From the Pastor · Religious Education Classes resume on Wednesday, January 8, Sunday, January 12...
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Transcript of From the Pastor · Religious Education Classes resume on Wednesday, January 8, Sunday, January 12...
Dear Friends,
Christmas has come, and now is almost gone! With the feast of
Epiphany we mark the manifestation of the Christ to the Gentiles (the
pagans). The Magi are a mysterious group and their presence in the
Gospel is laden with meaning. Their visit to Herod on the way to
Bethlehem sets into motion a series of events that we do not hear about
on any Sunday, but which is marked by the feast each December 28, the
feast of the Holy Innocents. These were the first martyrs, the children
who were executed on Herod’s order as he sought to put to death the
one the Magi had said was born a king. The King had by then escaped
with Mary and Joseph to Egypt (having been warned of the danger in a
dream), but the children left behind were all put to death, “just in case”
one of them might happen to be the one the Magi had spoken of. The
story of Jesus involves death and sorrow from the start–and all for the
sake of the Incarnation, which created new possibilities for the
relationship between God and humanity.
Consider these thoughts from Saint Pope Leo the Great:
No doubt the Son of God in his omnipotence could have taught and
sanctified us by appearing in a semblance of human form as he did to
the patriarchs and prophets, when for instance he engaged in a
wrestling contest or entered into conversation with them, or when he
accepted their hospitality and even ate the food they set before him. But
these appearances were only types, signs that mysteriously foretold the
coming of one who would take a true human nature from the stock of
the patriarchs who had gone before him. The divine nature and the
nature of a servant were to be united in one person so that the Creator
of time might be born in time, and he through whom all things were
made might be brought forth in their midst.
For unless the new man had taken on himself the nature of our first
parents, unless he had stooped to be one in substance with his mother
while sharing the Father’s substance and, being alone free from sin,
united our nature to his, the whole human race would still be held
captive under the dominion of Satan. The Conqueror’s victory would
have profited us nothing if the battle had been fought outside our
human condition.
May your week reflect the encounter with Christ
we experienced at Mass today.
From the Pastor
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ASCENSION CHURCH Parish Center: 808 S. East Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
Phone: 708-848-2703
Fax: 708-848-2773
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Wednesday: 8 AM - 8 PM *Wednesday front office hours begin at 1 pm
Thursday and Friday: 8 AM - 4 PM
(Closed 12 NOON - 1 PM)
Saturday: 8 AM - 1 PM
Sunday: Office Closed
Personnel can be reached by first
initial.last [email protected] Web-sites
www.ascensionoakpark.com
www.archchicago.org
Pastor
Rev. James F. Hurlbert 848-2703
Pastoral Associate
Mary Catherine Meek 434-1533
Director of Music
David Anderson 434-1535
Associate Organist
Elizabeth Coffman x261
School Principal
Maryanne Polega 386-7282
Assistant Principal
Deb Rodde x240
Director of Institutional Advancement
Katie Moran Vanaria 434-1558
Coordinator of Religious Education
Diane Lawrence-Moriarty 848-3099
Religious Education Assistant
Christi Walkup 434-1554
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Matt Goto 434-1555
Office Administrator
and Liturgy Coordinator
James Wojcik 434-1531
Business Administrator
Marty Florek 434-1546
Financial Associate
Mary Fitch 434-1521
Director of Communications
and Outreach
Juliette Dols 434-1534
Head of Maintenance
Rey Dominguez 434-1539
Weekend Assistant
Rev. Bob Hutmacher, ofm
Parish Council Chairperson
Lisa Reed
Claret Center Counselor
Rev. Marlon Innis, SJ
312-529-0395
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Our thanks to, parishioner and professional photographer, Brian Kinyon for the photos of the Carols with
the Choirs that are on today’s bulletin cover. See more photos on our website.
Remembering Refugee Families
Everyone is invited to the Pine Room after all the Masses today, Sunday, January 5 to view a display
of Nativity scenes from all over the world, celebrating in different cultural settings the story of Christ’s
birth. There will be information about the Archdiocesan Immigration Ministry
and light refreshments will be served.
The story of the Holy Family’s flight to a foreign land, Egypt, out of fear for the
life of their newborn Son will be recognized in today’s global refugee crisis. We will
also honor the Three Magi who traveled from foreign lands, following a star and
bringing gifts to share - much like the immigrants of today. This event is sponsored
by Ascension Peace and Justice Committee.
Religious Education
Religious Education Classes resume on Wednesday, January 8, Sunday, January 12 and Tuesday, January
14.
Looking for a super FUN family night in January. Please join us for Family Bowling at Circle Lanes on
January 25. More details to come.
Hospitality Sunday
Please join us next Sunday, January 12 in the school gym for Hospitality Sunday. We will gather after all
morning Masses for coffee, juice, donuts, bagels, fruit and yogurt. This is a great opportunity to gather with
fellow parishioners and visitors while the kids run and play.
Immigration Ministry Film Festival
to mark National Migration Week
Join us on Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 pm in the Pine Room for the film BEYOND BORDERS:
Undocumented Mexican-Americans. The film examines US policy decisions that tr iggered the r ise of
undocumented immigration in a deeply moving documentary program that explores the under-reported lives of
Mexicans living and raising families in the United States. The film carefully explains the history of the
relationship between the two countries - Mexico and America - some of which may be unfamiliar to viewers.
In telling the stories of several undocumented Mexican-Americans, BEYOND BORDERS reveals the reasons
why millions of Mexican workers have settled in the US over the past four decades instead of returning home.
It also illuminates the remarkable networks that connect the film's characters with the families they left behind,
and the very real human impact of the anti-immigration backlash now sweeping the country.
The film lasts about an hour and will be followed by a discussion with a guest speaker from the
Archdiocesan Immigration Ministries. Free will donations will be accepted.
This event is sponsored by Ascension Peace and Justice Committee. For more information, contact Celine
Woznica at [email protected] or Graciela Maldonado at [email protected].
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Ascension Women's Cooperative Bunco and Potluck Please join us for a night of food and fun. Thursday, January 23 in the Pine Room. Potluck dinner at 7:00
pm and Bunco at 7:30 pm. Contact Pati Dossey or Karole Treese with questions at [email protected].
PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
Ascension Living Your Strengths
The beginning of a new year can be a powerful time of transition, reflection and new beginnings. Make
2020 the year you learn more about yourself and your God-given talents by participating in a Living Your
Strengths workshop. Let Living Your Strengths teach you to fuel your strengths to help others, to succeed in
your career, and to find joy in your relationships. Our next workshop is Saturday, March 7 from 8:30 am –
12:00 noon in the Parish Center. Register now at https://ascensionstrengthsfindit.eventbrite.com.
Your strengths journey begins with completion of the Clifton StrengthsFinder online assessment prior to the
workshop. During the workshop, participants learn more about what it means to have "five signature themes,"
a deeper understanding of the five areas in which their God-given talents are greatest, and how these talents
can be developed into strengths. Participants gain the understanding that these talents are a true gift from God,
and leave with a plan to develop and apply these strengths in the areas they choose: family, work, community,
church.
Over 375 members of the Ascension community have attended Living Your Strengths. There is no cost to
participate: Living Your Strengths is offered as a gift to parish members. Please contact Kelly Conroe at 630-
776-8273 or [email protected] with any questions. We look forward to sharing this wonderful
program with you.
New Lector Formation Sessions
We invite anyone who is confirmed and high school age or older to consider becoming a Lector. Formation
Sessions for new Lectors, led by Mary Catherine Meek, will be on Saturday, January 18 or Sunday. February
16 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm in the Parish Center. Please email Jim Wojcik at [email protected]
if you are interested in being a Lector and attending one of these sessions. Additional practical training
sessions will be scheduled at the Formation Session.
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Meetings and Events
Today January 5 Crèche Display After all Masses
RCIA 9:00 am
SPRED 10:00 am
Extending the Word 10:00 am
Monday January 6 School Resumes
RE-Religious Education Board Meeting 7:00 pm
Home and School Meeting 7:30 pm
Tuesday January 7 RCIA 7:00 pm
Wednesday January 8 Girl Scouts Troop Meeting 3:00 pm
RE-Wednesday Classes 3:45 pm
Moms Faith Sharing Group 7:30 pm
Thursday January 9 Bible Study 9:00 am
Women’s Spirituality 7:00 pm
Knights of Columbus Business Meeting 7:30 pm
Friday January 10 Girl Scouts Troop Meeting 3:00 pm
Cub Scouts Pack Meeting 6:00 pm
Saturday January 11 Knights of Columbus-Rosary 8:00 am
Contemplative Prayer 8:30 am
Confirmation Retreat offsite During the day
*Attend 5:00 pm Mass
Sunday January 12 Hospitality Sunday After all Masses
RE-Sunday Classes 8:30 am and 10:05 am
RCIA 9:00 am
Extending the Word 10:00 am
Art and Environment-Take down decorations 1:00 pm
Peace and Justice-Movie Presentation 2:00 pm
GiveCentral
Use GiveCentral our online giving platform to
make paperless donations to our church. You can
give, through this website, by using your credit
card, debit card or electronic checking, and set up
one-time or recurring donations. —To Access our GiveCentral Account—
Via Smartphone: Text “Sunday” to 708-400-7396 Via website:
Visit www.ascensionoakpark.com and click on ‘Giving’
Donate monthly or online but would like to
participate in contributing to the offertory basket
during the collection of gifts? We now have
available at all Church entrances an offertory card,
which we invite you to place in the basket during
the collection of gifts. These laminated cards will
be reused at all Masses. Thank you for your
support of Ascension Church!
This Week
Next Week
5:00 pm Fr. Hurlbert Fr. Hurlbert
7:30 am Fr. Hurlbert Fr. Hurlbert
9:00 am Fr. Hurlbert Fr. Hutmacher
11:00 am Fr. Hutmacher Fr. Hurlbert
5:00 pm at
St. Edmund
If you are new to Ascension parish, welcome!
We are happy you have come to worship with us.
If you have any questions about the
parish or the Catholic faith, please
contact our Pastoral Associate, Mary
Catherine Meek at 708-434-1533.
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SUNDAY - January 5
The Epiphany of the Lord
5:00
(Sat)
Robert Hill
7:30 All the People of Ascension Parish
9:00 Joan Lyons
11:00 Jim and Marty Costello
Josephine and Francis Flesch
MONDAY - January 6 Christmas Weekday Saint André Bessette, Religious
8:15 Marguerite McSheehy Ed Woznica
Deceased of the Horgan
and Otmanoski Families
TUESDAY - January 7 Christmas Weekday Saint Raymond of Peñafort, Priest
8:15 Jim Costello
WEDNESDAY - January 8 Christmas Weekday
8:15 Rosalinda Rodriguez
THURSDAY - January 9 Christmas Weekday
8:15 Dorothy Dedowicz
FRIDAY - January 10 Christmas Weekday
8:15 Lena Bacharach
SATURDAY - January 11
Vigil: The Baptism of the Lord
5:00 Marie Belmonte
SUNDAY - January 12
The Baptism of the Lord
7:30 All the People of Ascension Parish
9:00 Valerie Sewell
11:00 Mary Banic Jamnik Joan Lyons
- REMEMBER IN PRAYER THOSE WHO
ARE SICK IN MIND, BODY OR SPIRIT - We continue to hold in prayer all of our parishioners, loved ones
and friends who are sick. Please call Jim Wojcik at the Parish Office
if you would like a name added to this list.
Nancy Agler, Patrick Allen, Mary Amato, Sue
Antoinette, Romulo Bacol, Cynthia Baker, Joan Balark,
Brad Barth, Linda Bennett, Mary Grace Borgman, Barbara
Carroll, Sr. Jude Carroll, Carol Cassini, Joe Cavanagh, Ken
Christensen, Ken Chudik, Butch Crane, Eileen Diaz,
Eileene Diez, Maryann D’Imperio, Doug Dorn, Danny
Doyle, Emma Farrarons, Brita Finlayson, Jennifer Fischer,
Millie Flannery, Charles Gibson, David Gordon, Jayne
Gubelman, Pat Hrones, AQ Kapauan, Bill Keenan, Michael
Kenny-Sheputis, Margaret Kostopolos, Jerry Lakota, Alix
Lovell, Joan Lyons, Josh Marchetti, Linda Marko, Socro
Marquez, Paul Martin, Rita Martinez, Nora Maywood,
Ruth Medina, Nora Meewes, Baby Sonny Militello, Nicole
Montemagni, Carmen Mora, Mary Morgan, Mary Jane
Peterson, David Rosati, Mary Jane Schenn, Loretta
Schulze, Helen Scotty, Mary Simmons, Richard Snyder,
Agnes So, Mary Louise Stefanic, Mildred Stefanski,
Nicholas Stevic, Matthew Strudeman, Sean Taylor, Terry
Tenca, Warren Thayer, Sheila Trainor, Bonnie Von Ebers,
Samantha Walker, Karen Williams, Larry Wyman,
Margaret Zangrilli, Ernest Zaravia. We pray for the healing hand of God to touch all impacted by
domestic violence and verbal, physical or sexual abuse of any kind.
For young people at risk. For the dignity and respect of all human life.
We also hold in prayer all first responders; police officers,
firefighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses. We ask your blessing on
all who serve our country in the military, in the peace corps and on all
of our veterans.
Please pray for all of our deceased
brothers and sisters…
Paul J. Straub, Father of Maureen Kordesh
Rev. Msgr. Philip Joseph Heslin,
Attended Ascension School
...and all who have died from
gun violence or acts of terrorism.
2020 Mass Book
The 2020 Mass Book is open for Mass Intentions.
Please call, or come to the Parish Center Office,
during office hours if you would like the name of a
deceased loved one or friend added to a specific date
and Mass time.
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Ascension and Saint Giles are coming together to offer a GriefShare program in January.
What is this program?
GriefShare grief recovery is a Christ-centered support group where a caring group of people will
walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. GriefShare is for people grieving the
death of a loved one: a family member or friend. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.
GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and
want to help.
The focus of the program is to help you begin to gain closure in your loss. It’s sometimes hard to move on
in life when you are still dealing with the grief and emptiness that happens after a loved one dies. You’ll learn
how to go through a healthy season of grieving, then begin transitioning to a new emotional and spiritual
wholeness.
GriefShare groups meet weekly for 13 sessions, Wednesday evenings from 6:30–9:00 pm beginning
January 29. These meetings are intended to help you face the challenges of bereavement and move
toward rebuilding your life. Each GriefShare session has three distinct elements:
GriefShare DVD videos.
You’ll learn helpful, practical information that will help you recover from the pain of grief and loss. The
GriefShare DVD videos feature top experts on grief recovery subjects and case studies of people just like you,
who have been through the grief experience.
Small Group Discussion.
You’ll have the chance to talk about your experiences. It can be very healing to tell others what you are
going through. The support group sessions include a time to talk about what you’ve seen on the GriefShare
videos and what is going on in your life. And while you have the opportunity to tell your story, there’s never
pressure for you to do so if you don’t feel like it.
A Personal Workbook.
You’ll have a workbook for personal study and to write down things you’ve learned. The workbook
provides opportunity for further study about the grief process and personal reflection about your grief. The
weekly journaling questions help you sort through your emotions. You can tear out and carry with you the
perforated “Care Cards” for words of encouragement during the lowest points of your day.
To register, or if you would like more information, please call 708-223-4912
or contact Rose Lubarski at [email protected].
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Donate your used cell phone The Domestic Outreach Violence Ministry (DVOM) is collecting used cell phones for refurbishing. It
does not matter who the carrier is. They are turned into Verizon and when they are refurbished, 3000 minutes
are added to the phones, then they are distributed through shelters. Used phones may be placed in the box in
the East Avenue vestibule of church through January 31. Thank you.
Sign up to receive our weekly e-newsletter by contacting Juliette Dols at [email protected].
See our parish/around town web page at ascensionoakpark.com/parish/around-town for events in our community.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Jn 3:22 — 4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a;
Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7-8; Mk 6:34-44
Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13;
Mk 6:45-52
Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19 — 5:4; Ps 72:1-2, 14, 15bc, 17;
Lk 4:14-22a
Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Lk 5:12-16
Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 3:22-30
Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10;
Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17
The Archdiocese of Chicago is hiring
Are you seeking an opportunity to draw closer to our Lord through your work? Consider applying your
professional strengths and experience at the service of sharing Christ with others. The Archdiocese of Chicago
is in the midst of exciting changes as we renew our local Church. With our competitive salary and benefit
packages, the archdiocese provides many opportunities for professional and personal growth and development.
For the listing of current openings please visit archchicago.org/careers or follow us on LinkedIn.
Bulletin deadline: Monday 5 p.m. Please deliver articles to Parish Office or email to [email protected]
OTHER PARISH INFORMATION — Infant Baptism: Intake and
scheduling are done in person. Please contact Mary Catherine Meek
at the Parish Center to make an appointment. Initiation for Adults and
Older Children: Adults interested in exploring the possibility of
becoming Catholic or who desire to complete their sacraments of
initiation (Eucharist and/or Confirmation), please contact Mary
Catherine Meek at the Parish Center. Parents with children of
catechetical age may also speak with her regarding preparing for
Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
Weddings: Please call the Parish Office, at least one year prior to
selection of a date or reception hall, to request wedding information.
Sick Calls: If there is anyone at home who cannot attend Mass or
receive the sacraments because of illness or old age, please contact the
Parish Office or one of the Ministers of Care Coordinators: Susie
Cahill, 925-1512, Linda Dunne, 848-5574, or Cece Masella, 383-3785.
Registration: All newcomers are welcome to the Ascension family
and are asked to pick up a census/registration envelope at the entrance
of the church or by completing the online form on the parish website.
Parishioners who marry, have a baby, or move to a new address should
also notify the Parish Office. Toddler Care: Available dur ing 9 am
& 11 am Mass in the school kindergarten room (first floor doors just to
the right of the gym entrance). Lost & Found: On the shelves in the
ushers room. Ascension Mass on the Radio: Sunday evening at 9:00
pm on WPNA 1490 AM., or listen on their website at
www.radiowpna.com. Experiencing Domestic Violence: Call 911, the
NDV 24-hour Helpline at 800-799-7233, Sarah’s Inn at 708-386-4225
or www.sarahsinn.org. or the National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline at
866-331-9474. Call the parish office for more information.
