Parish Bulletin – February 26, 2023
Dear Parishioners,
Following our Renew My Church Discussion and Discernment announcements last spring, we’ve been working with teams from the Archdiocese on the Organizational Structural Phase of Renew My Church. Our mission is to create a solid structural foundation necessary to build a new reality focused on evangelization and missionary discipleship which will include creating a sense of unity in the larger Catholic community of Oak Park.
During our continued efforts to create streamlined financial operations, exceptional leadership teams, and viable and sustainable facility plans, we’ve learned that our two newly forming parishes, made up of four former Oak Park parishes, comprise a total of 20 buildings in various conditions. Recently, we learned the lease of the St. Edmund School building was up for renewal later this year and investigation began on the condition of the building for another extended lease term. Unfortunately, the condition of the building and the overwhelming investment needed to address the condition is beyond the reach of community and the Archdiocese, and the renewal of the lease to The Children’s School is not a possibility. In consideration for the school and the time they need to find a new location, we had to notify the school administration without being able to provide this information to our Catholic community first.
We are now moving forward earnestly with a Structural Review and we are beginning to form our new parish councils and finance committees. As this is happening, we are also beginning to move toward the second stage of Renew My Church, which is the spiritual renewal of Building a New Reality, or BNR. The opening of the temporary shelter at the St. Catherine-St. Lucy site, bringing together our Religious Education Programs, looking toward the creation of a formation center, and the addition of our 5:00 pm Sunday Mass with a focus on our young adults are just some of the ways we are working on spiritual renewal all at the same time. Of course, all of this will take time and leadership as well as continued community input and involvement.
That being said, we have decided to cancel for now our previously announced March 6 meeting as there are still structural pieces for which more information needs to be gathered. In the meantime, we will be creating our new finance committees in order to include them in the sharing of information and the conversations on how best to move into this next phase of the process of Building a New Reality.
We ask for your patience, faith, and prayers as we embark upon this continued journey together.
At the heart of this journey, we encourage you to remember it is Christ who we follow. He promises to strengthen us in the gift of the Eucharist, wherever we share in that sacred meal. We are called to imitate God in our actions, especially in how we live with, and among, each other as communities of faith, hope and love. Let’s not lose sight of this as we continue to face challenges as well look forward to many wonderful opportunities.
In Christ, good will to all!
Fr. Rex Pillai and Fr. Carl Morello
Pastors of Ascension and St. Edmund Parish and St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
