Welcome to St. Edmund Parish, Oak Park, IL

The St. Edmund Parish Website incorporates information and news about St. Edmund Parish, the first Roman Catholic Parish in Oak Park, and includes weekly updates about St. Edmund School, educating children pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade.   

(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 May 13, 2012 **

• Sunday, May 13, is the last Sunday 6pm liturgy until it resumes again on September 16.Please make note of this change and plan to attend mass at a different time.

• Thursday, May 17, the Catholic Social Teaching Study group will meet in Murphy Hall from 7:30pm - 9pm to continue our study of the Social Teachings of the Catholic church. The topic for discussion is Option for the Poor. All are invited to attend and participate in this inclusive and interactive discussion. For more information contact John Barrett at gabolga@aol.com  or Anthony Suarez-Abraham at asuarez@stedmund.org .

• Saturday, May 19—one week left to get your tickets for an Elegant Evening 2012...In Prime Time. Click on Special Events for the latest news and a preview of what's up for auction. Don't forget to buy your dinner and raffle tickets on-line at www.stedmund.givezooks.com  or in the Murphy Hall corridor after all the masses! Tickets are $50 each for cash prizes of (1) $5,000, (1) $3,000 and (1) $2,000.

• Monday, May 28, the Memorial Day mass will take place at 10am. Begin the holiday day by worshipping with us!

• Friday-Sunday, July 27-29, is the Parish Camping Trip. Consider joining fellow parishioners at the Crazy Horse Campground,  located in Brodhead, WI. Reservations are needed (which you can make on-line or by telephone). Use the number #G67019 when you make your reservation. The lodging site is 72 for St. Edmund Parish. A waiver of liability form is required. Please call Kathy Halfpenny at 708-386-1832 for more information.

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• Religious Instruction (Contact Peggy Leddy, 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. For more information click here or contact Peggy.

  • Adult Confirmation Sessions. Baptized Catholics,18 and older, who are not yet confirmed, are invited to contact Peggy for information about preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Registration is now open and sessions start soon.

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

• Religious Study

  • The Catholic Social Teaching Study Group continue its studies Thursdays in  Murphy Hall from 7:30pm - 9pm.  For additional information contact John Barrett at gabolga@aol.com or Director of Liturgy, Anthony Suarez-Abraham at asuarez@stedmund.org.

  • Join our First Tuesday Group, a faith sharing group which reads and discusses the three scripture passages for the upcoming weekend masses. We meet the first Tuesday of every month and each week during Lent from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. Please call Kathy Halfpenny at 708-386-1832 or email at halfpenny@stedmund.org for the location.

  • Join us for our Third Thursday at St. Edmund series, presentations and discussions on spiritual and theological issues, at 7:30pm in Murphy Hall. For more information please contact Anthony Suarez-Abraham at asuarez@stedmund.org

  • Centering Prayer Group, Saturdays at 9:15  a.m. in the church. All are welcome.

  • Friday Morning Bible Study of the Old Testament, Book of Isaiah is held in Murphy Hall on consecutive Friday mornings from 9:00 am - 10:30 am. All are welcome.  For more information, call the Parish Center office at 708-848-4417.

  • Wednesday Evening Bible Study of the Gospel according to John meets from 7:00pm - 9:00 pm in the Parish School resource room. There is a small fee for materials. For more information, contact Mary Lynn Dietsche mldietsche@gmail.com .

  •  Evening Parish Scripture Study Series, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., in the Parish School. Contact  For details contact Anthony, at asuarez@stedmund.org .

• Parish Service Opportunities and Groups

  • The St. Edmund PADS ministry has been staffing an overnight emergency shelter in Oak Park for over 15 years.  This is the parish’s largest ministry and needs your help to have another successful PADS season, October, 2011-May, 2012. We are looking for Breakfast Teams and Overnight Volunteers. If interested please contact Deacon Tom Dwyer at tdwyer@comcast.net or 708-214-1084.

  • Consider joining the St. Edmund Music Ministry and one of our parish choirs!  Join us on Wednesdays 7:30-9pm in the choir loft. Choirs serve at the 5:30pm Saturday mass and the 11:30am Sunday mass. Auditions for vocalists are not needed. Click here for details, and contact music director Kathy Halfpenny at 708-386-1832 or via e-mail at khalfpenny@stedmund.org .

  • It is not too late to join the Children’s Choir! Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4:30pm in Murphy Hall. The choir sings at the Sunday 9:30am mass once a month and is open to any child who is able to read. This is a great way to involve your children in the liturgy, help them grow in their understanding, and deepen their faith. Contact Kathy Halfpenny at 708-386-1832 for more information.

  • Join the St. Edmund Book Club, The Living Room: Explorations of Faith in Literature and Film. The group meets once a month in a comfortable, casual and friendly environment to explore the richness of faith in classic literature and selected films. For details, and monthly selections, see this week's Echoes or contact the Parish Office.

  • St. Edmund Young Adults (SEYA) welcomes all parishioners in their 20s and 30s to visit their blogspot, http://www.saintedmundyoungadults.blogspot.com

  • Parents with young children (newborn - 3 years of age) are invited to join the New St. Edmund Parents Group (New StEPs). This informal play group meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month from 9-11am in room 154 of the parish school. All are welcome! Please contact Ele Santini at elyte1@comcast.net for more information.

  • 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. If you are interested in joining or need additional information, please contact parishioner Mari Hans via email at marithans@comcast.net  or call her at 708-848-6208.

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

  • The St. Edmund Mixed Bowling League meets on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 5:45 pm at Circle Lanes in Forest Park. If you are interested, please contact Carole Murphy at 708-771-6018 or email her at carole.murphy3@att.net .

• And.....

  • We Need the Generosity of Every Parishioner! The easiest and most convenient way to remember your weekly collection is to sign up for automatic electronic withdrawal. It is a very safe method of support and helps the parish know exactly what it can count on from week to week. Additionally, there are many people who do not financially support their parish at all, and we need the help of everyone! Please consider what you are able to give and sign up for automatic electronic withdrawal today! Click here  for a downloadable form.

  • Saint Edmund parishioners are strongly urged to subscribe to the Parish Listserv. Send an email using the address you wish to use to receive posts addressed to the following address: imailsrv@stedmund.org. Leave the subject line empty and write the following in the body of the e-mail: Subscribe stedmund <your name as you wish to see it displayed>. Except for your name, the command is case sensitive.  For full details, see the October 31, 2010 Echoes.

  • Monthly Wedding Anniversary Sunday is held at all masses on the first Sunday of the month. A special blessing is bestowed on all couples who will celebrate their anniversary in that month.

  • Our sharing parish is St. Simeon Parish, Bellwood, IL.  Click here for the church web site.

  • Purchase MANNA Certificates;  click on St. Edmund School page for details. Credit cards are accepted.

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