Families of Parishes

As  a Family of Parishes

Our Vision Statement is

We are a diverse family of parishes comprised of The Church of the Transfiguration, Divine Providence Lithuanian, Our Lady of La Salette, and Our Mother of Perpetual Help. We value each parish community, and we celebrate our unique heritages and traditions. Together, we strive to:

Foster Unity

Embrace our differences to strengthen our bond as a family.

Promote Inclusivity

Ensure everyone feels welcomed, respected, and loved in our spiritual home.

Nurture Growth

Support the spiritual, educational, and personal faith development of all our members.

Serve with Compassion

Reach out to those in need, embodying the love and mercy of Christ in our actions.

Celebrate Together

Cherish our shared faith through worship, sacraments, and joyful gatherings.

By living these values, we aim to build a vibrant and united family of parishes, shining the light of Christ in our wider community.

CLERGY

​Fr. Jeffrey Scheeler, OFM

Moderator   

​Fr. Sama Muma




Fr. Raphael Ozoude, OFM


Fr. Mark Soehner, OFM




​Rev. Mr. Daniel M. Darga

Our Lady of La Salette Church


Rev. Mr. Clem Stankiewicz (Retired)



From the Desk of Fr. Jeff

With the beginning of July, we enter a new phase of being a Family of Parishes. We wish Fr. Paul many blessings as he retires from Our Mother of Perpetual Help. We are grateful for his ministry, wisdom, and friendship.

Moving forward, the team serving all four parishes of our Family will be Fr. Jeff and Fr. Raphael of Transfiguration and periodically on weekends, Fr. John Vandenakker, CC.  Fr. John, who also assisted us during the past year, is a professor at Sacred Heart Seminary. We recently received the good news that Fr. Sama Muma will be assigned full time to our Family as well. Fr. Muma has served in several archdiocesan parishes, and most recently has been assisting in the archdiocese's mission in the Cayman Islands. He has family in Oak Park. Welcome Fr. Muma!

Fr. Jeff will continues to coordinate our efforts. We are all here to serve you and will do our best to be present and share the life of each parish. Please feel free to call any of us if there is a way we can assist. We will be available for funerals, weddings, baptism, meetings of if you jus need an ear. Please let us know if you or a loved one would like to be anointed or visited in hospital or at home. Once we get all settled we will make sure you have our contact information.


We plan to rotate among the parishes for weekday and weekend masses so you can meet all of us over time.  The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered at Transfiguration on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 AM and Saturday at 12:00PM.


A head's up: The Franciscan have what we call a "chapter" every three years during which we elect leadership and decide the priorities and set the direction for the province. Fr. Jeff and Fr. Raphael will participate in our chapter July 11-17 in St. Louis.  Fr. Raphael grandfather recently passed away; he will go to Nigeria August 9-31 to celebrate the funeral and visit a Family


We humbly ask God's blessing on this next phase of our journey together. We trust in God's grace and much good will and cooperation.

As the Archdiocese continues its restructuring process, our Family of Parishes is experiencing transitions . These shifts can naturally bring questions, uncertainty and a sense of disruption.

In this season of change, we ask for patience prayer and truss in the Holy Spirit guidance. Even as structures evolve, our mission remains the same: to grow as disciples, to care for one another, and to witness the love of Christ in our neighborhoods and beyond.


For our parish communities in times of change:

That may trust God's faithful presence, remain attentive to the Spirit's guidance, and support one another with patience and hope as our Family of Parishes moves through this season of transition. We pray to the Lord.


For all who feel unsettled by change:

That God may calm our fears, strengthen our trust and help us support one another with compassion as we navigate this season of transition. We pray to the Lord.


For our Family of Parishes in this time of Transition:

That we may remain rooted in Christ, open to the new paths God set before us, and united in our mission to serve with love, courage and trust. We pray to the Lord.


WHAT DO OUR PRIESTS SAY ABOUT THE FAMILY?

We remain separate parishes with our unique styles, flavors, and cultures, and so we are enriched by one another! But we are asked to work together as much as we can, sharing programs and even personnel. The archdiocese no longer uses the title “pastor” for us, but the unusual Latin-based canonical term “priests-in-solidum.” Basically, that means we are to work together “in solidarity,” as a team. So, we try to help each other out! Each priest has pastoral responsibility for all four parishes, but we have agreed by covenant who will take the lead at each parish.

-Fr. Jeff Scheeler

August Family of Parishes Prayer

Each year, the Holy Father asks for our prayers for a specific intention each month. You are invited to answer the Holy Father's request and to join with many people worldwide in praying for this intention each month..


For evangelization in the city



Let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.