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

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

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 Ascension Catholic Church

Mission Statement

This program is designed to foster the spiritual growth of high school teens by drawing them into responsible participation in the life, vision and work of the faith community. Youth Ministry is composed of teens living in the parish and adults who serve as mentors through participation in various activities. The program is led by a full-time Director of Youth Ministry who works to implement various activities designed to meet the goals of the group. Youth Ministry assists in the development and sharing of teens' unique gifts with the larger community in areas of education, spirituality, service and social activities.

If you have any other questions or would like to take part in one of our programs, please contact Dan Lawler (Director of Youth Ministry) at 708.434.1555 or e-mail.

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We are looking for your input! We have developed surveys for teens and parents that gives us feedback about programs that you would be interested in attending. Please take a few minutes to complete them!
Youth Survey	Parent Survey
Upcoming Events Open Gym - Co-ed Volleyball Night on 2/7 at 6:00 pm Come work at PADS on Friday February 19th Teen Takeover Applications are due 2/24 Just5Days Junior High Service Trip Applications
View the complete Youth Ministry Calendar Download our Program Overview to keep on hand

Teen Takeover Every year the doors of Ascension are opened to teens from the community. The school, gym, and church become the home of high school students for 25 hours as they explore the real issues that teens face. From Friday night to Saturday night, we play games, share our stories, and grow together. This retreat is put on by a team of 20 teens and 5 adults who spend the year preparing. More information can be found here.

Freshmen & Sophomore Retreat Looking for a chance to get away from the holiday rush? Need a break from school? During the winter we are offering a chance for freshmen or sophomores to do just that. It’ll be a fun filled two days that will help build community in Oak Park/River Forest and let you explore your faith. Teens from St. Luke’s, St. Giles, and Ascension will gather together to build community.

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) ASP is a program that is devoted to helping make the homes of people in need in KY, WV, VA, and TN warmer, safer, and drier. Groups of Ascension teens have been participating in this program for over 10 years. The program has grown considerably so that in recent years, we have been taking from 10 to 12 work crews to Appalachia. A work crew is comprised of 5 teens and 2 adults, one of whom serves in the capacity of carpenter. Throughout the year, teens and adults participate in fundraising and formation meetings to prepare for the experience. Applications are turned in during the fall so be on the lookout for next years trip. Go to ASP page

Young Neighbors In Action (YNIA) YNIA is a much smaller program than ASP. We usually send about 20 teens and 4 adults on this trip. Projects vary and can include construction, making meals for prisoners, and running day camp programs for children. The focus of this trip is a mixture of cultural issues, Catholic social teaching, and serving the poor. Like ASP, this program requires a year of fundraising and formation. Applications for the 2010 trip will be available soon. Go to YNIA page

Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) As the fall begins, so does the need for volunteers to help staff the PADS program. Every third Friday of the month, teens help prepare and serve dinner for homeless people from the area. We meet at 6:30 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park (305 Circle Ave). All teens are welcome but we ask that you RSVP by the Wednesday before. If you are interested in donating food or your time, call to get your name on the volunteer list. Go to PADS Website

Open Gym
All high school students are invited to come play basketball, volleyball, or any other games you want. Pizza and pop will be provided. We meet the first Sunday of every month following the 5:00 p.m. Mass.