Dear Friends,
How good it is to be here! These are words I heard from one of our parishioners this week. He works in a public institution where they have been told to be careful to focus on the "holidays," and not wish people Merry Christmas. Being here, he felt that he could focus on what is most important. It is good to be here, gathered together as a parish family, celebrating the birth of Jesus. We take this time to sing together, pray together, and worship together the One who came into the world to show us God's love.
We do not live in a Christmas card world where everything is warm and rosy, every table is full, and everyone is at peace. We live in a real world in which there is much suffering and division. We live in real families. Perhaps all of the stress of the "holiday" season has already taken its toll in some ways. Perhaps everything isn't going to be picture perfect with everyone reconciled and happy with each other this Christmas. For some, there will be real grief and sadness because of who is missing - whether because of death, divorce, imprisonment, or some other form of alienation. We do live in a very real world and it is the very same world into which Jesus came.
We gather together this Christmas as a parish family because we believe, in the deepest part of our hearts, that what is really most important is also true. God really does love us. No matter what our circumstances, no matter what our challenges, no matter what our suffering, no matter what our human condition but exactly in the midst of it, God is with us. When we gather together as a people of faith, we are strengthened in the knowledge of this love and hopefully, become better prepared to carry this love into the world we live in.
It is good to be here. If you are visiting Mary Queen of Heaven this Christmas, welcome to this parish. If you are looking for a church home, please know that you will find here a real one. It is a place filled with real people and real challenges, and real knowledge that here we are formed in the midst of real life to become family - sisters and brothers in Christ who are called to give witness to God's saving love.
Thank you to all who worship with us this weekend. Our lives are richer because you are here. Thank you to all who worked so hard during the season of Advent to prepare for our parish Christmas celebrations - all those involved in our Music Ministry, our sound ministry, our other liturgical ministries, our Art and Environment committee, members of our Men's Group who did the outdoor decorations for our church, our St. Vincent DePaul Society and all the parishioners whose gifts made a nicer Christmas for those who are in need, our Council of Catholic Women and our youth groups who prepared our Senior Christmas Dinner. Thank you to the best staff a pastor (Pastoral Life Coordinator) ever worked with.
May you and all those you love be blessed this Christmas with new life and new joy. Let us celebrate the birth of Jesus and give birth to God's love again. How good it is to be here!
Love and peace at Christmas,
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Mayslake Ministries "A Circle of Stones: Women at Prayer," is being presented at Mayslake Ministries in Westmont on January 12, and on the 2nd Thursday of each month, from 7:30 - 9 p.m. Facilitated by Mary Jo Valenziano at a cost of $15, all Christian women are welcome. Call 630-323-1620 for information and to register. A Vocation View Christmas, a Dream come true! God comes to dwell among His people. Before the Second Coming of Jesus, the world needs people like you to continue His work. Religious Education News On behalf of the entire Parish Religious Education Staff, we wish you all the most blessed Christmas. Mark your calendars: No RE classes December 28th, and January 4th. Classes resume at the normal times on Wednesday., January 11. If you have any questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. 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. Wheaton Franciscans Men's Group You are invited to participate in a safe, non-therapeutic, confidential place to nurture your spirit and your soul. Join us every other Tuesday, January 10, 24, February 7, 21, March 14, 28, April 11, 25, May 9, 23, June 6, 20, 2006 from 7:30 -9:00 p.m. Meetings will be held at Maura Hall, Wheaton Franciscan Campus, 26W171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. Facilitator: Fr. Tom Borkowski, Director of Faith Development and Chaplain of the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters, is a pastoral counselor, trained spiritual director and international retreat leader. To register or to request more information, please call Fr. Tom at 630/784-2685 or e-mail him at tborkowski@wheatonfranciscan.org. "Following Mary's Pathway in the New Year" A Day of Spiritual Renewal for all Women, the retreat will look at Mary's life from a scriptural perspective. Through Mary's example, prayer, and sharing we will see how to remain faith-filled Christ-centered women eager to say "yes" to God's will for us. Saturday, January 7 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. At St. Mary Immaculate Church, Plainfield 8:30-9:00 a.m. - Continental breakfast 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. - Retreat, with a lunch break. 5:00 p.m. - Mass and Reconciliation Registration is $30. Deadline Dec. 30th. Contact Nancy Bruckner, 815-254-2886. Parish Help Wanted: The parish is looking for help in three areas: St. Vincent de Paul Volunteers: For a long time, Tom and Diane Phillips have been humble servants of our parish by making weekly deliveries of all of the clothing and goods we collect for the St. Vincent de Paul Society regional facility. The Phillips are now moving to Florida. We thank them for their dedicated service. We would like very much to continue this charitable work but are in need of some new volunteers to make these deliveries. Please contact Sheila Reiter if you can assist in this way. She can be reached at 630-833-6657. Printer Cartridge Delivery: We are also in need of new volunteers to package the printer cartridges we collect. Proceeds from the ink cartridge collection will now benefit our chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the parish ministry that provides assistance to those most in need. Mailing materials are provided by the company that accepts the ink cartridges, but we need volunteers to keep up with the packaging and mailing. If you are able to help with this simple but very important work, please contact Sheila Reiter at 630-833-6657. Evening office helper: There is a part-time paid position available for a teenager to work in the parish office from 4-7 p.m. a few nights a week, beginning in January. This position requires someone who has good telephone and written communication skills, loves people, is proficient with Microsoft Word, and is able to do some lifting and carrying of packages. Please call Sister Marlene if you are interested in being interviewed for this position. She can be reached at the parish office at 630- 279-5700. Father Carl O'Rourke Father Carl O'Rourke, a priest who once served this parish has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. It has affected his colon, lungs, liver, and possibly his lymph system. The doctors have given him about six months of life. Cards may be sent to him at Tabor Hills Nursing Home, Room 210, 1347 Crystal Avenue, Naperville 60563. Christmas Schedule Parish Office Beginning Dec. 19 and through Jan. 2, the parish office will be open during weekdays from 9:00 a. m - 4:00 p.m. except for the following days when it will be closed: Monday, December 26 Friday, December 30 Monday, January 2 As always, in case of emergency, the pastoral life coordinator can be reached at (630)379-8355. 50th Anniversary Celebration Plans for the MQH 50th Anniversary year-long celebration are well underway but much help is needed to work on various events. The following are some of the areas where we need information and help. 1. Memorabilia from the past (pictures, booklets, newspaper articles, etc). 2. Names and addresses of previous parishioners or alumni of our school so we can invite them to our celebration. For more information or questions: contact Sheila Reiter 833-6657 or Ellen Walker 279-4021. 3. A 50th Anniversary Cookbook with best recipes from MQH parishioners is planned. Recipes should be carefully printed or typed and checked for accuracy. Recipe forms are available in the vestibule of church and can be sent to the rectory to the attention of Mary Nanak or Ellen Walker. We thank you for your participation in this project and if you have any questions please call Mary Nanak (530-4502) or Ellen Walker (279-4021). 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. Joe Abruzzo Pam Bondfide Heather Brennan Katherine Brennan Kathleen Bryers Pat Caffarelli Rose Caffarelli Kathy Calzante Family of Cynthia Catalano Cosmore Ciancio Paul Cirone Rhonda Colletti Margaret Conroy Trudi Dolato Dino Fuggitti Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes Michelle Humann Maureen James Tom Janicke Irene Kmieciak Bernadette Kohn Tim Kowalski John Lane Baby Emma Lynde Robert Manion Bobbi Nannini Edward Owca 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. New Year Schedule Masses Saturday, December 31 New Year's Eve - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 1, 2005 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - Mary, Mother of God and World Day of Prayer for Peace New Ministry of Commentator Beginning in January, our Liturgy Committee will be instituting a three-month trial with the ministry of Commentator. This is a traditional ministry of the Church, still allowed, which provides for the introduction/explanation of certain parts of the Mass. Here at Mary Queen, we will be trying out the role of Commentator to introduce the Sunday readings. Many people always liked the way that Father John introduced the readings, saying that the introduction helped them to more fully enter into Word of God. On the Sundays that Father John is still here, he will continue to do this. Now, with the role of Commentator, we will be able to have an introduction to the readings at all of the other weekend Masses, too. The role of Commentator will be filled by our Lectors. Usually, the role of Commentator is a separate ministry, with the Commentator speaking from a different microphone. Given our sanctuary space limitations, this will be a combined ministry for our Lectors, who will read the introduction before beginning the readings. The introduction will be prepared in advance by the Pastoral Life Coordinator. The first three months of the year will be a trial period for this new ministry of Commentator. After that time, there will be an evaluation to see if this will remain a regular part of our liturgical practice. Help Someone Come Home!! Welcoming Catholics Home Ministry is looking for interested and compassionate parishioners to join our team. This is an outreach ministry for Catholics who are interested in coming back home to the church. Our first six-week series was last April and May, and we are planning our next series which begins on Tuesday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. and will run for six consecutive weeks. Are you a compassionate, non-judgmental individual, who is willing to join the team and walk with those seeking to return to their Catholic faith? Are you seeking to strengthen your own faith? Do you acknowledge that struggles in your faith journey help you grow closer to God? Are you a Catholic that 'came home'? If you would like to be part of this exciting ministry, or if you know of someone who is seeking to return to the Catholic faith, please call Donna Klopacz at 630-832-3618. Part-time Consultant Needed The Peace and Social Justice Office is seeking a consultant to design, promote, and facilitate legislative advocacy workshops in parishes throughout the diocese. This is a part-time, short- term contract made possible by a grant from Catholic Relief Services and is part of the Church of Joliet Council for Global Solidarity and Mission's "Covenant to End Extreme Poverty Now." As well, the effort seeks to prosper and expand the work of the Joliet Diocese Legislative Advocacy Network. The person chosen should have a working knowledge of the full scope of Catholic Social Thought, especially the U.S. Bishops' teaching on Faithful Citizenship, the legislative process, and effective methods for advocacy. Additionally s/he should have an appreciation of the adult education process within the context of a parish. The office will provide contact, material, and other necessary support for a successful campaign. Training models are available. Questions and letters of interest/background information should be directed to Tom Garlitz, email garlitz@dioceseofjoliet.org . Thomas L. Garlitz, Director Peace and Social Justice Ministry Church of Joliet 402 S. Independence Blvd. Romeoville, Illinois 60446 815-834-4028 www.paxjoliet.org Community News Volunteer Work to Fit Your Schedule Debbie and Randy Styka need a few helpers every month or two, on a Sunday morning, early, probably 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. Bethel Church and Mary Queen will be taking care of the 2nd Sat/Sun or each month to serve the homeless at a PADS site at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church on Spring & St. Charles in Elmhurst. Duties may include serving breakfast, cleaning up after breakfast, putting away bedding. Call Debbie at 941-7224 if you can help one time or more. She will add you to her monthly e- mail reminder list. Thank you for considering this work.