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

Lendell and Tina Richardson - Deacon Couple

Roger and Betty Vandervest - Deacon Couple

Joe and Kathie Walsh - Deacon Couple

Pastoral Staff

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

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

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

Administrative Staff

Rosemarie Nowicki

Mary Pat Landa

Kathy Marifjeren - Religious Education Assistant

Vic Scodius

Annie McKay