Parish News for Thursday, May 21, 2020
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Dear Friends,
The big news of the week is that the process to begin re-opening our churches has begun! It will require a fair bit of organization to do this in a way that respects the safety protocols that the Archdiocese has worked out and insists we follow in order to be “certified” to re-open. My thanks to staff members Jim Wojcik and Diane Lawrence, who will be co-leaders of the re-opening Leadership Team. Also part of that team will be Terri Monaco (Set-up Captain), George Lyons (Clean-up Captain) and Tom Gull (Greeter Captain). The Leadership team will organize and train the parish volunteers helping to manage access to the church and make things as safe as possible, from a virus contagion perspective. Hopefully you saw the email that went out on Monday soliciting volunteers. If you have not yet responded and are willing and able to help, please email Jim Wojcik at
[email protected]
. The number of hours per day that we will be able to have the church open (for no more than 10 people at a time at this point) will depend on how many trained volunteers we have to help.
If you are interested in seeing the intricacy and detail of the protocols we need to follow, you are welcome to have a look at them on the Archdiocesan website:
It is disappointing that we are still not cleared to celebrate public Masses. That is being put off until the time when the State guidelines allow for at least 50 people to gather at a time. The hope is that we will get permission to bring more than that into our church, since it is large and people can spread out. But we will likely need to organize that via an online reservation or registration system. And everyone will need to wear masks while in the church (that will be the case even when entering for private prayer). This will certainly take some getting used to.
A quick thanks to all who once again came through for the St Martin de Porres food pantry. Last Sunday we received two vans’ worth of groceries! There is a Blood Drive this weekend, and information about that is below. We also have a Virtual Baby Bottle Fundraiser this week to support Aid for Women. See below for more information and a link to donate.
It looks like life on campus will soon resume, even if at a reduced level. As we prepare to mark the Feast of the Ascension on Sunday we give thanks to God for the many ways He has blessed our parish and our parish families. May God continue to guide and protect us as we prepare to re-engage and re-open!
Fr Hurlbert
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Please take a moment to view this week's parish news-
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Ascension Church Reopening Plan
& Call for Volunteers
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We posted
on our website
the information that we shared with you this past Monday. To be successful, we will need volunteers to assist with various aspects of our parish reopening plan. To indicate interest in volunteering, email Jim Wojcik at
[email protected].
Thank you to all who have emailed so far! Please consider joining us in this effort!
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Virtual Baby Bottle Fundraiser
May 18-24
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May is a month when we honor Mary and mothers. Therefore, we're excited to share that the
Ascension Church family has the unique opportunity to support at-risk pregnant women, mothers and babies in our community. Aid for Women operates five pregnancy care centers and two residential programs in the Chicago area and serves thousands of women each year. Please help provide essential funding for Aid for Women’s programs. Your donation, no matter what amount, will make a difference in the life of a mother and her baby.
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To donate online,
go here
(and indicate "Ascension Church" as the sponsoring church). To mail a check,
go here
for an address. We thank you in advance for your support of Aid for Women!
Details on our website
.
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Donate Blood! The Need is Great!
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Versiti is hosting a community blood drive this Sunday, May 24th, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm in the Ascension school gym (enter off Clarence Ave).
Please note:
At this time, appointments are full. However, we normally have a high no-show rate and walk-ins are welcome. If you would like to donate and do not have an appointment, please stop by and they will work to fit you in.
Go here for more information
.
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Storybook Readings for
our Youngest Parishioners
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Here is a video with Ascension school's librarian, Mrs. Flowers, reading
It will be Okay
by
Lisa TerKeurst.
This is a book about trusting God through fear and change. It's a great story for all ages. Take a look! For all stories go to
our parish YouTube channel
.
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We once again had another successful food drive to support St. Martin de Porres food pantry. Thank you to all who donated! Please mark your calendars for our June food drive, which will be June 21.
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We are thrilled to share this NBC news story of Barbara Creed, long-time parishioner, Ascension school music teacher, and choir member. Barbara recently returned home after receiving a double lung transplant. Welcome home Barbara! Join us as we continue to pray for her full recovery.
View the news story here
.
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Opportunities to Help Others
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Donate to the Catholic Charities
food pantry at 1400 South Austin in Cicero. In April, this pantry serviced more than three times the number of people in 2019.
View this letter
for a list of requested items or ways to make a monetary donation.
Donate Reusable Masks to Beyond Hunger
so that each family that receives food will also go home with a reusable mask.
Learn more
.
Support the Kolbe House Jail Ministry.
In the effort to protect vulnerable people in Illinois prisons from COVID-19, many are being released quickly. Upon release it is common for people to have nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Learn more
.
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Virtual Lifelong Learning & Adult Formation at Ascension
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Zoom Sessions to Discuss Contemporary Issues.
In monthly Zoom sessions we will look at articles about how we are coping as a faithful people with the effects of the pandemic shut-down on our religious practice, and how events in our faith community might change going forward. The first meeting will be
Tuesday, May 26, at 8:00 pm
and we will discuss two articles from America magazine. For details and to register,
go here
.
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Zoom Book Discussion.
Join us
on
Tuesday, June 9, at 8:00 pm
for a book discussion on
Dark Night of the Soul
by St. John of the Cross. Did you know that Pope John Paul II learned Spanish just so that he could read this book in its original language? This book may be the inspiration that we need for today’s troubled times. Get more information, links to free online copies, and sign up
here
.
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A Call to Prayer.
Volunteer prayer partners from across the Archdiocese of Chicago are providing accompaniment to anyone feeling the need to pray during this time. The prayer partners are available via a phone line staffed from 9 am to 9 pm daily, as well as 24-hour voicemail and e-mail connections.
Learn more
.
If you would like to submit a prayer request online
, please
access the online form on our website
. Currently, we share these requests with Fr. Bob and the Friars of St. Peter's and include these prayer requests in the weekly Sunday intercessions.
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance,
such as grocery shopping, pharmacy pickup, meals, etc., please leave a voicemail with Mary Catherine Meek at (708) 434-1533 or email
[email protected]
.
Would you like us to update
your email or know someone who would like to be added to this distribution list? Please email
[email protected]
.
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We know this is a difficult time for many. This is a uniquely difficult time for our parish as well as we rely greatly on donations received during the offertory collection at Mass. Because we will not be gathering in person we ask you to consider donating online or by mail. If you are able, please make a contribution. Your donation helps support all of the important work we do. While we won’t be gathering in person this year, our work continues.
You can donate online to the Sunday or Easter collection by using a credit card or checking account via our
GiveCentral webpage
, or by texting 'Easter' to (708) 400-7396 with a smart phone, or mail your gifts to Ascension Church, 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304.
Thank you for your generosity!
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808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 848-2703
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