Blessed Second Sunday of Lent! I hope that this week you will find time to join us for our second Lenten Reflection, Lean into Love with guest speaker, Maryanne Colter. Last week, our reflections began with Lean into Listening, a wonderful presentation by Dr. John Igwebuike where we learned the inner work of self-examination, self-awareness, and self-reflection to help us grow and develop as a listener.

I want to give you a heads up about next weekend, March 23, the third Sunday of Lent. All our parish worship sites will use the Cycle A readings that celebrate the first scrutiny praying for those being welcomed into our communities at this year’s Easter Vigil. We have five adults and three teenagers who will be fully initiated and welcomed into the church. They will be Baptized, and receive Confirmation and Eucharist at the Vigil Mass. While the scrutiny rite will take place at two Masses, one at each of our parish sites, we will hear the readings and offer prayers together at all the Masses that weekend as the Catholic Communities of Oak Park and Neighbors.

This rite calls us to hear the story of a Samaritan woman who comes to the well for her daily water drawing chore. She has an encounter with Jesus and the conversation leads us to recall how Jesus spoke to this Samaritan woman and in doing so incorporated her into his own group of followers. Jesus challenges her to a new relationship with God through Him. We see that the Samaritan woman becomes both a disciple of Jesus and an apostle to her community as she goes to share this good news. This gospel tells us, it is not the disciples, but the Samaritan woman who becomes the first missionary.

The interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is meant to reflect the work of bringing the gospel into different cultures and lands, in this case Samaria. For this reason, I am inviting women who are formed in scripture and preaching to share a refection after the gospel next weekend. Each priest celebrant will offer a short homily on the scripture and then women from our communities will share a reflection on the gospel story of the woman at the well. I feel this is an appropriate time to hear such a reflection. When a woman shares this story, it reinforces the biblical truth that women’s voices are meant to spread the gospel, not be silenced. Women often carry the responsibility of nurturing others, whether emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Hearing the voice of a woman along with her perspective reflecting on Jesus’ offer of “living water” resonates deeply as she understands the thirst for love, purpose, and belonging. Hopefully, all will be open to these reflections offered next weekend.

Finally, please read the letter from Cardinal Cupich below! This is an important message offering support and encouragement for the work we are doing here as the Catholic Communities of Oak Park and Neighbors. This addresses any uncertainties or concern some may have regarding our direction as together we look to the future and continue the work of building the Kingdom of God.

Have a blessed 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

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ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO

February 20, 2025

Dear Catholic Community of Oak Park,

Please know of my gratitude for your dedicated efforts toward collaborating as one Catholic Community of Oak Park and for your faithful witness to the Gospel in serving our neighbor. Your efforts through The Neighborhood Bridge and Migrant Ministry give example to the whole Archdiocese of how we can live out our faith by helping those in need. Additionally, your Spirit and Light initiative has shown how to work together to form our people as missionary disciples.

Understanding there are questions about whether there will be one pastor or two pastors for the Oak Park parishes moving forward, please know my intention is for Oak Park to continue with one pastor and two parishes. One pastor provides the underlying governing structure and clarity of decision making needed to carry forward the collaborative renewal efforts you have begun in Oak Park. That said, unless and until your discernment suggests otherwise, continuing as two parishes has been helpful for organizing staff and school relationships. 

Sometime in the next few years when Father Carl Morello decides to retire, it is my hope, as well the Archdiocesan Priest Placement Board’s, that a successor would work with Father Morello through a transition period. Priority will be given to identifying candidates with the skills to empower lay staff and leadership grounded in a vision for renewal. The Placement Board will also discern how to provide the priest support needed to support the pastor in shepherding the sacramental life of the two parishes and the Catholic Community of Oak Park.

This is an exciting and challenging time of renewal in the Archdiocese and in Oak Park. Thank you for your collective leadership to work as one Catholic Community of Oak Park. You are in my prayers. Please keep me in yours. With every good wish, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Cardinal Blase Cupich
Archbishop of Chicago