426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2171
Parish Office: 630/279-5700
Fax: 630/279-4667
Kitchen Items Needed The St. Vincent DePaul Society is looking for donations of clean household items in good condition to pass on to families in need. Dishes, Cookware, Knick-Knacks, Small Working Appliances and Miscellaneous house items are always appreciated. Please call the Society at 630-231-4658 to schedule the truck to come to your home. Tax receipts are gladly given. St. Patrick's Day Party The MQH Men's Group has scheduled a St. Patrick's Day Party on Saturday, March 20, from 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 Midnight in Barrett Hall. This adult event will include a catered dinner, beverages, entertainment, raffles and potentially, a silent auction on select items. More details will be announced within the next couple of weeks. Evening Under the Stars Friday, February 20, 2004 Need an evening of relaxation and fun? Plan on attending the 7th Annual Evening Under the Stars Auction and Dinner Dance being held on Friday, February 20, at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison. Get your friends and relatives together and plan on reserving a table. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a cash bar and an opportunity for all attendees to view the wonderful auction items that have been donated by our parishioners and businesses in our area. Tickets for this event will be available beginning this weekend, and the donation is $30 per person. For information, please contact Diane Bernstein at 279-7252. All parishioners should have received a letter from Mary Connelly and Teri Kevil requesting donations of articles, theater tickets, dinners, football games, special events, weekend trips, collectibles, children's items, donations of service, etc. We are counting on your help to make this year's auction/dinner dance as great as it has been in the past. So, give the girls a call and let them know when to pick up your donation. Because of the time needed to compose and print the Auction Program Book, we ask that all donations please be in by January 26. Of course, monetary donations are always acceptable to help purchase auction items or defray expenses. As in past years, we will be having a Raffle with many more great prizes, the top three prizes being Cash. Raffle Books will be mailed to your homes around the third week in January. Much help is needed. If you have a few free hours and would like to volunteer to help us with this event, give Sheila a call at 833-6657. Watch the bulletin for more information in the coming weeks. Host Families Sought for Children of Northern Ireland The Irish Children's Fund is seeking host families to welcome children from the troubled areas of Northern Ireland into their homes during the summer of 2004. This will be the 24th summer that the ICF has brought an equal number of Catholic and Protestant children to the Chicago area. During their visit, the children will participate in activities designed to foster the spirit of cooperation and friendship, breaking the barriers of mistrust they have been brought up with. Upon returning to Northern Ireland, the children have a follow-up program available to them through which they can continue to come together in ICF-sponsored activities and maintain the friendships formed in the United States. For additional information, call 630-833-1910. Please mark your calendars: Confirmation Retreat for all 8th graders - Saturday, January 31, at 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in Barrett Hall First Communion Parent Meeting - Wednesday, February 4, at 7:00 p.m. in Barrett Hall As always please be very careful in the parking lot. Winter weather makes dropping off and picking up children a real challenge. Remember our children are precious; let's all strive to insure their safety. If you have questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. Prayer Requests To pray for the sick is an important responsibility of the Christian Community. We hope that you will pray for these persons every day, alone or as a family. Thank you. Jack Brett Rose Caffarelli Betty Ciancio Cosmo Ciancio Adeline Gorski Art Heisen Tom Janicke Elizabeth Kubane John Kubane Irving Pavlik Kelly Peters Charles Ramus Anne Marie Raye Patricia Sabel Robert Schultz Edward Stefaniak Patricia Staseck If you know someone who would like our prayers, please call Mary Alice at 279-1159. Protecting God's Children An Invitation Throughout the past year our parish bulletin has carried many letters from Bishop Imesch explaining how our diocese would be responding to the crisis of sexual abuse of children. One of the ways is a program designed to help us create a very safe environment where we live and where we work by becoming better informed about the signs of abuse and the characteristics of a possible offender. In September and October of 2003 Mary Queen of Heaven parish presented this program called Protecting God's Children for all individuals who are employed by Mary Queen of Heaven parish and/or who work or volunteer with the children of our parish. On the evening of February 19, 2004 the program will be presented once again. This time we extend an invitation to all interested members of our parish to come for the presentation of two short films and some discussion. The program will address the warning signs of inappropriate relationships, how child-centered programs are to be monitored, who are permitted to work with children, the importance of parental involvement and how to communicate concerns about suspected abuse. Program Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Program Date: February 19, 2004 Registration: Please call Mary Alice at 279-1159 by February 16 so that we may prepare the proper amount of chairs, tables, handouts and refreshments. Church in Latin America Pope John Paul II reminds us that the Catholic Church should be the living sign of the unity of the human family. He calls us to solidarity with our neighbors in Latin America, who share with us a common faith heritage. Many of them, however, live lives made difficult by poverty, illiteracy, violence, and persecution. Pastoral ministry and aid projects funded by the Collection for the Church in Latin America strengthen faith, give hope, and improve the lives of thousands throughout Central and South America. A portion of the funds collected in the Diocese of Joliet will be reserved for our Partnership in Mission with Bolivia. Please share your blessings and give generously. Thank you!! For Widowed Men and Women The Office of Family Ministry of the Joliet Diocese invites you to attend a special retreat/workshop that will bring hope into your life once again. This 2-day program will be held on: March 6 & 7, 2004 Joyful Again! is a program designed to help those who are widowed find joy in living again. If you've been widowed you know how hard it is to adjust to your new role in life. Whether you are young or not so young, you know the loneliness and only you know the loss. When: Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7 Where: St. Charles Borromeo Center (Near Hwys 53 & 55 in Romeoville) Donation: $105 includes meals & private lodging (Can be adjusted in needed) Register by calling 708-354-7211 (Registrations preferred by February 26.) Fireside Theology Immaculate Conception Parish, Elmhurst 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Suggested Donation: $10 Come spend some cold Saturday mornings with us. We'll provide the hot cocoa and marshmallows (and a continental breakfast)! Call 530-3483 for more info. Saturday, January 31: The Dynamics of Power in Daily Living Take this morning to explore the dynamics of power in everyday life, to probe the meaning of God's power expressed in the life of Jesus, and to discover the implications of power for relationships, community and ministry. Presenter: Sister Helen Cahill, a member of the staff at Claret Center for Counseling and Spiritual Direction. Saturday, February 7: Make Me a Channel of Your Peace St. Francis of Assisi sensed a oneness with all of God's creation. This sense of unity with creation urged him to live at peace-with himself, with his God, and with all the universe. We will explore this sense of peace, and how we might claim it for our lives. Presenter: Father Ed Shea, pastor of the Church of St. Joseph in Chicago's famed Back of the Yards neighborhood, an energetic and enthusiastic preacher. - THE GATHERING - Small Faith Community at Mary Queen of Heaven The Thursday evening Community, The Gathering, would like to welcome new members. Would that be you? Not a Bible study group, altho Scripture is a key element Not a social group, even tho socializing and caring for one another as friends is very important Not a prayer group, but prayer is its foundation Not a ministry committee, but service is a vital aspect of community life. A Small Faith Community is all of these. It is an opportunity to come together in a manner similar to the very first Christians almost 2,000 years ago, in each other's homes. A small church within a larger one. How can you tell if this is for you? Come and See! Call Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523 evenings. Elmhurst Memorial Hospice As part of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, we are a non-for-profit agency that offers Hospice services to the community. You or someone that you know may have experienced hospice. If you are not familiar with hospice service, you will be happy to know that we provide support to individuals and their families that have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Among our services are volunteers to help provide non-medical services such as companionship, relieving caregivers for short periods of time, running errands, and telephone outreach to the bereaved. We currently need persons interested in becoming volunteers on our hospice team. We also need volunteers to work with children in a grief group. Other areas of need include office support, fund raising and professional experience. As a volunteer, one will experience the reward of satisfaction, greater self-awareness and spiritual growth. Hospices depend on volunteers. Without the efforts of volunteers, hospices could not continue their important work. 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, the third Wednesday or the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting dates are as follows: Feb. 3 - Catholic Charities, Kankakee Feb. 18 - St. Paul the Apostle Activity Center, Joliet Feb. 24 - St. Daniel the Prophet's Parish Center, Wheaton For further information, please call the L.O.S.S. Program Center at 312-655-7283. Yoga Class by Debbie Styka For all ages - teenagers to senioragers It creates community as we meet each other in class. It is scheduled right after Religious Education classes. A new class starts February 4 for 4 weeks Wednesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. 4 classes, $16 per person 4 classes $24 per family (ages 14 and older) Call Debbie 941-7224 Required:: Please bring a non-slip mat (can be purchased at Sport Authority, Target, etc/ for $13 to $20) Toiletry Item Drive Confirmation project for Michael Rudolph and Vince Colella! Jan. 25-Feb. 22 at Mary Queen of Heaven There will be a box in back of church for donations. Please give shampoo, razors, shaving cream, soap, toothpaste & brush, deodorant, etc. Please donate unused items. Donations will go to a local homeless shelter!! Any questions, call Michael Rudolph at 279-7902