Dear Friends,
Last Tuesday, Fr. Tom Nairn, O.F.M. offered a presentation to our parish titled, "Created in the Image of God: The Dignity of the Human Person." The Catholic Church's understanding of the dignity of all human life extends from the moment of conception to natural death. Fr. Nairn spoke at length about the connection between many life issues: from abortion, to poverty, to war, to capital punishment and other issues. These things are all different but they are linked because all involve the dignity of human beings who are created in the image of God. We must be especially concerned about the vulnerable, the poor, and those who have no voice to speak for themselves. We must also be concerned for the life of the criminal, who is never beyond repentance or reconciliation.
It can become overwhelming to consider all of the needs of the world and all of the ways that human life deserves to be defended and protected. No one person can do everything. But each one of us can do something about changing our own attitudes into virtuous ones that respect even our enemies. Each one of us can also do something to change our world by making the quality of life better for others or taking some action to work toward justice for all peoples.
Not a day goes by when there is not the opportunity to do something. Within our parish, there are many ways to help those whose lives are diminished. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society is the ministry of our parish that helps to provide material needs to the poor. Monetary contributions to the St. Vincent de Paul Society help to provide basic needs of food and housing for people in our own area. Many times, we have had special collections for the needs of those far away, and parishioners have always responded generously.
Our Peace and Justice Ministry and our Youth Ministry have been learning more about the Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty and they are sharing this information with others. Our CCW, Men's Group, and many other organizations of the parish have been involved in direct service to people in need. The list could go on and on...
There is now a special opportunity to help those whose lives were devastated by the hurricanes that struck our southern states. Mary Queen of Heaven will be one of the parishes working with the Catholic Construction Corps to help people rebuild their homes and their lives.
People of our parish are invited to consider being part of one of two upcoming reconstruction projects. The dates and places are as follows:
Dec. 3-10, 2005:
Leaving Dec. 3 at midnight (early Dec. 4); returning home
Saturday, Dec. 10. Location: Metairie, LA.
Jan. 7-14, 2005:
Leaving after midnight on Jan. 7 (early Jan. 8); returning home
on Saturday, Jan. 14. Location: Bayou La Batre, AL.
Anyone who is interested in making one of these trips should call the parish office for more information and to register. The only costs involved are for sharing the cost of a rental van (although we could have a parishioner volunteer to drive their own van) and gasoline, and for meals on the Saturday and Sunday of the trip. During the week, lodging and meals are provided by the Mennonite Disaster Service. It is possible for teens to go, only if they are accompanied by a parent, but it is unlikely these dates would work with school schedules.
More information is available at the parish office about these opportunities. Space on each trip is limited, so if you are interested, please call soon.
Next week, we begin the season of Advent, once again preparing to receive the life of Jesus into our world and into our hearts more fully. May this season be a time for us all to reflect on the dignity of human life, so sacred that God chose to enter into our flesh. Let us consider the ways we might better honor the dignity of others, even our opponents or enemies, and let us find one way to help those whose lives are at risk or diminished.
While we await the start of Advent we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. May you all have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. My heart is filled with gratitude for you.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Help the Hungry This Thanksgiving
Organizers of the 22nd Annual Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot are
inviting veteran and new participants alike to join in the fun
and help raise money to help feed the hungry on Thanksgiving
morning.
Runners and walkers can pre-register in person on Saturday,
November 19th, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Schiller Real Estate, 540
S. York Rd. in Elmhurst; or on-line at
www.dangibbonsturkeytrot.com; or by mail by sending a
registration form (available at their website) and a check or
money order payable to: Turkey Trot, PO Box 466, Addison, IL
60101. The pre-registration donation in $20.00. Race day
registration is available from 6:30 - 8:45 a.m. at Schiller Real
Estate on November 24th. Race day registration donation is
$25.00.
Proceeds from Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot will benefit the
Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation, which operates 175 food pantries
in metropolitan Chicago; DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver
Shelter), which operates 21 nighttime shelters and 2 daytime
centers in DuPage County; and the United Community Concerns
Association, which identifies and serves families and seniors in
the Elmhurst area.
L.O.S.S. Support Group
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Joliet Diocese Catholic Charities sponsors support groups
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 to 9 p.m.
November 22 - St. Daniel the Prophet Parish Center
101 West Loop Drive in Wheaton
December 6 - Catholic Charities Office
270 N. Schuyler Ave. in Kankakee
December 21 - St. Paul the Apostle Activity Center
130 Woodlawn in Joliet
**December 20 - St. Daniel the Prophet Parish Center
101 West Loop Drive in Wheaton
During December, all groups will participate in a candle-
light service of remembrance. Members may bring a photo of their
loved who have died.
**This group is meets one week earlier during December.
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 December 1, please join us for a panel
discussion on the wonderful opportunities available in both
public and Catholic Elmhurst schools. 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 833-
7223 or Colleen at 832-4662.
Community News
Thanksgiving Collection
Every year our Thanksgiving Day Collection is given to the
St. Vincent DePaul Society to help people in our parish and the
surrounding area who need 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 families during this time than in
previous years. We have also been able to help some who have
been turned away in other places.
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. Your generosity is greatly
appreciated.
Parish News
Health Committee
Thanks to those who joined us for the last meeting and
helped brainstorm for ideas for the coming year!
Please join us at our next meeting December 3rd at 9:15 a.m.
in the parish office/rectory building. Please call me with any
questions. Corinna Wojcik 782-2152.
Advent Wreath and Candles
The Liturgy Committee will be having Advent Wreath
sets and replacement candles available after all the Masses
during this weekend. The donation for the Wreath Sets
(includes a wreath, 4 candles and an Advent Prayer) is $9.75.
The donation for a set of Replacement Candles is $2.00.
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
Geri Pstrzoch 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
Reminder to Parents:
Wednesday, Nov. 23 -No Religious Education class
Wednesday, Nov. 30 -Class resumes at normal times
Advent Toy Collection
This year as in the past, we will be collecting new, unwrapped
toys for Marillac House. Toys may be left in the box in the
School on Wednesday, December 7 and 14. As you are aware,
Marillac is located on the West Side of Chicago just a short
distance from Mary Queen. Marillac helps many families in that
community. Please be generous.
Heifer International Project
In addition to our toy collection for a local organization, we
have a global dimension to our Advent giving. Once again this
year our children will be able to go to the polls to vote for
their favorite farm animal for us to send to a third world
country. The voting will take place the first two Wednesdays of
December during class time. We are asking each child to bring a
small monetary donation, if they are able, when they cast their
ballot. We encourage all the children to "vote early and often".
This project is not only fun for the children, but it is truly a
gift of hope for impoverished communities across the world.
Mark your calendars:
Saturday, December 10, at 10:30 a.m. in Church our second
graders will celebrate their First Reconciliation. All parents
of 2nd graders are expected to be in attendance as well. Please
let us know if you cannot attend.
Confirmation Prayer Partners Needed
We are asking parishioners to pray for our Confirmation
candidates. Please take a card with a candidate's name from our
basket in the vestibule. Pray for that particular person until
Confirmation day on April 22nd. It is our hope that each one of
our candidates will have someone praying especially for them.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us in the Religious Education
Program!
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods
at the REO, 832-8962.
Christian Service Commission
Market Day
Orders are due by December 5 at noon.
Pickup on December 10, at 9:30-10:30 a.m.
What's New? Read this!
This weekend our candidates will go to the cathedral in
Joliet to meet the Bishop in a ceremony called the Rite of
Continuing Conversion. Frannie Gallagher and Deanna Leoni are on
a journey to complete their initiation sacraments of Eucharist
and Confirmation. Lionel Montenegro will complete his initiation
with the sacrament of Confirmation. A "Sending Rite" at the
10:15 Mass today will remind the faith community at Mary Queen of
their responsibility to pray for and support our candidates as
they learn more about our faith.
Thanksgiving Eve
Community Service
Wednesday, November 23, at 7:00 p.m.
Hammerschmidt Chapel at Elmhurst College
Sponsored by the Elmhurst Ministerium
This interfaith service of song and prayer is open to the
public and supports the ministries of the Elmhurst Walk-in
Ministry and P.A.D.S. Please feel free to bring your family and
join us for this thanksgiving celebration..
Volunteer Tutors Needed
Join the Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange in their
literacy/ESL program, School on Wheels. Volunteer tutors are
needed to teach adults one hour/week at Berwyn, Hodgkins, Summit,
Villa Park, Westmont, or Woodridge.
Training will be provided on Saturdays, December 3 and
December 10, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the
Motherhouse/Ministry Center in LaGrange Park. You must attend
both training sessions. No prior second language skills are
needed. For more information, call (708) 354-9200 ext. 5060,
5085, or 5037 .
Catholic Charities Opportunities
Would you like to positively impact someone's life?
Catholic Charities in Lombard needs your help (volunteer hours
and days vary based upon your availability).
Volunteer help is needed to help our transitional housing
department with client files and check the transitional housing
voicemail box and return calls as needed. Please call Jane
Tyschenko at (630) 495-8008, ext 15.
Volunteers are needed to work with our clients to learn how to
use the public transportation system in DuPage. The ability to
get around the area by bus or train is a key to self-sufficiency
and allows people the mobility to work and live in the area.
Volunteers will learn the steps of using PACE busses and in turn
will teach and assist clients (new riders) using PACE
transportation. Please call Dennis Haffron at (630) 495-8008,
ext 45 with any questions.
Do you have a working spare bicycle which you don't use anymore?
The Catholic Charities DuPage Emergency Shelter is in great need
of working bicycles which our clients can use to go to
appointments and apply for employment. Please call Yvonne
Morrongiello at 630-941-8681 if you can donate a bicycle.
Diocesan News
The Play:
Sister's Christmas Catechism
Will be performed at
At St. Richard Parish, 50th & Kostner Ave
Saturday, December 3
Dinner: 5:30-7 p.m.; Show: 7:30 p.m.
$35 per person
includes admission and Buffet Dinner
Tickets will sell out fast: Order yours today!
For information, please call 773-585-1221.
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.
Congressmen Henry Hyde will be the featured speaker at the brunch
.
For further information on the Red Mass or the brunch,
please call Eddie Wollenberg at 668-2415.
"Creative Memories" Evening
The Council of Catholic Women cordially invite all ladies of
the parish to a "Creative Memories" evening on Tuesday, November
29, at 7:30 p.m. in Barrett Hall. We will learn how to organize
and preserve our memories. This event is "hands on!" Please
bring 3 photos of a special person or event in your life. You
will get a taste of album making using the "Creative Memories"
Short Story Kit and you will leave with a hand made gift that you
can display in your home or office or in an album.
There is no cost for this demonstration and everyone can
participate. Feel free to bring a friend or friends. We're
looking forward to seeing you there and having a fun filled
evening. Refreshments will be served. For further information
or questions, please call Mary Connelly at 630-782-7626.
St. Vincent DePaul
Christmas Giving Tree
The "Giving Tree" will be up and loaded with ornaments the
weekend of November 26/27. We are taking care of 25 families
this year and will be providing gifts for the Elmhurst Extended
Care Nursing Home.
Please remember that after you purchase and wrap your gift,
the tag must be taped to the package with the written side of the
ornament facing up, so that we will know to which family the gift
belongs. Every ornament is coded and this coding needs to be
visible. All gifts must be returned by December 11th so that they
can be sorted and placed in boxes for the respective families.
If you have any questions, please call Sheila Reiter at 833-6657.
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 815-263-6467 or write the Diocese of Joliet, 425
Summit Street, Joliet 60435. Contact DCFS at 1-800-252-2873 or
call the office of the local County States Attorney.
Church Humor
A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question,
"Boys and girls, what do we know about God?" A hand shot up in
the air. "He is an artist!" said the kindergarten boy.
"Really? How do you know?" the teacher asked.
"You know - Our Father, who does art in Heaven..."
"A Polish Christmas at Orchestra Hall
Carols, Chopin and More"
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Lira Ensemble
Beautiful Polish carols & folk songs by Lira Singers
Spirited Polish folk dances
Sunday, November 27, at 3:00 p.m.
Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan in Downtown Chicago
Tickets: $25 to $50, half price for youth to age 18
For more information, call 773-508-7040.
Carmelite Spiritual Center, Lombard
St. Nicholas Celebration for Women: Join Sr. Jane
Schlosser, RSM, and Mary Burd on Tuesday, December 6, from 6-9
p.m. for songs, stories, and traditions of Advent and Christmas.
Dinner and program follows a wine and appetizer reception.
$45/person. Register by Nov. 29
What the Prophets Foretold: Join Fr. Kevin Shanley, O.
Carm., on Saturday, December 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and
focus on the hope expressed in the words of prophets such as
Isaiah and Jeremiah, as they longed for the coming of the
Messiah. $40/person includes lunch. Please register by Dec. 5.
Call the Spiritual Center at 630-969-4141 to register.
New Internet Resource for Our Parish
The e-Series from Celebration: Parish Life
The GATHERING, a small faith community here at Mary Queen
of Heaven is offering you, as a fellow parishioner, a valuable
resource for spiritual growth and parish community development.
We have purchased a license for an Internet publication from
Celebration-the e-Series. It is called Parish Life. We have a
subscription for one year from 11/05. Our license allows all
parishioners to receive this monthly Internet publication with a
one-time registration using our parish code.
Go to www.celebrationeseries.org and click the Parishioner-
Participant E-mail Registration button to register with our code
to receive the monthly publication.
Once you have registered, you will be notified by e-mail
each month when the publication is available. No passwords are
necessary. (Please refrain from distributing the code to persons
who are not members of this parish.) If you have questions about
or problems with registration, the Web site
www.celebrationeseries.org will direct you.
Christian Worship Commission
10:30 Sunday Mass
Beginning next Sunday with the First Sunday of Advent, our 10:15
Mass will be moving to 10:30 a.m..
This was the old schedule and it seemed to be good for families.
Our 5 p.m. Saturday Mass and 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday remain the
same.
Christian Service Commission
NEW WEEKDAY MORNING WORSHIP SCHEDULE
MONDAY 8:30 A.M. MASS
TUESDAY 8:30 A.M. COMMUNION SERVICE
WEDNESDAY 8:30 A.M. MASS
THURSDAY 8:30 A.M. COMMUNION SERVICE
FRIDAY 8:30 A.M. MASS
SATURDAY 8:30 A.M. COMMUNION SERVICE