Queen of Angels Catholic Parish Chicago

Catholics Come Home 2011

USING MEDIA TO EVANGELIZE
Evangelization has always been the mission of the Catholic Church. The call to evangelize first given to us by Christ required that we proclaim the word of God using every means of communication. In the Church today using the media has become indispensable in bringing the Gospel message into the world through the internet, radio and television.

Beginning December 16 and continuing through January 8 there will be an evangelization initiative reaching people across the nation, using advertisements that invite Catholic to come home.

Walking with Jesus / Caminar con Jesús

“IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE HERE!”
On this Second Sunday in Lent we hear the Gospel story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, with the last lines: “Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’ And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.” In this moment, as he did throughout his life, Jesus guided and taught his disciples through his actions and his very presence. The story gives us a sense of the enormous power that the apostles felt when in the presence of Jesus.

The power of that presence is what we long for in our lives today and is often what draws people to prayer, scripture study and Eucharistic Adoration. During Lent we have one more faith tradition that brings us close to Jesus — walking the Stations of the Cross.

Lent 2011: "Hope and Renewal"

LA CUARESMA: UN TIEMPO DE ESPERANZA Y RENOVACIÓN
Seguramente ustedes no encontrarán muchos católicos que puedan decir que la Cuaresma es su “época favorita del año”. De hecho, la mayoría de los católicos estadounidenses evitan la simplicidad, los colores sombríos, las lecturas de reflexión y la música que experimentamos en nuestras parroquias durante esta época del año, sin embargo, esta nueva temporada de Cuaresma es un tiempo de esperanza y renovación. Las lecturas de hoy a primera vista parecieran ofrecer sólo una discusión sobre el pecado y la tentación; sin embargo tras un examen más profundo encontramos la compasión de un Dios indulgente que nos ama incondicionalmente. ¡Es difícil no sentirse optimista sobre ese punto!

Durante toda la Cuaresma se nos pide que nos abramos a Dios a través de las prácticas de oración, ayuno y limosna. ¿Por qué no empezar hoy leyendo con devoción por segunda vez el Evangelio (Mt 4,1-11) y reflexionar sobre el significado que puede tener en nuestra vida? Leer las Sagradas Escrituras como si fuera una oración es una manera de renovar su fe y fortalecer su relación con Dios.

Sharing Your Faith / Comparta Su Fe

SHARING YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
We offer the following suggestions as a Catholic approach to sharing your faith:

• Say “I will pray for you” to a friend who has shared some personal concern or difficulty.
• Respond “thank God” when someone shares a success story with you.
• Make the sign of the cross as you pray before a meal in a restaurant.
• Display a religious article in your room.
• Invite someone who has been away from the Church for a while to attend Mass with you.
• Offer to help your neighbor even when it’s not convenient.
• Take time in your life for those who are suffering or in need. Remember, people are more important than tasks.

Calling Others / Llamando a Otros

CALLING OTHERS TO CONNECT WITH GOD
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12-23), Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him and proclaim the Good News to all. Our call to discipleship began at our Baptism and yet we need to hear it repeatedly in order to respond to it again and again. Recently, the Archdiocese of Chicago used Catholics Come Home® ads on television to call all Catholics to a deeper practice of the faith. Even though the ads stopped running last week, our call is clear: we are to be part of a faith community that is strongly connected to God and to each other.

God Connects With Us / Dios Establece Una Conexión

GOD CONNECTS WITH US
Across human history, God has reached out to connect with us whom he has created in his very own likeness and image. This outreach culminated in sending his son, Jesus Christ, the word made flesh.

God’s communication directed to us seeks to draw us into connection and communion with God’s very own life. God has entrusted his word to the Church. This word finds privileged expression in the Sacred Scriptures, the Bible. The word of God, however, is not bound to a book.

Connection / Conexión

A CALL TO CONNECTION
We live in a world that prides itself on the many possibilities of connection that are available:

• computers, email, iPods, cell phones, and various forms of electronic connection post our thoughts and images throughout the world;
• a worldwide network of air travel allows us to go around the world and connect with countless destinations;
• the globalization of our economy makes us tightly connected as producers and consumers; and
• an unprecedented level of sexual freedom allows multiple “easy” physical connections for those who so choose.

Still, despite all these new connections and possibilities of connection, we are paradoxically more isolated than ever in humanity’s history. Electronic media connect us but also leave us alone behind a screen or with cell phone in hand. Air travel enables us to go around the world and connect with destinations, but we do so always in the shadow of the threat of terrorism that can destroy us. A global market connects us, but a profit-driven world economy still divides the world and disconnects the rich from the poor. Abundant sexual liberties allow us to “hook up” indiscriminately, but we find genuine, sustaining intimacy more daunting than ever.

Where can we find an authentic and life-giving connection?

Esperanza / Hope

ESPERANZA EN EL SEÑOR JESÚS
¿Ha hecho una resolución para el año nuevo? En cada uno de nuestras resoluciones, hay una semilla de esperanza — espera que podamos ser mejores, más felices, más sanos, más listos, más amables, etc. La resolución del año nuevo proviene un comienzo fresco, un nuevo principio, y la esperanza para el futuro.

La Arquidiócesis de Chicago se ha resuelto por comenzar el año haciéndole una invitación a todos para que visiten nuevamente la Iglesia Católica. Quizá ha visto uno de los anuncios de televisión que invita a todos a que regresen a su casa espiritual y encuentren un sentido de la paz y la esperanza. Una línea del anuncio dice: “Pero ¿dónde encontramos esta esperanza? ¿Quién conoce el camino? Nuestra esperanza se encuentra en Jesús, y su Iglesia guía el camino.”

Tour of Queen of Angels Church

• Ever wondered about the meaning of the symbols in Queen of Angels Church?
• Want to know more about the history, art, architecture and uses of our parish’s worship space?

Please join our RCIA participants for a tour of the church at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18, 2011. This is a rare chance for us to journey back in time to the building of our church, look closely at our church’s artwork, de-code some of its mysteries and puzzle over others. All are welcome. Call 773-539-7510.

Coming Home for the Holidays

If you watch television this week you may see an advertisement called “Home” that was created by Catholics Come Home ®. Listen carefully and you will hear the narrator say: “It’s our refuge from chaos... It’s a place where the broken receive healing, and repentant hearts find mercy.” These are familiar desires for all of us. We have all felt a longing for a loving community and a place where we are always welcome and always forgiven. This desire can be fulfilled when you have a place that feels like your best vision of a home.

During this Christmas Season, the Catholic Church welcomes every person into a parish, which can become a safe refuge and offer each person comfort.