Mary's Corner
Greetings, Friends!
Please God, help me find a way to do this. It was a quiet prayer, one among many breathed to God in moments between things in the last few weeks. I had been presented with a request for a significant increase in our music ministry budget for next year. I wanted to meet the request but was not sure how I would do this with some of the other things I know we will be facing in the coming year. Our financial situation is good! Still, we will need to think and pray together next year about stewardship. To quote Bishop Robert Morneau, a gifted and spiritual man from the Diocese of Green Bay, the mission of the church is evangelization, not maintenance. Next year, we will begin spending time reflecting together on how our stewardship of time, talent, and treasure serves that mission of the church. This can help to shift our focus from: How can we keep doing what we've been doing? to How can we take ownership of our future and become who we are called to become? All of this was on my mind as I received the request for a larger music ministry budget for next year. Certainly, good religious music is an aid to evangelization, helping people to pray and serving to teach some of the tradition of the church. But I wasn't quite ready for this increase in expenditures yet!
Then, the other day, I opened an envelope that I had been handed to me after Mass last Sunday. In it was a note that read, Mary, Gene and I would like to make this donation to help support the music program at Mary Queen. You can disclose who gave it, or not, as you see fit... Along with the note, which was from Gene and Lynn Suwanski, was a check for $1000.00. I had prayed for God's help and had already found one way to save some money to shift to the music budget for next year. Now, here was another help, from people whose hearts were moved in gratitude. This is what stewardship is all about. It is really a spiritual way of life that should be grounded in thanksgiving for all that God has given to us. Thank you Gene and Lynn for your generous gift to our music ministry. You had no way of knowing how it was needed but God knew and worked through you.
Diocesan Appeal
Directed gifts will always be welcomed! Still, when we talk about stewardship next year, parishioners will be encouraged to consider all of the ministry of the parish when they make their financial donations. In a similar manner, the diocese asks us to consider the ministry of the church outside of our own parish during the time of the diocesan appeal. I want to extend special thanks to all of those who have already made a contribution or pledge to the diocesan appeal. I have been extremely concerned about changing patterns of giving in our country since the time the sexual abuse scandal became public. There are a significant number of lay people who feel that withholding contributions makes a statement in conscience against members of the church hierarchy who have abused children or who have abused their power in protecting abusers.
Unfortunately, withholding contributions as a tactic backfires. Lay people are the first persons harmed by reduced contributions which bring lower budgets for religious programming, staffing cuts, and diminished social services. Someday, I would like to talk more about this because I firmly believe that what is most needed, paradoxically, is for lay people to open both their pocketbooks and their mouths when it comes to the church, demanding accountability but being accountable themselves for our future.
Perhaps one day I will be able to return to this theme. For now, I wish to say this. I have heard that the Joliet Diocesan Appeal has lost 16% of its revenue in the last few years and this has really hurt some of the good ministry of the church. I am pleased to say that our parish has been very generous this year. Since I know how much these funds help those served by our larger church, I want you to know how grateful I am. Moreover, I would ask those who have not yet made a contribution to the Diocesan Appeal to consider doing so. We have not quite met our goal for the year, and the diocese will ask us to make up the goal that was set for us. If you are able to make a contribution, I ask you to prayerfully consider doing so, not for this reason but because it is the right thing to do.
Health Committee/Ministry
Finally, I would like to come to you with a request for some special help. You will see in this week's bulletin that we are expanding our St. Vincent de Paul Society, one ministry of our parish that reaches out to those in need. I would also like to form a health committee composed of members of our parish who could assist me in responding to some of our parishioners who have medical or psychosocial needs. While as a parish we cannot meet all of these needs ourselves, I would like to have a group who could serve as a resource to help make connections to medical providers or social service agencies, and who could possibly take on the task of grant writing to fund a part-time parish nurse position. There are also other ways that a health care ministry could be of benefit to the parish. If you have background in health care or social work and would be interested in becoming part of a parish health care committee, please contact the rectory. May God continue to bless our parish!
Mary Michele (Regina) Foley
Young Adult Ministry Joliet Diocese on-line Resource www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam Young Adults and Young Adult Ministers are encouraged to use this site to see the programs available in the Chicago area. Young Adult Ministers or volunteers may share and advertise information about their programs and Young Adult Ministry efforts through this website. This summer, from July 11 to August 4, eleven sites around the Joliet Diocese will sponsor Theology on Tap programs. The schedule of speakers and locations can be found at the website. The Diocese of Joliet is coordinating a Young Adult trip to World Youth Day 2005. Registration Forms and other trip information is available at the website. The registration deadline is approaching, so be in touch if you are interested! 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 in Berwyn, Hodgkins, Summit, Villa Park, Westmont, or Woodridge, weekday mornings, some late afternoons and/or evenings. Training will be provided on Saturdays, June 19 and June 26, from 9 a. m. until 2 p. m., at the Motherhouse/Ministry Center in LaGrange Park. You must attend one 2-day training session. You do not need to speak or understand another language. For more information, call 708-354-9200: Sr. Marybeth at ext. 5060, Jeanie Jadran at ext. 5085, or Barbara Bernhard at ext. 5037 . St. Alexander School Class of 1954 Can you help us find our missing classmates? The St. Alexander Grade School Class of 1954 is planning a 50th reunion for Sept. 5, 2004. We are searching for the following classmates: Francis Broderick, Mary Lou Craney, Adelaide Gissel, Richard Guanci, Mary Margaret Kinnel, Gregory Kozak, Edward Martens, Mary Ann Morrison, Maureen Murphy Haas, Robert Nava, Daniel Sanders and Kenneth Williamsen. If you can help, please call Mary Carol Reedy at 630-834-8680. St. Charles Borromeo Parish School Registration St. Charles Borromeo School in Bensenville is now registering students for the 2004-2005 school year. The school has a full-day Kindergarten, and bus service in the afternoon. There are openings in grades K - 8. If you are interested in becoming part of the St. Charles Borromeo School family, please call the school office at 630-766-0116 for an appointment to register. Items needed at the time of registration are: a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, social security number and a $40 non-refundable deposit. Worship Commission Meeting Notes May 17, 2004 The Easter season is winding down with the Pentecost celebration, as we move into Ordinary time. Summer ministry schedules are in the mail. To continue to improve traffic flow during communion at the 10:15 Mass, we are adding two eucharistic ministers the last two Sundays of May. This may continue in September if it works. The Liturgy Committee is looking into providing a liturgy Resource Person to insure the smooth flow of special liturgies, such as Holy Thursday, Good Friday and our annual outdoor Mass. This committee has several additional items on the agenda for their June meeting. The next meeting for the Worship Commission is June 21st at 7:00 p.m. We still need your Help. Thank you to those who have responded to our call for help. We are slowly, but surely filling in our empty catechist slots. However, we still need help at the 1st grade and 6th grade levels. If you have ever thought about sharing your faith with the young people of the Parish, now is the time to do it. Call the RE office for details. Communion Banners are available for pick-up in the RE Office. Market Day Alert Many of you may not be aware that, through our Market Day program, we are able to keep down our RE tuition fees. We thank you for your support. June 19 is the last Market Day of the year. Please pick up a form in the back of Church and be sure to return your form to the box by June 14. Remember, you can also order online at www.marketday.com. Be sure to choose Mary Queen as your pick-up site. So stock up for the summer and encourage your friends and neighbors to do so as well. If you want more info on Market Day at MQH, call Mary at 832-8263 or Karen at 279-4108. For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at the RE Office, 832-8962. Destiny Youth Group News Thank you to all the high school students that came and gave their feedback and ideas for the meeting with Mary Foley. Your input is extremely important!! High school students mark your calendars! Monday, June 7 Celebrate the end of the school year! Join us for hotdogs and socializing Barrett Hall 6:00 - 8:00 PM Saturday, June 19 Coffeehouse open mic night Barrett Hall 7:00 - 10:00 PM Any instrument, sing or read your poetry Doors open 6:45 PM Performances start 7:30, end approximately 9:45 PM Two Song Limit (be prepared to do a 3rd or 4th later in the evening if there is time) Five minute limit for poetry (more later if there is time) If you are interested please call Kathleen Gusloff 832-4348 Wings to Heaven 5th - 8th Grade Monday, June 28 Hot dogs and game night Barrett Hall 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. MQH Men's Group Events 3rd Annual Golf Outing Friday, June 18 At Glendale Lakes Golf Club in Glendale Heights 11:30 a.m. Registration, and 12:30 p.m. start $95/person includes lunch, golf, door prize & dinner For more information, please contact Jim Japczyk at 833-6853 or Mark Connelly at 782-7626. Kane County Cougars Friday, August 13th Tickets are $8.00 per person and parking is free. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and game time is 6:30 p.m. There will be a fireworks show after the game and a chance to run the bases after the fireworks. Money is due June 28. For more information or if you have questions, call John Menarek at 630-834-4075 or jmenarek@sbcglobal.net. 2004 Man of the Year The Men's Group is beginning the process of selecting the 2004 Man of the Year. Nominations will be solicited from all parishioners at the Masses on June 5/6 and June 12/13, or they may be sent directly to Bill McGing at 541 S. Hawthorne in Elmhurst (617-5317). The Men's Group Awards Committee will review all nominees and select a short list of four candidates. All men of the parish will then vote to determine the winner. Votes may be cast at the August 12 Men's Group meeting, at the Masses on August 14/15, or by contacting Jim Bonfiglio at 782-0897. The 2004 Man of the Year will be announced at the Parish Picnic on September 12. 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 Kathleen Bryers John Brani Kathy Calzante Cosmo Ciancio Eugene Clarke Jerry Driscoll Baby Marissa Herman Pat Holmes Michelle Humann Maureen James Tom Janicke Tom Kwiatkowski Dick Martin Bobbie Nannini Anne Marie Raye Dan Scanlon Therese Shaheen Mary Alice Sapien If you know someone who would like our prayers, please call Mary Alice at 279-1159. Market Day Orders for May are due Monday, June 14, at noon. Turn in your order form in the box at the back of church or at the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, June 19, from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. If you have questions or would like to place an order, please call Mary at 832-8263 or Karen at 279-4108. 2004 Diocesan Annual Appeal Diocese of Joliet Seeds of Hope I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. -Matthew 17:20 All pledge cards should be returned to the parish for forwarding to the diocese. By doing this, all pledges will be recorded and everyone will receive proper acknowledgement. Help Moms & Babies!!! Please help moms and babies by saving your change for CareNet, a non-profit Christian Ministry that has been serving DuPage County for over 22 years. Please open your eyes, hearts and pockets to this worthy cause. Baby bottles will be available at the back of church for Coins for CareNet. Please take a bottle home and return it to MQH on June 26 or June 27. If you have questions call Diane Bernstein at 279-7252. Thank you. Looking for all Graduates We would like to recognize and honor all our 2004 graduates by printing their names in the bulletin during the weekend of June 12-13. Please submit names of all graduates, young and old, to the rectory by June 4. A special blessing of all graduates will be given at weekend Masses, June 12-13. Congratulations Graduates! Are you widowed? Do you know someone who is widowed? If you have been recently widowed and are still struggling with the loss, or if you have been widowed for some time and need something to get you over the hump because you seem stuck in one spot, this program is designed to help you move on with your life while treasuring your past and its precious memories. This weekend program will be held at Immaculate Conception Parish in Elmhurst. All are invited. The Joyful Again! Retreat is for both men and women (all ages) who have been widowed and are still trying to find hope and joy in their lives. When: July 17 & 18 Where: Immaculate Conception Parish, Elmhurst Donation: $75 includes meals (Adjusted if needed) Register by calling 708-354-7211 Feed the Poor Drop Off Used Printer Cartridges Mary Queen of Heaven Men's Group continues to collect empty inkjet and toner cartridges to help the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. With the non-profit organization, Food for the Poor, empty cartridges are recycled, and cash received is used to buy food. Please look for the special Food for the Poor box in the vestibule of church. For more information call Russ DiOrio at 630-617-8811. Prison Ministry This spring the DuPage County Jail in Wheaton will be holding an orientation. The men and women incarcerated there need Christ and hope. These prisoners are no less God's children than you and I. Eventually some 95% of these offenders will someday walk our streets and might well be our neighbors. Persons like YOU are needed to bring Gospel values to these women and men, to listen, and to help these inmates find Jesus. You could become part of the JUST volunteer corps that provides a variety of opportunities for inmates. You may think you don't have the talent, or the time, or the inclination, but the Holy Spirit will provide. If you have any questions, please call Milt Honel at 279-7086. Milt has been a JUST volunteer since 1998. Emmaus Days Retreats Retreat for Girls Monday, June 14, and Tuesday, June 15 At the Portiuncula Center for Prayer in Frankfort Several communities of religious women are sponsoring this Emmaus Days Retreat for high school sophomore, junior and senior girls. The purpose of the retreat is to help the young women grow in their faith, learn about prayer, and discover the gifts they have been given by the Holy Spirit. Retreat for Boys Tuesday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 23 At LaSalle Manor Retreat House, Plano The Diocesan Vocation Office along with the Augustinians, Benedictines, Carmelites, and DeLaSalle Christian Brothers is sponsoring an Emmaus Days Retreat for high school sophomore, junior and senior young men. The purpose of the retreat is to strengthen the young men in their faith in Jesus Christ and discover the gifts they have been given by the Holy Spirit. For more information about either retreat, please contact the Vocation Office at 815-834-4004. Summer Parish Prayer Services 7:00 p.m. in the Church Thursday, June 10 Thursday, June 17 Tuesday, June 22 Tuesday, June 29 Please join the Pastoral Life Coordinator for prayer, reflection, and fellowship together this summer. Each evening prayer service will be held in Church from 7-7:30 p.m. This will be followed by fellowship and conversation in Barrett Hall, with the evening concluding around 8:15 p.m. Do You Know The History of The St. Vincent DePaul Society? The Society of St. Vincent DePaul was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozman, a 20 year old student of the Sorbonne University in Paris. In answer to a challenge for Christians to Practice what they preach, Frederic and a group of fellow students started to seek out and visit the poor of Paris in their homes, taking them bread and clothes, their friendship and their concern. This small group took as their Patron the great French Priest, who alerted the world to social problems, St. Vincent DePaul. Similar groups began in Paris, then in the rest of France and eventually spread throughout the Christian world with the object of visiting, for the love of God, those in need. Today the Society of SVDP is a worldwide lay organization of Catholic men and women, young and old, of whom some 60,000 are in the United States. Are you aware that our parish is the only parish in Elmhurst that has a St. Vincent DePaul Society? The St. Vincent DePaul Society has been a viable organization in our parish for 20 years and we would like to embark on enlarging the scope of our commitment to those in need. So, on Wednesday, June 16th, at 7:00 PM, we invite you to an informative meeting regarding the St. Vincent DePaul Society in Barrett Hall. What is required of you? The desire to help the needy, attendance at a regular monthly meeting of perhaps an hour's duration, respect for confidentiality, some visitation to needy peoples homes, understanding and prayers. Please consider joining us and taking an active part in the Mary Queen of Heaven SVDP conference. No special qualifications are required other than the desire to join with others to help those in need for the love of God. Stewardship Today's Psalm reminds us that we have been crowned with glory and honor and given rule over the works of God's hands. But we must be good stewards, for the Lord will surely hold us accountable for the use of those gifts!