Queen of Angels Catholic Parish Chicago

Respect Life Sunday

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD
As Catholics, one of the terms that we often hear used in parish and church circles is “Respect Life”. Ever since October 1972, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated Respect Life Sunday as a way to call Catholics across the nation to remember the sanctity of life in a world where the dignity of life is not always respected. Respect for human life is a fundamental tenet of our Christian faith laid down for us in the very beginning of the Scriptures in the book of Genesis. This basic respect for human life is further shown us through the example of Jesus, who often fought for the rights of the downtrodden and forgotten of society. He often challenged those who were in a position of authority to help the weak and powerless, and chastised them when they did not.

Announcements, October 2, 2005

LEADERSHIP DAY PLANNED
Save the date! Parish Leadership Day 2005, Tool Kit for Sharing Christ’s Vision will be Saturday, October 22 at Gordon Tech High School, 3633 N. California Ave. Registration begins at 6:45 a.m. and the event is from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities include Prayer and Song, a Conversation with Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., 60 workshops (many bi-lingual) with well-known speakers and Fired up for the Mission by Elliot Wimbush. Call Rita Kattner at 312-751-5357.

MINISTERS OF THE BREAD AND THE WORD ARE NEEDED
You have the opportunity to join those who serve as liturgical ministers here in Queen of Angels Parish. Auxiliary Ministers of Communion assist the priest distribute communion in Church at Saturday evening or Sunday morning Masses. Lectors read aloud one or two scripture readings at Mass or lead the General Intercessions. Writers of General Intercessions prepare 4-5 prayer intentions every 4-6 weeks plus intentions for the sick and the dead.

You do not need special or rare talents. If you feel comfortable reading aloud to others you can be a Lector. If you have a welcoming smile you can be an Auxiliary Minister of Communion.

You do need to have a love of God and be willing to come to Mass a few minutes early.
You do not need to give up much of your valuable time.
You decide at which Masses you will serve.
You decide how often you are scheduled.
Your assigned times can meet your special needs.

Only one evening of training is required. The training is simple but covers all practical areas so that you will learn what to do. Training will be held here in the Church over the next few weeks. You will not be asked to make a commitment to serve in a ministry until you have received the training and have had an opportunity to pray over what you have learned about the ministry.

If you are interested, please call the phone number below or just leave a message at the Parish Center at 773-539-7510. We need liturgical ministers at all Masses and new ones are always welcome.

We especially need Ministers of Communion.

Contact Monica and Jim Schultz Hohner at 773-561-5287 or james.hohner@sbcglobal.net

Mass Schedule & This Week at Queen of Angels, October 3 - 9, 2005

WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER 5—
    7:00    MORNING MASS
        † Mae Grondin
    9:00    MORNING MASS
        Arlene Horvath and Children and Grandchildren
        Timothy P. Murphy
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6— ST. BRUNO, BLESSED MARIE-ROSE DUROCHER
    7:00    MORNING MASS
        † Parish Remembrance Society

Christifideles Award Goes to Ginny Cherone

Some years ago Cardinal George instituted this award for each parish to nominate a parishioner who has served the parish in an outstanding way. I thought it was a good idea because for any parish to work there needs to be key volunteers who dedicate themselves to minister behind the scenes. A way to say “thank you” for all you do is most appropriate.

This year Cardinal George will confer the Christifideles award to Ginny Cherone. I have recommended her with the advice of our staff for two reasons. First, during Sr. Mary Ann Sutton’s illness last year, Ginny was the key link that kept the Religious Education School going. Secondly, when Sr. Mary Ann had to resign this summer, Ginny again picked up the ball, not only setting up interviews with potential candidates but also preparing for the coming school year. Ginny – thank you for all you do and have done for the people of Queen of Angels Parish.

--Fr. Bob Heidenrich

Nothing Is Impossible With God

These past few weeks much of our attention has been on the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina on the Louisiana and Mississippi coast, as well as the coast of North Carolina in the aftermath of hurricane Ophelia and the approach of Hurricane Rita that is projected to hit the Texas coast. When we are confronted by the incredible power that nature can wield we must ask the question, Why do these things happen? Why does the Lord allow such suffering to take place in the world?

These are the very questions that are presented to the Lord in the Book of Job. Job is a good and honest man who is close to God and always tries to do what is right. One day the Lord and Satan are having a conversation where the Lord boasts of Job’s great faith and loyalty to him. Satan answers that if Job did not have his riches and comfortable life he would not be so faithful. Thus, the Lord allows Satan to test Job. Job’s life is then beset by a series of disasters. He loses his animals, his shepherds and servants and even his own family members. He is left with nothing.

Announcements, September 25, 2005

RECEPTION TO HONOR BOB ROSS
Join other members of the parish to thank Bob Ross for 22 years of service to Queen of Angels Parish at the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 2. The Men’s Club will sponsor a “Coffee And…” reception in Bob’s honor following Mass.

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY TRAINING
Open to all educators, parents and leaders interested in learning how to bring John Paul II’s message to youth presented by the Chastity Education Initiative of the Archdiocese’s Respect Life Office featuring Father Thomas Loya, STB, MA. Learn how to bring the truth about human love and sexuality to young people from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday, October 22 at the Archdiocese of Chicago Pastoral Center, First Floor Conference Room, 155 East Superior. Lunch is provided. Free parking is available at Holy Name Cathedral. For free registration, call Michelene Bajakian at 312-751-5355.

Mass Schedule & This Week at Queen of Angels, Week of September 26 - October 2, 2005

Sunday, October 2—
Children’s Liturgy of the Word, 9:30 & 11 a.m. Masses (English), Church
Respect Life Liturgy, 9:30 a.m. Mass, Church
CCD Classes, 10:30 a.m., School
Eucharistic Ministers (Spanish), 10:30 a.m., Lower Church Kitchen
Singers Warmup for 11 a.m. Mass, 10:30 a.m., Upper Church
Mass of Celebration for Bob Ross, 11 a.m., Church
“Coffee And…” Reception after 11 a.m. Mass, 12 noon, Lower Church
Choir Rehearsal (Spanish), 11 a.m., Lower Church Music Room

Next Steps In the Parish's Transition

In case you missed it, you can find below the statement I read at all the Masses last Sunday:

Before Mass begins I just wanted to take a moment in order to share with you some recent news about Fr. Bill O’Brien. As of September 1st Fr. Bill has resigned as the Pastor of Queen of Angels Parish. Please note, to the best of my knowledge, Fr. Bill has not resigned from the priesthood. I am sure that this was a painful decision for him. While this might be upsetting for some of us, it does allow the parish to move forward and begin the search for a new pastor. I’m sure that’s what Fr. Bill had intended. So my suggestion today is that, as we begin Mass, we hold Fr. Bill and all involved in his case in our prayers. I suggest that we keep the future of Queen of Angels Parish also in our prayers.

As I said above, I know that Fr. Bill is anxious for Queen of Angels to continue in the vibrant and healthy parish life we have had for many years. One of the important steps in doing so is the appointment of a new pastor.         

LETTER FROM THE CARDINAL

Dear Friends in Christ:

A second collection will be taken up during the September 24 and 25 liturgies in the Archdiocese of Chicago to help support our two prize-winning Archdiocesan newspapers, The Catholic New World and the Spanish-language Chicago Catolico. Despite their success in helping me proclaim the Gospel and teach the Catholic faith, these essential publications need more than revenue from subscriptions and advertising to assure their place in the mission of the Archdiocese.

We all know that Catholics need to be both informed and affirmed in their faith in a world often at odds with Church teachings. Reporting news and events from a faith perspective is not something the secular media can do. The Catholic New World and Chicago Catolico provide the Catholic perspective on news and events around the world and right here in Lake and Cook counties.

As Archbishop, I teach the Catholic faith. Through my regular columns, those of my brother bishops and the columns and articles of some of the top Catholic writers today, you will learn about stories and events from a perspective that is not available in any other media. By looking at a world beyond your church and a church beyond your world, your own faith will be strengthened.

The cost is low in the hope that as many families as possible will subscribe. If you already subscribe, please accept my thanks. If not, I ask you to do so by calling 312-655-7777. In either case, your donation in the second collection on September 24 and 25, whatever amount, will help me continue to publish these exemplary Catholic newspapers.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I

RCIA – Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

Shortly after the Second Vatican Council concluded the Church resurrected an ancient rite to prepare adults for the reception of the Sacraments called the RCIA. Before Vatican II, the usual way for an adult to become a Catholic was to meet privately with the priest for several sessions before the person would receive his or her Sacraments. After the Council the bishops thought that a more in-depth process to prepare adults for the reception of the Sacraments was needed. To do this they looked to the ancient Church and brought back a rite that was used to bring new converts into the Church. The candidates for the Sacraments were called Catechumens, meaning one who had begun their preparation to become Christian, but had not yet been fully initiated into the Church. The Catechumenate was a long process of study, as well as active participation in the Church. When their preparation was complete the Catechumens would be welcomed into the Church by the bishop through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, which they would receive all at the same time.

In today’s Church this process has been reclaimed under the name of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Each year our parish welcomes any adult (18 years or older) who:

• Has not been baptized and wants to become Catholic.
• Has been baptized in another Christian Church and wants to become Catholic.
• Is a baptized Catholic and has not received the sacraments of Confirmation or First Communion.
• Is a Catholic and simply wants to learn more about the Catholic Faith.

The RCIA process lasts from September until the Easter Vigil the following Spring. The group meets each week during this time to discuss a variety of topics which are presented by qualified speakers. We also share our RCIA program with St. Mathias, so our RCIA group interacts regularly with the group from St. Mathias, giving them a broader experience of Church. The group is also presented to the larger community on various Sundays so that the parish, as a whole, can pray for their spiritual journey.

The experience culminates on Holy Saturday night, April 15, 2006 at the Easter Vigil Mass when they receive the Sacraments for which they have been preparing.
The RCIA is a wonderful chance to come together and hear some great speakers, ask all those questions that you’ve always wanted to ask about our Catholic Faith and share and build community with a good group of people who are also preparing for the Sacraments. If you or someone you know is interested in the RCIA, please call Sr. Alverna at the CCD office: 773-769-4986, or the Parish Office at 773-539-7510.

The first gathering of inquirers will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 21 in the Parish Center, 4412 N. Western Ave.

Father Tom Lamping