Mary's Page
Greetings, Friends!
As you know, we recently held Parish Leadership Day, the beginning of a process of visioning and long-range planning for our parish. In the next week or two, special bulletin inserts will be prepared so that everyone in the parish may be able to see some of the things that came from this first event. On Parish Leadership Day, we focused on our parish identity and values and looked at all the areas of parish life to see where we are doing very well, and where there may be challenges or opportunities for the future.
The next stage of the process, which we began at last week's Parish Pastoral Council meeting, is for the PPC to name the values identified by parishioners and relate these to our parish mission statement. As we move forward into the future, it is important to make connections with our past. We will be looking at what parishioners expressed in terms of parish identity and values to see where there are connections to our mission statement, and also to see if we were to re-write the mission statement today, what we would retain and what might need to be added. (Actual rewriting of our parish mission statement is something that will come later on.) All of this is an important part of the visioning process that will lead us into planning for the future.
We will be returning to this process when the PPC reconvenes and will soon begin considering the evaluation of different areas of parish life that was part of Parish Leadership Day. I will share with you, in the form of the upcoming bulletin insert, the material that the PPC will be reviewing. In this way, you may continue to give input to your PPC representatives and to me. I will see that contact information is listed on the insert.
So as not to keep you in suspense, I want to share some things with you now. As the PPC considers what was brought to us in terms of parish values, here is an early draft of the categories that are appearing through the course of our work together:
* Mary Queen is simple and unpretentious
* We are a welcoming community built upon love and acceptance
* Lay people are listened to, their gifts are valued, and they are
empowered to serve
* We are Family
* We place an emphasis on youth
* We are a compassionate community of faith that strives to exemplify
Christ's mission
In terms of evaluating areas of parish life, it is clear that we do some things really well. Among these are: celebrating the Eucharist with prayerfulness and dignity; making sure our parish has talented musicians; supporting the liturgy by having an active committee; providing high quality religious education for children; and ministering to youth. Some of the areas where it is clear we need development are in: young adult ministry; educating adults and young people about Catholic Social Teaching; encouraging the parish membership to work for justice; ecumenical efforts, as well as meeting the interfaith concerns of spouses and families; and reaching out to the inactive and unchurched.
More information will be coming soon. For now, let me close by sharing one of the more relaxed moments of Parish Leadership Day, when people were invited into an imaginative exercise. They were asked to think about Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in the image of an automobile. What kind of car would Mary Queen be? I thought you might like to hear the responses from the 5 groups who were gathered together that day:
Two of the groups thought we are a school bus, something that carries you to places of learning, a place where you can be yourself and be comfortable. The vehicle is not fancy, but you are safe and secure. The bus holds many in diversity, there are many doors and windows, and the driver can be a man or a woman!
One group thought we are a Suburu Outback, a small SUV that goes into all terrains and situations. It is efficient, carries a lot of people, is not fully loaded with extras but is reliable, enjoyable, and fun! It is a good value, well-engineered, long-lasting and durable.
Another group felt we are a s-t-r-e-t-c-h SUV, one that used to be black but now is pink (presumably because of the change from male to female leadership!), is comfortable but environmentally friendly, and there is room for everyone.
Finally, Group #5 thinks we would be a Beetle because we are the People's Choice. This vehicle is manual stick-shift, powered by faith. There is no horn, so there is not a lot of noise, our headlights are on bright, and the doors are always open. There are bench seats instead of buckets so everyone is there. The shocks are each other absorbing the bumps of life. Our Beetle is multi-colored, and our seat belts are prayer!
More soon Have a great week, everyone!
Mary Michele (Regina) Foley
Part Time Van Driver Wanted Driscoll High School is looking for part time van drivers for mornings, from 5:45-7:45 or for afternoons from 2:40-4:30, Monday thru Friday, from mid-August thru early June. We would provide a 15 passenger van. The job pays $3,300 for one way trips: and $6,800 for both am and pm runs. Please contact: Mr. David Salois at Driscoll Catholic High School at 630-543-6310, ext. 30. A Parish Contest! Attention all artists young and old! We are looking for a parish logo that can be used for business cards and other printed materials, something that can come to be recognized as symbolizing Mary Queen of Heaven Parish. You are invited to submit line drawings (that would be useful even in small dimension) for consideration as our parish logo. We have some business card examples that can be viewed at the rectory. Examples of drawings could be: a representation of the Mary statue that stands in Mary's Gathering Space, or the outline of our church building. Other creative ideas are also welcome. There will be two categories for this contest - an adult category (the winner of which will probably be used for parish stationery) and a child category (this winning drawing will be incorporated into our Religious Education materials). Contest deadline is August 1. Winning entries will be awarded a prize, and we will publish as many entries as we can in the parish bulletin. So, get those pens and pencils and creative juices going! Please send your contest entries to the parish. Parish Picnic - September 12 Mark your calendars today! MQH will be holding our annual picnic on Sunday, September 12. Entertainment and activities include a band, moon jump, tug-o-war, volleyball, popcorn, cotton candy, bingo and more. A large tent will again be provided, so come rain or shine. For information or to volunteer to run an activity, contact Steve Rhea at 833-2592 or Mike Funk at 359-4051. Wedding Nostalgia Mary Queen of Heaven Council of Catholic Women is planning a Wedding Nostalgia Fashion Show and Luncheon on Sunday, September 26, in Barrett Hall. We are looking for wedding dresses dating back as far as the early 1900's. Perhaps you have your own wedding dress, or a wedding dress worn by your great-grandmother, great-aunt, grandmother, aunt, mother or another relative or friend that could be worn in this fashion show. We also need parishioners to model the dresses in the fashion show. Please call Sheila Reiter (833-6657), Phylis Twardowski (279-6239), Diane Bernstein (279-7252), or Mary White (833-9809) if you have a dress we could borrow, if you would be willing to model a dress, or if you can help in any other way with the show. Be sure and mark Sunday, September 26, on your calendar and spend a nostalgic afternoon with your friends enjoying a delicious luncheon, the beautiful dresses and models. Watch for more information in future bulletins. Are you called to be a Catechist?? Are you aware that at your Baptism, all Christians are commissioned to do the work of Jesus? Did you know that all Catholics are called to further the teaching mission of Jesus? Have you heard that by sharing your faith with children, you deepen your own faith in the process? Do you know that without our volunteer catechists, we do not have a Religious Education Program? Please consider joining our team of dedicated men and women who weekly share their Faith with the young people of the parish. We still have a few slots to fill. Help our children to get to know our God. If you can help, please call the REO today. Our 2004/2005 year begins on September 8th. Have you registered yet? Registrations are still being taken in the REO for the coming year. Our opening event is September 8th. It will be here before we know it. If you have not registered, please do so ASAP. Pass the word to your friends and neighbors. Classes are filling up. Please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962 for more information. 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 John Brennan Kathleen Bryers Kathy Calzante Joe Colletti Rosemarie Colletti Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes Michelle Humann Maureen James Tom Janicke Kenneth Kabat Irene Kmieciak Tom Kwiatkowski Nancy Maloney Dick Martin Bobbie Nannini Michaelene Parrilli Faith Maxine Reid Dan Scanlon Therese Shaheen Mary Alice Sapien 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. Summer Parish Prayer Service 7:00 p.m. in the Church Monday, July 26 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. 'A Pilgrimage of Peace to the Holy Land.' November 29 - December 10, 2004 This past May, Pope John Paul II encouraged pilgrimages of peace to the Holy Land as a sign of solidarity, a witness to peace, and an opportunity for economic support of the beleaguered Palestinian Christian community. In his address to the general assembly of the Italian bishops' conference, the Pope applauded the initiative adopted last year by Italian dioceses to promote pilgrimages of peace to the Holy Land. Co-sponsored by Catholic Relief Services and the Joliet Diocese Peace and Social Justice Ministry along with Koinonia Retreats, this pilgrimage responds to the Pope's call and the example of the Italian bishops. Our pilgrimage will include visits to the Holy Places important to the People of God, walking where Jesus walked. We will also take time to visit God's Holy People, the Palestinian Christians who live in Israel, the descendants of the people with whom Jesus walked. Each day will be steeped in scripture reflections, prayer times, and liturgy. We will also have an opportunity to hear from the oppressed of the land, to witness efforts to bring justice and peace through development and empowerment, to learn from peacemakers and Middle-east issue experts. This will not be a tourist trip, but a pilgrimage of prayer, solidarity, and the quest for peace. Please contact Deacon Tom Goebel at 630-530-8515 for complete information. Theology on Tap! Sundays at I. C., Elmhurst The Northeast DuPage Young Adult Ministry and Immaculate Conception Parish in Elmhurst are hosting a special program for adults in their 20's and 30's. It's called THEOLOGY ON TAP, a four-week speaker and discussion series directed to the needs and experiences of adults, college age and older, married or single. Please join other adults for a great experience. July 25 The Songs We Sing: Music in Our Prayer Annie Waugh and Kevin O'Donnell August 1 Joy in the Journey: Finding God in Our Lives Nancy McKnight Each session starts with socializing and gathering at 6:15 p.m. and the speaker at 6:30 p.m. The evenings will be held at the Immaculate Conception Parish Administration Center, 134 Arthur Street in Elmhurst. Please call Kristin Kramer at 630-530-3482 for more information. 2004 Diocesan Annual Appeal Diocese of Joliet Seeds of Hope This is just a reminder to send your Appeal coupon with payment to the Diocesan Appeal Office by the 15th of each month. Thank you. 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. Catholic Construction Corps Skilled and unskilled volunteers are needed to assist needy homeowners in the repair and rebuilding of homes in Pembroke Township within the Diocese of Joliet. Scheduled workdays are: Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6. Please contact Art Sheridan or Margie Parks at 815-834-4028. The CCC is sponsored by the Joliet Diocese Peace and Social Justice Ministry. Catholic Charities Emergency Services Every year in December, the DuPage County Catholic Charities office receives donations from the DuPage parishes to purchase food certificates and gift certificates from the local grocery stores. These certificates are given to needy families who come to our office for assistance and to supplement the food they receive from local food pantries and walk-in ministries. Each month our Emergency Services group receives hundreds of requests for varying assistance. Due to stronger than usual demand, our supply of food gift certificates is running extremely low. If you are able to help our Catholic Charities Emergency Services group with a cash donation or grocery gift certificate, we thank you profusely. Please make any checks payable to Catholic Charities and in the memo section of your check please write North Area food/gift certificate purchase. The mailing address is: Catholic Charities, c/o Annie Laven, 26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL 60148. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Laven at 630-495-8008. Church of the Holy Ghost CCW Stage Right Productions and Church of the Holy Ghost Council of Catholic Women present Joe DiPietro's comic drama Over the River and Through the Woods. This play centers on a tight-knit Italian-American family, a funny and heartbreaking story that will make you laugh and cry. Place: Wood Dale Junior High School Center for Performing Arts 655 N. Wood Dale Road, Wood Dale Dates: August 12 through August 22 Thursday, Friday & Saturday-8:00 p.m. Sunday.-.2:00 p.m. Tickets: $15.00 For more information, call 630-458-1599. Emmaus Day Retreat For Young Men (Sophomore-Senior) This year's retreat is Tuesday, August 3 to Wednesday, August 4, at LaSalle Manor in Plano. This leadership retreat is intended to help high school young men reflect more carefully on life as a vocation, as a response to God's call. The presentations focus on meeting the Risen Christ today, recognizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and different ways of praying in our Catholic tradition. While there is one presentation focused on religious lifestyles, the retreat is intended for all young Catholic men who want to make a difference with their lives. The Emmaus Days Olympics always proves to be a fun part of this annual retreat. Eucharist and Reconciliation are also a part of the retreat days. The retreat is sponsored by the Joliet Diocese Vocation Office, the Augustinians, the Benedictines of St. Procopius Abbey, the Carmelites, and the DeLaSalle Christian Brothers. A brochure for the Emmaus Days Retreat is available online at: www.vocations.com/Joliet/emmaus2004.pdf. If you have any questions, contact Father John Regan at 815-834-4002 or frjohnr@aol.com. Wilder Park's 3rd annual Art & Craft Show August 7 & 8 Saturday, August 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Collage Hill & Church Street, in Elmhurst. For information, call 630-739-1071. St. Pius X Parish Community 30th Anniversary Mass Honoring the National Shrine of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe Sunday, August 22, at 2:00 p.m. Followed by a reception in the Social Center All are welcome. Please join us as we gather to honor Our Lady and to pray especially for world peace. For more information or to volunteer, contact parish coordinators Sarah and Vince Giovenco at 630-629-9165, 708-974-3693, 815-577-1912. e-mail fraternityofmiq-usa@comcast.net. The Worship Commission respectfully requests that parishioners remember their parish with financial support even though they may be away on vacation. 2004 Man of the Year Forty-three parishioners nominated 11 men for 2004 Man of the Year. The Men's Group Awards Committee has selected four candidates: Joel Bernstein, Tom Gusloff, Jim Japczyk, and Scott Vicary. The men of the parish will vote for the 2004 Man of the Year at the August 12 Men's Group meeting and at the Masses on August 14/15. The 2004 Man of the Year will be announced at the Parish Picnic on September 12. Contact Jim Bonfiglio at 782-0897 for further information. 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, weekday mornings, some late afternoons and/or evenings. Training will be provided on August 23, 24, 25, and 26th from 9:00 a. m. until 2O00 p. m., at the Motherhouse/Ministry Center in LaGrange Park. You must attend one 2-day training session. No prior second language skills are required. For more information, call (708) 354-9200: Sr. Marybeth at ext. 5060, Jeanie Jadran at ext. 5085, or Barbara Bernhard at ext. 5037 . Parish Ministry Fair We will once again be having a Ministry Fair to share with the parish all that is going on and being offered here at Mary Queen of Heaven. Please mark your calendar for September 18 & 19. All commissions will be contacted by Cybele Japczyk with further information on reserving a table. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending. Parish Library The Buildings and Grounds Committee is excited to announce the formation of a Parish Library. We are looking for any parishioners that are interested in being part of or heading up this group. We will be having a meeting on Thursday, August 12, at 7 p.m. in Mary's Gathering space. Please leave a message at the rectory if you are interested (even if you can't be at the August 12th meeting). We are also asking for book donations. Any Religious or Spiritual books you may want to donate would be appreciated. If you have any donations, please also leave a message at the rectory office. Cenacle Retreat House. Warrenville Sr. Joyce Kemp, r.c., PhD, will conduct two Intensive Journal Workshops the weekend of August 13-16. Life Context will run from 2 p.m. on Friday, August 13, until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 14. This workshop teaches participants the basic rules for Intensive Journal work, focusing on their individual lives The Depth Contact will run 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 15, and 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 16. This workshop deals with dreams and images evoked by Entrance and Mantra meditations, and explores the spiritual dimension of the retreatants' lives. Those attending should bring their journals. Prerequisite is Life Context or Life Experience workshop. A $50 deposit is required. The cost for either of these workshops is $290 for residents and $240 for commuters. For further information or to register, lease call 630-393-1231. Vocation View: God knows what we want before we ask. God knows who we are before we discern. God invites us to pray: to ask and to discern. Marriage Encounter Take a vacation from this frenzied world and learn what God's plan is for your marriage. A Marriage Encounter Weekend can put your relationship on a cruise. Upcoming weekend dates are Aug. 13-15, Sept. 10-12 and Oct. 8-10. For more details or to register, call 630-577-0778. Parishioner Assistance An older parishioner would like a ride to and from 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturdays. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mary Foley at the rectory for more information. This dual calling of faith and citizenship is at the heart of what it means to be a Catholic in the United States. Faithful citizenship calls us to seek a place at the table of life for all God's children in the elections of 2004 and beyond. -USCCB Administrative Committee, Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility, p. 30