Ascension Church
808 S. East Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304708/848-2703
A Brief History of Our Parish
The date is July 3, 1907. It was warm in Chicago that day, with the temperature standing at 95 plus. A young clergyman, of unmistakable Irish ancestry and with a thick crop of dark brown wavy hair, stepped off the "L" at the Gunderson station in Oak Park.
What went through his mind when he took his first look at the Oak Park surroundings is problematical. But it would be safe to say that what Reverend Thomas J. McDevitt saw was a largely unpopulated prairie in the beginning phases of suburban development. Everywhere there were unpaved streets. A few shacks bearing the signs of subdivision developers gave a hint of the dreams of those who would build the largest village in the world.
Father McDevitt walked alone on that memorable day. He had just come from an interview with the beloved churchman and diocesan head, His Excellency Archbishop James E. Quigley, with a commission to found a parish in the newly opened south section of Oak Park. Like every priest dedicated to parish work this was the realization of his many years of study and dreaming and waiting and praying. He was a pastor. He had a flock of his own. Here was to be his church. Here his people were to have their own homes.
— an excerpt from the Golden Jubilee booklet, 1957
This article was on file at the office of the Catholic New World. Descriptions in italics are things that have changed at Ascension since the dedication.
The new Ascension Church in Oak Park recently dedicated by His Eminence, the Cardinal (Mundelein) is a remarkably congruous example of the Italian Romanesque style of architecture, every detail being in perfect keeping with the design of the structure. The exterior is of Indiana limestone, with mission tile roofs (replaced in 2000). A large dome surmounted by a statue of Christ ascending into Heaven is illuminated at night by indirect lighting. At either end of the (exterior) transept, mosaics have been set into the stone, a star above the end holding the nativity window (restored in 2000) and at the opposite end, a dove about the window showing Christ teaching in the temple.
MOSAICS BETWEEN ARCHES
There are also mosaics set between the arches of the pillars of the façade, the four mosaics forming the letters A. M. D. G. while with the portico, just above the main door are the Arms of His Eminence, the Cardinal. Ascension Church was designed by the firm of Meyer and Cook, architects, while the contractor was Patrick Warren of the Mutual Construction Company. The interior of the church has the classic nobility of line and proportion and the brilliant delicacy of coloring that one associates with the Italian Romanesque. The frescoes are painted in the manner that prevailed in Italy when this style was at its height. There is an archaic grace about the figures portrayed that is appealing, while the colors, especially a certain light blue, are those frequently found in the work of the old Tuscan and Sienese painters. There are done with a vegetable paint that does not peel, and can be washed.
MAIN FRESCO
The principal fresco, of course, is that of the Ascension, (replaced by a crucifixion scene in the 1950s) which occupies the upper part of the sanctuary. There are also pictures of the four evangelists on the pendants (repainted with symbols of the seven sacraments in the 1950s). A symbolic figure of a dove, and the papal arms are portrayed on the sides of one transept while a figure symbolizing the Holy Trinity, and the arms of His Eminence, the Cardinal, are painted on the sides of the other transept. The Annunciation is portrayed above the Blessed Virgin's altar; and the Holy Family above St. Joseph's altar. The figures of the four major prophets, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Daniel, with the figures of four angels are portrayed in the sanctuary, just below the great mural of the Ascension (now covered by red marble). The decorations of the church is all the work of Conrad Smith. The altar is a semi-baldacchino altar of marble imported from Italy by the McBride Studios and mosaic. The communion rail and the pulpit are also of marble and mosaic. Panels of mosaic alternate with inset pillars in the communion rail, which has doors of wrought bronze. (The pillars from the communion rail now support the new altar and form the Paschal Candle holder.) A mosaic of Christ teaching is on the face of the pulpit, with the symbolic figures of the four evangelists set at each corner in marble relief work. The acoustics of the church are flawless, which is quite an achievement on account of the dome. The acoustic materials used in the walls were furnished by the Acoustic Engineering Company.
INNOVATION IN HEATING SYSTEM
The church is heated by concealed radiation, put in by the Modine company-the first use here of this type of heating in a Catholic church. The ordinary radiator is not used. A unit, something like an automobile radiator, is inside the wall, and the heat is transmitted to the interior of the church through a register in the wall, the heat varying with the height of the register from the unit. Another interesting and unique feature is the movable track on which the lights of the dome are set, so that the lights can be changed without the erection of a scaffolding. The track moves around to the openings in the dome, through which the lights can be changed. This is this first time this has been worked out and it should prove very popular in churches with domes.
TERRAZZO FLOORS
The walls are plaster and the floor is of terrazzo, that in the Sanctuary and in the aisles of the church being of pattern or inlaid terrazzo (whereas the sacristy is poured terrazzo just like the Pine Room floor), being used in a church in the United States for the first time. (the terrazzo was covered with carpeting for nearly 30 years.) The pews and the confessionals are of five-ply oak, the ends of the pews being carved. There is a fine carving on the Confessionals as well as finely wrought bronze gratings. The Manitowac Church Furnishing company supplied the pews. There is a large organ (replaced in 2004) in the balcony as well as an echo organ, operated from the balcony but the sound of which comes through open grills in the Sanctuary. The windows were imported from Munich by Franz Mayer, the most important being the rose window of Christ the King (restored in 2004) over the organ. On either side of the church, the lower windows depict scenes from the life of Christ and His Mother. The upper windows on one side of the nave depict St. David, St. Edward, St. William, St. Anthony, St. Francis, St. Malachy, St. Stanislaus, St. Aloysius, St. Alphonsus, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Opposite are portrayed St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa, St. Anne, St. Rose, St. Agnes, St. Ursula, St. Angela, St. Cecelia, and St. Joan of Arc. The windows in the transepts represent the minor prophets and the Greek and Latin doctors of the Church.
BRONZE STATIONS
The Stations of the Cross, imported for the church by Koenig, are of bronze relief work, and each has individual lighting. The vestibule is of Mankato stone, or Mankato marble as it is sometimes known. The doors are brass studded and very handsome. The baptistery, (now the courtyard entrance) the room for the ushers, and the Sacristies, are all spacious and convenient. The entire church has a classic spaciousness, with a typically Italian loveliness of color that is characteristic of the Italian Romanesque
PARISH FORMED IN 1907
The Ascension Parish was organized on July 3, 1907, and Father McDevitt was the first pastor. The first services were held in a club house, when the congregation numbered eighty families. In 1908, the old Phoenix Club was purchased and used until 1912, when a combination school and church building was built. Work on the new church was begun in November 1928, the altar was consecrated on June 4 of 1929, and the present church seating 1,100 was dedicated on June 15, 1930.
ASCENSION TODAY
Ascension Parish in Oak Park is a Catholic community called to proclaim, reflect on, and live the Gospel. Our desire to follow Jesus inspires us to continue the rich traditions of our faith by supporting the spiritual growth of our members, celebrating the liturgical life of the community, and serving those in need within our Parish and beyond. Following the example of Jesus, we value the diversity of gifts in all people and all are welcome.In 2003, the Oak Park Historic Commission presented Ascension with an Historic Preservation Award.
On November 15, 2004, The Village of Oak Park presented Ascension Parish with a Cavalcade of Pride Award for Outstanding Property Maintenance.
On Thursday, January 6, 2005 a fire was discovered in the Usher's Room at Ascension Church. All of the contents of the room were destroyed and the room suffered major damage. The Church and new Pipe Organ suffered major smoke damage.
Ascension Church dedicated the new Berghaus Pipe Organ on Friday, May 20, 2005. The three manual, 37-rank organ was installed in the fall of 2004 following several years of fundraising. Several stops from the former 1929 Kilgen organ were used in the new instrument.
