Spirit and Light Collaborative -
Catholic Communities of Oak Park and Neighbors
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Coming to Life since July 2023– With gratitude for all who have participated in the process to create the new Oak Park Catholic ministry collaborative. This ministerial effort of both unified Oak Park Catholic Parishes includes joining the religious education programs as well as offering adult faith formation opportunities.
Spirit and Light: A Catholic Collaborative for Living Faith is the Catechetical Center for Lifelong Learning and Faith Formation for Oak Park’s two parishes: Ascension and St. Edmund, and St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles.
Mission Statement – To kindle the fire of faith in each person, to bring the joy of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s presence to the world.
Vision Statement – An inspiring, prayerful, inclusive Catholic initiative for learning, reflection, discernment and encouragement that- reaches out to people wherever they are;
- nurtures the journey of seekers and empowers those sojourners to walk with each other;
- enriches connections with God;
- inspires people to live the Gospel;
- stirs the soul-hunger for meaning;
- and fosters a vibrant community living in joy and deepens relationships among people of faith.
To get involved or ask questions, contact Marci Madary, Director of Spirit and Light, at (708) 383-3430 or [email protected].
> Spirit and Light Calendar
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Join the Spirit and Light Advisory BoardBe a Beacon of Faith, Service, and Community - Are you passionate about deepening your faith and sharing Christ’s joy with others? The Spirit and Light ministry is seeking new members to join our Advisory Board! If you feel called to make a meaningful impact in our parish and beyond, we invite you to prayerfully consider this opportunity.
About the Spirit and Light Advisory Board - The Advisory Board plays a vital role in guiding and supporting the mission of Spirit and Light, which is to kindle the fire of faith in each person and bring the joy of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s presence to the world.
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES- Advise and consult with the Spirit and Light Director.
- Plan, organize, and execute activities to raise funds for Spirit and Light.
- Plan, organize, and execute activities to build community among the families participating in Spirit and Light programs.
- Collaborate with the Ascension and Saint Edmund, and Saint Catherine-Saint Lucy and Saint Giles Parish, Pastor(s), Directors of Operation, Finance Councils, Spirit and Light Director, and Director of Administration to create the Spirit and Light budget.
- Participate in the hiring process for Spirit and Light staff.
- Offer feedback to the Pastor(s) regarding the job performance review of the Spirit and Light Director.
WHY SERVICE? - As a member of the Spirit and Light Advisory Board, you will:- Help shape the future of our ministry and parish community.
- Develop leadership skills and deepen your relationships in faith.
- Play a direct role in bringing the joy and presence of Christ to others.
HOW TO APPLY - If you are interested in joining the Advisory Board or have questions, please contact Marci Madary (Director) at [email protected] or Jim Schwarber (Board Chair) at [email protected]. We welcome your gifts, ideas, and enthusiasm as we continue to build a vibrant, faith-filled community together.
May the fire of faith burn brightly in you, and may you bring the joy of the Holy Spirit and Christ’s presence to the world!
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Upcoming Events - Spirit and Light and Shared
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May 6 - June 8
Spirit and Light Shared Event - Sign up now for Catholic Vacation Bible School. The camp runs from June 8 to June 12, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. All children ages 4-11 are invited to attend. Campers will enter and leave thru the door by St. Edmund Church Parking Lot. CLICK ON EVENT TITLE FOR MORE INFORMATION!Read More -
Saturday, May 9, 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Community Shared Event - We practice the Christian meditation prayer on Saturdays at 8:30 AM at Ascension Church or via Zoom. Various tools include centering prayer, the Jesus prayer, the breath prayer, lectio divina, and labyrinth walking. CLICK ON EVENT TITLE FOR MORE INFORMATION!Read More -
Saturday, May 9, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Spirit and Light Shared Event - Parents and toddlers are invited to a special space prepared just for them! Please join us at our future offerings each month at St. Edmund in the newly designed Toddler Atrium room adjacent to Murphy Hall. CLICK ON EVENT TITLE FOR MORE INFORMATION!Read More -
Saturday, May 9, 10:00 AM
Spirit and Light Shared Event - All Children in Spirit and Light Religious Education Programs and their families and caregivers are invited to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Year-End Celebration on The Feast of Pentecost and the Gifts of the Spirit at 10:00 AM at St. Edmund Church. Join us for our year-end celebration of the Birthday of our Church, Pentecost! CLICK ON EVENT TITLE FOR MORE INFORMATION!Read More
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Spirit and Light Team, Advisory Board, and Understanding Spirit and Light
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Please meet the Spirit and Light Team! - We coordinate various programs for the parishes in Oak Park. We are here for the children, families, and all parishioners. Please feel free to reach out to any of us with questions.
- Dr. Marci Madary – Director of Spirit and Light – [email protected]
- Cathy Chojnacki – Operations Associate – [email protected]
- Cooky Perez-Eraci – Director of Youth Ministry and High School Confirmation Coordinator – [email protected]
- Kelly McCreary – Administrative Assistant and SPRED and PREP Coordinator – [email protected]
- Rachel Faulman – Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator – [email protected]
- Laura Kelley – Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Little Lambs Coordinator – [email protected]
- Alex Ryan – Evangelization Lead and Sacrament Preparation Coordinator – [email protected]
- Terri Monaco – Traditional RE and Sacrament Preparation Coordinator – [email protected]
- Tim Smyth – Family Religious Education Coordinator and Faith & Fellowship Program Director – [email protected]
- Mary Ellen Lesniak – CGS and Sacrament Liaison for the St. Giles Family Mass Community and Little Lambs Coordinator – [email protected]
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Our Spirit and Light Advisory Board was formed in October 2023 - An Advisory Board was created for the following purposes:
- Advise and consult with the Spirit and Light Director.
- Plan, organize and execute activities to raise funds for Spirit and Light.
- Plan, organize and execute activities to build community among the families that participate in the programs of the Spirit and Light.
- In conjunction with the Ascension and St. Edmund Parish and St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish Pastor, Directors of Operation, Finance Committees, Spirit and Light Director and Director of Administration, to create the budget for Spirit and Light.
- Participate in the hiring process of those employed by Spirit and Light.
- Offer feedback to the Pastor regarding the job performance review of the Spirit and Light Director.
The Members of the Advisory Board represent all worshipping communities in our Oak Park Catholic Parishes: Jim Schwarber (Chair), Melanie Pivarski (Secretary), Luis Beteta, Tim Blatner, Paul Kraft, Katie Kudlacz, LaTrice Porter-Thomas, Kathleen Sproat, Jimmy Walsh, and Martha Hebert.
The Advisory Board will meet once a month with some work between meetings.
If you have questions, concerns, or ideas regarding Spirit and Light, please feel free to reach out to an Advisory Board member. You can also contact Marci Madary at (708) 383-3430 or [email protected].
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Some people have wondered exactly what Spirit and Light is. It is a Catholic collaborative for living faith. But sometimes a simple phrase isn’t completely clear. Therefore, various people have written down their understanding and experience of Spirit and Light.
Written by Rich Kordesh, Member of the Lifelong Learning Committee – “Devoted to the renewal of Oak Park’s Catholic parishes, Spirit and Light seeks to enrich the personal, spiritual journeys of all members. It also offers support and formation activities for unchurched sojourners who are looking for renewal in their spiritual journeys. It offers new forums for community building among those within and those on the margins of the Church.”
Written by Alex Ryan, Spirit and Light Evangelization Lead – “More than simply a unified religious education program, the Spirit and Light collaborative is a new way to think about formation, evangelization, and inspiration for a life of faith. As those working in evangelization, life long learning, religious education, faith and fellowship and more come together to share their inspiration, their work and their faith, an environment emerges where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each area of focus is inspired by the initiatives and philosophies of the other, resulting in a continuum of connection points and resources for a seeker to grow throughout their entire life as a disciple of Jesus.”
Written by Jim Schwarber, Chair of the Spirit and Light Advisory Board – “Spirit and Light is the future of the church. It is a lay-led interparish furtherance of our mission to bring Jesus’s love and teaching to the world. It seeks to weave different ministries together into a garment that wraps us all in the love of Christ. It expands as necessary to accomplish the mission.”
Written by Laura Kelley, Co-Coordinator for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News!” – “Spirit” animates – “Light” illuminates – Both radiate, cannot be easily contained, want to spread and be shared – These ideas define the mission of Spirit and Light to me because it seeks to connect and fill the places/spaces that exist between the church and the home, so that one unified thread of living our faith exists. It offers opportunities to live life to the full (a life that animates and illuminates Christ’s love to the world).
Written by Cooky Perez-Eraci, Director of Youth Ministry – “Spirit and Light is a collaborative systematic approach to Catholic faith formation that focuses on education and nurturing the Catholic spiritual growth. This approach encourages shared responsibility and community involvement and involves various members, such as parents, volunteers, and parishioners, to teach and learn about their faith. Faith formation is a continuous journey beyond formal classes or programs and involves the entire faith community to evangelization and forming missionary disciples, from womb to tomb.”
Written by Connie Rakitan, Former Director of Faith & Fellowship – “The benefit of “Spirit and Light” is to be an organized, harmonized “clearing house” for the many programs of faith formation (religious education – cradle to grave) offered by our two Catholic parishes / five worshipping communities here in Oak Park and beyond. It connects these programs with each other and with other parish activities so that there will be coordination and collaboration among us all. These programs are the many gifts – Spirit and Light brings us into one body.”
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“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
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