The Core Leadership Team (CLT) is comprised of staff members and parishioners with leadership skills. Currently, the pastor chooses the team members. As the team develops, suggestions can be made to the pastor who might best serve on the CLT as members transition off the team.

The main purpose of the CLT is to provide a unified approach to shared ministry and core values lived out in the life and ministry of the Catholic Oak Park parishes. This team supports strategic direction for both parishes, ensuring that initiatives and decisions are mission-aligned and effectively implemented.

For example,

• The CLT will currently look at developing a structure that supports a future with one pastor and pastoral team to oversee the two parishes of Oak Park and how they relate to each other as the Catholic Communities of Oak Park and Neighbors.
• The CLT will support Spirit and Light, the new initiative for religious education, adult formation and youth ministry for both parishes and the larger community.
• The CLT will help to ensure that sacramental leadership and pastoral care will be ministers who understand and support the lay leadership and ministry already being lived out in our parishes.

Our parishes embrace the spirit of synodality, which means input and conversation within the community that is guided by the Holy Spirit for the good of the church. The role of this team emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity and shared responsibility. This will help us focus on initiatives that impact both parishes and the idea that while we are two parishes, we all make up the Catholic Community of Oak Park and Neighbors.

Members of the Core Leadership Team are Maria Allori, Luis Beteta, Matt Brophy, Carlos Guerrero, Valerie Jennings, Peter Kaye, Marci Madary, Father Carl Morello, Father Rex Pillar, and Alex Ryan.

The Parish Finance Councils assist the pastor in the administration of parish temporal matters. An active, well-formed finance committee is, therefore, a key element for promoting the financial health of the parish and supporting its mission.

The Parish Finance Council is a consultative body, required by canon law, that advises the pastor in his stewardship of parish resources. The Finance Council meets to review parish financial reports, stewardship initiatives, and any other major expenditures. They also review the annual parish budget and financial report, and assist in communicating financial information to the parish.

• Finance Council at Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
• Finance Council at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Catholic Parish