Welcome to St. Edmund Parish, Oak Park, IL

The St. Edmund Parish Website presents information and news about St. Edmund Parish, the first Roman Catholic Parish in Oak Park.

(Photo Courtesy of Chicago Architecture Info.)

St. Edmund Mission Statement

The people of St. Edmund Parish are a diverse community of Christians whose beliefs are rooted in sacred scripture and the traditions of the Catholic faith. We strive to fulfill the commandments of Jesus to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength (Mk 12:30), and to love one another as He has loved us (Jn 13:34). We gather as community to be nourished in Word and Sacrament, and are sent forth to be, to see and to experience Christ in the world with friend and stranger alike.

In gratitude for all our blessings, we commit ourselves to love, forgive and support each other joyfully. We seek to serve others and to be active participants in living our Catholic faith. 

** News and Events for the Week of August 19, 2018 **

Upcoming Parish Events

• Saturday-Sunday, August 25-26 and September 8-9, the annual parish Gathering on the Green will be held on the parish lawn after the masses. All parishioners and visitors who will be worshipping with us are invited to gather for fellowship, camaraderie and treats! Enjoy the beautiful flowers, lush lawn and lingering scents of the Summer. If you wish to  contribute to the refreshments, items needed are finger-food, appetizers, such as cheese and crackers, fruit, vegetables, baked goods (or any purchased desserts), beverages and/or wine. Please bring your donations to Murphy Hall by noon on the Saturday of the scheduled weekends. We look forward to seeing you and hope that you have had a restful and fun filled Summer! Sponsored by the Parish Pastoral Council

• Sunday, August 26, is the first day of Religious Education sessions for the 2018-2019 school year from 10:30am - 12pm noon. Book Day will also be held that Sunday. Registration is now open for the program; forms may be obtained on the Religious Education link. You may also contact the RE office at 708-848-7220, or e-mail program coordinator, Janet Bennick at: jbennickstedmund@gmail.com .

• Wednesday, September 5, we invite you to Join Our Music Ministry for your own benefit and the benefit of the parish. Choir practice begins at 7:30pm in the church. We are in definite need of new members of all voice ranges. There are no auditions; all voices and competent instrumentalists are needed for the choirs which perform at 5:30pm on Saturdays and 11:00am on Sundays. Come and be part of this wonderful ministry! Through music you can renew and build your faith and that of others. Do you go home singing the Gospel? Probably not, but the words of one of our hymns or psalms may echo the scriptural message in your memory through the week and come to mind during times of joy and crises to comfort and sustain you. If you have any questions or need more information, Contact Director of Music, Kathy Halfpenny at 708-386-1832 or by e-mail at khalfpenny@stedmund.org .

• Sunday, September 16, couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary from across the Archdiocese of Chicago are invited to gather together for the Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass that will be celebrated by Cardinal Cupich. The Mass will be at Holy Name Cathedral, 730 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. Register online at pvm.archchicago.org. We hope to see you there!

• Tuesday, September 18, the St. Edmund Book Club will begin its Fall meetings. Next up: Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs. “With her trademark humor and encouragement, Higgs combines a contemporary retelling of the stories of the ‘other women’ in Scripture with a solid, verse-by-verse study to teach us how to avoid their tragic mistakes and joyfully embrace grace. Let these Bad Girls show you why studying the Bible has never been more fun!” In October, the club selection is “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard Read the books and join us! Contact parishioner Mari Hans at: marithans@comcast.net for more information.   

•  Save the Dates!

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  • Summer Parish Office Hours: Monday 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.,Tuesday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. You may want to call ahead to ensure that someone is available to assist you, as the office may be closed from time to time. Saturday, 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m., and Sunday, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

  • Our volunteer recruitment for the St. Edmund’s PADS Ministry continues. This ministry works under the umbrella of the housing Forw>rd + Prevail organization. The program runs every Tuesday from Mid–September through Mid-May at Oak Park Temple at 1235 North Harlem. We hope you will consider supporting this key parish ministry by signing up to be a team volunteer. As a volunteer you are making a commitment to work as part of a team in whatever capacity you choose. For more details, please click on the Special Events link.

  • Minister of Care Home Visit Arrangements. St. Edmund Parish has trained Ministers of Care, who bring Communion to homebound parishioners. Arrangements can be scheduled on either a short-term or long-term basis. To schedule visitation, contact Peggy Leddy, Pastoral Associate, at 708-848-4417, x202, or pleddy@stedmund.org .

  • Donate your discarded cell phones and help abused women. The Domestic Violence Outreach Ministry collects phones and chargers in collaboration with Verizon Network. The phones are programmed with emergency numbers, loaded with 3000 minutes, and  distributed to abused women through various shelters. Drop off phones and accessories in the basket on the table in the Murphy Hall Corridor. We are grateful for your support!

  • The last Saturday of each month, please join us on the rectory lawn from 6:30 to 7pm for our monthly Prayer Vigil to End Gun Violence. It is our way of standing against the culture of violence in our country. We also urge legislators to understand the urgency of this issue.

  • St. Edmund Parish is in need of a few good people to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and Lectors for the weekend masses. The Ministers of the Eucharist assist in the distribution of Holy Communion at mass.  Lectors proclaim the First and Second readings at mass, lead the people in the Prayer of the Faithful, and read the weekly announcements. For questions, contact Mary Lynn Dietsche at dietscheml@gmail.com or call the parish office.

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• Religious Instruction (Contact Peggy Leddy, Pastoral Associate, at 708-848-4417, extension 202 or email pleddy@stedmund.org.

  • Do you want to become a Catholic, or perhaps just learn more about the Catholic faith? Registration for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is now open and sessions start soon. For more information contact Peggy.

  • Adult Confirmation Sessions. Baptized Catholics,19 and older, who are not yet confirmed and have received Holy Communion are invited to contact Peggy for information about preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Registration is now open and sessions start soon. For more information click here.

  • New or expectant parents are invited to register for Baptismal Preparation Class. For more information or to register, please contact Peggy.

• Religious Study

  • Our Bible Study of St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians begins Friday, February 16 from 9 -10:30 am in Murphy Hall. We meet on consecutive Fridays unless otherwise announced. Paul inspires us as well as first century Christians. Letters to Thessalonians,  Colossians, and Ephesians challenge us to greater discipleship. All are welcome, especially newcomers!

  • The Tuesday Afternoon Faith Sharing Group meets the first Tuesday of each month from 1pm - 3pm. This is not a Bible Study program, but a sharing of your reflections on the scripture of the weekends and how it affects your life, thoughts, and the world around you. It is a chance to deepen your faith and to become more aware of how scripture has influenced your life. Please bring your own Bible having read the scriptures for the upcoming weekend. For more information and the location contact Kathy Halfpenny at: khalfpenny@stedmund.org  or call her at 708-386-1832.

  • Centering Prayer Group, Saturdays at 9:30  a.m. in the North Transept area of the church. Centering Prayer welcomes newcomers and provides a time and place for peace, quiet, prayer and reflection. Mother Theresa explained that “we need silence to be alone with God, to speak to Him, to ponder His words deep in our hearts.” Please join us; all are welcome.

   

  • Parish Service Opportunities and Groups

    • The St. Edmund PADS/Housing Forward ministry has been staffing an overnight emergency shelter in Oak Park for nearly 20 years.  This is the parish’s largest ministry and needs your help to ensure successful Housing Forward seasons. We are looking for Site Leads, Evening and Overnight Volunteers, and Breakdown Teams. If interested please contact Deacon Tom Dwyer  and Anita Dwyer at 708-848-4417.

    • Rehearsals for the St. Edmund Parish choirs are held Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the church choir loft, and you have your choice of serving in this ministry at either the 5:30pm Saturday evening mass or the 11:00am Sunday morning mass each week. For more information contact Kathy Halfpenny at: khalfpenny@stedmund.org  or call her at 708-386-1832.

    • The parish Welcome Committee ensures those who are new to our parish are warmly welcomed and have the information they need to feel a part of our community as quickly as possible. The committee seeks parishioners who are willing to greet and register new parishioners on the second weekend of each month. Please contact parishioner Mary Ellen Gruszka at: mgruszka8453@aol.com. 

    • Alzheimers Support Group, for caregivers of persons living with younger-onset (before age 65) dementia. The group meets on the first Saturday of every month in Murphy Hall from 10:30am - 12pm noon, unless otherwise announced. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, the group is facilitated by a trained volunteer. For more information, visit: http://www.alzheimersillinois . Caregiving may be difficult, but getting support for yourself should not be!

    • The Type 1 Diabetes Support Group provides free, fun activities and informational presentations for families dealing with Type 1 diabetes, known as Juvenile or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. One of the big positives is that the children and their parents meet and talk with other families with this disease. Kids also enjoy supervised play in the school gym while parents discuss diabetes related topics. Sometimes we all meet together. We meet the first Wednesday of the month in the Resource Room of the School from 7:15pm - 8:30pm, unless otherwise announced. Contact parishioner Helen Gilmore at: gilmorefamily2@comcast.net .  

    • Wednesday Night Bridge,  7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Murphy Hall. Beginners and advanced players welcome!  Learn to play or improve your game.

    • The Respect Life Committee has a virtual home at www.facebook.com/StEdmundRespectLife. “Like” our page to receive inspiration and information on current and upcoming events. The Respect Life Committee holds monthly meetings the third Tuesday of the month at 7 pm in Murphy Hall. Contact Mary Ellen Gruszka at mgruszka8453@aol.com .

    • The parish’s Prayer Shawl Ministry ministry helps provide comfort to those who are ill, support those who are experiencing difficulty in their lives and those who are coping with the loss of a loved one.

    • The St. Edmund Parish Life Commission offers knitting and crochet classes for adults in Murphy Hall. The group generally meets on the second Saturday of the month.