![]() ![]() ![]() We can no longer be passive recipients on Sunday mornings, walking into church to take part in a liturgy planned by someone else. Hurlbert and the parish staff have been sharing wonderful liturgical resources for us, including videotaped homilies and organ music, but it has been up to us to be proactive in planning and implementing our “home church” prayer life. The pandemic and the forced closures of our church buildings brought forth a different meaning of “Church” and living our faith.įr. There is no way we will be going back to the way things were before, even if the same pastoral team were in charge. ![]() We have been attending events and faith formation opportunities at each other’s parishes for years, but now I feel there will be more coordination in the planning.Īlthough it is very hard for this transition to occur in the midst of a pandemic, in many ways the experience of the pandemic and the shutdown prepared us for the change in parish leadership and structure. Those days are gone, thank goodness, and our doors and windows have been opened for Oak Park Catholics to build a larger, more diverse, and dynamic community among the four parishes. Our parishes were silos, sometimes even in competition with each other. When I was growing up, our pastor considered a “mixed marriage” when you married someone from another parish. I am looking forward to more collaboration and sharing of each parish’s gifts without so much duplication. Many of us thought it would translate into closures and mergers of Oak Park parishes, but this plan appears to be different with a more streamlined utilization of resources and a recognition of the different parishes’ strengths. We’ve been learning about Renew My Church for a couple of years now and have heard about how it has affected other parishes in the archdiocese. Tom Gull is a former parish business manager and longtime parishioner. I’m sure both priests will work well with them. Gina Orlando and Marty Berg are longtime members of Ascension, the choir, and the HOME (Honoring Our Mother Earth) Creation Care team.Īs far as how it will work, I think it will be just fine. Can the big system make this shift? We hold the vision that it can. It’s time for these changes for our culture, church and climate. This would ease the priest shortage and could draw more people back to church and into the true inclusive ministry of Jesus, which focuses on love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy and justice for all peoples. ![]() A very helpful part of that “renewal” would be for the Catholic Church to open up the priesthood to married men and women. Carl is not overworked with his role as administrator as we shift into the Renew My Church changes. Being from Sri Lanka he will add his energy, open-hearted warmth, and the richness of his experience from Jesus’ side of the world. His support of the Family Mass program tells us he is open to a progressive spirituality with strong lay involvement and leadership, which sounds like a good match for us. Giles Family Mass have always said that Fr. We are excited by the creative Archdiocesan solution for Ascension with our new priests. ![]()
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