October Celebrations
We welcome into the Mary Queen of Heaven Parish Family the following who were baptized in October:
Nicholas Spirakis
Alexander Spirakis
Emily Marie Daly
Maura Jeanne Walsh
UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN TO END THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY
It is time for U.S. Catholics to come together to work to end the use of the death penalty in our land.
Why a Campaign Now?
Catholic teaching, as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other statements of the Vatican and the bishops, makes clear that the use of the death penalty cannot be justified when the state has other ways to protect society. The death penalty in our land is deeply flawed. More than 115 people on death row have been exonerated. The death penalty is unfairly applied due to many factors, including where a crime is committed, the race of the victim and offender, and the quality and costs of defense. Catholics are re-examining and changing their minds about the use of the death penalty. Less than half of all Catholics now support the use of the death penalty, down substantially from past years. The death penalty diminishes all of us. Its use ought to be abandoned not only for what it does to those who are executed, but what it does to us as a society. We cannot teach respect for life by taking life.
Facts About the Death Penalty
Approximately 3,500 inmates are on death row in 38 state, federal, and military prisons. The largest number, over 600, is in California. Since 1973, there have been more than 115 exonerations of death row inmates. Recent Supreme Court decisions have limited the use of the death penalty by declaring unconstitutional the execution of persons with mental retardation and those who committed crimes as juveniles (under the age of 18). The court has also ruled that defendants are entitled to have a jury decide whether to impose the death penalty. Twelve states do not allow the use of the death penalty. Five additional states have not executed anyone since its reinstatement in 1976. Other states are actively considering the abolition of the death penalty, including New Mexico and Connecticut. Additional information in support of these facts can be found at www.ccdep.org.
What Catholics Are Thinking About the Death Penalty
Many Catholics have reconsidered their position on the death penalty. In past polls, Catholic support mirrored that of the American public at close to 70%. In a recent survey (Zogby International Poll for USCCB, December 2004), less than half (48%) of Catholics interviewed expressed support for the use of the death penalty. A majority of Catholics credited Church teaching as the number-one factor influencing their position on the death penalty.
In his encyclical The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II called us to choose "to be unconditionally pro-life." During his last visit to the United States, he referenced the encyclical in a speech in St. Louis: "The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform."
Catholic Teaching and the Death Penalty
The Church has long acknowledged the right of the state to use the death penalty in order to protect society. However, in recent years, Pope John Paul II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Vatican's Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, and statements from bishops have more clearly insisted that the state should forgo this right if it has other means to protect society. Our fundamental respect for every human life and for God, who created each person in his image, requires that we choose not to end a human life in response to violent crimes if non-lethal options are available. Moreover, at a time when respect for the sanctity of human life is undermined in many ways, the Church's opposition to the use of the death penalty is an important witness in support of a culture of life.
"I renew the appeal . . . for a consensus to end the death
penalty."
Pope John Paul II, St. Louis, Missouri January 27, 1999
Administrative Committee, United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops
Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty
www.ccdep.org
Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917), November 13 Born in Italy, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini never dreamed that she would be the first (naturalized) citizen of the United States to be canonized. In fact, almost nothing in her life turned out as planned. The order she had hoped to enter denied her admission. The bishop closed the orphanage she worked in, but named her the first prioress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She wanted to go to China, but the Pope encouraged her to go to New York to work with the Italian immigrants instead. When she arrived, the house she intended to turn into an orphanage was unavailable and the Archbishop of New York suggested she return to Italy. Undaunted, she not only stayed, she founded a total of 67 institutions dedicated to the care of the poor, the abandoned, the uneducated, and the sick. Pope Pius XII said of her, "She never let anything turn her aside from striving and aiming to please God and to work for his glory for which nothing, aided by God's grace, seemed too laborious, or difficult, or beyond human strength. St. Frances Cabrini, pray for us when we are tempted to let obstacles keep us from using our gifts for others. Building Effective Relationships with our Children Held at Catholic Charities, Lombard For parents of children ages 5-12 Tuesday, November 8, at 7 - 9 P.M. This two-hour workshop helps parents build on their existing strengths to win greater cooperation with their school-aged children. Cost: $20 per person; $25 per couple Pre- registration is required. For parents of children ages 0-19 Saturday, November 12, at 1 - 4 P.M. Topics discussed: increasing mutual respect, positive communication; understanding how parent's behavior affects child's response; developing discipline techniques that work; and providing children with the tools they need to survive and thrive in today's society. Cost: $25 per person; $30 per couple Pre- registration is required. Waiting for Miracles Catholic Charities will hold its Waiting for Miracles Autumn Gala fundraiser on November 19 at Drury Lane in Oak Brook. Tickets are $150 each and tables of ten are available. All proceeds benefit Catholic Charities in the Joliet Diocese, and 90% is used directly for client programs and services! Items are needed for auction. You can also "Sponsor a Miracle" by making a cash donation. For info, call Sue Kaiser at 815-723-3405, ext 139. 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. Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive November 12-13 at all Masses The MQH St. Vincent DePaul Society is again this year expecting to have a large number of needy families to take care of for Thanksgiving. We will be collecting non-perishable items such as canned vegetables and fruits, cranberries, dressing mix, potatoes, cereals, soup, canned meats and fish, peanut butter, jelly, Jell- o, boxed cake mixes, etc. Also, needed are paper products (Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels), dish soap, soap bars, deodorant and hair shampoo. If you would like to donate a turkey, we ask that you please purchase Jewel or Dominick certificates and put them in an envelope indicating that they are for the purchase of a turkey. These certificates will be given, along with food baskets, to the families we are taking care of this year. We ask that you please bring your donations of food up to the front of church at the offertory of the Masses on November 12 and 13. Boxes will be provided for your donations. In addition, food can be brought and placed in the St. Vincent De Paul box starting now, and it will also be used for the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We will be preparing the baskets for distribution on Monday, November 14, at 10:00 a.m. in church. If you have an hour or so free and would like to help, please call Sheila Reiter at 833-6657. The more hands to help, the faster and easier the task! Thanksgiving Collection Every year our Thanksgiving Day Collection is given to the St. Vincent DePaul Society to aid them in helping people in our parish and the surrounding area who are in need of assistance with food, electric, gas and water bills, rental assistance, car repairs, medicine and medical bills. During the last year and a half the care of the poor has increased exponentially. As a matter of fact, the St. Vincent DePaul Society of Mary Queen of Heaven Parish has helped approximately 75% more needy people (families) during this time than it has in previous years. We have also been able to help some who have been turned away in other places. It is important for all to know that not only does our care help our own parishioners but also reaches beyond the borders of our parish to the surrounding area. This is an important work of outreach and charity that Mary Queen's SVdP Society provides. Due to the economy and loss of jobs, the call for help has been great this past year and a half and we expect it to keep increasing, especially with the energy situation. Next year, because of the needs met by SVdP, we will be adding a monthly envelope for this charitable outreach of our parish. In the meantime, we especially need your help with the Thanksgiving Day Collection. We know everyone is not able to attend Thanksgiving Day Mass, so we ask that you please consider dropping your Thanksgiving Day Envelope in the Sunday collection basket or sending it to the rectory. Please help us to help others! Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Christian Service 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 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. Religious Education News Safe Touching Our Safe Touching sessions for the children in RE continue on November 9 and 16. If you have not as yet returned the permission form for child to participate in this session, please do so ASAP. If you would like to attend the session with your child, know that you are welcome to do so. We still ask that you turn in a permission form, as we must turn in documentation to the Diocese indicating how many children participated in this program regardless of whether their parents were with them or not. Please call the RE office for the schedule of when your child's class will take part in the session if you are interested in attending with your child. FYI - For those of you who were unable to attend the viewing of the parent video, "What Do I Say Now" last Sunday, it will be offered again on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 3:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m., and 6:45 p.m. in Barrett Hall. This film is an excellent resource for you whether you have chosen to allow your children to participate in the Safe Touching program during RE class or if you are talking about this topic at home with your child. Mark your calendar: Sunday, Nov. 20 at 8:30 a.m. - Family Mass; 8th graders will participate in a Confirmation commitment ritual. Wednesday, Nov. 23 - No RE - Thanksgiving Break For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. 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. Diocesan News Da Vinci Code: Hoax or Reality? One of the more intriguing novels of our age is the best- selling "The Da Vinci Code." But how much is based in reality and how much is simply a fanciful hoax? Join Fr. Kevin Shanley, O. Carm., at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, on November 14, from 7-9 p.m. to explore the phenomenon that is "The Da Vinci Code." Cost: $15/person. Call 630-969-4141 to register. Community News Spirit of Life Chorus Invites you to our celebration in song... The Best Christmas Ever Sunday, November 6 at 4:00 p.m. St. Irene's Catholic Church 28W441 Warrenville Rd., Warrenville A benefit concert for Casa de Los Angeles Daycare Center San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Sponsored by Ladies Auxiliary of K. of C. Council 6710 No admission charge - Freewill Offering For information: 630-293-4172 Handling the Holidays Sunday, November 13, at 12:30 p.m. St. Alexander Parish Center, Villa Park Experiencing the holidays without a loved one can be extremely difficult. Join others who are grieving to look at ways to help deal with this loss during the coming holiday season. The program is sponsored by Joyful Again and given by a team of widows and widowers from that organization. Light refreshments will be served after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. 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, Elmhurst from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. On Thursday November 17, please bring the little ones to enjoy creative activities and a kids' presentation centered on "giving thanks." A special visitor (Fr. Chris from Visitation Parish) will lead our kids in this activity. For more information please contact Kelly at (630) 833-7223 or Colleen at (630) 832-4662. 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. 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 this program . When: November 12 & 13, 2005 Where: St. Charles Center, Romeoville How: Call 1-708-354-7211 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 Yoga class 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays: Nov. 9, Nov. 16 and Nov. 30 $4 per night or $6 per night (family rate) All monies will be donated to Mary Queen. Please contact debbie at 941-7224. DuPage Community Clinic Seeks Medical Volunteers The DuPage Community Clinic is a free medical/dental clinic for low-income, DuPage County residents who have no medical insurance or governmental assistance. Our offices are located at 1506 E. Roosevelt Ave. in Wheaton and 401 E. North Ave. in Villa Park. Our medical clinic is seeking nurses, LPNs, CNAs, and EMTs at either office. Primary care physicians, dermatologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists, nephrologists, optometrists, orthopedics, and surgeons are needed at the clinic or as a referral specialty site at your private office. Dietitians, social workers, medical translators, receptionists, as well as dentist and dental hygienists are needed at our Wheaton office. Anyone interested in volunteering, or seeking additional information may call Yessica Cabrera at (630) 682-0639, ext. 19. If you are a physician who prefer to see patients at your private office, please contact Access DuPage at (630) 510-8720, ext. 207. Market Day Orders are due by November 7 at noon. Pickup on Nov. 12, at 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. Babysitters Needed * A MQH family with 2 preschool-aged children is looking for a part time babysitter/nanny for 20-25 daytime hours/week. Sitter must have own transportation and references. If you are interested, please call Margaret at 630-605-3861. * Looking for outgoing, responsible, 13+ year old to occasionally watch our two children on Friday or Saturday evenings (minimum once a month, max 3 times per month). Please call Jerry or Chris at 630-279-8876. Peace and Justice Committee Inside the front cover of today's bulletin is information about the Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty. Here are some suggestions from the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference for ways you can participate in the campaign: What You Can Do As part of the "Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty" you can: Pray for victims of crime and their families, those who have been wrongly convicted, and those awaiting execution. Learn about Catholic social teaching, criminal justice policies, and the policies in your state. Go to www.ccedp.org for more information about the death penalty. Educate people in your parish or community about Catholic social teaching and the criminal justice system. Visit www.ccedp.org for resources for classrooms and small faith communities, Vatican and bishops' statements on the death penalty, and statements from individual bishops and state Catholic conferences. Advocate by contacting your elected officials. Share with them Catholic teaching on the death penalty and urge them to take steps at the state and national level to curtail or end its use. We cannot overcome crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion than we can defend life by taking life.