PARISH E-NEWS
Ministry Updates and Upcoming Events
September 27 - October 5, 2025
Father Carl's Corner - September 28, 2025
I feel it and hear it spoken all around me these days. There is so much bitterness and hardening of hearts in our country today. How do we not give up on hope? Read Luke 8:4-15. Jesus tells the story of the Sower who scatters seed. Some fall on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns and some among the good soil.
Jesus speaks about the word of God as a seed that is sown but does not produce fruit in everyone. Many obstacles prevent the seed from taking root and growing. For many of us in our violent and divided country, it can feel as if the soil has grown hard. Words of anger, fear and suspicion seem to take root more easily than words of peace, forgiveness and respect for each other. This is how God’s word is being choked out by the thorns of hatred, greed and violence.
However, this story that I encourage you to look up and pray over is also a story of hope. Even in difficult times, the Sower never stops scattering seeds. God never stops sowing His word of life into our hearts, and through us, into our communities and the world.
Our task these days is to ask ourselves, what kind of soil am I? Am I allowing God’s word to be planted deep enough within me to bear the fruits of compassion, careful listening, reconciliation, justice and peace?
Read this passage, and let it encourage you not to give up, not to let fear or bitterness harden your heart and lose hope for ourselves, for our country, and for the world. As we walk into the week ahead, with all the uncertainties and challenges that we face, remember who we are called to be, the “good soil” where God’s word can grow strong and our lives can produce the harvest the world needs the most - love that builds bridges, mercy that heals wounds, respect that encourages dialogue, and HOPE that refuses to die.
May sharing in prayer and in the Eucharist each week help us to persevere in bearing good fruit and offering hope to those around us and the world.
I want to share that I will be away from September 29th until October 9th. For any sacramental or Pastoral needs please contact the parish offices for assistance.
Happy Fall to all.
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
Pastor
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
Confession and Mass Schedule - September 27-28, 2025 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Confessions on Saturday from 8:30 to 9 am at St. Giles Church
- Saturday, 4:30 PM at St. Giles Church
- Sunday, 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM at St. Giles Church - The 10:30 AM Mass will be also livestreamed - CLICK TO WATCH
- Sunday, 10:00 AM - Family Mass Community in St. Giles McDonough Hall (1101 Columbian Avenue - 2nd Floor - Entrance off Columbian Avenue) - Also available via ZOOM - CLICK TO WATCH - Meeting ID: 874 7871 3065 - Passcode: 005586 - Contact Alex Ryan at alexryan@stgilesparish.com
- Sunday, 5:00 PM at St. Edmund Church - Mass co-sponsored by the two Oak Park Catholic Parishes, Ascension and St. Edmund and St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles
WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE!
NEW URL - www.catholiccommunitiesofoakpark.org
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
LemonAid! - LemonAid is about kids helping kids. The kids on the block of 700 Bonnie Brae wanted to do something good in 2002 on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Since then the block has been turning lemonade into lemon-Aid and raised over $676,000 for children's charities in River Forest and the surrounding area. This year the money raised is benefiting Thrive Counseling Center, and Opportunity Knocks. Our counselor, Pam Wynne, and her family were instrumental in coordinating the efforts this year!
Lion's Leap is Back with a Roar!
A Saint Giles School tradition for more than three decades, our biggest annual fundraiser, Lion’s Leap, kicks off Tuesday, September 30, with a roar! Halls are being decorated, classes are getting excited - and ready! - to raise $100,000 and give back to a school that gives so much to us all.
Lion’s Leap gives students the chance to get involved in raising funds that go directly to offset the costs of their Saint Giles School education. Every student - from our littlest Lions in PreK to our leaders in 8th grade - collects pledges for competing in an obstacle course (for students in 6th-8th) and a fun run (for students in PreK-5th) on Friday, October 3.
As members of our extended Saint Giles School family, you can support our Lions by making a donation to our fundraising campaign.
Thank you for your support! Please feel free to reach out to us directly at (708) 383-6279 or visit www.stgilesschool.org.
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.
For more information, please contact Rachel Faulman at rfaulman@spiritandlightcenter.org, or at (708) 383-3430, ext. 421
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.
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.
Please email Maria (Cooky) Perez-Eraci, Catechist for HS Confirmation and Director of Youth Ministry, at mperezeraci@spiritandlightcenter.org if you have any questions.
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
Please Consider a QCD gift for Our Parish - You can make a gift from your individual retirement plan (IRA) that benefits you and our parish. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows individuals age 70½ or older to authorize their IRA administrator to make a direct transfer of funds from their IRA to qualified charities, tax-free.
There are three main benefits of giving with a QCD:
- If you are 73 years old or older, the amount you transfer can satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution.
- The amount transferred directly to charity does not generate taxable income, which may reduce your annual income level. This may help lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.
- Your gift will be immediately used, allowing you to see the impact of your gift now.
If you would like more information on how to make a QCD gift to Saint Catherine of Siena-Saint Lucy and Saint Giles, please contact your parish business manager, 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.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
“Are You Ready to do the Hard Things?” - Season 3
All are invited! Please join Faith and Film Ministry at St. Edmund’s Murphy Hall after the 5:00 PM Mass on the following Saturdays to WATCH – LEARN – DISCUSS – Season 3 of The CHOSEN.
Season 3 Viewing Dates and Episodes:
- September 27 - Two by Two
- October 4 - Physician, Heal Yourself
- November 15 - Clean, part 1
- November 22 - Clean, part 2
- December 13 - Intensity in Tent City
- January 3 - Ears to Hear
- January 10 - Sustenance
Admission is Free - For Sale: Sandwiches and Movie Snack
Questions? - Please email Mari Hans, Faith and Film Ministry Co-Leader, at marithans@comcast.net
Novena for Life
October is Respect Life Month. The Saint Giles Respect Life Committee invites you to pray with us for a greater respect for life in our country and our world. We will be praying the Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary beginning THIS Sunday, September 28.
There are two ways to pray: with daily email reminders or with a paper copy of the Novena. Copies can be found in the vestibule of St. Giles Church.
On Thursday, October 16, we will gather in Saint Giles Church to pray the Holy Hour for Life. Please join us!
If you have any questions, please call Denise Hartney at (708) 203-7437, or email at dhartney14@gmail.com.
Special Senior Mass to begin Season 2025-2026
ATTENTION - CHANGE OF DATE! - The first meeting for our Seniors has been rescheduled, so our year will start on Tuesday, September 30, with a special 11:30 AM Mass celebrated by Father Tom at Saint Giles Church.
After Mass, a light lunch will be provided in McDonough Hall. If you would like to bring a dessert to share, please feel free to do so. Beverages (ice tea, coffee and soda) will be provided.
We will have time to share stories, laughter, conversation and renew friendships. We will also be collecting our membership dues ($25) for this new season. We hope to see all of you after our summer break. Bring a friend! All are welcome!
Please RSVP to Joan Wojcik at (708) 771-4783.
The Alpha Course - At the Table, Explore Life and Faith Meaning!
Curious about Faith? Curious about Alpha? Is the Bible relevant today? Is there more to life than this? Do you ever pray? Who was Jesus? What does faith mean to you?
If you are looking for a place to share a meal, watch an interesting video and wrestle with questions at the core of faith and life – come and see! At Alpha, you can ask anything - It's a safe space to question life, faith, and meaning. You're invited no matter your background or beliefs. Alpha is free, and there's no pressure to come back.
Alpha gatherings are held on Tuesdays beginning on September 30, at 6:30 PM in Murphy Hall of St. Edmund Site (188 S. Oak Park Avenue).
All are welcome – invite a friend, spread the word. Click on the sign-up form below for more information or to register!
If you are looking for a place to share a meal, watch an interesting video and wrestle with questions at the core of faith and life – come and see! At Alpha, you can ask anything - It's a safe space to question life, faith, and meaning. You're invited no matter your background or beliefs. Alpha is free, and there's no pressure to come back.
Alpha gatherings are held on Tuesdays beginning on September 30, at 6:30 PM in Murphy Hall of St. Edmund Site (188 S. Oak Park Avenue).
All are welcome – invite a friend, spread the word. Click on the sign-up form below for more information or to register!
Sponsored by the Spirit and Light evangelization team, serving both Ascension and St. Edmund and St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles parishes.
Email at alexryan@spiritandlightcenter.org with any questions.
Email at alexryan@spiritandlightcenter.org with any questions.
Wednesday Night Bible Study - Experiencing the Psalms
The St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Wednesday Night Bible Study is starting a new series on the Psalms!
The psalms display the full color of the human experience and relationship with God. By diving into selected psalms - examining the context, reflecting on our own experiences and what they mean for us today - we will deepen how we pray with the psalms and draw closer to God.
Bible Study started on Wednesday, September 10. We meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Saint Giles Campus - Parish Center Living Room (1025 Columbian Avenue) and over Zoom.
All are welcome from any parish or community - It is NOT necessary or required to attend each week. There is no need to have Bible Study experience… Come when you can!!
The psalms display the full color of the human experience and relationship with God. By diving into selected psalms - examining the context, reflecting on our own experiences and what they mean for us today - we will deepen how we pray with the psalms and draw closer to God.
Bible Study started on Wednesday, September 10. We meet on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the Saint Giles Campus - Parish Center Living Room (1025 Columbian Avenue) and over Zoom.
All are welcome from any parish or community - It is NOT necessary or required to attend each week. There is no need to have Bible Study experience… Come when you can!!
Please contact Maria Samatas (msamatas@me.com) or Alex Ryan (alexryan@stgilesparish.org) to get all the information.
Prayer in the Spirit of Taizé
In the Spirit of Taizé is an ecumenical form of prayer modeled after the Taizé community (an ecumenical Christian monastic community of brothers) founded in the 1940’s by Br. Roger in Taizé, France. The purpose of the prayer is to foster reconciliation and peace among all people. Christians of all traditions share in this ecumenical prayer. The simple monthly service consists of song (using the simple chants of the Taizé community), scripture, a service of light, an extended period of silence for meditation concluding with prayers for the world.
Join us for our Taizé Prayer around the Cross on Friday, October 3 at 7:30 PM at Ascension Church. The service will also be livestreamed – CLICK TO WATCH
For more information, contact David Anderson at d.anderson@ascensionoakpark.com – Ascension Church is located at 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304.
Be A Pilgrim of Hope and Bless Your Pets!
Saturday, October 4 is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, and it is the day when we bless our pet friends.
This is a Jubilee Year so we are all Pilgrims of Hope. To bring our hearts together, all are invited to gather at 3:00 PM in the Courtyard to pray and sing as we honor Creation. Those who are able will walk around the block in solidarity.
Following our block pilgrimage, the Blessing of the Pets, with Deacon John, will begin at 3:30 PM in the Courtyard.
Weekly and Regular Parish Highlights
- Parish AA Group meets in-person on Tuesday Nights
8:00-8:30 PM - 3rd Floor of Parish Center (St. Giles) - Read More... - Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday Nights
7:00-8:00 PM - St. Giles Church - Read More... - Praying the Rosary on Zoom on Fridays at 7:00 PM
Join Deacon Kevin and Marci Morgan on Zoom to pray the Rosary on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM - https://us02web.zoom.us/ - Meeting ID: 865 8895 7490 - Passcode: 634955
SOCIAL OUTREACH UPDATE
St. Giles Rectory Dinner Program
We need one volunteer every Monday to deliver a home cooked meal for the men of the rectory. It does not need to be fancy… dinners made with the love are the best!
There are no dietary restrictions. Your meal (for 3-4 people) can include a salad, entree, sides, dessert – whatever you want to prepare and deliver. Please drop off your dinner at the rectory between 3 PM – 5 PM and use containers that do not need to be returned to you.
On behalf of our priests, a huge thank you – this is a treat that they look forward to and appreciate so much.
- We have opened up the sign-ups for September through November 2025 – You can sign up by using the link below.
- Questions – Vera Chan at verachan@me.com or by text at (312) 909-4501.
Beyond Hunger Food Pantry - Volunteer!
The Beyond Hunger Food Pantry provides hunger relief, counseling and nutritional counseling to families from 28 zip codes in Cook County. It is located at First United Church on the corner of Kenilworth and Lake Street in Oak Park.
The Women of our Parish have committed to provide five volunteers on the first Saturday of each month. As Shopping Assistants we gather food items and pack them in large boxes for valets to deliver to clients. We may also bag bread and vegetables.
NEXT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - Saturday, October 4 from 8:30 AM to 10:45 AM
To volunteer please contact Sharon Bresnahan at sbresnahan@stgilesparish.org or (708) 383-3430 ext. 420 with any questions.
Housing Forward Volunteer Opportunity
Housing Forward provides year round emergency overnight shelter for those experiencing homelessness in two locations in our community. The parishes of Oak Park support this effort in several ways.
In October, Housing Forward will be expanding its shelter options with the opening of a new 40-bed shelter at 112 S. Humphrey in Oak Park. They are once again asking the women of St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles to help by providing a continental breakfast for Housing Forward clients on the first Monday of each month, starting in October. This is a great service opportunity for teens and families, and can be shared between households.
Next opportunity to volunteer on October 6, 2025 - Sign up for the monthly dates are online by using the SignUpGenius Form below!
To learn more about the shelter program, and volunteer opportunities, contact Theresa Lipo at (708) 692-4404 or tglipo@sbcglobal.net.
Become an Advocate at The Neighborhood Bridge!
We are recruiting volunteers to serve as Advocates - trained companions who walk alongside families as they navigate services and pursue their goals. This unique role provides meaningful one-on-one support and connection.
To learn more, we invite you to attend our next Bridge Breakfast on October 4 at 8:30 AM in the Tutoring Center at Maguire Hall.
Learn more at theneighborhoodbridge.org/volunteer or contact Jeanne Gallo at jeanne.gallo@theneighborhoodbridge.org.
The Neighborhood Bridge, born out of the Renew My Church initiative, is dedicated to connecting Austin families with the services they need to thrive.
Migrant Ministry Update - Bidding Adios to the Saint Edmund School Building
As Father Carl shared earlier, the decision has been made to close the Saint Edmund School building due to the enormous cost of repairing and maintaining the beloved, but very old, structure. The last day the “free stores” and social services will be available for the migrants in the building will be Thursday, October 9. Immigration Support Services has moved to Murphy Hall and that will continue. Thank goodness (the Holy Spirit!), we have been offered ample space in another Oak Park church. YAY!!! We will share more of this good news as the details are being worked out.
But we will miss Centro San Edmundo and recognize the impact our time there has had not only on the migrants, but also the volunteers and the surrounding community. In the almost 22 months that we have been open, over 20,000 migrants have been served. They left with bundles containing bedding, clothes, shoes, boots, winter coats, and toiletries. The children played happily in their special room. Migrants were fed a warm breakfast and were able to access immigration support, social services, and English lessons. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY FELT WELCOME, HONORED, AND SAFE. Their countries’ flags hung from the ceiling. The walls were lined with BIENVENIDOS! signs drawn by Saint Giles school children. Many volunteers spoke fluent Spanish; others made an honest effort to learn key phrases.
But we will miss Centro San Edmundo and recognize the impact our time there has had not only on the migrants, but also the volunteers and the surrounding community. In the almost 22 months that we have been open, over 20,000 migrants have been served. They left with bundles containing bedding, clothes, shoes, boots, winter coats, and toiletries. The children played happily in their special room. Migrants were fed a warm breakfast and were able to access immigration support, social services, and English lessons. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY FELT WELCOME, HONORED, AND SAFE. Their countries’ flags hung from the ceiling. The walls were lined with BIENVENIDOS! signs drawn by Saint Giles school children. Many volunteers spoke fluent Spanish; others made an honest effort to learn key phrases.
The school building was CHURCH. It housed a ministry that WELCOMED THE STRANGER, FED THE HUNGRY, AND CLOTHED THE NAKED. Thank you, Saint Edmund School building, for 108 years of FAITH IN ACTION. Over the next few weeks, we will share more reflections on the impact of Centro San Edmundo.
We are pausing all but financial donations now, and will alert you when we can accept donations again. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Migrant Ministry.
For more information, email immigrantministry@gmail.com.
To donate online through GiveCentral use the link below OR send donations to Saint Catherine-Saint Lucy and Saint Giles Parish, 1025 Columbian, Oak Park, IL 60302. Include a note that the donation is for the “Migrant Ministry”. Thank you for your generous hearts!
Housing Forward Needs You!
Housing Forward’s new permanent emergency shelter for 40 guests is scheduled to open in October at 112 S. Humphrey in Oak Park. Many hands and hearts are needed to prepare for welcoming the guests.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
- Dinner Providers - Prepare hot dinner meal for 40 to be dropped off by 7:00 PM. Dinner providers can also volunteer for evening hosting if they want to stay and serve.
- Breakfast Providers - Donate breakfast supplies for 40 (cereal, fruit, juice, yogurt, etc.).
- Lunch Providers - Donate bagged lunches for 40 (sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies, etc.) for guests to take with them when leaving the shelter the next day.
- Evening Hosting - 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM (shift can be split) - Interact with guests, set up, and clean up.
- Morning Hosting - 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM - Assist with breakfast and clean-up.
Both INDIVIDUAL and GROUP volunteers are welcome and much needed.
Volunteers can sign up for one day, a few days, or ideally for an ongoing monthly commitment.
Interested in volunteering or learning more? Contact Cherrell Jackson at cjackson@housingforward.org or via phone at (708) 338-1724 ext. 201
WANT TO HELP BUT CAN’T VOLUNTEER?
Housing Forward needs supplies to help stock the shelter. Please consider purchasing a NEW housewarming item at the link below as we prepare to welcome people into the new space.
“When I was Hungry, You Gave Me to Eat.”
MEAL DONATIONS - The Homeless Shelter has experienced an all-time low in meal donations for the homeless and Housing Forward has not received sufficient donations of meals. It’s not typical to have a shelter all year-round and when one thinks of a shelter one thinks more of the dark, cold winter months. Now that the shelter is year-round, the guests at the shelter desperately need your help not only with volunteering but also with donations for meals.
MONETARY DONATIONS - The shelter has gone well in large part due to the support of many volunteers who helped with meals and other needed essentials. The monetary donations received are very helpful as well. If you would like to help, please send a gift to the office with “Shelter donation” marked on the envelope OR you can make a donation online by using the button below. Any donation will be welcomed!
OTHER FUTURE EVENTS
Spiritual Classics for October: Saint Francis de Sales and His Way of Divine Love
Come to the next Spiritual Classics gathering on Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00 PM in the Ascension Parish Center Dining Room, where we will discuss Saint Francis de Sales’ inspirational classic, An Introduction to the Devout Life. Jeff Wood will lead the discussion. All Oak Park parishes are welcome.
An Introduction to the Devout Life, written over four hundred years ago, inspires and guides Catholics in pursuing a holy life. De Sales thought that the holy life was accessible to all people at all ages and in all times. He uses clear, simple language and provides vivid references to images in nature and daily life. At the heart of his message is the conviction that God has made us for himself and that Jesus offers himself in prayer and sacrament as we grow closer to God.
Saint Francis de Sales was born into a noble French family, studied law and theology, and decided against his father’s wishes to become a priest. He became the Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland during a time of battles between Protestants and Catholics, yet he achieved a universal reputation for patience and gentleness. He developed a sign language in order to preach to the deaf and he is the patron saint of the deaf.
Being Bridges Presentation - Archdiocesan Immigration Ministry
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 7:00 PM at Assumption Parish, 323 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Join us for the third evening in our inspiring series of presentations exploring the spirituality and theology of welcoming marginalized persons in our midst.
Presenter - Steven Millies, Ph.D. - Professor of Public Theology and Director of The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Steven Millies is a scholar whose work explores the Catholic Church’s relationship with politics through an interdisciplinary lens that includes theology, history, ethics, sociology, and political theory. Responding to Pope Francis’s call for a more integral and compassionate politics, Millies emphasizes our shared responsibility for one another and the world. He holds a doctorate in political theory from The Catholic University of America and previously served as the Strom Thurmond Endowed Chair in Political Science at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Now at Catholic Theological Union, he is the author of Joseph Bernardin: Seeking Common Ground, which won a Catholic Press Association award. He contributes regularly to national publications and is active in several scholarly societies. Millies is at work on his fourth book, a Catholic theological reflection on constitutional government, under the working title – A House for All Peoples: Roman Catholicism and the Modern Constitutional State.
No registration is needed for in person attendance. Free validated parking at MartParc (just behind the church) at Hubbard and Orleans
For more information or questions, contact Mary Lou Matheke at mmatheke@archchicago.org or (312) 534-8054.
Tuesdays with Paul - Fun Faith Formation for 7th and 8th Grade Students
Spirit and Light Collaborative is offering a new opportunity this year! Once a month on Tuesdays from 6:45 PM to 8:00 PM in the Ursuline Center at Ascension School, Paul Rubio, a dedicated catechist and faith-filled person, will hold a special session for 7th and 8th Grade Students. It will be a time to learn about faith and to encounter God in a transformative way!
Schedule 2025-2026
- October 21 – Theology of the Body
- November 11 – The Eucharist
- January 6 – The Christmas Season and the Incarnation
- February 24 – Champions of Faith Documentary
- March 24 – Lent
- April 21 – Easter Season and Alive in Christ
The following is a reflection from Paul Rubio:
"Nearly 20 years ago, I was a student in the RE program and attended weekly classes on Tuesday evenings at Ascension.
After college, I returned to the RE program to be a catechist-teacher. For 12 years I taught on Tuesday evenings. With great joy, I have handed on the faith to the students in my classes. We learned so much in those classes, including the liturgical seasons of the year and what they mean for us, the Sacred Tradition of the Church, the holy words of God in the Bible, the saints, the sacraments, the Creed, and what it means to put our faith into action. The students offered thoughtful responses to questions I posed to get them thinking about topics of faith and also were creative and thoughtful in activities like writing notes of affirmation to family and people who serve them, and even collages of the Exultet.
I am so grateful to God for all I have experienced during all those Tuesday evenings over the course of 12 years.
Now I look ahead to a new opportunity on Tuesday evenings as I lead special sessions called "Tuesdays with Paul". Similar to what has happened for the past 12 years, I will lead a time of learning once a month for 7th and 8th graders, touching upon many of the aforementioned topics I listed. During our time, we will learn about faith so that we encounter God in a transformative way."
Questions? - For more information, contact Marci Madary, Director of Spirit and Light, at mmadary@spiritandlightcenter.org.
Men's Retreat - Weekend of Prayer, Reflection, and Fraternity
November 14-16, 2025, at Saint Mary of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein, Illinois
This fall, join men from across our communities for a powerful weekend of prayer, reflection, and fraternity. In a world filled with distraction and pressure, we are invited to return to the stillness where God's wisdom is found. Rooted in the spirituality of Saint Augustine, this retreat will help you quiet your soul, seek clarity, and walk more confidently in God’s path. Facilitated by:
Bishop Dan Turley, O.S.A., is a lifelong Augustinian missionary who has served 56 years in Latin America - four in Mexico and 52 in Perú. Ordained in 1968, he became Bishop of Chulucanas in 1996 and now serves as Bishop Emeritus. As the first Vicar of the Augustinian Vicariate in Perú, he worked alongside Father Robert Francis Prevost - now Pope Leo XIV - bringing both pastoral and personal insight into the Augustinian dimension of Pope Leo’s pontificate.
Father James Keating, O.S.A., entered the Augustinians in 1965 after a year with Maryknoll and was ordained in 1984. With decades of pastoral ministry in New York City, Orlando, and Philadelphia, he now serves as Prior of the Augustinians' House of Theology in Hyde Park, Illinois, guiding and forming future Augustinian priests.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED
Resource Document for Caregivers available from the Knights of Columbus
Our local council of the Knights of Columbus has completed its resource document for those caring for ailing or elderly loved ones. The document includes information on individual caregivers as well as agencies and offers insights from those who have provided or arranged for care for an elderly or ailing loved one.
The Ascension Council of the Knights of Columbus invites anyone who would like to receive the document, or offer additional insights to it, to send an email to KnightsCaregiverProject@gmail.com. We hope to collect additional names of caregivers or agencies used and recommendations by fellow parishioners so that we can regularly update the document. Please help us do so. And thank you to those who have already provided input!
Creation Care Corner - Weekly Stewardship Recommendation
Celebrate the Season of Creation - The Season of Creation is a month-long prayerful observance that calls upon Catholics to pray and care for God's Creation. It starts September 1st and ends October 4th. It's a time of reflection on our relationship with the environment, how we live, and how our lifestyles impact the natural world, humans and other creatures inhabiting it. This is a time of restoration and of hope, but also a time for action. It’s a time we can take to educate ourselves on new ways of living with Creation that better care for both people and the planet. It’s a time to craft plans and implement those changes.
What changes will you make as an individual to contribute to a more just and sustainable future? Have you considered joining your parish Creation Care Team, or starting one? The Catholic Climate Covenant has great resources to get one started. Consider reading the encyclical Laudato Si’, a great source of inspiration and motivation.
As Pope Francis said, "this is the season for letting our prayer be inspired anew,” a season “to reflect on our lifestyles,” and a season “for undertaking prophetic actions... calling for courageous decisions... directing the planet towards life, not death."
