Queen of Angels Catholic Parish Chicago

Stewardship Alive and Well at Queen of Angels

Three years ago, Cardinal George encouraged us to participate in the archdiocesan stewardship program – Sharing Christ’s Gifts. We embarked on an ambitious stewardship program for the parish, and in true Queen of Angels’ fashion, we stepped up to the challenge. The premise of the stewardship program was to look inward and make an additional sacrifice in our giving to the parish. Those sacrifices came in various forms: many of us gave up vacations, several postponed redecorating our homes, and some even donated their monthly Starbucks coffee budget.

We had an ambitious goal, and as we look around today, we see how our sacrifices have resulted in true blessings in what we were able to accomplish. We now celebrate the Eucharist in a beautiful church and listen to the music of the liturgy from a refurbished organ. We helped the school turn the corner financially, and because of our generosity, we did not have to raise tuition significantly higher than other neighborhood Catholic schools. This directly resulted in our ability to increase the enrollment in the school since we can provide a high quality, affordable Catholic education.

Our goal was not only to look inward to the parish, but outward, also, and contribute to the archdiocesan stewardship campaign. Queen of Angels has been a beneficiary in the past of this archdiocesan stewardship, and it was good to return the generosity.

In dollars and cents, this is what has been accomplished –

“Prepare The Way of the Lord”

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD
On this second Sunday of Advent we meet two of the main characters of the Advent season, Isaiah and John the Baptist. Both are prophets who challenge us to “prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight the paths for our God.” In another sense they are messengers sent from God extending an invitation to us to listen, to heed the message they want to give us. Isaiah and John were anticipating the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and in their desire to prepare well for this coming, they invited the people with whom they worshipped and lived to join them in their preparation. In reading the Scriptures we see that both of them told the crowds that there will be a voice crying in the desert, a voice that would stir up the people in the countryside telling them to prepare, to repent, to seek forgiveness. That voice is John the Baptist.

Celebre La Virgen de Guadalupe

Domingo 4 de Diciembre a las 2 p.m.
e el nivel bajo del Centro Voss

Venga con toda la familia a celebrar el dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe y a participar en el beneficio del Centro Inter- Religioso de Derechos de los Trabajadores. Unase al comité de paz y justicia de la parroquia el Domingo 4 de Diciembre a las 2 p.m. en el nivel bajo del Centro Voss en el 4412 de la Avenida Western para disfrutar comida y juegos a beneficio del centro. El Centro de Derechos de los Trabajadores es un lugar seguro para trabajadores, tanto nativos como inmigrantes, para aprender acerca y organizar los modos de mejorar las condiciones en sus lugares de trabajo. El Centro de Derechos de los Trabajadores es un programa del Comité Inter-Religioso de Chicago en Asuntos Laborales y opera como una sociedad entre trabajadores, instituciones religiosas, sindicatos, agencias de gobierno encargadas de proteger los derechos laborales y abogados. Su participación beneficiará directamente al Centro de Derechos de los Trabajadores.

Give the Gift of Hope: Heifer Animals Available This Week

As you begin your Christmas shopping this year, consider honoring friends and family and fighting hunger with the “purchase” of a farm animal from Heifer International, purchased in honor of your special someone, that brings health and hope to people in need. Better still, your gift multiplies as the first offspring of that farm animal is passed on to another family in need – then they also agree to pass on an animal of equal value, and so on. Your kind gift is much more than one animal – it’s the gift of hope for an entire community. Parishioners may purchase their gifts after masses this weekend and the next in the Gathering Space. You can honor your loved ones with gifts of $10 or more, and you will receive a handsome gift card to place under the tree. Checks, cash and credit cards accepted.

Announcements, December 4, 2005

GRIEF AND THE HOLIDAYS
The focus is to allow bereaved people to explore alternatives for coping with memories, feelings and activities associated with the holiday season. The presentation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 7 in the Parish Center, 4412 North Western Avenue. The event is sponsored by Rainbow Hospice. To register, call 847-692-8884.

IT’S HIP TO BE ‘SQUARE’ FOR RCYA
8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, December 31
We can’t wait to see you at our New Year’s Eve Bash at Square Kitchen, 4600 North Lincoln Avenue—right in the heart of Lincoln Square. Join us for an evening featuring DJ, dancing, open bar, appetizers, a champagne toast at midnight and a raffle with some fabulous prizes. Has partying on this day ever been a question? And you’ll be doing it for a great cause! It’s the Ravenswood Catholic Young Adults’ biggest fundraising party of the year.

Purchase tickets online at http://www sparetimechicago.com/ststore.asp (select the Square Kitchen logo). Buy tickets before December 26 at $55 per person and it will include three free raffle tickets. Thereafter, tickets are $65. Must be 21 or older. There is no convenience fee. For questions or to volunteer, contact Michael at mmessinger@ allvantage.com or at 773-552-0714.

Mass Schedule & This Week at Queen of Angels, December 5 - 11, 2005

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8— HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION:
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
7:00    MORNING MASS
        † Emmett and Margaret Mehigan
9:00    MORNING MASS
        † Alice Cusack
7:00    EVENING MASS (English)
        For the People of the Parish
8:00    EVENING MASS (Spanish)
        † Sandra Arroyo

"The Season of Advent"

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

Today we begin a new liturgical year with the celebration of the first Sunday of Advent. The word Advent comes from the Latin verb “advenio”, which means “to arrive”. The word refers to the coming of Jesus into the world and into our hearts, an event we celebrate each year during Advent and Christmas.

We see many changes happening around us, both outside and inside of the church, to mark the beginning of this holy season. Outside, nature is preparing for the coming winter. This was never more evident to us than last week when we saw the temperatures dip into the teens and the first snow fall. We all went scrambling through our closets looking for our winter coats. Inside the church the color green of Ordinary Time gives way to the rich purple of Advent.

The color purple actually has two symbolic meanings. Purple is the color of royalty. It is to remind us that Jesus, the one for whom we wait, is the King of our hearts. Purple is also the color of suffering and penance that is also used in the season of Lent. It is to remind us of the important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. We cannot separate the birth of Jesus from his crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ birth was to reveal to us the Father and His grace through his suffering, death and resurrection.

SPRED Holiday Nut Fundraiser Continues

SPRED – an exciting ministry of Queen of Angels parish welcomes persons with developmental disabilities and provides a beautiful process of faith formation for both catechists and friends. SPRED is kicking off our annual holiday fundraiser counting, once again, on the generosity and goodwill of this parish community and beyond. We are happy to announce that we have added some new surprises to treat your palate. We continue to provide treats to satisfy the urge to nibble—and make great gifts for your party hosts This is our special fare that you will find on display after all the masses from now until Christmas in the gathering space:

Announcements, November 27, 2005

SCHOOL TOUR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9
All are invited to an open house and tour of Queen of Angels School from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, December 9. There are programs for children from Preschool through eighth grade. Students develop sound academic skills, critical thinking skills and an ability to learn independently and cooperatively through a rich curriculum. Call 773-769-4211 or visit www. queenofangelschicago.org.

ART AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
The beautiful and prayerful space of our church is maintained by a small team of parishioners who have a special concern for the environment where we gather to worship. The committee is searching for a few more people to help prepare the church for Advent, Christmas and later, Easter. For more information, please contact Bob Hess at 773-463-4421.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE EXPANDING EFFORTS
The Queen of Angels Development Committee is starting a more formalized approach to seeking grant monies and corporate sponsorships at Queen of Angels Parish and School. We hope to raise money from foundations and corporations whose interests match our needs. There are a number of areas in which you may be able to help:

Mass Schedule & This Week at Queen of Angels, Week of November 28 - December 4, 2005

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS FOR DECEMBER
December 4—Lyman Scholarship Fund
December 8—Immaculate Conception
December 11—Sharing Christ’s Gifts
December 18—Christmas Flowers
December 25— Maternity BVM-Sharing Parish
December 25—Christmas
Sharing Parish—Maternity BVM