Category: Nuntium

Adults who would like to consider becoming Catholic are invited to join the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. Designed for those who have participated in other churches or religions as well as those who have not been part of any formal faith groups previously, this is an opportunity to learn more about Catholic beliefs and practices during a period of inquiry. Participants may perhaps decide to continue on to prepare for receiving the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation, ideally next April during the Easter Vigil.

There is no commitment to become Catholic needed to join RCIA, just a willingness to come and see! The RCIA program is shared with nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and is a ministry that Queen of Angels and St. Matthias have shared for more than ten years. With questions or to receive further details as they become available, please call 773-539-7510 or email parish@queenofangelschicago.org.

SPRED is our parish ministry including friends with special needs. In this time of uncertainty and stress, we all hunger for a place of peace and friendship. We need to find a way to sort out the chaos and find new hope. We need to realize the joy of “God With Us.” SPRED gives participants a special little corner to reflect and renew.

As with most ministries of Queen of Angels and St. Matthias Parish, SPRED will be starting back slowly this year. Due to the challenges of the pandemic, our volunteers are working hard to redefine our meeting space and program so that we are prepared for a safe return. The health and age profile of some of our catechists and friends with special needs will make it difficult for a return.

And so we face a challenge of recruitment as well. We will need some of our younger (under 65) adult parishioners to help us rebuild our SPRED communities so that we have a partner for each of our friends. We are most likely looking for at least 6 new volunteers for our 3 faith communities. The format is simple and rewarding. It is not a teaching method, and training is provided right here at the Parish Center at 4412 N. Western — this year, training will probably be in the form of a simple tutorial process.

Please join us. For further info, please visit our SPRED web site.  Watch our video and explore the information that we have prepared for you. Then contact 773-680-9225 or jchqofa3@gmail.com. Wishing you only peace,

— Julia Hess, SPRED Community Religious Worker, and the SPRED Communities meeting at Queen of Angels

SCHOOL RE-OPENING: How Can the Community Help? Dear Queen of Angels Family & Friends, (abridged from an eBlast sent Aug. 3)

As a new administrator in a new community, this has been an unusual summer as we continue to plan for the fall. Our students, parents, faculty, and staff are constantly on my mind. Our amazing faculty, staff, and volunteers have been working tirelessly to ensure that Queen of Angels is prepared for whatever comes our way! I am truly grateful for their efforts, expertise, partnership, and support. I do not have all the answers, but what I do know is that working together, staying positive, staying flexible, leaning on one another, and assuming positive intentions will get us through these uncertain times.

Queen of Angels School is dedicated to meeting the needs of all of our students. We are currently planning to start the school with in-person instruction [like all other Archdiocesan schools]. We realize that this may not be a suitable option for some families. It is important to us that our students stay connected to their friends, teachers, and community. We are committed to providing a long-term virtual learning option for our students, however, what that will look like is yet to be determined. It will not look the same as it did in the spring. Just as our Health and Safety Committee is finalizing our school protocol, our Academic Committee is finalizing our school plan. Please be patient as these things take time. What I can tell you is that our teachers will be prepared for the following: In-Person Instruction, Long-Term E-Learning, and Short-Term E-Learning (14-day cohort quarantine).

To safely open, we need all hands on deck! We need our community to follow CDC health and safety guidelines before school starts, in school, and outside of school. Queen of Angels School wants each person that enters our building to be safe. So, what can parents and community members do now?

• Do not ease up on safe and healthy practices — wearing masks, washing hands, and protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.
• Model safe and healthy practices for your children – YOU are their role model and they are watching!
• Follow local and state guidelines for international travel and to U.S. “Hot Spots.” If you are traveling prior to school, please quarantine for 14 days upon return to Chicago or to school. This is to keep our students and staff safe, so students will not be penalized for attendance.
• Please keep up on children’s vaccinations & medical/dental/vision/physicals.

I greatly appreciate all the hard work of our faculty and staff. They are true heroes! I also appreciate the support and patience of our parents and community. This is not an easy time for anyone. Please assume positive intentions—we are all doing our very best during this unprecedented and stressful time. I know that Queen of Angels will be here for all of our students. It’s our faith, love, care and compassion for one another that makes us strong. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns to rbrizgys@queenofangelschicago.org. I am here to help! I look forward to meeting all of you very soon. It’s a great day to be a Knight!

Blessings,

Ms. Rana Brizgys, Principal

In place of the usual visit by a missionary speaker, the Missions Office has asked us to choose and share the work of a particular missionary group. COAR Peace Mission, the Community of St. Oscar Arnulfo Romero (COAR), was founded in the spirit of the martyred bishop to assist the most vulnerable victims of the civil war in El Salvador —children. Though the crisis of the war has passed, their work continues in caring for neglected, abused and traumatized children. Learn more here.

We hope you will be able to make a gift via GiveCentral, by mail or in the offering box at church to help them in these efforts. The funds collected through the generosity of our parishioners will then be sent to the Missions Office to be divided evenly among 50+ missionary groups. Envelopes are available in the gathering space at church.