• Assist the Pastor by making recommendations about major initiatives concerning Ascension and St. Edmund’s financial health, maintenance and utilization of the campus, work of the ministries, parishioner satisfaction, and smooth parish operations;
• Ensure that needs and visions of parishioners are realized through a regular assessment of the short- and long-term parish needs and development of plans to meet goals;
• Build relationships within and beyond the Ascension and St. Edmund community through participation and active roles in ministries and committees so that the group can serve as the collective voice of parishioners.

CHARLES CHAMBERLAIN

I was born in Heidelberg, Germany and grew up in a military family. Wherever we were stationed, our parents found a Catholic church and parochial schools. Teachers included the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits and a number of military chaplains. Professionally, I began my career as a high school English teacher, fresh from college, and have served in progressive roles ever since, focusing on healthcare for the last two decades. I am new to our parish. Friends from Oak Park suggested I “check out” Ascension and St. Edmund, so I did. Mark, and his son Eddie, were ushers who greeted me. Fr. Bob presided and preached at the Mass I attended. His homily hit home. The music moved me to pray. The Eucharistic minister Jane gave me a gluten-free host, one that I could safely receive.

I hope to share my skills in teaching, advocacy, executive coaching, consulting, leadership and mission integration with our parish community. In my spare time, I enjoy anything in nature; hiking, forest bathing, beach combing, and shell collecting. I also volunteer with a cancer support network. I am an uncle to seven nephews and one niece who range in age from 16 to 28. On a recent Ascension and St. Edmund visit, one remarked, “Why can’t mass be that cool everywhere?” As I reflect on our mission as a PPC, I am guided by this wisdom. How might we continue to build a parish that is vibrant for all who gather?

ANITA DWYER

My husband, Deacon Tom, and I have been members of St. Edmund since 1982. Our daughter, Kristen, received all of her sacraments at St. Edmund including getting married there in 2022. We have a 5-month-old little grandson, Jameson Parker, who is the light of our life. I am now retired after 3 years teaching pre-school and 44 years in human resources that included roles in leadership, training, recruitment, and business partnership.

My husband and I worked with Housing Forward and spent many years as Site Captains for St. Edmund’s PADS/Housing Forward Ministry. I have been a Eucharistic minister for over 15 years and now joined the Parish Pastoral Council as Vice-Chair.

My favorite hobbies are jewelry making, sewing and reading. I also enjoy hanging out with our grandson and spending time at our house in Wisconsin.

DANIEL KANE

Born in Chicago's Austin community and raised in Oak Park, I was educated at St. Edmund School, Quigley Prep Seminary, and Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. After a two-year stretch in the Army as a military journalist in Vietnam and Germany, I began a 30-year career in human resources and customer service at Allstate Insurance and the Chicago Transit Authority.

My wife Maria and I, along with our grandson Jose, relocated from Chicago's North Side to St. Edmund in 2005. I have been a lector, a member of the Parish Life Commission and helped lead the St. Edmund School Alumni Association. I have taught classes in job search strategies and genealogy research. Since 2022, I have served in a part-time capacity at the Oak Park Arms Retirement Center as their Life Enrichment Coordinator.

PETER KAYE

My wife and I joined Ascension in the late 1980s and both of our children went through Religious Education. I was a member of the Board of Religious Education, and my wife Nora taught in the program. Since retiring, I served on the Unification Team for Ascension and St. Edmund and look forward to helping our parish in new ways. I grew up in Berwyn, leaving Illinois for college.

I grew up in Berwyn, leaving Illinois for college – St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN and graduate school at Stanford where I completed a Ph.D. in English Literature and Humanities. I’ve done various things professionally, including working in educational publishing and serving as an assistant dean at Northwestern. I have taught part-time for most of my adult life and still teach.

DEB PASTORS

I have been an Oak Park resident since 1981, and a member of Ascension since the early 2000's. I am retired from a very satisfying career in organization development, training, and HR, and applied those skills in several organizations and as an independent consultant. I continue to both practice and teach the martial art of aikido.

Not a regular church goer, I found my faith community anew in the Saturday morning contemplation group, which I have now attended for several years. I responded to the request for parishioners with Organizational Development skills as we began our Renew My Church journey, and participated as part of the Ascension and St. Edmund Unification Team.

I look forward to using my skills and time as a Catholic “on the fringes” to help serve in the full unification, growth, and ministry of the Ascension and St. Edmund community.

SUSAN VISELLI

My husband and I relocated to the Chicago area in 1995 and selected Oak Park as our community and St. Edmund as our parish. Our two, now young adult children grew up in the parish, attended St. Edmund Parish School, and were both altar servers for many years. I was a member of the St. Edmund Parish School Advisory Board and have been a lector and Eucharistic minister.

More recently I served on the Unification Team, the Leadership Group, DMI Committee, and Oversight Committee for St. Edmund Church repairs. I also assist with the Intercultural Immigration Ministry in the parish. I am a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and serve as faculty adviser to the Newman Catholic Community on my campus.

TOM WHEELER

I've been blessed to be a part of the best of both worlds having grown up in the Ascension Parish community as a child and then spending much of my adult life as an active St. Edmund parishioner. I'm proud to call myself a social justice driven Catholic. I've been honored to serve as St. Edmund's Parish Council President and Chairperson of the Rectory Restoration Committee in addition to representing St. Edmund during the Renew My Church discernment process. I have served as an usher, commentator, lector, and Eucharistic minister. I've been honored to have received both St. Edmund's Volunteer of the Year and the Archdiocese's Christifidelis Awards.

Civically, I was appointed to Oak Park's Planning Commission, elected to the Park District Board of Commissioners, and was a member of the West Suburban Special Recreation Association Board. Professionally, I've managed several consumer products companies and served on various boards. I’m blessed to have two wonderful women in my life, my wife, Mary Sue, and my daughter, Caitlin. They work hard every day to make this world a better place.

Ascension and St. Edmund Mission and Values – We Need Your Voice!

Parish Pastoral Council Report