Father Carl's Corner - September 21, 2025
Brothers and sisters in faith, our country is living through a difficult season. Political divisions run deep. Too often, as we have recently seen very publicly, the anger that comes with disagreement spills over into hostility and violence that leads to death. As Christians, we must be clear: political violence is a sin. It denies the dignity of the person, it destroys the peace we are called to build, and it betrays the gospel of Jesus, who told us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
It is not wrong to disagree about political issues. In fact, thoughtful respectful debate can be a healthy part of democracy. However, when our differences turn to hatred - when we begin to see one another as an enemy to be destroyed rather than a fellow human being made in God’s image - we have lost sight of Christ’s way.
Each time we make the sign of the cross at the beginning and end of our prayers, the cross reminds us that violence is never the answer. Jesus did not respond to betrayal, false accusation, or injustice with violence. He chose love, forgiveness, and truth. That same choice is being asked of us today.
What can we do personally? One simple but powerful step is this: examine our words. Before speaking, posting or sharing, ask: Does this build up or tear down? Does this reflect love, or does it sow division? Choosing restraint, respect, and kindness in our speech is a way of disarming the cycle of anger. It might seem small, but these small acts of peace ripple outward. If enough of us commit to responding with dignity, respect, and prayer instead of hostility, then we become a leaven of hope in a divided nation. Let us pray for peace in our country, for healing across divides, and for the courage to witness to the gospel of love even when it is hard.
I invite us all to take this prayer and place it where we will see it, and pray it each day. We need peace and civility in our nation.
A Prayer for Peace in Our Nation - Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. You teach us to love our enemies and pray for those who oppose us. Heal the divisions in our country. Forgive us when our anger turns to hatred and when words and actions cause harm. Give us courage to choose peace over violence, truth over distortion and love over fear. Make us instruments of your peace, in our families, in our parish, and in our nation. We commit ourselves today to speak with respect, to act with kindness, and to work for the dignity of every person. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Amen.
Let us pray for all who have lost their lives to political violence. May they be resting now in true peace, God’s peace.
Have a safe and good week ahead.
With you a Christian. For you, a priest.
Father Carl Morello
Pastor
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
Second Collection - Seminarian Education Fund
The Archdiocesan Collection at Masses THIS Weekend, September 20-21, for the Education and Formation of our Future Priests - The Seminarian Education Fund provides support for the training and education of men studying for priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The fund helps to cover the cost to educate each archdiocesan seminarian as they proceed through the various stages of formation before ordination as a priest for Chicago.
Please support the men seeking to answer God’s call to a life of service as a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!
The new website launched on July 1 and replaces the two previous websites. Each legacy website has a landing page that will notify visitors of the change. The new website is a work-in-progress as we continue to add content and updates. As you begin to explore the new website, please share your feedback with us. We hope the website reflects the vibrant, welcoming spirit of our Catholic community.
This week at St. Giles School
Middle School Science Gets Messy with Oobleck! - This week, our middle school scientists rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on experiment with oobleck - a strange, slimy substance made from cornstarch and water. Named after the Dr. Seuss story, oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it sometimes acts like a liquid and sometimes like a solid, depending on how you touch it. Students tested its unique properties, asked “what if” questions, and made predictions as they explored the science of states of matter. It was a messy, laughter-filled day in the lab, and a perfect example of how curiosity leads to discovery!
St. Giles School Annual Sponsorship Program
We’re excited to invite you to be a part of something truly special at St. Giles School! Our Lion’s Leap Fun Run is on October 3 - and we’d love for you to be a part of the fun! By becoming a sponsor, you’ll help us raise money for important campus improvements, new academic programs, and expanded tuition support for families in need. In return, your business will be recognized in big ways - your logo will be featured around campus, in our newsletters, and on our school’s social media pages throughout the year. We’d love to talk more about sponsorship opportunities and how we can partner with you this year. Please feel free to reach out to us directly at (708) 383-6279 or visit
www.stgilesschool.org and click
“Giving” to Donate!
Sponsor Levels & Benefits
CATHOLIC VALUES SPONSOR ($1,500)
- Company logo displayed at Lion’s Leap and Black & Gold Pride, school website and parish bulletin.
- Verbal recognition at Black & Gold Pride.
- Dedicated social media post and inclusion in the end-of-the-year thank you social media post.
LIFELONG LEADERSHIP SPONSOR ($750)
- Company name listed at Lion’s Leap and Black & Gold Pride, school website and parish bulletin.
- Inclusion in the end-of-the-year thank you social media post.
COMMUNITY BUILDER SPONSOR ($500)
- Company name listed at Lion’s Leap and Black & Gold Pride, school website and parish bulletin.
- Inclusion in the end-of-the-year thank you social media post.
Spirit and Light - Religious Education Registration
We’re excited to announce that registration is now open! Sessions began the week of September 7! For more information about our programs and calendars, please visit our website.
How to receive an Electronic Registration Form:
- For families who had a child registered in our program during the 2024-2025 school year - On August 6, 2025, we sent via email an electronic registration form to all families through our Flocknote platform from our “Spirit and Light” Religious Education Office. If you did not receive an email on August 6, please contact us at slreligioused@spiritandlightcenter.org.
- New families to the program - Please click on the link below and follow the prompts.
We’re excited to see familiar faces and new ones this Fall!
Thank you,
The Faith Formation Team
Fall Sessions for First Communion Preparation for Older Children in 4th through 8th Grade
Children who are in 4th Grade through 8th Grade and have not yet received their First Communion are welcome to join with their peers to prepare for celebrating the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion during the Fall.
Sessions begin on Monday, October 20, and will continue on Mondays through mid-December. All sessions will meet at 4:30 PM at the Saint Giles Campus Parish Center at 1025 Columbian Avenue.
There will be a parent information meeting on Monday, October 6, at 7 pm at the St. Giles Parish Center.
Children who attend all preparation sessions and celebrate their first Reconciliation during the course of the sessions will be able to celebrate their First Communion at any of the weekend Masses in the churches in our two parishes of Ascension and Saint Edmund or Saint Catherine of Siena-Saint Lucy and Saint Giles.
OCIA Companion Sponsor
A Companion Sponsor for OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) is a parishioner who would like to accompany a person who is preparing to receive the sacraments. While the individual will have a formal sponsor who they choose, a Companion Sponsor plays a vital role in helping the person understand what it means to live as a Catholic and assist in integrating the individual into the life of the Catholic community.
A Companion Sponsor is expected to connect with the person one or two times each month. Activities may include (but aren’t limited to) the following:
- Attend mass together
- Share a meal
- Go to speakers or other events in the Oak Park Catholic parishes
- Go to a Catholic baptism, funeral, or wedding
- Take a walk
- Talk about faith
- Participate in volunteer service
Companion Sponsors will receive training prior to being paired with an individual and will continue to be supported while they work with a person.
If you are interested or have questions, please contact
Marci Madary at
mmadary@spiritandlightcenter.org.
Welcome to the HIGH SCHOOL Confirmation under the auspices of Spirit and Light Collaborative - We are excited to welcome you and journey with your son/daughter (in High School) as they prepare to be Confirmed. Spirit and Light is privileged to help the youth prepare for Confirmation through the communities of Family, Parish, and Youth Ministry. We accompany young people and engage them in encounters. We witness a living faith, and we provide space for prayer, faith growth, service, and reflection. We build our preparation ministries around the person of Christ. Then it is all the Holy Spirit, who has plans for all our young people.
- Tuition Rates for the 2025-2026 Year - $95.00 per teen due at registration - Supplies are included in the registration fee.
- Payments may be made by cash, check, or credit card - If payment is made by cash or check, please drop it off at the Ascension and St. Edmund Parish Office (808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304) or at the St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish Office (1025 N. Columbian Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302) - Make sure to put your son/daughter's name on the envelope and state / write on it “High School Confirmation Registration Fee" - Payment by check should be made to: Spirit and Light HS Confirmation.
Mass Intentions for 2025 and 2026
Those wishing to schedule a Mass for the intention of someone who has died or for special intentions may come to the Parish Center to do so. Masses will be scheduled on a first-come basis.
There are three intentions open for each Mass (except where the intention of the parish “All Parishioners and Benefactors” appears).
All Holy days and all holidays are designated for the intentions of the parish; no individual intentions may be added to those days.
Please contact the Parish Center with any requests that you may have.
GiveCentral - Online Contributions
An easy and convenient way to help St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish continue our Mission. Use any major credit card or link to your bank account.
Thank you to all who continue to support our Unified Parish of St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles. It is appreciated and critical to maintain and operate all that we do. Those wishing to make their donations online through GiveCentral can find the link and easy-to-follow-instructions on the church websites. Contact Carol Coleman at the Parish Center, (708) 383-3430 ext. 419, with any questions or for assistance. We could not be here without you!
Planned Giving
Have You “insured” Our Parish? - Do you have a life insurance policy you no longer need? Please consider instructing your life insurance agent to include Saint Catherine of Siena-Saint Lucy and Saint Giles as a primary or secondary beneficiary on your policy.
It costs nothing to change the beneficiary on your policy and will mean everything to our future parish community.
For more information, please contact your financial planner, attorney, or insurance representative. If you have additional questions, please contact
Carol Coleman at (708) 383-3430, ext. 419 or
ccoleman@stgilesparish.org, or contact,
Deacon Greg Vogt, Philanthropy Officer, Archdiocese of Chicago at (312) 995-0686 or
gvogt@archchicago.org.