Parish Sprittual Life

Spiritual Life Commission: To create and coordinate programs that encourage spiritual growth, worship, stewardship and evangelization.

One of the challenges facing the Art & Environment ministry is to assist in making the liturgical experience as meaningful as possible. Our environment is the building, the church space, where liturgies are held. Every aspect of that space affects the way we become involved . The sacred axis of our new church from the baptismal font, through the ambo, cross, altar to the tabernacle, along with the acoustics and lighting all contribute to the liturgical experience. Our antiphonal (in the round) seating keeps us alert and involved. The gathering space equipped with its fireplace invites all to community. Our Lady of the Ridge is now state of the art and yet still rich with tradition. The artwork and décor which changes with each liturgical season has endless possibilities. Minimal décor is all that is necessary to get the message across. Our parish breaths beauty, reverence and praise in its simplicity of art in its unique environment.

This ministry is one of the churches oldest, beginning around the end of the first century. The ministers assist with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at all weekday and Sunday Liturgies. Once a year, an evening of reflection and prayer is scheduled. This gives the ministers a chance to meet with each other outside a liturgical setting.

To become a Eucharistic Minister, you must be a practicing Catholic, a member of the O.L.O.R. Parish and approved by the pastor. There are two, two hour training classes that you must attend before you are mandated. If you have any questions or you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister, please leave your name, address and phone number at the rectory and the parish coordinator will contact you.

“Could you not watch one hour with me?”

Everyone is invited. We pray in thanksgiving to God.

We praise and adore Him. We pray in reparation for our sins and those of the whole world. We pray for a quiet peace. We have no officers or dues, just a love for Jesus. We just pray and once in a while we sing. We are answering his call. Jesus just wants us to love him!!! Here we are Lord; We come to do your will.

Our Lady of the Ridge Lay Carmelites, Third Order, is open to all Catholics at least 17 years old, married or single, ALL ARE WELCOME. The Carmelites meet the first Sunday of every month at the Parish Center, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, please call the Rectory.

To proclaim The Word of the Lord! To share our faith and love of God with our brothers and sisters, indeed to all who will listen, that I Believe. I believe what I say, when I read "Word of the Lord". At Mass on Sundays, on Holy Days and Vigils, every morning at daily Mass, you will see us. We are lectors! Our ministry is the first half of the Liturgy. To set the tone for the Eucharistic Celebration. If you have a good strong voice that carries and if you've caught yourself saying "I could do that " or “I would like to read The Word” then maybe you are being called to join us. Consider this your invitation. Call the rectory with your name and phone number, and someone will call you.

Periodic training meeting and spiritual formation sessions are held for all lectors. New lectors are scheduled after such training.

O.L.O.R. Ministers of Care are a dedicated group of volunteers who visit and bring the Blessed Sacrament to those in our community who no longer are able to worship with us due to unforeseen circumstances, illness or nursing home care. Currently we have about 60 ministers visiting our homebound. They also visit the residents at Lexington and Southwest Suburban Health Care facilities. Other ministers visit the surrounding hospitals, Palos Community, Christ, St. Francis, and Little Company of Mary. The ministers assure our parishioners with kind words and prayers from their faith community. We are always in need of new ministers so please call the rectory to be set up in the next training or if our ministers can be of service to you.

The Intercessory Prayer group was formed in 1993. It started with twelve very dedicated parishioners. They all felt God was calling them together to pray, share scripture, and share music. We have always prayed for the priests, church, and our parish families. We also agree that there is a great need today for intercessory prayer not only for our local community, but for needs everywhere including government, military, police, fire fighters, end of abortion, schools, teachers, unemployment, the abused, the addicted and the list goes on. We sponsor a healing Mass on the first Friday of every month. We have prayer teams that pray individually with those in need. On the other Fridays, we have our prayer meeting at the Parish Center from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. A petition book, located near the statue of Mary in the church, is there for our parishioners to express their needs to Jesus and also to thank Him for prayers answered. We bring this book to our Friday meetings and we pray for all the petitions. Won’t you come pray with us! For information, please leave your name and phone number at the Rectory.

Our Prayer Line is very important to the parishioners. The rectory receives phone calls Monday through Friday from those in need with special requests for prayer. These requests are turned over to the first caller, who after praying for the petitions then calls the primary callers. The primary callers will pray over the petitions and then call their “prayers”. These primary callers may have up to 4 “prayers”. The “prayers” then pray for the intentions. There are several teams that change off every week. We are always looking for more volunteers so if you are interested, please leave your name and phone number at the rectory. Those in this ministry have expressed that the rewards for praying for our fellow parishioners are endless

The Ministry of Sacristans of Our Lady of the Ridge of the Little Flower is one of quiet hidden service to our church. We are the ones who clean and keep the sanctuary and sacristy in order. We care for all the sacred linens, vessels, vestments, altar vessels, candles and anything needed for Divine worship. We are dedicated to The Little Flower (St. Theresa) who herself was a sacristan. We follow her little way of doing all things well for the love of God. In Sacristy work there are many little tasks that need to be done everyday. Our Sacristy teams take turns doing the work for that week. Every 6 weeks a team is scheduled to work that week. At this time we are blessed to have seven teams. Our work is a work of love for God and God's people at Our Lady of the Ridge. We are always looking for more parishioners who would like to join this sacred ministry. Our prayer Is:

ST. THERESA, THE LITTLE FLOWER HELP US TO DO OUR WORK FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. TO DO ALL THINGS WELL ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE JOBS THAT NO ONE WILL SEE. HELP ME TO DO MY WORK IN A SPIRIT OF QUIET, PEACE AND JOY. HELP US, OH LITTLE FLOWER, TO REMEMBER HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.

If you are interested in joining us you are most WELCOME. Please call the Rectory.

The Worship Ministry team was formed to coordinate liturgy planning. It brings together representatives of those who currently serve our parish as Acolytes, Art and Environment, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Music Ministers, Presiders and Ushers. In addition, parishioners at large were called upon to be part of the team. The Worship Ministry Team focuses on identifying aspects which already make liturgy special to our parish family. The team plays a large part in the planning for the ongoing enhancement of future liturgy at Our Lady of the Ridge.