Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish 920 Granville Avenue Park Ridge, Illinois 60068 847/825-3153 Fax 847/825-3484 Sept. 21, 2008 Dear Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parishioner, As you know St. Paul of the Cross in collaboration with the other churches that are part of the Park Ridge Ecumenical Ministerial Association have proposed to tiie city that we offer a P.A.DSS. ministry one night a week to the homeless al St. Paul, This debate about this proposal has opened up many thoughts, concerns, hearts, and opinions. The meetings have been filled with emotion making it difficult to sort out what is being said on all sides. Perhaps you can offer some wisdom. You can make a difference. Be a part of this important discussion, We are inviting you to email or phone all of the Park Ridge city council aldermen. Tt should not be a surprise to you, nor are we trying to hide the fact, that we are hoping that you will email or phone in support of the P.A.D.S, ministry. We encourage everyone to write so that our aldermen can have an accurate understanding of how people feel. Currently the city building and zoning committee has stated that a P.A.D.S, ministry must be 500 feet from a building also used as a school. This, along with all the other proposed recommendations as reported by the Park Ridge Advocate, would make it difficult, if not impossible, to have this ministry in Park Ridge. Please get involved and email the mayor and aldermen before the Sept. 29 city council meeting. Hopefully you can express your opposition to the severe restrictions that would prevent the churches from performing their ministry. Thank you Sincerely, Reverend Gerald Gunderson Pastor City Council Information Mayor Howard P. Frimark — hfrimark@parkridgeus (847/692-3733) City Clerk Betty W. Henneman ~ bhennemaf@parkridge.us (847/823-3689) Aldermen: Ward 1 David Schmidt ~ dschmidt@cmn-law.com (847/430-3165) Ward 2: Richard A. DiPietro —tichd@erosstechine.com (847/698-2471) Ward 3: Donald Bach ~- docboo7957@ameritech.net (847/698-3654) Ward 4: James Allegretti — jalleeretti@sbeglobal.net (847/825-8080) Ward 5: Robert Ryan ~ bibandrobert@comeast.net (847/692-7328) Ward 6: ‘Thomas Carey- carey407@comeastnet (847/975-9474) Ward 7: Frank Wsol ~ frankwsol@juno.com (847/823-6247)September 21, 2008 A ps or It took two priests toil! his shoes back at Mary, Seat of Wisdom. EpFrank Jenks has s presider and preacher at daily and Sundy Masses and involving himself part-titge in other parish activities. During fe summer Fr John Fitz~ Herbert, currently a doctoral candidate at Catholic Theologi¢al Union, assisted with Masses. Although Fr Fitz-Hetgert won't be on the weekly schedule in the months ahead, he will be helping with Sunday Masses occasionally.{t remains our hope that a full time associate pastor will be assigned tg our parish in the future. In the meantime, two religious sistersthave agreed to assist with pastoral ministry in our parish on a part-time basis. ‘They are Sistefs of the Living Word whose motherhouse is in Arlington Heights. Sr Joanne IngogliaySLW has been a parish member for several years. She has volunteered before as catechtist in'the RE program. She will be assisting with the Ministry of Care and adult programs. She is also available for counseling and spiritual direction. Sr Mary Louise ‘Coctimiglio, SLWI has been a full-time pastoral associate in parishes near Detroit for 20 years. She recently. moved to our area to be closer to her religious community. She will be helping with Preparation for marriage and other sacraments and following up with newly rogisteretiparishioners. The sisters have each assumed a portion of parish pastoral ministry and will work in collaboration with other members of the parish staff. It took two priests and two sisters to replace Fr. Michael? WOW! On September 29" the City Council will consider the amendment to the city code to permit overnight shelter in Park Ridge. What came out of the Planning and Zoning Commission were some extremely restrictive recommendations. The recommendations would prohibit at least 14 of 17 churches including St Paul to provide this ministry. Urge your alderman not to approve the severe restrictions when this issue comes to a vote. Be alert to announcements in the next two weeks about what actions you might take to help remove the obstacles to the opening of the PADS SHELTLER On October 5" PADS SHELTERS in surrounding communities will open. ‘The shelter at St Paul will not be able to open as hoped. However, supporters of PADS will be asked to gather that evening to publicly lament the sadness and disappointment we feel’that THE doors of St Paul will remain locked due to factors outs'de the control of the parish and resulting in the homeless being kept outside. More details about October 5" will be announced next weekend. Your brother in Christ, Fr Jerry Gunderson