapped. "There is no such thing as a life unworthy of living," was one of his great sayings. I have been fascinated in reading his sermons to see how his preaching mirrored the well articulated "consistent ethic of life" heralded by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin many years later.
When the Nazis were taking religious houses away from nuns, Cardinal von Galen gave the family castle to a group of sisters. There are Benedictine Sisters who still live in the castle now. Next year in February, I will be going on retreat there. My spiritual director for this retreat will be the Mother Superior. She is a sister from Ireland who was chosen by her community to be the leader. She has eyes that seem to be able to see into souls.
While I look forward to staying in the castle where Cardinal von Galen was born, even now his life deeply affects me. He is a hero to me. As a minister of God for the church, he carried this motto into his episcopacy, his life as bishop: "Neither praise nor fear." How I desire to lead a life in ministry that is marked by great courage and love, unswerving in devotion to Christ and to integrity in service of God's people, affected by neither human praise or fear.
How far I have to go! How grateful I am to have the saints to help me! Let us give God thanks for the saints of the church, especially for Blessed Clemens August von Galen on this day of his beatification. May we continue to help our children learn about the saints of the church. May we all aspire to the kind of a life of faith that can bring glory to God and inspiration to others.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Reporting Sexual Abuse
Anyone who has reasonable cause to suspect the sexual abuse
of a minor by a member of the clergy or other Church personnel is
urged to report the matter immediately. To inform the Diocese of
Joliet, call Sr. Mary Frances Seeley, OSF (Victim Assistance
Coordinator) at 1-815-263-6467 or write the Diocese of Joliet,
524 Summit Street, Joliet 60435.
Contact DCFS at 1-800-252-2873 or call the office of the
local County States Attorney.
MQH Men's Group Meeting
Wednesday, October 12, at 8:30 p.m. at the Odeum
We will be discussing the 2005-06 calendar.
All members are encouraged to attend.
St. Vincent de Paul
Fall Clothing Drive
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Mary Queen of Heaven Parish is
sponsoring a Fall Clothing drive next weekend of Saturday,
October 15/16.
There is a special need for school clothing for children.
Others items needed are clean coats, jackets, clothing, shoes,
linens, bedding, house wares, books, small working appliances,
knick-knacks, toys, etc. The St. Vincent de Paul truck will be
in our parking lot before and after all Masses on that weekend.
Donation bags will be available after all masses this weekend.
Please pack fragile items carefully to avoid breakage. Our
parish has always been exceptionally generous and we hope to fill
the truck to capacity.
"Thank You for Helping Us to Help People."
Market Day
Orders for October are due Monday, October 10, at noon.
Turn in your order form in the box at the back of church or at
the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, October 15, from 9:30 - 10:30
a.m. in the Social Hall.
If you have questions or would like to place an order,
please call Maria at 279-2238 or Karen at 279-4108.
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
Margaret Conroy Rhonda Colletti
Trudi Dolato Gerald Foley
Dino Fuggitti Anna Heffel
Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt
Pat Holmes Michelle Humann
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
Rest in Peace
Mary Nierhoff
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.
Senior Fair offers facts, and fun
Senior Citizens are invited to attend the DuPage County
Seniors' and Caregivers' Fair on Friday, October 14 from 8:30-
12:30. The fair will take place in the Exhibition Hall, Annex
and Home Economic Buildings of the DuPage County Fairgrounds,
2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton. Free parking will be
available.
Many free health services will be available, including
blood pressure, glucose (2-hour fast required, water & medication
allowed), vision, hearing, podiatry and bone density screenings
as well as brochures, free giveaways, raffle prizes and
refreshments. For a nominal charge, DuPage County residents can
obtain flu shots. (Flu shots are subject to availability, and
appointments may be needed.) Representatives from the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance and the Medicare Part D prescription drug
programs will also be available.
For more information about this Fair, call DuPage County's
Senior Citizen Services at 630-407-6500 or toll-free at 1-800-
942-9412.
Peace & Justice
If you are interested in peace and justice issues, you
are invited to consider attending the next meeting of the
MQH Peace and Justice committee which is scheduled for 7:00
p.m. on Thursday, October 13, in the lower level of the
parish house (rectory).
September Celebrations
We welcome into the Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family the
following who were baptized:
Cataldo Teasan Cullen
Jorryn Phyllis Dewig
Rocco James Donato
Aidan Garcia
Kayla Marie Miarnowski
Weddings
Jennifer Twardowski
and
Jon Spears
Note from Mary Foley
Any parishioner who is sick or homebound is able to receive
communion at home. Please contact me if you would like to be
brought communion.
Also, if you are hospitalized and would like to be visited,
please, please call! Hospitals no longer automatically notify us
of the admission of parishioners because of new privacy laws.
Finally, if you would like your name added to our prayer
list (published in the bulletin), please contact the parish
office. The number is 279-5700.
Council of Catholic Women Fun Night
Tuesday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Barrett Hall
Mary Queen of Heaven Council of Catholic Women is
sponsoring a fun night for the ladies of the parish, their
friends and relatives. Ladies, call a friend or relative and
invite them to come and enjoy a relaxing evening of conversation
and games (Scrabble, Bunco, Yatzee, cards, etc). If you have a
favorite game that you would like to play, bring it along. Each
person attending is asked to bring a bottle of wine, hors
d'oeuvres, snack food, or dessert to share with others. We will
provide the coffee and soft drinks.
This should be an excellent opportunity to enjoy each
other's company and get to know each other as we begin our
programs for the coming year.
For more information, please call Mary Connelly (782-7626)
or Mary White (833-9809).
Young Adult Ministry
Attention:
Young Adults of the Parish (ages 18-35),
All Parish Leaders, and Everyone Else
One of the new parish goals recently established by our
Parish Pastoral Council is to develop a Young Adult Ministry at
Mary Queen of Heaven. We have 362 young adults in our parish,
ages 18-35, and we want to serve them and engage them in parish
life. To help our parish achieve this goal of reaching out to
young adults, the Adult Education & Spirituality Committee has
invited Paul Mach from the Joliet Diocesan Young Adult Ministry
Office to meet with representatives of our parish.
All young adults of the parish, parish leaders, and any
other interested parishioners who would like to participate in
fostering the development of this important ministry here at Mary
Queen are invited to this meeting. It will take place on
Tuesday, October 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the Social Hall (located
inside of the School Building). For more information, please
call the parish office at (630) 279-5700.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Adult Ed & Spirituality
Session II, 2005-2006
Commissioning of Facilitators
As our scripture study groups begin again this week,
studying the Gospel according to St. Luke, we ask for prayers for
all those who have enrolled in the program and who will be
"breaking open" the Word of God in this special way over the next
several months. In particular, Mary Queen of Heaven Parish is
pleased to acknowledge the following 12 individuals who have
completed the leadership training and will be serving as
facilitators.
Monica Babcock Dolly Helwink Bob Scalise
Kay Diggins Jose Nateras Lorraine Scott
Alex Grozik Mary Ann Reed Rory Villamil
Marie Grozik Joseph Sapien Don Walker
Please remember these facilitators in your prayers
throughout the length of the program.
Religious Education News
Our RE classes are in full swing.
Continue to exercise extreme caution in the parking lot on
Wednesday afternoons & evenings. Remember that all little ones
from Pre-School through Grade 2 should be escorted to the door of
their classroom and picked up after class by their parent or
their designated adult.
Registrations
If you have not yet registered, please do so ASAP. We are
still accepting registrations for all grade levels except Pre-
School and Kindergarten, which are full.
Mark your calendar:
Wednesday, October 12 - First Reconciliation Parent Meeting in
Barrett Hall. All Grade 2 parents are expected to attend. Friar
John Paul Cafiero OFM will facilitate.
Saturday, October 15 - Market Day pick-up in the Social Hall from
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Sunday, October 23, at 10:15 a.m. - Our first Family Mass of the
year. Our 6th graders will be presented with their Bibles in a
special ritual. However, as always, all Religious Education
Families are expected to attend.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods
at the REO, 832-8962
Health Committee Meeting
We will have a health committee meeting on October 22, at 9
a.m. at the Parish Center/Rectory to plan some goals for the
upcoming year. Please join us if you are interested in helping
to promote health or support people with illness (and/or their
families) in our parish. All are welcome. If you have any
questions, please call Corinna Wojcik at 782-2152.
Questions of Faith
When have your enjoyed a wonderful and all-inclusive
joyous party?
In what ways did it remind you of the images of today's
scriptures?
How does this image help you envision what God might want
for our world?
Fr. John Bucki, SJ
Editor and Writer
From Education for Justice
(www.educationforjustice.org),
a project of the Center of Concern
(http://www.coc.org)
1225 Otis Street, N.E.
Washington DC 20017-2516
Telephone: (202) 635 2757
Fax (202) 832 9494
Used with permission
MQH Peace & Justice Committee
Sunday Scripture Reflection
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)
October 9, 2005
The vision of Isaiah is the vision of a God who wants
good things for all people. In a world of poverty and
injustice, Isaiah paints a vision of a God who provides for
everyone generously. In a world of nationalism and ethnic &
racial division, Isaiah paints a vision of a God who
destroys the veil/web that covers over and divides all
people. In a world which continues to see so many tears and
so much injustice, Isaiah paints the vision of a God who
wants to wipe away those tears and bring us together in a
new way.
This vision is repeated in Jesus' story of the wedding
feast. What God wants is a great wedding feast - a feast
that is open to all. God is unhappy when folks don't accept
the invitation. "The servants went out into the streets and
gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall
was filled with guests." The vision is expressed in what we
call today the "option for the poor." The vision is made
concrete whenever we work to include those on the outside -
those without power - minorities, women, immigrants, the
elderly, the sick, those who don't fit our expectations and
priorities.
In our fast paced and busy world, the story of Jesus
reminds us of what can prevent us from sharing in the
vision of Jesus. We get too busy with other things. We miss
the invitation. Instead of taking advantage of the feast,
we end up going our own way to buy a farm or manage a
business. We can get separated from the vision of Jesus; we
can miss out on the great wedding feast. We can be
distracted by the various ideologies of our culture -
consumerism, discrimination, militarism, sexism, racism,
fear, isolation, rugged individualism, nationalism, etc. We
can be distracted by wealth or entertainment or prestige.
The excerpt from Philippians reminds us that the
vision of Jesus is a vision of freedom - freedom to have a
lot or a little, a freedom to come to the banquet and to
share the banquet - freedom to share "in the glorious
riches of Jesus Christ." It is the very opposite of the
spirit that leaves a large percentage of the children in
the US in poverty. It is the opposite of the spirit of war
and terrorism. It is the very opposite of the spirit that
puts us in a world of radical economic inequality and
injustice. It is the very opposite of so many of the
'ungodly' spirits around us.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
RCIA Update
We are preparing for the Rite of Acceptance / Welcome the
evening of Saturday, October 22, at the 5:00 evening Mass.
This special rite will be followed by a Pot Luck Supper.
All parishioners are encouraged to join us, meet the new people,
and have fun! So, put it on your calendar and bring a dish to
share.
New Gather Books-Choir Edition
If you wish to donate a new choir book with your
inscription inside, please fill out the order form found in this
bulletin or in the back of church. The cost is $25.
Eastern DuPage Deanery CCW
Annual Fall Coffee Meeting
Wednesday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m.
At Immaculate Conception Parish, Elmhurst
Topic: "10 Things a Parish Commission Chair can do."
There will also be NCCW Convention 2005 highlights. Join
us for an informative and fun evening. For information call Pat
Lord at 630-321-1002.
A free-will offering basket will be provided at the
registration desk, to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please
make checks out to Catholic Charities, USA.
Attention Catholic Lawyers!
The St. Thomas More Society of DuPage County is sponsoring
the second annual Red Mass with brunch immediately following, for
lawyers and their spouses, on Sunday, November 20, at 12:30 p.m.
at St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church in Wheaton.
The featured speaker at the brunch will be Congressmen
Henry Hyde. For further information on the Red Mass or the
brunch, please call Eddie Wollenberg at 668-2415.