Meet a Few of Our Parishioners - St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles
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“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” - Psalm 133:1 / “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20
Some of the nicest people we know are those we have met in our parish. Here are a few examples of parishioners you may meet if you attend Mass, prayer gatherings, or other events with us.
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The Gift of a Warm Welcome
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MARGARET MURPHY
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When Margaret Murphy and her family moved to Oak Park seven years ago, it wasn’t easy making the adjustments required in returning to the Chicago area after 10 years in Indianapolis. But soon, with children in St. Giles School, she felt welcome in the parish. She was even invited to become a member of the parish council. A few years ago, when the council received feedback that some people did not experience the church as welcoming, Margaret joined in the brainstorming of solutions. She took on the challenge to create a Greeter Ministry, with the goal of making sure that everyone who arrived at the Saturday and Sunday liturgies would feel welcome.
Margaret considers her role as a greeter as one of the most satisfying experiences of community life. She appreciates that people may find it hard getting to church - with travel, family commitments, the busyness of life. “We want a friendly face at the door. Sometimes a warm welcome helps in the transition as they cross the threshold, becoming ready to receive Christ,” she said. “Sometimes we may be the only person someone talks to in a day.”
Margaret is inspired by seeing the face of Christ in each person as they enter. “I hope that I can be a face of Christ for them, as well - the welcoming presence of Christ.” This way of thinking has carried over into other parts of her life. “It helps me find the love in everyday interactions. I can see that even the smallest act of giving and receiving can mean a lot to someone.”
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The Gift of a Warm Welcome
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JULIE DENISE
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Today some 40 parishioners participate as greeters at the St. Giles Church, signing up as their schedules permit. Ten or twelve are greeters on a regular basis, while others may greet now and then. One of the weekly greeters is Julie Denise. She and her husband moved to Oak Park in 2009 and their daughter was born in 2012. Six years ago, when their little girl started attending the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the family returned to their Catholic roots at St. Giles. “I found that this church strengthened my relationship with the Holy Trinity,” she said.
Serving as a greeter is a privilege in Julie’s eyes. “I love serving in any capacity in all aspects of life,” she said. “And this is so easy.” She recalled some amazing experiences of “God-filled moments.” Once, Julie welcomed an older woman who entered the church seeming puzzled. She was looking for a funeral but had arrived 90 minutes early. To help the woman pass the time, Julie invited her to her home, and introduced her to her husband and daughter. They enjoyed this unexpected experience of companionship. Another time she struck up a short conversation with a man who was waiting for his wife to arrive. In just a few minutes they exchanged a sense of deep connection with Jesus. “Those moments come. You just have to dedicate time to give love and be joyful,” she said. “This is the easiest job. It’s not like work. It is incredibly rewarding. Just smile and say hello.” She added: “No training required.”
There are dedicated and thriving usher ministries that also provide a welcoming presence at every Mass at our St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles churches. In future articles in this series, we will share more about the ushers, some of whom have been loyally serving for decades in this important role.
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Joyous, Jubilant, Uplifting: The Good News in Song!
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DR. JULIUS WHITE
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When Dr. Julius White responded to an ad for a Gospel Choir Director at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church in 1992, he may not have imagined that he would be leading singers in the Good News of the Gospel in this beautiful Gothic church for more than 30 years. His enduring vision of a community Gospel choir, which Julius named the Praise Choir, fosters one of the many treasured ministries of our parish.
What keeps our parish Music Man so engaged? “Gospel music is a joyous, jubilant, and uplifting kind of music. We praise God. We give honor and glory through song,” he said. “Even the lyrics help us become stronger. All the songs I sing, I live by. My faith is very strong and has been since I was a child, since my mother put it inside of me.”
Julius came from a musical family. His mother would often play the piano at home. Her greater musical calling was to sing, often as a soloist, in the Baptist church where Julius grew up. His sister also sings and is a choir director. Julius received a bachelor’s degree in music arts from Roosevelt University’s Chicago Musical College. He is also affiliated with a Baptist church in Chicago where he plays the Hammond organ, an instrument well suited to Gospel music. “We are all believers. I don’t see any denominational barriers,” Julius said. “I am a Christian. Gospel singing helps us to become better Christians.” He added: “We want people to join us - the more, the merrier. No audition is necessary. We want people to feel comfortable and be active in the community,” he said. “You come, you learn, you become singers.”
Questions? - Contact Julius White at [email protected].
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Social Justice and Action - Kralik Family Values
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KRALIK FAMILY
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In 1999, when Katie was living in Berwyn and David lived in Oak Park, they were each looking for something more in their church experience. Katie wanted the sense of engagement she had experienced in college at the Newman Center. David wanted a church with a strong commitment to social justice. In a visit to St. Giles Church, they saw an announcement in the parish bulletin about a special liturgy of the Family Mass.
The next Sunday, David went to the 10:00 AM Mass in the gym. He met several community members who invited him to a meeting of the Action for Justice ministry that evening. When Katie attended Mass the following Sunday, she was invited to sign up for the Women’s Advent Night. “It felt like a place where people do church, not just where people receive church,” she said recently.
After they got married in 2001, their involvement in the community increased. Even after they moved to Rogers Park to be closer to Katie’s new teaching job at New Trier High School, they “commuted” to Oak Park to maintain their community connections. In 2008, when their daughter Rachel was a toddler and their son Nathan was on the way, they moved back to Oak Park. “We wanted our children to grow up in this faith community,” Katie said. Her father, a deacon at St. Francis de Sales Church in Lake Zurich, was able to baptize both Rachel and Nathan at Sunday liturgies within the St. Giles Family Mass Community.
Service and social justice have been unifying values for the Kralik family. Over the years, Katie and David have been liturgy coordinators, sacristans, and eucharistic ministers. David has been a member and leader of the Family Mass coordinating board and a member and leader of the Action for Justice ministry. Katie has been a member of the Liturgy Roundtable for nearly a decade. She has also been a catechist and is currently leader of the Level Two catechists in the parish Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Nathan and Rachel help with audio-video technology that has enabled streaming of outdoor and gym Masses.
Some years ago, the family joined other parish volunteers in providing a hot dinner once a month to homeless people sheltered in the PADS program at First United Church of Oak Park. As PADS became Housing Forward, and the Covid pandemic required other arrangements, shelter at various church locations has been replaced with individual rooms at a hotel. Though the team misses the personal interaction with our sheltered neighbors, they still enjoy assembling the meals together in McDonough Hall once a month. On any second Monday of the month, you might find Katie scooping mashed potatoes, Rachel slicing meatloaf, and David and Nathan packing the meals for delivery.
“The amount of gratitude that people have for this small offering of a hot dinner is just heartwarming... and it helps put so many other things in perspective,” she said. “It is our duty to hold our blessings loosely and pass them along as best we can.”
Katie is meal coordinator for the second Monday of the month’s team. Volunteers sign up for one or more tasks as their schedules allow, using an easy internet form. “This is a simple, practical opportunity for people who want to fill a great need in our community. For someone who likes to cook, or doesn’t have a lot of time, or doesn’t mind throwing an extra package of juice boxes in the grocery cart, this is a flexible effort with a really big payoff.”
If you would like to volunteer, as your schedule permits - or if you would be interested in being a meal coordinator for an additional day each month - contact Katie at [email protected].
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Sharing the Word of GodWhen Christine Wedekind steps up to the mic to read the Scriptures at Mass, she has a focused intention. “I try to read it as if I was talking to somebody, or as if I’m the apostle talking to a group of people. I try to put some Spirit into it,” she says. “When I am reading, I try to look around at people as I read, to share with them.”
When Christine was taking a class in public speaking, she told Sister Teresita that she would like to be a lector at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church, and she said, of course. “I feel it is part of my responsibility as a member of the Catholic Church. And it is a privilege,” Christine says. “It’s a way to minister to people by sharing the Word of God with them.”
Christine has lived in the Austin area of Chicago, in Berwyn, Riverside, and Brookfield. She was baptized at St. Catherine’s church, went to St. Catherine’s grammar school, and married in SCSL church. After getting her associate degree in business at Morton College, she went on to Rosary College, which changed its name to Dominican University the day after she graduated. Later she gained a master’s degree in business and a certificate in pastoral ministry at Dominican.
She taught in the Religious Education program at SCSL while her daughter was enrolled and later when her grandson attended the program. At the request of Father George, she agreed to be the coordinator of the program, a role she continued until 2019. Currently, she is funeral coordinator for the SCSL community. She is also a member of the committee exploring possibilities for the Center for Lifelong Learning.
Recently, she joined in the efforts to communicate Lenten observances and Easter celebrations as an outreach at all four churches of St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy and Ascension - St. Edmund parishes. Though she has a lot of ideas and likes to see them materialize, she tries to fly under the radar. When praised for her creativity, she says, “It’s not me. It’s the Spirit that gets me going.”
On the first Sunday of Lent, Christine was asked to present a short reflection on the Gospel after Communion. Speaking about the temptations of Jesus by Satan, she noted that with each temptation, God showed his love for his Son. “It allows me to stop and think: how many times have I been tempted by the Devil, and God has shown his love to me? Every day I wake and see the sun shining through the clouds and say, Speak Lord your servant is listening. Help me to do what you would want me to do today by showing your love to others through kindness, honesty, empathy, forgiveness, love. Whatever love You would give to me, let me give it back.”
If you would like to know more about becoming at lector at Masses at St. Catherine - St. Lucy and St. Giles parish, contact Jeanne Visteen at [email protected] or Alex Ryan at [email protected].
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Being a true Gospel Neighbor
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JACK CROWE
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One day, when some people wanted a description of the boundaries of their responsibility, they asked Jesus “Who is our neighbor?” Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan, who helps the injured man at the side of the road when others pass by. Then he turned the question inside out: “Who was the neighbor to the man who needed help?” Many of our parishioners have responded to this question by being a true neighbor to those in need.
When there was an opportunity to help create the temporary winter shelter at the former rectory of St. Catherine of Siana-St. Lucy, Jack Crowe was one of those who became a neighbor to those in need. As a former lawyer, he brought an understanding of contractual issues that needed to be addressed as our parish collaborated with Housing Forward and Oak Park Village. He could also draw on his experience in the startup up of several Catholic educational programs, including Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, Cristo Rey Network, and working at Year Up, a program to give young adults meaningful work experience.
Jack minimizes his own role in the shelter project. “My goal is to leave every meeting with nothing on my to do list,” he jokes. Still, his ability to bring people together around a vision, gain agreement on a strategic plan, and identify the necessary tactics helped move the project forward.
Jack is quick to praise Fr. Carl and Lynda Schueler of Housing Forward for their leadership and the Oak Park Village for their financial support. Matt Brophy, Dan Doody, and Jim Jankowski brought together the resources and labor to make essential renovations to the building. As a result, staff and volunteers are welcoming up to 15 people each evening, providing a warm, safe environment and an evening meal and breakfast.
Jack is a third generation Oak Parker. His grandparents attended St. Catherine of Siena Church and later St. Giles. His dad attended St. Catherine elementary school, and his father’s name appears on a plaque honoring parishioners who served in WWII.
Jack and his wife Ave Zuccarino got married in St. Catherine Church in 1989. Later, Ave and Jack joined the Family Mass Community at St. Giles parish. The whole family has participated in the Appalachian Service Project. “We believe we are here to help those in need, to be loving, to be servants,” he said.
After a health crisis two years ago, Jack stopped working, which “freed up some time,” he said, laughing. As he has gotten older, he has felt called to “the more contemplative side of life, to be a more loving person,” he said. “This leads to caring for our sisters and brothers. It’s not a single event; it’s a process.”
Jack sees the unification of parishes and the Austin Boulevard location as “an opportunity to co-minister together, enriching Oak Parkers with the diversity and talent on the West Side.”
For more information about the Housing Forward winter shelter at the St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy location, checkout the parish Bulletin or our website. To volunteer at the shelter, contact Cherrell Jackson at [email protected].
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Compassionate Outreach “Stunningly Appreciated”
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MARGIE RUDNIK
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When Margie Rudnik joined the Prayer Shawl Ministry a half dozen years ago when she retired, she didn’t expect that she would soon become coordinator of this ministry of 30-35 knitters and crocheters. Their creations and prayers have reached out to people in need of comfort or encouragement throughout the Chicago/Oak Park area and as far away as the Pacific Northwest, the U.S. Mexican border, Italy, and many places in between. Nor did Margie realize that in addition to creating prayer shawls and lap blankets for those who were ill, grieving, or celebrating milestone occasions, this merry band of yarn crafters would soon be making hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, blankets, and many other necessities for refugees, the disabled, homeless, and U.S. veterans. “The makers are incredibly generous, with their time, their talent, and even with materials,” says Margie. Also, many people donate yarn or funds to purchase yarn or cover shipping expenses.
These knitted and crocheted items carry not only comfort and warmth, but also the prayers of the makers, the concern of the givers, and the prayers of St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles parishioners.
The joy of these connections keeps Margie enthusiastic as coordinator. But what has been even more unexpected is the way that people have responded. “I have been overwhelmed by how these precious representations of our support and prayer have been stunningly appreciated,” said Margie. Many people have responded with heartfelt letters of gratitude after receiving prayer shawls or lap blankets while they are grieving the death of loved ones. Others who are enduring serious and chronic illnesses have found great comfort in keeping the shawls with them through tough times.
Margie has found that the prayer shawls and other items are given and received as a visible sign of God’s love. “It is humbling to see how people receive these signs in the way intended. It never fails to convey God’s love,” she says. “Some people have called me in awe that this sign of love and prayer has arrived at the moment when they were most in need of support.”
For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry and how you can participate, contact Margie. To receive a prayer shawl or lap blanket for a loved one or someone else who needs a special sign of our support and God’s love, call the Parish Center at 708-383-3430 or email Margie at [email protected].
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