On behalf of all of us here at St. Clare, I would like to express our gratitude for all of your Christmas cards, best wishes, gifts, and prayers—we appreciate them and with humility of hearts accept them. Thank you to ALL who made our Christmas season joyful and meaningful with music, decorations, and liturgical celebrations.  Thank You. Thank you for your participation and involvement. Your singing, prayers, love, dedication, and financial support are what makes this parish a vibrant, healthy, and faith-filled community. I hope you like our Christmas Gift.  Keep your stockings handy… a new gift is coming!  May God bless you and your families in this New 2017 Year. May it be safe and filled with signs and wonders from God. You are in our prayers and we ask for this favor on your part. 

Our prayerful thanks is extended to everyone who sent us Christmas wishes - cards, calls, prayers, and gifts.  Your thoughtfulness and generosity are deeply appreciated. Special thanks must go to our pastoral staff - Sr. Kathy, Janet, Suzie, Jozefa, Stephanie, Fr. Tom, Deacon Rich, Geoff, and Michael. Their untiring efforts and dedication help to ensure the smooth operation of our faith community. We also recognize the efforts of so many support staff members, volunteers, and organizations which help to make this time of year a season of goodwill and kindness to all of our parishioners.

As we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent and light the last candle on our Advent Wreath, we come to the conclusion of our advent journey. I would like to thank all of you for making this journey faith-filled especially with our music, decorations, faith commission, and hospitality ministries and its members. Thank you to all who participated in the new Advent adventures: “Roraty” Mass on Tuesday evening, #PrepareTheWay, children who brought food under the Advent tree, children who made fabulous seasonal art work by the Family Room, and those who brought up candles to our Advent wreath.  I think next year we will have to order more blue books as their popularity grows from year to year. Over all – thank you for this Advent – time of waiting and expecting great things from God. Be Bold. Be Holy. Be Catholic.

With the shout for joy – “Gaudete!” we approach the feast of Christmas. Christmas Concerts are scheduled this week for our enjoyment and to bring us closer to the spirit of the season. Thursday December 15, at 7:00 p.m. the children of our school will sing Christmas Carols. On Friday December 16, at 7:00 p.m. there is another Christmas concert by the Judelaires. Everyone is invited. Staying in the Christmas spirit, please visit Sr. Kathy’s column and enter your child or grandchild for the Christmas poster contest. The Christmas Pageant  on Christmas Eve at 6:00 p.m. is in need for young children to participate.  Please contact sreik@stclarem.org  with names and ages.  There will be a practice at 7:00 on Wednesday, December 22.

With over 60 games played in a ten day span at the gym, our second largest fundraiser has come to a close.  Thanks to all of the parents and volunteers who helped!  Congratulations to Coach Helen Srebernak’s 8th Grade Girls on winning the tournament.  They were led by Alexa Downey and Keely Conlan to defeat Shrine Catholic in the championship.  The 7th and 8th grade boys teams were both tournament runner-ups.