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Our Lady of Victory Pastor to Lead Polish Outreach for Archdiocese

 The Rev. Robert Fedek has led Our Lady of Victory in Jefferson Park since 2010.
The Rev. Robert Fedek has led Our Lady of Victory in Jefferson Park since 2010.
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Our Lady of Victory

JEFFERSON PARK — The pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish will lead the Archdiocese of Chicago's effort to reach out to Polish Catholics in Chicago, officials said.

The Rev. Robert Fedek, who has led the Jefferson Park church since 2010, will lead the archdiocese's outreach through the Polish Ministry Council also known as Rada ds. Duszpasterstwa Polonijnego.

Our Lady of Victory, 5246 W. Agatite Ave., will also host the ministry, which will move from its current location at the Cardinal Meyer Center in the Oakland neighborhood on the South Side, officials said.

The move, effective July 1, is part of an effort to decentralize the archdiocese operations, said Monsignor Richard Hynes, who will oversee the ministry.

Placing the ministry "within a parish environment creates a stronger bond with the people they are meant to serve," Hynes said.

Jefferson Park, and the Far Northwest Side, is home to many Polish Chicagoans, according to Census data.

The ministries are designed "to recognize and celebrate the traditions and meet the needs of our incredible Catholic family," Archbishop Blase Cupich said.

In addition to the Polish ministry at Our Lady of Victory, three other ministries will be led by Chicago pastors. They are:

• The Asian Catholic initiative will be led by the Rev. Aloy Funtila, pastor of St. Hilary Parish, 5600 N. Fairfield Ave. in West Ridge.
• The Black Catholic initiative will be led by the Rev. David Jones, pastor of St. Benedict the African East Parish, 340 W. 66th St. in Engelwood.
• The Native American initiative will be led by the Rev. Jason Malave, pastor of St. Benedict Parish, 2215 W. Irving Park Road in North Center. The Kateri Center of Chicago will continue to serve American Indian Catholics at 3938 N. Leavitt St., officials said.

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