426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2171
Parish Office: 630/279-5700
Fax: 630/279-4667
Answering the Call Vince Kuna, Congregation of Holy Cross, was a business major who graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1999. He was also an accomplished varsity swimmer who was named several times to All-Big East swimming and academic teams. He spent three years after graduation working as an account consultant for Metropolitan Life in Aurora, Illinois. In addition to his full-time job, he maintained his interest in aquatic sports by assistant coaching Naperville Central's swimming team, helping to lead them to their first state title in the 2001-2002 season. He completed his Candidate (postulancy) Year in May 2003 and is now in Cascade, Colorado as a novice for the Congregation of Holy Cross. For information regarding vocations visit www.vocations.com or call the Diocesan Vocation Office at 815-834-4004. Men's Group The Men's Group meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 8:00 p.m. at Crossroads Restaurant in Elmhurst. The Men's Group is hosting a St. Patrick's Day Party on Saturday, March 20 in Barrett Hall from 7:00 PM until Midnight. The admission price will be $25 per adult (over 21) and will include a catered buffet dinner, beverages, live musical entertainment and a few surprises. Split-the-pot raffle tickets will be on sale prior to the Party with the winners to be announced at the Party. Admission will be on a first-come, first-serve basis (120 people maximum), and so get your tickets now! For admission ticket information, contact Bob Kevil at 279-4165 or 688-1875. For raffle ticket information, contact Mark Connelly at 782-7626 or 258-1648. PADS Help Needed Are you aware that our Men's Group works the overnight shifts for PADS the 4th weekend of each month? PADS provides shelter for homeless persons at various sites from October through April. The time our Men's Group works is from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the morning. Our Men's Group has divided the time into two three-hour sessions: the 11-2 and the 2-5 shifts, using two men per shift. They need volunteers to help out, especially the dates of March 27-28, and April 24-25. During these shifts the men monitor the groups using the PADS facility and prepare lunches for the following day. If you could give a night or two, or more, to this worthy cause, please call Steve Lindberg at 941-1355 or e-mail him at steve@fallaw.com. If you would like more information, he will be happy to answer your questions. Stations of the Cross As in the past, Stations of the Cross will be held on the Friday evenings of Lent at 7:00 p.m., beginning February 27. We invite you and your families to join us. Perhaps you could make a special effort for the entire family to attend. Many are unaware of the importance that the stations of the cross play in our Catholic faith and thus can have an influence on our daily lives. We hope you will be able to join us. 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. Bill Brandt Pam Bonafide Jack Brett Kathy Calzante Betty Ciancio Cosmo Ciancio Tom Janicke Charles Ramus Robert Schultz Roy Schultz Edward Stefaniak If you know someone who would like our prayers, please call Mary Alice at 279-1159. Rest In Peace Angeline Paul Free Senior Home Inspection Offered in Elmhurst! Our Senior Home Inspection Program identifies those areas in your home or daily routine that may be unsafe. The inspection begins at your front door and includes a review of all rooms and the outside of your home. Upon completion, your inspector will indicate what should be done to reduce the risk of fire, burglary, or injury. If you need further information or to schedule a home inspection, contact the DuPage Senior Citizens Council (DSCC) at 630-620-0804. Concordia University, River Forest Concordia University invites you to hear the premier choral and instrumental ensembles of the university in concerts culminating their annual Spring Tours. Music from the past and present in a variety of forms and styles has been programmed for wide audience appeal. Admission is free. For more information call 708-209-3060. The Wind Symphony will perform on Friday, March 12, at 8:00 p.m. in the Geiseman Auditorium. The Kapelle will sing on Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Our Lord. Both are located at 7400 Augusta St. in River Forest. Sacred Heart Fun Fair Parish Center 32 W. Maple St., Lombard Saturday, March 6, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Featuring: Moonwalk, Cakewalk, Sand Art Table, Used Book Table, Assorted Children's Games, Children's Raffle Table, Snack Bar. From 2 to 4 p.m.: Face Painting & Balloon Creations. Free Admission & Ample Parking. Taize Prayer Service Sunday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m The monthly Taize Prayer Service will take place at Sacred Heart Monastery, located on the northeast corner of Maple and Yackley Avenues in Lisle. Senior Showcase Saturday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Senior Showcase, an event designed to inform and educate senior citizens, will be held at the National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Road in Lombard. The event will feature hundreds of products and services for seniors, free seminars, free and low-cost health screenings and free door prizes. Show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and parking is free. We are pleased to offer free admission (regular admission is $2) to Senior Showcase to all parish seniors who would like to attend the event. Simply present this article (or a photocopy) at the door and you and all members of your party will be admitted at no charge. Feed the Hungry Catholic Charities is proud to operate Shepherd's Table and serve over 26,000 meals each year to those who are hungry. Again this year Catholic Charities has a special opportunity to raise funds for Shepherd's Table. Alan Shawn Feinstein, a philanthropist dedicated to eliminating hunger in our country, has issued a challenge that says that he will add some of his own money for each donation we receive for Shepherd's Table. The challenge runs from March 1-April 30. The more money Catholic Charities raises, the more of his money we will receive, and he has one million dollars to give away! Last year this challenge helped raise over $28,000 which was used to feed the hungry at Shepherd's Table! In this way you can make a greater impact in the efforts to feed God's children in our community. God bless you for your generosity! Please send donations to: Catholic Charities Shepherd's Table Matching Gift Program 203 N. Ottawa St. Joliet, IL 60432 Paulist Productions and ABC Television Network Proudly present the World Premier of “JUDAS” The story of Jesus from the point of view of the friend who betrayed him. Monday, March 8 at 8 p.m. Television Channel 7 Help support quality entertainment rooted in faith by spreading the word to your family and friends. Yoga by Debbie Styka All ages are welcome. The class creates community as we meet each other in class. It is scheduled at 8:30 p.m., right after Religious Education class. A new class starts Wednesday, March 3, for the month of March 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. $20 per person OR $30 per family (ages 14 and older) Call Debbie 941-7224 if you have any questions. Required:: Please bring a non-slip mat (can be purchased at Sport Authority, Target, TG_MAX etc. for $13 to $20, & sometimes available at Sears, Walmart, Target). St. Patrick's Day Parade All parishioners are invited to march in the Elmhurst St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 13th with the Men's group. For additional information, contact Mark Connelly at 782-7626 or 258-1648. Youth Group News Destiny Meeting Times March 7 & 21, April 18, May 2 & 16 8:30 a.m. at Gusloff's 523 N. Myrtle All High School students are invited to attend. Wings to Heaven We will be having a lock in on Friday, April 30, from 7 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Saturday. This is for any student currently in 5th-8th grade. It will be a time for reflection and fun! If you are interested in attending, please call Mrs. Gusloff at 832-4348. Every student will need a signed permission slip in order to attend. Meeting Times Our meetings until the end of the year are as follows: March 7, March 21, April 18, May 2 May 16 will be our welcome for all incoming 5th graders. We always meet from 6-8 p.m. in Barrett Hall. Marriage Encounter Leap Year Gives You One More Day! How are you going to spend it? Consider experiencing a worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and enrich your lives together. It is a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian Marriage. The upcoming weekend dates are March 19-21 and April 16-17. For more details or to register, call 630-577-0778. It's not too early to start thinking of being a catechist. This is the perfect time to start thinking if you are being called to be a catechist in our Religious Education Program next school year. It's a great time to come by on a Wednesday and see what goes on after the children arrive. The only qualification is that you love children and you want to share your faith with them. Everything else is provided. If you have thought about it or know someone who is interested, call the office for details. If you have questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. Parish Lenten Series 2004 Mondays, March 1, 8, and 22 3/1 Finding God in an Icon - Lynn Suwanski Journaling, Your Spiritual Diary - Donna Klopacz 3/8 The Rosary, Hail Marys and Beyond - Dee Janicke Finding God Within - Ellen Walker 3/22 Guided Walks with God- Mary Ann Reed Conversations with Christ - Milt Honel Each evening will take place in Barrett Hall from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Refreshments will be served during break. Women's Day Saturday, March 6, at 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. At St. Charles Pastoral Center in Romeoville (On Hwy 53 South of I 55) Join the women of the Joliet Diocese for a day of dialogue, prayer and reflection on issues of interest and concern to Women. The day begins with Registration, Prayer, and Breakfast. There will be presentations followed by Small Group discussion. We encourage you to come and bring a friend. We promise you will leave revitalized, energized and affirmed as women of courage and faith in the everyday work you do. Cost: $15 For info, call 815-722-6606. The Passion According to Luke Wednesday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. At St. Philip the Apostle Church in Addison This is an original one-man drama produced and performed by widely-acclaimed actor Leonardo Defilippis. Deacon Applications The Diocese of Joliet is accepting applications for its permanent deacon program class if 2009. They will continue to accept these applications through October 2004. If you are interested, please contact Father John at the Mary Queen of Heaven rectory. Auction/Dinner Dance Update Our 7th Evening Under the Stars Auction/Dinner Dance on Friday, February 20, was once again great fun and a huge success. The Mardi Gras Theme made for a fun-filled exciting evening, especially with our parade to the tune “When the Saints Come Marching In,” and the added props of beads, balloons, coins, masks and signs of the famous streets of New Orleans. Special thanks to chairpersons Diane & Joel Bernstein, Mary Connelly, Bernie Eadon, Ginny Hayes, Anne Hoey, Terri Kevil, Noeleen Loresch, Phylis Twardowski, Ellen Walker, Mary White and all the wonderful people who worked with them to make this event a success. Congratulations to the raffle prize winners: 1st Prize $500 Nicola Colella 2nd Prize $250 Zygfryd Kielbasa 3rd Prize $100 Cassandra Srutowski The gross profit and more info will be in the next bulletin. St. Alexander School, Villa Park New Family Registration Registration of new families for the 2004-2005 school year will take place on Wednesday, March 10. An original, county birth certificate and a baptismal certificate will be needed unless the child was baptized at St. Alexander. A non-refundable registration fee of $100 per family, applicable to next year's tuition, will complete the registration. The school office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please call 834-3787 for additional information, to arrange another time, or to schedule a tour of the school. Human Cloning & Stem Cell Bills The Illinois General Assembly is currently considering two positive bills that would ban human cloning while promoting adult stem cell research in Illinois. Please contact your state Senator and Representative to urge them to: vote YES and sign up as a co-sponsor for SB 2934 (Illinois Senate) and HB 6693 (Illinois House), the “Human Cloning Ban/Adult Stem Cell Research Act.” We urgently need a strong bill in Illinois to ban this unethical experimentation. Human cloning has never helped a single patient, and exploits people by turning procreation into a manufacturing process, treating human life as a commodity. In addition, this legislation encourages adult stem cell research and other ethically responsible alternatives, which have already helped hundreds of thousands of patients. To find your state legislators, call the Capital Switchboard at 217-782-2000 and ask for your Representative and Senator offices or log on to www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org. Remarriage and Blended Family Workshop Saturday, March 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. At Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center, Naperville This pre-marriage workshop for couples who have been previously married, or who are already in a remarriage situation, will be presented by Barbara Jarvis-Pauls, MA, LCPC. The program will focus on areas that are inherent in remarriages: blending marriages, dealing with ex-spouses, issues related to past relationships, and parenting. Foundational areas of communication, conflict resolution, and spiritual intimacy will be covered, as well. Annulment petition information will be available for those interested in this process. Please call 630-357-2456, for further information and to pre-register.