Last Sunday, I celebrated the final Mass at our Saint Catherine of Siena-Saint Lucy Church site. The Church was packed, and I saw folks from both our Oak Park parishes, as well as our Austin neighbors and beyond. We came from near and far to celebrate 136 years of ministry and formation offered by this parish community.

The liturgy was a fitting tribute and held both our sadness and our hope as we, the Body of Christ, move forward into the future, trusting that the Holy Spirit is with us on the journey.

This weekend, let us all be mindful of those who may be joining us for Mass wanting to be members of our faith community. Be sure to take notice and be welcoming. Introduce yourself to someone new. As we celebrate the feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, they have some guidance for us.

Saints Peter and Paul are two of the Church’s strongest and most surprising leaders. Peter, the fisherman who often stumbled but was still chosen as the rock of the Church. Paul, once an enemy of Christ, became the tireless apostle to the nations. Though different in background and temperament, both were transformed by God’s grace and gave everything to proclaim the Gospel. Their lives remind us that Christ can use every one of us – flawed, fearful, or hesitant – for something holy and lasting.

As we reflect on the lives of our parish patrons – Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Lucy, Saint Giles, and Saint Edmund – we find the same spirit of bold faith. Catherine spoke courageously to popes, urging reform and holiness. Lucy remained faithful even in the face of death. Giles, a hermit and healer, offered compassion to the forgotten and lived a life of quiet service and prayer. Edmund served with humility and perseverance amid political tension. Each one lived in turbulent times, but each remained rooted in the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel.

What ties all these saints together, including Peter and Paul, is not only their commitment to Jesus, but their deep trust that God’s grace is greater than any fear, suffering, or failure. In our world today, which is often loud with division, burdened by injustice, and weary with uncertainty, these Saints remind us to be steadfast in faith, strong in mercy, and alive in hope. They show us that holiness takes many forms: bold preaching, quiet care, fierce advocacy, or prayerful solitude.

On this feast, we are invited to see ourselves as part of this great communion, called like them to be light in a struggling world. May we follow their example by standing for truth, walking with the hurting, building peace, and letting the Spirit shape us into living witnesses of God’s love. Saints Peter and Paul, Catherine and Lucy, Giles and Edmund, pray for us!

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