Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I went to the funeral of Maureen Guttman, daughter of our retired Deacon John Maloney. You know, from my comments in church and from last week's column, about Maureen's tragic death, when she was fatally injured as a passenger in a car that was struck by a deer.
When I was driving away from the cemetery yesterday, I could not help but notice how beautiful the trees looked. Everywhere around me were trees full of color, as beautiful as if God had just reached down to the earth and brushed on to the leaves the most lovely color combinations there could be. The reality of what I was seeing, however, was that these trees were actually dying to winter. The beautiful leaves I was looking at would soon all fall to the ground, leaving the branches bare in the bleak cold season that was to come.
Death is part of all of life. Yet, driving from Maureen's funeral, I thought about how, in nature, God gives us signs that death is not the end. There is a beauty in the dying of the trees. Even when their branches are bare, the birds' nests that remain in their perches remind us of the new life that will come in the springtime. All around us there are reminders that life will come again after death. As a woman, I have experienced this as a monthly cycle within my own body.
The fact remains that death in itself is not beautiful, with occasional exceptions. I have had the privilege as a hospital chaplain of being present for the death of many people. Once in a while, there has been a kind of beauty when I have witnessed the peaceful death of a faithful person who was prepared and eager to return to God. Most of the time, however, the circumstances are different, because there is pain, or fear, or disease, or trauma. Maureen's death was very traumatic and not beautiful at all.
However, at the end of her funeral Mass, at which both the priest and several family members spoke about Maureen's life and her faith, her sister Kathleen told a story about how she and her sister Pat had already been able to see signs of life that came from Maureen's tragic death.
On Friday night, after Maureen had been pronounced dead, her body underwent surgery for the removal of eight vital organs that would be given to help eight other people to continue life with their families. Kathleen talked about how, after she and her sister Pat had returned to their sleeping room in the hospital, they saw a helicopter land on the roof and take off shortly afterwards. They knew that in this helicopter was Maureen's heart, on its way to the woman who needed it so badly. After that helicopter left, Kathleen said they saw another land and take off again, then another, and then another.
All of those who spoke at Maureen's funeral talked about her deep commitment to Respect Life work throughout her life. Even at the time of her death, she demonstrated her respect for life in sharing her own bodily organs to save the lives of others. Maureen's family said that if there is anything people want to do to remember her, they hope that people will sign the backs of their driver's licenses so that they can become organ donors, too.
Maureen's family, in the midst of their terrible sorrow, gave witness to their own belief in the dignity of human life, both in celebrating the funeral rites of the Church and in their testimony about organ donation. Maureen's husband Richard talked about how fitting it was that Maureen's death occurred during the month of October, which is recognized as Respect Life month in the Catholic Church.
Perhaps as a way of remembering Maureen, we can all take some time to reflect more deeply on what respect for life really means for us, and consider some new action we can take in our lives. Perhaps that will be giving consideration to becoming an organ donor. Perhaps it will be attending the presentation being given at Immaculate Conception Parish tonight, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. IC is hosting a special speaker, Jennifer Jenkins, founding member of "Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation." Jennifer will be talking about how she supports abolishing the death penalty, even after her pregnant sister and brother-in-law where murdered. For many people, it is much easier to think about how the Respect Life teaching of the Church relates to issues like abortion rather than to things like the death penalty. The truth is, however, that the U.S. Catholic Bishops have begun a campaign against the death penalty, and people like Jennifer Jenkins can help us to understand this aspect of the teaching of our Church.
Next month, our own parish will be hosting Father Thomas Nairn, who will be speaking here on the subject, "Created in the Image of God: The Dignity of Human Life." Please take advantage of these and other opportunities to reflect more deeply on respect for human life in all its dimensions.
In today's scripture readings, we hear about the need to care for widows and orphans and the poor. Today, we also hear Jesus give the two great commandments: Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. These words can lead us all into deeper reflection about respecting life, and the fact that while life and death will be always be before us always, we are always called to choose life, as Maureen herself did even in her own death.
Mary M. Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Eucharistic Adoration
Prayer enrollments
"Jesus is your greatest Friend. In all
situations of your life, turn to the Divine
Friend present with us and in us in the
Eucharist." (John Paul II)
We're a new ministry devoted to praying
for your loved ones before the exposed
Eucharist for 30 days. Submit your
petitions for free. For a minimum donation
of $10.00, we'll send your loved ones a
beautiful enrollment card letting them know
that you care. All occasions: birth, death,
illness, marriage, graduation, loss of job, etc.
PrayerEnrollments.com
1908 Continental Avenue, #308
Naperville, IL 60563
E-mail: Becky@PrayerEnrollments.com
On the web: www.PrayerEnrollments.com
Effective Choices, Effective Parenting:
Building Effective Relationships
with our Young Children
For parents of children ages 0-4
Tuesday, November 1, at 7 - 9 P.M.
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 is required.
Continue to exercise extreme caution in the parking lot on
Wednesdays. As the days get shorter, some of our little people
are more difficult to see.
Religious Education News
Mark your calendar:
Wednesday, October 26, at 7:15 p.m. in church there
will be a special session for all Confirmation candidates,
parents, and sponsors. Please note that this session is in lieu
of the 8th grade 5:15 session. All candidates and parents are
expected to attend. Please call the REO if you cannot.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann
Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Diocesan News
Market Day
Orders for November are due Monday, November 7, at noon.
Turn in your order form in the box at the back of church or at
the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, November 12, 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.
MQH Parish Pastoral Council
Next Meeting: Monday, October 24th, 7:30 P.M.
School Social Hall
PPC Open Meeting Policy
The Parish Pastoral Council meeting is an open meeting.
All parishioners are invited to attend and observe the
proceedings in their entirety. The final 15 minutes of each
meeting are reserved for parishioner comments and/or questions.
Understandably, not all questions may be answered during the
parishioner comment portion of the meeting. When this is the
case, unaddressed concerns will be considered for referral to one
of the commissions, to a subsequent Parish Pastoral Council
meeting, or to the parish staff. (PPC meetings typically last
for about 2 hours.)
Minutes of Parish Pastoral Council meetings will be
displayed in the back of the church.
Blood Pressure Check-Up:
Sponsored by the Health Committee
We will have a nurse here from Carematch at Elmhurst
Memorial Hospital to check blood pressures from 9-10:30 a.m. on
October 23rd.
Members from the Health Committee will also be available
after 10:15 mass. However, more people will be present prior to
the mass. So if you can come early for mass, it would be
appreciated. Blood pressure is important as it can affect many
different parts of the body. When it is high, it is often
asymptomatic. Finally, people of all ages may have high blood
pressure. Elmhurst hospital also offers free blood pressure
screenings at the Center for Health. Please call Carematch for
more information: 782-7878. Feel free to call me as well:
Corinna Wojcik: 782-2152.
Christian Service Commission
Bereavement Ministry
Table of Remembrance
The Bereavement Ministry Team is preparing for the All
Soul's Day Mass to be held Nov. 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
There will be a Table of Remembrance set up beginning this
weekend, Oct. 22-23 to hold pictures of our deceased loved ones.
ALL parishioners are invited to bring a framed picture (with your
name and phone number on the back) to be placed on the table as a
reminder of those who have gone before us. The table will stay
up until the middle of November.
Widowed?
Joyful Again! is a faith-based program that helps
people still dealing with the death of their spouse.
It explores what they have been experiencing after their
loss and offers tools to assist them in moving on with their
life. If you or someone you know is widowed, plan on attending
the program currently being offered.
When: November 12 & 13, 2005
Where: St. Charles Center, Romeoville
How: Call 1-708-354-7211
A Vocation View
We must stop just putting band-aids on the wounds of
society. We must tell the world that we are God's people. God
loves us and we were created to serve God, and others in God.
CCW Board Meeting
The Council of Catholic Women Board Meeting will be held
Tuesday, October 25th, at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Mary Connelly,
265 West Adams.
All ladies of the parish are encouraged to attend. Please
call Mary at 782-7626 for further information or to let her know
you plan on coming.
Christian Service Commission
Peace and Justice
This is a request for those who are interested in serving
on a subcommittee of Peace and Justice to address the needs of
victims of Katrina.
There has been some interest in taking a more active role
as part of our parish mission. Please come to the next meeting
which will take place on Thursday, November 10, at 7 p.m. in the
Parish House.
Call Jan Alexander (782-6065) for more details.
MQH Garden Club Update
Thanks to everyone who has been helping this summer to keep
our gardens watered. Our droughty summer presented its
challenges, but we rose to them! Some more good news is that we
have welcomed a few new people into our service group. Now,
believe it or not, it's cleanup time. We will be meeting on the
last Saturday of October to put our gardens to sleep for the
winter. Plant material and soaker hoses will be removed from the
gardens, and containers will be emptied. We will also store the
hoses for the winter.
Date: Saturday morning, October 29
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: Parking lot near church
Tools: Gloves, clippers, and shovels
For questions, please contact Rose Wilkes at
Begonia22@actlink.net or 833-7238 or Sheila Reiter at 833-6657.
Christian Worship Commission
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
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
Maureen Ann Guttman
(daughter of Retired Deacon John Maloney)
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.
Diocesan News
Tree of Light Memorial Mass
All are welcome to attend the annual Tree of Light Memorial
Mass in remembrance of babies who have been lost through
miscarriage, stillbirth, other pregnancy losses, and infant and
early childhood death. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop
Imesch at the St. Charles pastoral Center in Romeoville on
Sunday, November 6, 3:00 p.m.
Please call 815-838-5334 to indicate the number of those
planning to attend. A special tree-lighting ceremony will be
held, and ribbons will be placed on the tree for each baby being
honored that day. If you are unable to attend, but would like a
ribbon placed on the tree in your baby's name, please call the
above number.
L.O.S.S. Support Group
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Through the collaboration of Catholic Charities (the
Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet), support groups
are in place for anyone who has lost a relative or friend to
suicide. A trained facilitator and a mental health professional
assist these groups. The groups meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on
either the first Tuesday of the month, the third Wednesday or the
fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting dates are as
follows:
November 1 - Catholic Charities Office
270 N. Schuyler Ave. in Kankakee
November 16 - St. Paul the Apostle Activity Center
130 Woodlawn in Joliet
November 22 - St. Daniel the Prophet Parish Center
101 West Loop Drive in Wheaton
Community News
M.O.M.S
Elmhurst Catholic M.O.M.S. (Moms Offering Moms Support) 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 will meet in
the Msgr. Plunkett Hall meeting room across from Msgr. Plunkett
Hall, lower level of the Immaculate Conception chapel, Elmhurst
from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
On Thursday November 3, M.O.M.S. will host a panel of
speakers on the issue of caring for aging parents. Babysitting
is encouraged for all children over 1 year of age and will be
provided for a nominal fee. For more information please contact
Kelly at (630) 833-7223 or Colleen at (630) 832-4662.
Annual Ham Dinner
Zion Lutheran Church at 865 S. Church Rd., Bensenville is
having their Annual Ham Dinner with Homemade German Potato Salad
on Sunday, November 6, from noon to 3 p.m.. Cost $9.00. For
reservations or more information, cal the church office at 766-
1039
Care Net Pregnancy Services
Care Net Pregnancy Services of DuPage will hold its annual
banquet on Thursday, October 27th at Drury Lane in Oak Brook. The
featured speaker will be Dr. Marvin Olasky, a professor at the
University of Texas at Austin, a senior fellow of the Action
Institute, and the editor-in-chief of World the fourth most-read
weekly news magazine in the country.
There will be a reception for Dr. Olasky beginning at 5:30
p.m. Dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. and is complimentary;
however, there will be an opportunity to make a contribution to
the life saving ministry of CareNet.
For more information or to receive an invitation, please
call CareNet at 630-493-1340, ext. 309.
Feast of All Saints
Everyday of the year the church honors one of the men and
women who are living proof that the gospel can be lived-the
saints.
Join Sr. Jane Schlosser, RSM, and Mary Burd at the
Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien on Tuesday, November 1 from
5:00 to 9:00 p.m. We'll begin with celebration of Eucharist at
5:00 .m. followed by dinner. Cost: $45/person. Pre-
registration by October 24th is requested. Call the Spiritual
Center at 630-969-4142.
CCW Sponsors Church Women United's "World
Community Day"
The Council of Catholic Women cordially invites all ladies
of our parish to attend Church Women United's "World Community
Day" on Friday, November 4th at 1:00 p.m. in Barrett Hall. "World
Community Day" is an annual event that brings together Roman
Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and other Christian women in a
common worship experience that focuses on issues of peace and
justice. It is an opportunity to share in projects for our local
communities.
Our theme this year is "A Light to the Nations." Our
parish CCW is hosting this gathering and all women are invited to
join us for celebration and fellowship. Please feel free to
invite your friends too.
For further information, or if you need baby sitting
services, cal Mary Costello at 832-5153.
Medicare Part D
Major changes will be taking place regarding prescription
drug benefits and medicare effective January 1, 2006. Learn
about these changes on Sat., November 5th at 10:00 a.m. at
Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York.
The presentation will provide you with a clearer
understanding of:
* What Medicate Part D is and what your options will be
regarding prescription medications.
* How to choose a prescription drug plan that will be most
beneficial to you or your family member
* Current recipients of Circuit Breaker or Senior Care will
learn how to ensure that they are able to continue to receive
those benefits.
A representative from social security will be present to
assist with applications for prescription subsidy. Free blood
pressure screenings available. RSVP 306-7077.
Benedictine University Workshop
Wednesday, November 16th
The offices of Career Development and Alumni Relations will
host a workshop titled "Getting Your Foot in the Door When You
Don't Have a Leg to Stand On" at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November
16 in the Krass Center Presentation Room on the campus of
Benedictine University.
The workshop features Rob Sullivan, author of "Getting Your
Foot in the Door When You Don't Have a Leg to Stand On," who will
offer tips on job hunting including the importance of effective
resumes and cover letters.
He will cover such topics as "Packaging Your Potential:
Lessons from a Job Hunter who Learned the Hard Way," "Why Most
Resumes Are Ineffective (and what You Can Do To Make Your Resume
Stand Out)."
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a light dinner. The
workshop starts at 6:30 p.m. and continue until approximately
9:00 p.m. The program is open to community members, Benedictine
University alumni and current students. The cost is $10 for
community members and alumni and $5 for students.
For more information or to make a reservation, call Lindsey
Kasha, 630-829-6008, or e-mail her at lkasha@ben.edu by November
11.
50th Anniversary Planning Meeting
The next meeting of the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee
will take place on Wednesday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m. in Barrett
Hall.
All parishioners, ministries and organizations are invited
and encouraged to participate in our year-long celebration. Join
us at our planning meeting with your ideas and suggestions. For
further information please contact Sheila Reiter (833-6657) or
Ellen Walker (279-4021).
St. Vincent dePaul Committee Meeting
Thursday, October 27, 7:30 p.m.
In Mary's Gathering Area