Ascension Church

Beautiful church with a great ambience filled with spiritual people :).

Ascension is a large Catholic parish with a devoted and close knit group of parishioners. If you’re just going for mass, be prepared for long services (65 min+), nice homilies, a large beautiful space (lots of stained glass) and a majestic choir. If you’re contemplating joining, this is a vibrant, family-​friendly parish with dozens of groups to join if you so wish. These groups span the age spectrum from toddler/​parent playgroups to teen youth groups all the way to New Horizons (for those 55+) and serve both the more contemplative (Women’s and Men’s Spirituality Groups) and the more active (Peace and Justice Committee, St Vincent de Paul Society). I’ve heard it said that Ascension is a culture unto itself, and indeed the parishioners will embrace you as family if you embrace them. Although being situated in liberal Oak Park makes this place a little more left leaning than most Catholic churches, some of Ascension’s more conservative and outspoken parish families have seen to it that it never loses its roots in Catholic Tradition. The current pastor Larry McNally is a skinny Southsider whose sense of humor, warmth and willingness to be courageously honest keep him beloved among Ascensioners. He’s got his work cut out for him to keep this community «catholic» in the literal sense of the word («universal») and keep the bald man with the red hat in Chicago happy.

It’s what you would expect.