Altar Servers certainly have the most varied ways of assisting at Mass. They use lots of liturgical tools and are in the middle of the action at Mass. This is one of the most ancient of liturgical ministries done by the laity (not priests or deacons). Though historically this role has been filled by boys (frequently those preparing to be priests) in the post Vatican II world anyone can serve in this role. READ MORE

Many thanks to those parishioners who regularly drop a donation envelope in the collection basket. Leslie Mc Graw (MQ business manager) and her Monday morning crew of volunteers make sure that those donations are directed to this ministry, so that we can meet the needs of families who request assistance – with diapers, formula, clothing for babies or toddlers, food, rent, or utilities. READ MORE

See the latest update from our Walking with Moms in Need Ministry Here

Near where our altar servers sit, you may have noticed a stand holding six processional torches. The use of light in Christian worship goes back to the early Church. What began partly as a practical necessity developed into a rich symbol of Christ, the Light of the World. By the Middle Ages, candles carried by servers were a familiar part of processions, honoring Christ in the liturgy. READ MORE

It would be a very odd thing to enter our church and find no seating in the middle of the church. Oddly enough, for much of the history of the Catholic Church, that would have been perfectly normal. When I toured Europe, I was struck that both Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Duomo in Florence did not have seating in the main spaces. Chairs would be brought out and arranged as needed. We take our pews for granted, but how they came to be such a standard part of our churches is an interesting story. READ MORE

Even though we are at the beginning of September, our Core Team is already preparing for our October Baby Bottle Fundraiser. We only have 50 of the 400 bottles with which we started. If you kept your baby bottle as a reminder to donate coins throughout the year, that’s fine. Just please bring back the donations in a little storage bag this year, so others might take a baby bottle. READ MORE

WWMIN Updates: #57, Current Economic Conditions, Prayer Cards and More. CLICK HERE

As you enter Mary Queen, two figures quietly watch over our church from either side: Mary and Joseph. Our wooden statues are elevated in niches along the sides of the church, each with a stand of devotional candles before it. Mary’s candles tend to be a little more popular, but Joseph certainly holds his own! The placement of Mary and Joseph in Catholic churches has a long history, although the familiar pairing is not as ancient as we might imagine. Images of Mary appeared very early in Christian churches, particularly Mary holding the Christ Child. Devotion to St. Joseph developed more gradually and became especially prominent in the later Middle Ages and following centuries. READ MORE

The Youth & Young Adult Assistant Coordinator supports the Youth, Young Adult, & Confirmation Coordinator in creating opportunities for young people to encounter Christ, grow in their Catholic faith, develop leadership skills, and become active participants in the life of Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish. This position assists with the planning and implementation of youth and young adult ministry activities, builds relationships with youth and families, supports volunteers, and helps foster a welcoming environment where young people can grow in faith and discipleship. SEE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION HERE

As you enter our church, your eyes are naturally drawn to the altar, the stained glass, and the statues of Mary and Joseph. You are also likely to notice what is on the right as you enter—the Divine Mercy image and our ushers’ stand, usually accompanied by welcoming people and someone counting parishioners. But you may not have noticed what is on the left-hand side. Recessed into the wall is a large cabinet with three windows. If you draw near, you will see that the lighted cabinets contain three glass bottles holding our sacred oils. This is the ambry of our church. READ MORE

One of the great Solemnities that occurs each year is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when we celebrate that, at the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. Exactly what the end of Mary’s earthly life looked like we cannot be sure. An ancient tradition speaks of her Dormition, or “falling asleep,” but the Church simply teaches that, “having completed the course of her earthly life,” Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. Her Assumption reflects her unique union with Christ and anticipates the bodily resurrection promised to all the faithful. READ MORE

We have discussed the two largest furnishings in the sanctuary—the Altar and the Ambo. You may have noticed another table in that space as well. Sometimes ours is placed directly behind the altar, while at other times it is positioned off to the side. This is the Credence Table, which holds the various liturgical items that will be used during Mass. READ MORE

Continuing our series on the furnishings of our church, this week we turn our attention to the Ambo. This is the place from which the Word of God is proclaimed through the reading of Sacred Scripture. Like the altar, it is set aside for a sacred purpose—to proclaim God's Word and to invite us to hear, reflect upon, and respond to it. This is why you will rarely see it used for other purposes. The origins of the ambo can be traced to the raised platforms found in Jewish synagogues from which the Scriptures were proclaimed. The word ambo comes from Greek and refers to an elevated place. I also like the connection to Jesus ascending the hillside to proclaim the Sermon on the Mount. As Christianity became more established, the ambo developed into a raised structure that improved both visibility and acoustics, allowing the faithful to better hear the Scriptures. These structures varied considerably over the centuries, partly because different ministers—including readers, subdeacons, and deacons—had distinct liturgical roles. At St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, for example, the historic ambos are especially unique, with two distinct levels serving different liturgical functions. READ MORE

This week we begin a new series exploring the liturgical furniture found in our church—the history, symbolism, and purpose of the furnishings that support our worship. We begin with the heart of every Catholic church: the altar. The altar is the most important piece of furniture in the church because it is the place where Christ becomes sacramentally present in the Eucharist. Altars have been central to Judeo-Christian worship since the time of Abraham, and even in Genesis God provides the first sacrifice by clothing Adam and Eve after the Fall. From the earliest days of Christianity, the Eucharist was celebrated on simple tables in homes and later on altars built over the tombs of martyrs. As churches became permanent, so did their altars. Before the Second Vatican Council, many altars were attached to the back wall of the sanctuary and richly adorned with carvings, statues, candles, and the tabernacle. The priest ordinarily celebrated Mass facing the altar (ad orientem), with the congregation facing the same direction. Many older churches still retain these historic "high altars." READ MORE

LITURGY CORNER Music Resources at Mass When our church was renovated in 2020, one of the decisions we made was not to reinstall racks in the pews for hymnals and missals. This choice was made for several reasons. We wanted to reduce our environmental impact by moving away from disposable worship aids, make better use of our projection screens, and simplify the care and upkeep of our worship space. Overall, these efforts have been a great success. We have reduced waste and costs while also encouraging greater participation through our digital resources. READ MORE

Throughout history, the relationship between the Church and civil government has taken many forms. At times the Church has suffered persecution; at other times it has enjoyed cooperation or even become too closely identified with political authority. As Catholics, we seek the proper relationship between our responsibilities as citizens and our identity as disciples of Christ. Jesus himself gives us the model when he teaches us to "render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." This does not mean that we ignore political realities in the life of the Church or in our worship. Rather, it reminds us that while legitimate civil authority deserves our respect, our ultimate allegiance always belongs to God. READ MORE

On June 29, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, honoring two of the greatest apostles and pillars of the early Church. Though they came from very different backgrounds and had different missions, both faithfully proclaimed Christ and ultimately gave their lives for the Gospel in Rome. READ MORE

On the Friday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost (19 days after Pentecost), the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a feast that draws our attention to the boundless love and mercy of Christ. We will celebrate this at our Friday, June 12 8:15am English Mass and 7pm Spanish Mass. Since it is a solemnity we will have a Gloria, two readings, and a creed (which are not common at Daily Masses). We will also have music.

This Sunday the Church celebrates one of the most beloved feasts of the liturgical year: Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It is a day set aside to focus our attention on the greatest gift Christ left to His Church—the Holy Eucharist. While every Mass is centered on the Eucharist, Corpus Christi gives us an opportunity to deepen our gratitude and devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a celebration not only of what we receive, but of Who we receive. READ MORE

This Sunday the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday—the great solemnity dedicated to the mystery at the very center of our faith: one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost celebrate specific events in salvation history, Trinity Sunday is somewhat unique because it celebrates a doctrine: who God is. READ MORE