Last week, I had the opportunity to take some time away and spend six days with my two brothers, their wives and a couple of good friends... That is why the summer offers us a gift. It reminds us that God created us not only to work, but also to rest. Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to quiet places to pray... Whether it is a week away, an afternoon on the porch, a walk through the park, or simply sitting quietly with the Lord at home or in Church; let yourself be renewed...

Increasingly at the Migrant Ministry, we are being called to alert migrants about significant changes in immigration policy, issue warnings about potential scams, and fight misinformation... Colorful, low-literacy information posters and flyers using eye-catching emojis are a key part of the Migrant Ministry’s efforts to educate migrants about key concerns... Migrants are encouraged to take photos of the posters and share them widely on social media... We are in great need of men’s sports clothing, especially shorts...

Are you thinking how you can grow in your faith and share your faith? It is important to be sharing and supporting the teachings of the Catholic faith, and in the power of faith, bring purpose, strength, and hope no matter where we are in life. We need catechists to work with our children from toddlers through high school. You can choose the age group and program that best fits your interests!...

As the calendar flips from July to August, I feel the shift within myself: a gearing up for the new academic year. Creating schedules, planning events, attending more meetings pick up the rhythm of my days. I am guessing all of you can understand... Registration for Religious Education is now open... Now that Theology on the Green, which focused on the Vatican II documents, has concluded, we are turning our attention to Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You)... Spirit and Light is hosting a Family Fun Fest...

The Immigrants' Creed - This Creed was written by Bishop Hector A. Burgos-Nunez, a United Methodist bishop from Puerto Rico. We are grateful for these words that so eloquently express our longing for God’s kingdom. We are grateful for the interfaith nature of our Migrant Ministry. We are grateful for the many volunteers who support this ministry... Thank you for making our work possible!... Donations are accepted on Monday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the former Saint Bernardine School...

I have done some reflection on one of our more recent gospel stories and lessons from Jesus, Growing the Wheat Together. One of the greatest temptations in any community is to focus on the weeds... We bring different traditions, different histories, different ways of doing things, and different expectations. At times it can be tempting to compare, criticize, or become discouraged... Jesus asks us, “What kind of disciples are you becoming?”...

Meet one of our Participants - Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children; a child who is a junior in high school and a child who is a seventh grader at one of our partner schools, Catalyst Circle Rock... Mrs. Johnson was matched with one of TNB’s knowledgeable volunteer Advocates... The Neighborhood Bridge is always in need of new volunteers. If you’re interested in learning about the various volunteer opportunities, please register here to come to our next Bridge Breakfast on September 12...

Ecumenism 60 Years after Vatican II - This writer grew up in a parish where the pastor considered a “mixed marriage” to be when a parishioner married someone from another parish... Oh, religiously we were so siloed then! Catholics could not enter into the worship space of another faith tradition, not even for weddings or funerals... Ecumenism promotes cooperation and visible unity among different Christian denominations...

This time of year, usually around this time, I ask myself, where is the summer going? I just heard my first commercial about going back to school, and it’s mid-July!... Summer invites us to enjoy God’s creation, spend time with family and friends, travel, rest, and make memories. Those moments are important. They renew us... With vacations, weekend trips, sporting events, and family gatherings, it is easy for Sunday Mass to be considered optional. Yet the Eucharist is not another item on our schedule...

Our country’s motto as it appears on the great seal of the United States: E Pluribus Unum, translated to “out of many, one” has great significance for our migrant families... But for the 40 or so volunteers marching in the Oak Park 4th of July parade, it was clear that they all wanted to return to an even better, more welcoming immigration system... WE ARE IN GREAT NEED OF WINDOW AIR CONDITIONERS. Donations of items are accepted on Monday mornings at the former Saint Bernardine School...

Today the Catholic Church is facing a significant challenge; the shortage of men entering the seminary and women answering the call to religious life... But there is another question worth asking ourselves. HAVE WE EVER ASKED ANYONE?... For many priests and religious, the first spark of their vocation came because someone asked them... Perhaps the Holy Spirit is calling someone you know, and your invitation might just be the gentle nudge they need to begin asking, “Lord, what do you want me to do with my life?”...

The Migrant Ministry mourns with our beloved migrant brothers and sisters the unfathomable death and destruction caused by the terrible twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24, registering 7.2 and 7.5 respectively... We received notice about the earthquakes within the first hour of their occurrence... Our prayers for the people of Venezuela continue... At 10:00 AM on Tuesday morning, we paused our ministry and invited everyone, migrants and volunteers alike, to gather in the hallway...

The effort for you to attend Saturday or Sunday weekend Mass matters... Saturday evening or Sunday worship is much more than fulfilling an obligation... The choices we make during the week are shaped by what shapes our hearts... We may not be able to change the entire world, but we can change the atmosphere in our own homes... Children learn what matters by what their parents make a priority... As each weekend approaches, keep making worship your priority...

CRS and Caritas Venezuela are working to provide earthquake-affected families with critical aid... Together, CRS and Caritas Venezuela are working to quickly identify urgent needs, coordinate with humanitarian partners and deliver lifesaving assistance to the communities hardest hit by the earthquakes. We are already working to improve food security, nutrition, livelihoods and water systems in vulnerable communities across the country. PLEASE SUPPORT - DONATE!

In early 2022, a group from Ascension, Saint Giles and Saint Luke’s in Berwyn met and began to talk about ways to welcome our migrant neighbors. By mid-summer Ascension- Saint Giles felt ready to welcome a family but where to find one... Many of our favorite stories are filled with the Holy Spirit... Finally, there was the day we were desperately seeking an apartment for a new family in a tragic situation... Donations are accepted on Monday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the former Saint Bernardine School...

Happy 4th of July to all! As our nation marks 250 years of independence, we pause to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy as Americans... As we look across our country today, we see both great promise and significant challenges... At the same time there are signs of hope... Let us try to implement these simple but challenging suggestions for our community’s sake and that of the country as well... Be sure to include our nation in your daily prayers and be an instrument of peace...

The Ascension and Saint Edmund Community will welcome Father Michael (Mike) Novick this weekend (July 4-5, 2026) as Moderator of Pastoral Care for the community. He will assist our Pastor, Father Carl Morello, as needed, and celebrate Mass on Sunday evenings for the Catholic Communities of Oak Park... On behalf of all of us, WELCOME Father Mike!... Father Mike's Message...

What better way to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday than marching in our local July 4th parade to honor our nation’s history as a welcoming place for immigrants from all over the world!... After much thought, we found the perfect wording to follow the name of our organization: E PLURIBUS UNUM. “Out of many, one.”... Interested in marching with us for the July 4th parade?... Donations are accepted on Monday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the former Saint Bernardine School...

Last week three hundred and ten of our Archdiocesan Priests and I spent three and a half days together for our convocation at the Grand Geneva in Wisconsin. One of the conversations that captured our attention was when Cardinal Cupich spoke about the future of our Church in Chicago... The question before us was not “what should we do?” but rather “Where is the Holy Spirit leading us?”... Where is the Holy Spirit Leading us, and how can we walk faithfully into that future?​...

Father’s Day is also celebrated on the third Sunday in June in many of the countries of origin of the migrants we serve, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico... Fathers carried their children through the treacherous Darien Gap and protected them from the human traffickers, drug cartels, and other risks experienced on their way to the United States... Donations are accepted on Monday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the former Saint Bernardine School...