This year's session kicks off Wednesday, October 9th at 7pm in the Fireplace Room of the Benedict Center. Interested in the Catholic Faith or seeing to complete your sacraments? RCIA is for you! Please click for more information.
As we observe Labor Day this weekend, it seems an appropriate time to recall a reflection that someone lent me some time ago. The subject of the reflection itself was not about work, but the chapter on work struck me the most. The reflection noted that in ancient Rome, regardless of how they went about it (which might be another topic), work was generally viewed as a way to accomplish something.
We are in need of many new ministers to distribute Holy Communion to the people of God. Jesus took, blessed and broke bread at the Last Supper. He feeds us who hunger for his Body and Blood. Just as he instructed his apostles to do the same, so the church entrusts the Body and Blood of Christ to ministers, who then give them to the faithful at Mass.
A few weeks back I was looking for some information in the parish office. I know the secretaries would have been able to tell me right away the information that I needed but the office had already closed and the secretaries had gone home for the day. So I started to look for what I was searching for and found all sorts of things I wasn’t looking for. I suppose we all have those moments. But one of the things that caught my eye and was successful in distracting me was some old photos of days past here at the Basilica.
There’s something wonderfully renewing about late summer, especially as it begins a new school year. It’s all about new beginnings. Maybe it has something to do with new classrooms, new teachers, clean smells, new sights.
As the days of summer fade away and the new school year is upon us, I know there are some kids who always look forward to this time of year. I can’t say I was one of those kids (I was always kind of sad to see summer come to an end) but when I hear their reasoning I can understand their excitement...Very soon our parish school and Religious Education program will be back in session.
Bring the whole family to Mass!
-Backpack Blessing at 9am & 11am
-Children's Liturgy of the Word at 9am
-Coffee after all Sunday Masses by the Porte Cochere
Sadly, I was informed one of our staff members here at Queen of All Saints will be moving on. As many of you know, Mrs. Jenna Kaszycki has served as our Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry. Of course, her departure is a loss! Our thanks go out to Jenna for the time and talent that she brought to her role here, and her hard work that was such a part of her position.
We hear this phrase often. What does this mean?
Our time—perhaps the most obvious way to satisfy this obligation is to attend weekly Mass; Our
talent—giving of our abilities in the service of others; Our treasure—the benefits of a certain percentage of our annual income, given to our church and to others in gratitude for what has been given to us...
Some folks joked with me last weekend that it didn’t take me long to break something! It has only been a month since Fr. Simon left, and last weekend – in the middle of summer – our air conditioning went out! It certainly was a stark reminder of the fragility of our HVAC system, and the fact that we have a serious problem. Fr. Simon had already been working to address this significant and extensive issue before I came to Queen of All Saints. This weekend was a reminder of why he sees the needed work as pressing.
Sunday, September 8 - Outdoor Mass at 11am, Parish Picnic at 12pm All are invited to our outdoor Mass and picnic! Mark your calendars now, make a note to bring your own chair and pray for no rain!
Note: There will be no 12:30pm Mass
A religious trivia question that I sometimes like to ask the young kids is: what are the names of Jesus’ grandparents? Sometimes my question is met with looks of shock and disbelief that Jesus actually had grandparents. One of the benefits that you and I have here at Queen of All Saints, which many places don’t have, is a very visible reminder of his grandparents. It’s
interesting to hear different visitors ask about the two statues on either side of the grand mosaic of the Blessed Mother in the sanctuary. Here, we have a “family portrait” around the altar, as the image of Our Lady is flanked on either side by her parents, Jesus’ grandparents, Sts. Joachim and Anne.
Something that I have certainly come to realize over the course of the last year is that many people come from near and far to visit the basilica. They come because it’s a beautiful place to pray, and as some have told me, it’s also the only church that they could find open during the day. So while they might not be from our parish, we are happy to provide an oasis in the midst of the day where they can come and spend a few quiet moments with the Lord present in the Holy Eucharist.
These are unusual time for investors. Despite a difficult 2022 the stock market has experienced solid returns so far in 2023-2024. In fact, the market has risen over 80% over the past five years, yet the benefits of a rising market are not shared equally among all, including throughout our parish.
I remember as children we would often receive a periodical from one of the various missionary endeavors that my family supported. At the top of every newsletter there was a saying attributed to St. Therese that I haven’t forgotten. She says in regards to the work in the missions; “some give by going to the missions, and some go by giving to the missions, but without both there are no missions.”
On Saturday, June 29th, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the parishes of Vicariate II welcomed visitors and pilgrims of the National Eucharistic Revival to Queen of All Saints parish...