Queen of Angels Catholic Parish Chicago

GiveCentral -- a new donation option

Queen of Angels Parish is now using GiveCentral.org to accept online payment and donations. GiveCentral was created for the Archdiocese of Chicago based on the needs of parishes and schools to process electronic payments. Queen of Angels is using GiveCentral for Sunday giving, fundraising, and other events, including this year's Easter collection.

With GiveCentral you can:

• Make donations/payments via credit card or electronic check to multiple locations from a single account
• Store payment information securely for future donations/payments
• Schedule one-time and/or recurring donations/payments
• View donation/payment history
• Receive update messages from Queen of Angels through alerts and emails

Click the “Donate Now” button below or in the left sidebar to sign up and begin giving through GiveCentral today!

What happened to ParishPay? For several years, electronic giving has been available at Queen of Angels through the ParishPay service. Because GiveCentral is customized for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and more customizable for our parish's many needs, we are now offering these services through GiveCentral. However, the option to donate through ParishPay is still there... for now. Parishioners not already using ParishPay are encouraged to sign up for GiveCentral, as we may end our use of ParishPay sometime in the future, if GiveCentral can meet our needs as hoped. Thank you for your cooperation.

Tweet for Life

The Queen of Angels Respect Life Committee is now on Twitter! Follow @QofARespectLife for updates on group activities as well as news, videos and reflections from other organizations which work to promote a culture of life.

Action Needed on HHS Mandate

A LETTER FROM FRANCIS CARDINAL GEORGE
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning a most serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on January 20 that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has seemingly ignored the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty.

Announcements, Week of January 29, 2012

"Venga, y puestos de rodillas, adoremos y bendigamos
al Señor, que nos hizo." — Salmo 95:6

TEAM WORK WORKS! We are many parts but one Body, thanks to the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!
-- Thanks to the Comite Guadalupano (Guadalupan Committee) of Queen of Angels for raising more than $470.00 for Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) festivities. The patron saint of Mexico was honored at Mass and a reception on December 12.
-- Jesús de Gran Poder (Jesus of Great Power), a festival of the Ecuadorian Community at Queen of Angels, raised more than $1,600.00 and brought many together on December 4 during Mass, the following reception and a raffle.
-- Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas (Our Lord of Esquipulas) was honored during a Mass and celebration on January 15 hosted by members of the Guatemalan community. The group gave $181.00 to the parish as a result.
These “fund”raisers did more than raise much-needed and even more appreciated money: they also provided a great deal of fun, prayer and celebration for all members of Queen of Angels. God bless you all for your kindness and generosity.

FOR UN“COMMON”LY GOOD FUN...
-- Valentine’s Day Dance. Join us for the Valentine’s Day Dance from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, February 11 in the Guild Hall Gym. This Queen of Angels tradition, sponsored by Commons, will feature a pot luck meal with fellow parishioners, dance contests, cake walk and more! A $10 donation per family is asked to help defray costs. E-mail donna_czech@yahoo.com if you have questions or would like to help.
-- PB&J Party. The Commons Community Service Team will hold the monthly PB&J Party with the after-care students from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 1 in the school lunchroom. Join us in making sandwiches and assembling sack lunches for the homeless and elderly guests of St. Teresa’s Loaves and Fishes program. There are jobs for everyone, toddler to adult. We could use a few more junior high or high school students or adults to help supervise the younger children. Thanks to Harvestime grocery store for continuing to donate the produce for this event. Want to help or need more info? Please direct questions to Julie Buckert at jules76_00@yahoo.com or 773-562-4625.

ACA 2012: “BE IMITATORS OF CHRIST” The 2012 Annual Catholic Appeal is underway. Thank you to all who have responded to Cardinal George’s mailing. If you have received it and have not yet responded, please consider making a pledge to the appeal by mail. This year, the theme of the Appeal is: “Be Imitators of Christ”. We are all challenged to try to live our lives using the life of Christ as an example. Christ gave us the path to eternal life. His love for each of us cannot be taken lightly. As we contemplate His gifts to us, we should also reflect on our gratitude for these gifts. Your financial support for the work of our parish, our Archdiocese and the Church throughout the world is, in fact, one way to express this gratitude. Our faith is lived in schools and parishes, soup kitchens and counseling centers, on street corners and in churches, where people of all backgrounds in every neighborhood of the Archdiocese of Chicago are served. Your gift to the Appeal helps to sustain Catholic schools, religious education, ministerial formation, and initiatives for life, peace and justice. Through its support of Catholic Relief Services, the Appeal serves people worldwide, without regard for religious affiliation, whose lives are devastated by natural disasters, illnesses, wars and famines. Please make a pledge to the 2012 Annual Catholic Appeal. Any funds raised are carefully spent; it is money for God’s work, and we will use it accordingly. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of many.

* * * * *

CCA 2012: “¡SEAN IMITADORES DE CRISTO!” La Campaña Católica Anual está en marcha. Gracias a todos los que han respondido a la carta del Cardenal George. Si han recibido el correo y no han respondido, por favor, aprovechen este tiempo para hacerlo. Este año, el tema de la Campaña es: “Sean imitadores de Cristo”. A todos se nos presenta el desafío de intentar vivir nuestras vidas teniendo la vida de Cristo como un ejemplo. Cristo nos dio el camino a la vida eterna. Su amor por cada uno de nosotros no puede tomarse a la ligera. Al contemplar los dones que nos ha dado, debemos reflexionar también sobre nuestra gratitud por dichos dones. Su apoyo financiero a la obra de nuestra parroquia, de nuestra Arquidiócesis y de la Iglesia en todo el mundo es, de hecho, una forma de expresar esta gratitud. Su donativo a la Campaña ayuda a sustentar las escuelas católicas, educación religiosa, formación para ministros, y iniciativas para la vida, la paz y la justicia. A través de la organización CRS, la Campaña sirve gente en todo el mundo, sin consideración de afiliación religiosa, cuyas vidas son devastadas por desastres naturales, enfermedades, guerra y hambre. Por favor, sea generoso a la Campaña Católica Anual 2012. Los fondos recaudados serán gastados cuidadosamente, para el trabajo de Dios. Su generosidad hará una diferencia en las vidas de muchos.

2011 DONATION STATEMENTS If you are preparing your 2011 Income Taxes and would like to receive a statement of your tax-deductible gifts to Queen of Angels in 2011, please contact the parish office at parish@queenofangelschicago.org or by phone at 773-539-7510. We appreciate your help in caring for God’s creation and preserving our parish’s resources by requesting a paperless e-statement that can be sent to your e-mail account, or statements may be mailed to your street address or picked up during office hours. Thanks for your support of our parish family!

BABY BOTTLE PROJECT ENDS TODAY Thank you to all who have brought back baby bottles filled with loose change for women in crisis pregnancies. Any donations after this weekend should be turned in at the parish office as soon as possible so that gifts may be forwarded to the Women’s Center. Thanks for your help!

READY FOR ANKLEBITERS? Are you a parent of a small child? Join us Mondays when school is in session at 10 a.m. in the school basement. Enter using the north play lot entrance and arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. to sign in. This group is for parents, caregivers and their children aged 3 and under. For more information, call 773-255-8133.

EXPOSICIÓN DEL SANTÍSIMO Haga los viernes un buen día para orar y estar con el Señor. La iglesia estará abierta los viernes desde las 9:30 a.m. hasta las 5 p.m. Entre por la puerta que se halla sobre la Claremont, suba las escaleras y vire hacia la izquierda. Suba cinco escalones más y pase por la sacristía y detrás del altar. Allí entrará a la capilla de Veneración, donde el Santísimo estará expuesto. Traiga su Biblia, rosario, libros y sus pensamientos. Pase algún tiempo con el Santísimo. Si usted lo desea, inscríbase para una hora de oración cada viernes. Pare en la capilla durante el día para pasar un rato con el Señor en oración. Favor de llamar al 773-539-3176.

SHOP WITH THE ANGELS UPDATES:
-- Harry & David is offering a 3% bonus on gift cards through February 17. Whether giving a gift, entertaining family and friends or making an ordinary
day a little more special, you can depend on Harry & David to make your gift-giving more meaningful.
-- Old Country Buffet filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 18. People in possession of Old Country Buffet gift cards are advised to use them as soon as possible.

LAST CHANCE TO PATICIPATE IN SURVEY FOR PARENTS The Archdiocese of Chicago would like to understand how parents in our area make elementary school decisions for their children. We would appreciate your input through a brief online survey. Many factors go into these important decisions and the Archdiocese respects all of the different choices you have made. Understanding your views will help the Archdiocese improve the local Catholic school program and will also enable us to understand the perspectives and needs of those who have not chosen Catholic school. We would greatly appreciate your help with the survey whether or not your children attend a Catholic school. While the survey is offered by the Archdiocese of Chicago, the response will be specific to each school so that it is possible to better understand parents’ views in our specific community.
To access the survey, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SchoolSurveyEnglish. For Spanish, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SchoolSurveySpanish. The survey will be available until February 6. Thank you for your participation!

INTENCIONES DE MISAS Para pedir una intención especial para una misa en inglés o español en el año 2012, por favor visite la oficina parroquial o llame al 773-539-3176. La donación sugerida es de $10 por misa.

¡SHHHHH! Todos los aparatos electrónicos deberían estar apagados antes de entrar a la iglesia, nuestro espacio sagrado. Por favor sea considerado con los demás. ¡Gracias!

BANQUET FOR LIFE SCHEDULED The Women’s Centers of Greater Chicagoland will host the 27th annual Life Banquet luncheon and silent auction from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, February 11 at White Eagle Banquets, 6839 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Reservations required. Registration and silent auction begin at noon. Luncheon and Program begin at 1 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life. Tickets are $55 for adults, $500 for a table of 10; $25 for students 18 and under. Visit www.womens-center.org or call 773-794-1313.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
February 5 — Lyman Scholarship (with regular collection)
February 19 — Maternity BVM (with regular collection)
February 22 — Ash Wednesday

Catholic Schools Survey

PLEASE SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The Archdiocese of Chicago would like to understand the views of Catholics on a range of topics related to our Catholic schools and would appreciate your involvement in an online survey. While the Archdiocese is interested in hearing from all Catholics, regardless of your level of involvement in Catholic schools, the survey particularly seeks to understand the perspectives of those who have children ages 3 to 7. All surveys will be anonymous unless participants choose to provide contact information.

To participate in the survey, please go to the Archdiocese of Chicago’s website at www.archchicago.org and follow the link to the Catholic School Survey. The deadline for completing the survey is 11 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10.

English Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CatholicSchools
Spanish Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CatholicSchoolsSpanish

Science Shines at Queen of Angels School

This month students at Queen of Angels school are being recognized for excellence in our science curriculum. Students are presenting weather forecasts on WGN TV and excelling in the Science Fair. Families will also take part in earth-friendly initiatives during Green Week, April 11-15.

Announcements, Week of April 3, 2011

MORE SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR KIDS’ MOVIE NIGHT Twenty spots are still available for the Commons Movie Night on Saturday, April 9! We hope you can join us from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9 in the Voss Center. If you missed signing up at Winter Toast or during the online auction to send your youngsters to this event, here’s one last chance for them to join the fun!
Simply sign up and drop off your child(ren) 3 years of age and older for an evening of Woody, Lightning McQueen, or Lightning Thieves. Let your kids walk down the red carpet to the Voss Center to their choice of one of two movies, complete with pizza and popcorn while you and your spouse walk the other way for two hours. Reservations are $20 per child. For questions or to sign up, please send an email to commons@queenofangelschicago.org by Wednesday, April 6.

THIRD GRADE THANKS! Thank you to all the parents, students and staff who helped make the Third Grade 2011 Bake Sale service project a huge success. The third grade collected more than $600. All proceeds will be donated to the Holy Childhood Association. For their efforts, the third grade will host a Wear What You Want Day on Wednesday, April 6 for all who brought delicious baked goods for their sale.

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE BOOK FAIR APRIL 3 TO 8 The Scholastic Book Fair will welcome parishioners today after the 9:30 a.m. Mass until 12:30 p.m. This Buy One Get One Free Fair will be open to school families during the week with extended hours on Thursday, April 7 to accommodate parents attending parent-teacher conferences. The fair will close at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 8. All school fair profits are passed to our parish at this Buy One Get One Free fair as a thank you for supporting the library. Please contact Mrs. Diaz at gdiaz@queenofangelschicago.org.

ALL ARE WELCOME! Are you new to our parish community? Welcome! Have you recently moved? May God bless your new home! Please visit or contact the parish office at parish@queenofangelschicago.org or 773-539-7510 to introduce yourself, register or adjust your existing registration. Thanks!

SCHOOL BOARD TO MEET IN APRIL School Board welcomes visitors to every meeting, including the next meeting at 7:15 p.m. Monday, April 11 in the Upper Voss. Any parent or parishioner considering running for one of the four open School Board positions should attend the meeting in April as it is a requirement for candidacy. To better understand School Board, call the school at 773-769-4211. Elections take place in late Spring.

A WINNING SEASON: KNIGHTS KNEWS Congratulations to all our student basketball teams and their coaches for an amazing season. From our new 4th grade teams to the seasoned eighth graders, your hard work and determination was evident in every game, in your level of improvement.
For the first time in our school’s history, all four seventh and eighth grade teams were showcased in the championships! Thank you for your dedication and sportsmanship. We are all so very proud, and look forward to watching your continued growth on the court next year. The eighth grade boys won the championship in their division and stayed ahead of Northside Catholic Academy. Seventh grade boys worked hard, even though some were under the weather, but were defeated by Hardy Prep, taking second place in their division. Eighth grade girls played competitively against St. Andrew but ended up in second place for their division. Seventh grade girls also played St. Andrew and took second place in their division. The games were all exciting and we are so pleased our Knights took their teams so far.
Since the middle school teams did so well, several represented Queen of Angels at the All-Star games. Representing seventh grade girls were: Sophie Brooks and Kelsey Peterson. Representing seventh grade boys were James Folan, Patrick McDonagh and Lucas Simon. Representing eighth grade girls were Taylor Brooks, Rachel Brown and Gabi Castillo. Representing the eighth grade boys was Kendale Spain.
Cherub Basketball for first, second and third graders of our school continues through April. The program’s popularity grows as six teams are fielded. Volleyball for sixth grade girls and seventh and eighth grade boys and girls begins this month. Fifth grade girls began their season two weeks ago at St. Bart’s.

SATURDAY ROSARY Looking to take some time for prayer in your Saturdays? Join us to pray the Rosary after each 9 a.m. Saturday Mass. To volunteer to lead, call Joann at 773-583-1371.

EARLY DEADLINES Due to the Palm Sunday and Easter holidays, there will be early deadlines for both issues of The Guide. The deadline for item submission for the April 17 Guide will be Thursday, April 7, and the deadline for the April 24 issue will be Thursday, April 14. Thank you!

SCHOOL SNIPPETS:
-- Two special programs will be hosted in the spring. The first, Green Week, will be from April 11 to 15, followed by Health and Fitness Week from May 16 to 20.
-- The All School Track-a-Thon will be Wednesday, May 4. This event is a major fundraiser for our school as all students get sponsorships for running laps in the Guild Hall Gym. More to come.

PARENT RESOURCE FAIR APRIL 9 The fifth annual Parent Resource Fair will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Merrimac Park, 6343 W. Irving Park Road. There will be free activities for children and organizations with parenting information will be on hand. A raffle and balloon release will be at 2:30 p.m. Call 773-205-3637.

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY The Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2011 at St. John Brebeuf, 8307 N. Harlem, Niles. Couples married in 1961 interested in attending this celebration must register through the Parish Center by calling 773-539-7510. For information, call the Family Ministries Office at 312-534-8351.

JESUIT PODCAST REFLECTIONS The Jesuits of Charis Ministries invite you to deepen Lenten prayer by listening to a weekly podcast series, Pilgrimage with Jesus. Podcasts are led by Jesuit Fathers Jim Gartland, president of Cristo Rey High School, and Martin Schreiber, a doctoral candidate at Loyola University Chicago. These brief podcasts offer reflections and practices for making the most of your Lenten season this year. Visit www.jesuits-chgdet.org to access the podcasts. This is made possible through Charis Ministries, a Jesuit ministry to those in their 20s and 30s.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY The Resurrection College Prep High School Alumnae Association will present Breakfast with the Easter Bunny from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16 at 7500 W. Talcott. All are welcome to have breakfast with the Easter Bunny, enjoy entertainment by Resurrection students and make Easter arts and crafts. Each child will have the opportunity to take a photo with the Easter Bunny and receive a special gift. Tickets are $8 per child in advance, $9 at the door; adult tickets are $5 per adult. Advance reservations encouraged. Call 773-775-6616, ext. 127.

HELP NEEDED FOR CANDY DAYS Misericordia Candy Days are scheduled for Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. Please volunteer two hours of your time to make a difference for more than 600 children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. To volunteer, visit www.misericordia.org or contact Tessa at candydays@misericordia.com or 773-273-2768. To make a $5 donation, text “MIS” to 25383.

PROVIDENCE ASSOCIATES SOUGHT The Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods are currently accepting applications from persons interested in becoming Providence Associates for the 2011-2012 year. Providence Associates are women and men at least 18 years old of diverse faith traditions who seek a formal relationship with the Sisters of Providence. There are a number of ways for associates to participate in the life and mission of the Sisters. Some suggested ways are mutual and intentional prayer; appropriate community gatherings, reflection and prayer groups; Sisters of Providence retreats and spiritual enrichment programs; social justice activities; eco-justice projects; and/or other ministries. Associates make a commitment for one year. Applications will be accepted through June 30. Contact Sister Diane Mason at 708-364-7917 or email dmason@spsmw.org.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER “Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord,” (second reading). Come hear more about God’s plan for your marriage/holy orders. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends for the Chicago/Northwest Indiana area are June 24-26, 2011, September 9-11, 2011 and November 4-6, 2011. Early registration is highly recommended. For reservations or information, call Jim and Kris at 800-442-3554 or contact www.wwmechicago-gary.org.

¡APRENDA O MEJORE SU INGLÉS! Inscrabse en las clases de inglés como segundo idioma y GED en español con Social and Educational Services, que se encuentra en la 5244 N. Lakewood. Las clases son gratuitas y hay lugares disponibles por las mañanas y las noches que empiezan el lunes, 11 de abril. Llame al 773-878-6035 para mas informacion o para hacer una cita para el examen oral.

ANSWER THE CALL Let us say together, with the man born blind from today’s gospel, “I do believe!” Is God inviting you to follow Him as a diocesan priest? For information about discerning events, check out www.ChicagoPriest.com. There is still time to sign up for Exploring Priesthood Weekend on April 8-10! EPW is a weekend retreat at Mundelein Seminary. Call Father Brian Welter at 312-534-8298.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
April 3 — Lyman Scholarship (with regular collection)
April 17 — Easter Flowers
April 17 — Sharing BVM (with regular collection)
April 21 — Holy Thursday/Society of St. Vincent DePaul
April 22 — Good Friday/Holy Land
April 24 — Easter