Ascension Catholic Church

Ascension Church
808 S. East Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304

Phone: (708) 848-2703
Fax: (708) 848-2773

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Staff

Fr. Larry McNally - Pastor

Fr. McNally was ordained by Cardinal Cody on May 11th 1977. He served in parishes on the southwest side of Chicago, St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Nativity BVM and Queen of the Universe, for approximately seventeen years. He then moved to the northwest side of Chicago to a parish named Our Lady of Victory for seven years and then spent one year in Oak Park at St. Edmund’s. Fr. McNally came to Ascension as our ninth pastor in January of 2003 and began his second term on July 1st, 2007. Fr. McNally says, "I love being a priest. I love being here at Ascension. I pray for our family of Ascension everyday."

Victoria Tufano - Pastoral Associate/Director of Liturgy

Vicky Tufano is Pastoral Associate and Director of Liturgy. She directs the Christian initiation process for adults who are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, and for those baptized in other Christian denominations who are preparing for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church. She also oversees the adult formation and spirituality programs in the parish, and the many liturgical ministries. Vicky holds an M.A. in liturgical studies and a Master of Divinity, both from the University of Notre Dame, and a BA in English from Western Illinois University. She has served as a diocesan director of liturgy and as an editor of liturgical materials. She writes about liturgy and Christian initiation and teaches about these topics around the archdiocese and the country.

David Anderson - Director of Music

David Anderson serves as the Director of Music. As Music Director, he serves as the principal organist and directs the four choirs of the parish. He also coordinates the cantors and is responsible for the monthly ecumenical prayer in the Spirit of Taizé. David also prepares music for the religious education and school liturgies and assists families and couples with funeral and wedding music. David's most important work at the parish is to foster and promote vibrant assembly singing at Sunday Eucharist. He is also very concerned with ways to promote and encourage a deeper prayer and spiritual life with the members of our parish. David studied organ, church music and conducting at the University of Illinois,Champaign and Concordia Univeristy Chicago, where he received the Master of Church Music degree. Post-graduate studies in liturgy and choral conducting were taken at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago and Westminster Choir College in Princeton.

Christine Ondrla - Director of Religious Education

Christine directs the Religious Education program at Ascension. The program offers religious education classes K-8 for students who attend public schools and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Christine assists families who are preparing their children to celebrate the sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation and works with children of elementary school age who are seeking Baptism. As Director, she also provides resources for and works with teachers at Ascension school in the area of Religion and preparation for school liturgies. Christine and her husband, Tom, have three children and seven grandchildren. She holds a B.A. in Theology and Education and a Masters degree in Religious Education from Loyola. She currently writes the Catholic Corner page of the Children’s Bulletins published by World Library Publications.

Lynn Fredrick - Director of Institutional Advancement

Lynn is the Director of Advancement for the parish, overseeing parish communications and fundraising programs. Lynn joined the Ascension staff in 2001, opening a development office for Ascension School. Her position expanded to include parish responsibilites in 2008. Lynn writes and publishes the parish and school newsletters and e-communications. With Dan Lawler, she is responsible for website content. She is the staff contact for many parish events, including the auction, the variety show, the bags tournament, fish frys and all school alumni programs. Lynn and her husband, Jim, have five children, three of them grown and two in high school. Her checkered resume includes many years of bookstore management and a number of years teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has a BS in English and an MFA in Dance.

Dan Lawler - Director of Youth Ministry

Dan began his position as Director of Youth Ministry in September of 2004. He coordinates the high school programs including ASP, YNIA, Teen Takeover, Freshman Sophomore Retreat, and PADS. He is supported by the Youth Ministry Board who helps set the vision for the ministry. Dan has been involved in youth ministry since high school. He graduated from the University of Dayton in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies and spent a year working at the LaSalle Manor Retreat Center previous to Ascension. Dan is also responsible for technology support at the parish.

Neil Heskin - Business Manager

Neil Heskin joined the Ascension Staff in September, 2006 as Business Manger. The Business Manager is responsible for the Parish Office, Parish and Archdiocese financial reporting including the Budget and Annual reports, cash management and maintenance of the Parish buildings and grounds. Neil graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. He worked for 4 years at Price Waterhouse as an auditor where he earned his CPA Certificate. He then worked as a Controller for 2 years in the furniture industry and 10 years with CBS Musical Instruments Division. Neil and his wife, Kathy, opened and operated a Catholic Christian bookstore in Arlington Heights for 20 years. After that, he was the Business Manager for 3 years at Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg. Neil and Kathy have been involved in Marriage and Family Ministry since 1977 and are currently working in the Ascension Marriage Mentor program. Neil earned his Master's in Pastoral Studies from Loyola's Institute of Pastoral Studies in 1996. His hobbies include golf, sports, bridge and spending time with his family. Neil lives in Melrose Park with his wife of 42 years, Kathy. They have 3 married sons and 4 grandchildren. Kathy is Associate Professor at Dominican University where she is Director of the Master's in Leadership for Family Ministry and the Bachelor's in Pastoral Ministry.

Mary Jo Burns - Principal

Mary Jo Burns is principal of Ascension Parish School serving children aged 3 through Grade 8. The school's current enrollment is 470 students, with teaching and support staff of 40 persons. In 2007 Ascension School was recognized by the Department of Education for academic excellence and named as a Blue Ribbon School. The principal works closely with all parish staff members and an advisory school board elected by the parish at large.

Mary Jo has a masters' degree and certification in educational administration from Northeastern Illinois University, and a masters degree in religious education from Loyola University. She has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of St. Francis. For 16 years, she taught religion and English at the high school level. For ten years, she worked as a consultant to schools and the Superintendent in the Office of Catholic Schools in the religion and high school divisions.

Lendell and Tina Richardson - Deacon Couple

Roger and Betty Vandervest - Deacon Couple

Joe and Kathie Walsh - Deacon Couple

Administrative Staff

Rosemarie Nowicki

Mary Pat Landa

Kathy Marifjeren - Religious Education Assistant

Vic Scodius