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Our Lady of the Ridge
10838 S. Oxford Drive, Chicago Ridge

Pastor: Father Paul C. Burak
Masses: Saturdays 5 p.m./ Sundays 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.
Seating capacity: 700
Phone: (708) 425-3800
Parish Founded: 1948
Website: www.ourladyoftheridge.com
Photo By: Sandy Bertog

Parish Pride
by Dolores Madlener

Our Lady of the Ridge
10838 S. Oxford Drive, Chicago Ridge

From 1948's first makeshift building for worship, this parish has witnessed the dedication of its present $2-million modern edifice by Cardinal George in 2000. Doubling the capacity of their previous church, worshipers now sit in two semi-circular sections facing one another, "praying for we; not me." There are no strangers here. There is also no shortage of volunteers for a variety of activities and services. Need a ride to church-there's a volunteer. A worship team gathers everyone from altar servers to lectors, ushers and priests for regular planning sessions. A variety of musicians and choirs help to lift the congregation's voices. There are holy hours; and intercessory as well as healing prayer groups. A telephone request to the rectory for prayers launches the Prayer Line, which links to many eager pray-ers by a phone chain. Grief outreach, pro-life ministry, men and women's clubs, and even a monthly parish coffee house with entertainment, all serve to build community.