OUR MISSION: Queen of Heaven Parish is a prayerful, vibrant and proactive community sharing Christ's love through numerous ministries.
Dear Friends,
We hear Jesus being asked in the Gospel today, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus responds, “The first commandment is to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength.” Then He said the second is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Then He says, “The love of God and neighbor is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Thankfully, most of us will not be called to love God to the point of the early Christians that literally gave their lives for Him as a martyr; yet daily we are called like a martyr to give witness (which is what the word martyr means) to our faith by our giving of our time and our love for God and others.
At this time, I want to say, “thank you” for all who give of their time, and their talent, and their treasure to make Queen of Heaven Parish such a vibrant parish.
In this bulletin you will find an insert of our Annual Report to the Parish Community stating our church revenue and expenses. None of this would be possible without your kindhearted generosity. I encourage you to take the time to check out the statistics. We are most grateful that we do not spend more than we make. We are trying our best to be good stewards of our funds.
In addition to financial statistics, there are Sacramental and Liturgical statistics. I’m happy to announce that our number of baptisms is about double the number of our funerals. The number of Confirmations seems very small, but we took last year off from youth Confirmations when we combined two grades worth the previous year. This year and moving forward, we are going back to the custom of Confirmation every year in the ninth grade.
Welcome to the month of November, the month to remember our loved ones who have died. There is a special Victory Book located near our Sacred Heart statue where you can write the names of your loved ones who have passed, and we will remember them in prayer at the Masses in November. Tomorrow, Monday, November 4, we will have a special Mass at 7:00 p.m. to pray for by name our loved ones who have died since November 1 of last year. Everyone is invited.
The following day will be Election Day. Being a good Catholic also means being a good citizen. One of the ways we exercise good citizenship is by voting. Let us pray that we will be guided by the Holy Spirit to lead us to choose the right individuals who will lead our nation closer to God and one another.
Have a blessed week!
I thought I’d begin this reflection by sharing a bit of insight into a sliver of my prayer life. At times when I pray a prayer of petition – that is when I ask our Lord for help or direction in various situations – the response I get at times from the Big Guy in Heaven is not always one that I prefer. Sure, most times God’s answer to my requests are clear and direct and through His grace my needs are met. There are times, however, when the heavenly response comes back to me in less satisfying ways (at least they seem so in my mind.) For example, one of our Lord’s favorite faith-stretching techniques with me is to respond with the words, “Just trust Me.” Well for me, at least the idea of “trust” can be challenging – where I’m looking for fast-paced “action,” our Lord often wants to take a slower but more far-reaching approach.
So, for people like me who need a bit of handholding in the area of trust, our Lord treats us in today’s Gospel with a beautiful testament on this idea involving trust using our friend Bartimaeus and his story of healing. We’re all familiar with the narrative. Bartimaeus, the blind man, was begging by the roadside outside of Jericho when Jesus and his entourage approaches. The blind man cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” With that the crowd tries to quiet him. But he digs in and continues to make his plea to our Lord. And with that persistence, Jesus stops and has His disciples call the downtrodden man to his side. Then something remarkable happens. In answering the call, we hear that Bartimaeus, “…throws aside his cloak” springs up and goes to Jesus where, because of his faith and trust in Him, he’s granted a miraculous healing – his sight is restored!
Talk about trust. Most likely Bartimaeus’ cloak was the only worldly possession he could call his own, yet he willingly casts it aside so that he could answer Jesus’ call free from any earthly attachments. He risked everything. He threw away his old ways, those things that were holding him back, in order that he could take on a new life. For that trust in his Lord, he was rewarded not only with a physical healing but more importantly he was granted the gift of everlasting life: we hear this beautiful story concluding with the observation that the newly healed man “…followed (Jesus) on the way.”
God’s ways are not our ways – and that’s a good thing! And, because of His all-knowing, all-loving providential ways, we can be confident in answering our call knowing the power of trust.
May your mercy, Lord, be upon us as we place our trust in You!
Deacon Steve
This Sunday’s readings invite us to reflect on service, humility, and the nature of true greatness. In today’s Gospel, James and John approach Jesus with a request for positions of honor in His kingdom, to sit at His right and His left. Their desire highlights a common human inclination: to seek status and recognition. Yet, Jesus turns their expectations upside down by teaching that true greatness comes from serving others.
As we consider this message, let’s bring it home to our families. Many of us can relate to the dynamics of service and humility, especially in households filled with the energy and curiosity of young children. I think of my three sons, each with their unique personalities and needs. Whether it’s mediating disputes over toys, encouraging them in their school work, or simply listening to their stories, the daily acts of service in our family life can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Yet, these moments offer profound opportunities for growth. When we model humility and service, we teach our children that greatness is not measured by achievements or accolades, but by how we treat those around us. Each small act of kindness: helping a sibling with homework, sharing responsibilities at home, or showing compassion to a friend becomes a steppingstone towards becoming servant leaders in their own right.
In our busy lives, it can be easy to overlook these lessons, but as parents, we are called to embody the message of Jesus. We have the incredible privilege of shaping our children’s values and understanding of what it means to be truly great in the eyes of God. Let us encourage our children to embrace humility, reminding them that the greatest among us are those who serve.
As we gather for Mass this Sunday, let us pray for the strength to live out this calling in our families. May we find joy in serving one another and inspire our children to seek greatness through love and humility. Together, let us build a family life that reflects the heart of Christ: a life of service, compassion, and genuine connection.
May we find ways to serve one another, creating an environment where love and humility flourish. Let us pray for the wisdom and patience to guide our children, helping them grow into the servants of Christ that they are called to be.
God Bless!
The readings for this Sunday bring us face-to-face with the challenge of living a life of humility, compassion, and peace. These values are not just ideals for public life but should be nurtured within the heart of every family, where peace and love are often most deeply tested.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches His disciples not to exclude or judge those who are doing good in His name, even if they are not part of their immediate group. This is a powerful reminder for us, especially within our families, that love must transcend boundaries. Differences in opinion, personality, or approach can create tension in family life, but Jesus invites us to embrace a spirit of inclusion, patience, and understanding. Peace in our homes doesn’t come from everyone being the same but from recognizing and appreciating each person’s unique gifts and contributions.
Jesus also warns against leading others into sin, especially "little ones." In the context of family, this can serve as a reminder of the tremendous responsibility we have to model love and peace for our children. Children learn not just from what we say but from what we do. If they see us acting with kindness, seeking reconciliation when there is conflict, and showing patience in times of stress, they will absorb those values. On the other hand, if we respond to challenges with anger, selfishness, or indifference, they may carry those tendencies into their own relationships.
St. James, in the second reading, speaks against injustice and the hoarding of wealth at the expense of others. Though this passage deals with economic injustice, the message can also apply to the way we live in our families. Are we generous with our time, attention, and affection? Or do we hoard these things, caught up in our own concerns? True peace and love are found in the self-giving that mirrors Christ’s love for us.
As we reflect on these readings, let us be mindful of the sacred call to foster peace and love in our homes. In a world so often divided by conflict, our families can be places of refuge and healing if we choose to live out the Gospel message with humility, compassion, and an open heart. May we seek to build homes where God’s love, mercy and peace reign, offering that same peace to the community and the world around us.
God Bless!
PJ Chavez
Dear Friends,
I hope everybody’s having a wonderful month of September. It is going so fast. This month especially, we are thinking of our youth going back to school. We think of our preschool through high school PSR program as well. Speaking of youth, I came across this article entitled “Achieving Holy Youth.” I share it with you now. I hope you enjoy it. I think it’s appropriate for all ages. Achieving Holy Youth
O Lord – give me what it takes to be a holy youth…
Give me courage to do what is hard, courage to say NO to sin; courage to hold off the quitter in me. Give me a clean mind and clean speech; clean eyes and clean hands. Let me cherish cleanness and recognize that it brings happiness. Let me appreciate that in purity all good things come together and grow. Give me the gift of kindness, so that I may never hurt another youth. Teach me to control my temper and my tongue so they do not become the instruments of cruelty. I know my own importance, Lord; but let me never fail to see that others have importance, too. Give me strength of spirit to defeat self-pity. If I am lonesome, lead me to the knowledge that to be loved I must be lovable; that I will have no true friends until I earn them. Give me that bigness I will need to be cheerfully obedient. Remove from my personality a sullen spirit. Teach me to take orders, so that some day I will know how to give them reasonably. Give me zest and drive to conquer laziness. Never let me feel that I can be served without serving, and get without giving. Instruct my heart in the love of work, so that I may know the joy of rest. Give me that peace of mind which comes from knowing that I will never lead another to sin. By Your grace, may no one be cheapened because he kept my company. Let all who love me learn to love You more. Give me, finally, such brightness, laughter, and grace, that You will find in me a temple which will please You as Mary pleased You. Amen. (By Father John M. Murphy)
Have a Blessed Week.
Love,
Father Dave
I know that as human beings we’re a conglomeration of body, mind, heart and soul, all somehow working together for the glory of God our Creator. I believe that I have come to a general understanding of the nature of the body, mind and heart parts of our being and how they function. But when I thought about it, I realized that I have only an elementary understanding of the idea of “soul.” So, just for fun, I thought I’d do a little research and with that I came across the following definition of “soul” in the Catholic Encyclopedia. It reads in part:
“Together with the body, the soul constitutes the substantial unity of the human being. It is the immaterial, immortal, directly created principle that constitutes a particular individual as human. The distinguishing feature of the human soul is that it is rational i.e., having the power to understand. The immortality of the soul arises from its simplicity or lack of composition…it possesses unlimited spiritual capacities…the soul endures after biological death…each soul is directly created by God.
Yikes! After reading this definition (as well as other definitions from other sources) I came away feeling more confused than I was before. But I pressed on in my quest for understanding. And lo and behold I found the following reflection published in The Catholic Messenger that was written by Deacon Derick Cranston who serves the Church in Iowa. God bless the Deacon! His commonsense words and wisdom along with his breathtaking visual images helped me to gain a better understanding of the idea of “soul.” Deacon Cranston’s essay reads in part:
“In northern Minnesota near the Canadian border, forest and lakes stretch as far as the eye can see. When the night is clear and the lake is calm, the stars reflect upon the still water of the lake. Although a true physical border exists, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the stars reflecting upon the lake, and the stars in the night sky.
Likewise, there is a border where heaven and earth meet. That border is the soul in each of us. Our souls are but reflections of the Divine, reflections of our existence in time and space. We sprang from Mother Earth and the Holy Spirit breathed life into us and made us into the image of God.
St. Paul wrote: ‘For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with human hands, but eternal in heaven.’ As I stepped out of my tent that night and gazed up at the stars in the northern Minnesota sky, it felt like I had stepped into the eternal heaven not made by human hands but built by the Lord.
There is indeed a border where heaven and earth meet. If we can quiet our souls and be still, our soul will reflect the Divine. And be not afraid if the suffering in your life puts you in a dark place. For the darker it is, the brighter the stars shine. It is in our darkest moments that we can best see the light of Christ in all its glory and splendor.”
So, there you have it, while not knocking well-intentioned theologians and their sometimes-complicated take on the makeup of the soul, here we’ve been given in simple terms keys to unlocking a mysterious reality of our beings. By the grace of God, we have access to a place that’s almost Heaven – a place where Heaven and Earth meet – a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Let’s step into this eternal reality often and allow our souls to reflect the Divine!
May God be your heart, your mind, your soul and your life!
Deacon Steve
Today we wrap up our five-week travels through the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel which includes Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse. In His preaching in this Discourse our Lord doesn’t mince any words about the fact that He came to feed and sustain us with real flesh and blood – His very own Body and Blood – the Bread of Life. And with His bold assertions (not too surprisingly) many in the crowds that had been following Jesus were shocked by His words and consequently said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” And as they were not able to wrap their heads around our Lord’s claims, “…many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him.”
Why did many of the disciples leave Christ that day, while the Twelve stayed with Him? This question touches on one of the great mysteries of our faith: human freedom. Somehow, in the depths of the human heart, God leaves us free to accept or reject Him. This decision point in the road of faith is always introduced by our God who is love but the choice to stay with love or leave it remains with each of us. Although Jesus Christ is the Lord of life, He refuses to impose His will on hearts that want to separate from Him. Through free will we have in our hands the power to choose eternal life or everlasting death. That’s a pretty heavy responsibility that lies on our shoulders!
Each week at Mass we have the opportunity to exercise our human freedom when the priest, in persona Christi, prays in the Eucharistic prayer these word: “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body which will be given up for you.” At this moment we decide either in our hearts (through faith) to believe and accept as true what has been said and thus “stay” with our Lord or, casting faith aside, we can decide in our heads (like the folks in the Gospel crowd did) that this saying is too hard to comprehend and thus “leave” our Lord. The choice is ours!
Sure, what we can comprehend in our heads about matters of faith doesn’t always add up logically. So, instead of using only our heads, our Lord beckons us to access the life-giving faith that He has implanted deep in our hearts. He calls us to believe even when things don’t quite make sense. And as He calls, imagine the look in our Lord’s eyes as He asks us (as He did of the Apostles), “Do you also want to leave?” Is there sadness or maybe a little apprehension in His gaze?
Today Jesus – He who identifies Himself as the “Bread of Life” – asks us this same question, “Do you also want to leave – are you all in with me or not?
May Jesus ever reign in our hearts!
Deacon Steve
Heavenly Father, Pour forth abundant graces on Your servant, David, on this occasion of his 40 years as a priest. We are grateful to be able to see Christ in him and, more importantly, his ability to see Christ in others. May Your Holy Spirit continue to sustain and enlighten him as he witnesses to the Good News. Thank you for his devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady which he so beautifully shares with others. Richly bless him on this day, now and always. Amen. ~ Composed by the Spiritual Life Commission, June 2005 (modified June 2020) |
Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priest, Father David Durkee.
Through him, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help Father Dave to be strong in his vocation.
Set his soul on fire with love for your people.
Grant him the wisdom, understanding, and strength he needs to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire him with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give him the words he needs to spread the Gospel.
Allow him to experience joy in his ministry.
Help him to be an instrument of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.