Happy Thanksgiving!
"I am thankful for the 509 children who grace our hall every Wednesday in the RE program. I am also grateful for their parents and guardians who have given us the privilege to share our faith with them. However, none of that would be possible without the almost 80 volunteer staff of catechists, aides, office helpers, hall monitors, etc., etc. Thank you to all of these amazing women and men and young people who give so generously of their time. Mary Queen is blessed to have you among us."
Mary Ann Woods
Director of Religious Education
I am thankful for the joy of helping our dear senior members in many ways!
Sister Honorata
Ministry of Care
I give thanks for the many blessings I have received this year from my family, my Religious Community and my extended family here at Mary Queen. I am grateful for the continued love and friendship I have received. It is a joy to be serving the people of Mary Queen both as Administrative Assistant and facilitator of the Protecting God's Children and Talking About Touching Programs. Thank you.
Sister Marlene
Administrative Assistant
As we begin our Advent season I hope and pray that all of us look at the many blessings we have been given. There truly is so much to be thankful for...I am blessed with my loving family, friends, & church family. I also want to remember all of our soldiers and their families this holiday season. For all those families that will be without their loved ones or their homes due to natural disasters that have occurred. I know how precious our time is here on earth and give thanks to God for all of the many people that have blessed my life. May God continue to guide us, and keep us ever mindful of all there is to be thankful for. God bless us all this holiday season.
Kathleen Gusloff
Youth Ministry Leader
This Thanksgiving I am happy to be living in a nursing facility, St. Patrick's, where I can serve as a minister of encouragement to several hundred infirmed and aged residents, cheering them up and raising their spirits in countless ways. I am singularly blessed with the knowledge that my wife Nancy and my daughter Maureen are enjoying the beatific vision of the Holy Trinity in Paradise for all eternity.
Deacon John Maloney
I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always
with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your
partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. I am
confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will
continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right
that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you
in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace...And this is
my prayer, that your love may increase ever more and more in
knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of
value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Philippians 1: 3-10
I give thanks for you, the people of Mary Queen of Heaven. All of you - as the words to the song says - the young and the old, the frightened, the bold, the greatest and the least. All of us who come together at the feast of our Thanksgiving tables and at the feast of our Eucharistic table are on a journey together. We accompany one another and help one another become who God is calling us to be in Christ. I do give thanks to God for all of you, staff and parishioners. Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you!
Mary Foley
Pastoral Life Coordinator
It is our honor to be able to sing and pray with you each week, and we are all truly thankful for that! I think I speak for all of the singers and instrumentalists when I say that there is nothing sweeter than to be able to sing and play in your own church. We look out from the risers and see our children, our spouses, our friends. We watch them as they serve at the altar, serve as Eucharistic Ministers, usher, work up in the loft on the sound system, or pray and sing joyfully from the pews. Everyone is working, praying, worshiping, singing, and praising all together. What a gift! On this Thanksgiving Day and weekend, we give thanks for the support and love of our wonderful and dear church home...Mary Queen of Heaven.
Molly Lindberg
Director of Music
Catholic Charities Serves Needy Families
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, hopes to make
Christmas a little brighter for low income families in DuPage
County. This year, through the agency's Holiday Outreach
Program, over 3000 individuals have already been "adopted" by
donor families and local area businesses and school.
During the fall, client families completed a "wish list" at
the Lombard office. Catholic Charities staff then coordinated
with area churches, businesses and individuals to provide toys
and needed clothing for the children. Donors also provided food
certificates for each needy family so that they might enjoy a
traditional Christmas dinner.
Although most families were assigned to donors during
October and November, Catholic Charities is still in great need
of donations to purchase food and gift certificates for families
who will ask for our help in December. Your donation to purchase
food and gift certificates for these families and their children
may be mailed to Catholic Charities, 26 W. St. Charles Road,
Lombard, IL 60148.
The agency relies on the continued generosity of the
community to help them serve every needy family. Without your
support, some families may not have much to celebrate this
Christmas.
Market Day
Orders for December are due Monday, Dec. 5, at noon.
Pickup on Saturday, Dec. 10, 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.
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.
St. Vincent DePaul
Christmas Giving Tree
The "Giving Tree" is up and loaded with ornaments. 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.
"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.
Religious Education News
Reminder to Parents:
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.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods
at the REO, 832-8962.
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.
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.
The Play:
Sister's Christmas Catechism
Will be performed at
At St. Richard Parish, 50th & Kostner Ave
Saturday, December 3
Dinner: 5:30-7:00 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.
"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.
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 .
Senior Citizen Christmas Party
The MQH Council of Catholic Women invites all seniors to
the Senior Citizen Christmas Party, Sat., Dec. 3, in Barrett
Hall, following the 5:00 p.m. Mass. Reservation forms were in
last week's bulletin, and extra copies are available today in
church. So that we will know how many people to prepare for,
please fill in the form and return it to the rectory or in the
basket in the back of church.
Rides will be provided for those who do not have
transportation. Please call either Karen Vicary (279-4108), Mary
Connelly (782-7626), or Mary White (833-9809) if you need a ride.
50th Anniversary Committee
The next meeting of the 50th Anniversary Committee will be
Tuesday, Dec. 6, in Barrett Hall at approximately 8:00 p.m.
(following the Reconciliation Service).
Plans for this year-long celebration are well underway but
much help is needed to work on various events. Please come with
your ideas! The following are some of the areas where we need
information and help.
1. Memorabilia from the past (pictures, booklets, newspaper
articles, etc.), please bring them to the meeting.
2. Names and addresses of previous parishioners or alumni of
our school, to invite them to our celebration. Info or
questions: contact Sheila Reiter 833-6657 or Ellen Walker 279-
4021.
3. A 50th Anniversary Cookbook is planned with best recipes
from MQH Parishioners. Recipes to should be printed or typed,
and double checked for accuracy. Recipe forms are available in
the vestibule of church and can be sent to the attention of Mary
Nanak or Ellen Walker.
Parish Advent Reconciliation Service
We will have our Advent Parish Reconciliation Service on
Tuesday, December 6, at 7:00 .p.m.
All families of the parish, adults and children in grades 7
and 8 are invited to this celebration. For our Religious
Education program, this will be the seasonal celebration of
Reconciliation. We will have a communal prayer service and there
will be multiple priests here from different parishes to hear
individual confessions. Please join your parish family to
prepare for the coming of Christ more fully into our hearts this
Advent Season.
Christmas Food Collection
Our Annual Christmas Food Collection will take place the
weekend of December 10/11. Food items can be brought to church in
advance (boxes will be provided).
Mayslake Ministries
"A Circle of Stones: Women at Prayer," presented at
Mayslake Ministries in Westmont on the 2nd Thursday of each month
from 7:30 - 9 p.m. Facilitated by Mary Jo Valenziano: cost of
$15, all Christian women are welcome. Call for info & to
register at 630-323-1620.
Frank-Incense-ly
Speaking About
Joseph and Mary
Fr. Cargo will discuss the relationship between Mary and
Joseph and the difficulties they endured.
St. Joseph Parish is inviting all young adults to
partcipate in our next gathering. We will provide refreshments
along with a babysitter for children of all ages. This event
will take place at St. Joseph Parish, 330 E. Fullerton Avenue,
Addison on Sunday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information please contact Claudia at (630) 832-6894.
A Vocation View
It's Advent; almost Christmas!
A Season of Dreams Come True.
Be on Guard. The Lord may call you to follow Him.