As we finish the week of celebrations of the birth of our country and express our gratitude to all those past generations who made it what it is now we also give thanks for the church, school, family, for our own life as all of us are part of the fabric of our country, we are ready to enter the second half of this swiftly moving calendar year. During these weeks of summer, I will be presenting excerpts from Unleash the Gospel, the pastoral letter. Not in any particular order but something that is easy to grasp and remember providing us material for personal and parish reflection and perhaps discussion around our picnic tables, so let’s begin.

Now that summer is in full swing, vacations bring many visitors to our parishes. If you notice someone new please welcome them with a warm smile, simple greeting, or handshake. Thank you to the Knights and choir members for organizing the Mass of Thanksgiving for Fr. Tom Quirk last week at St. Clare and to all those who came to be with him and congratulate him. Fr. Tom, thank you for coming to St. Clare, for remembering your Alma Mater, and for your prayer for our parish and the new vocations to the priesthood and religious life. May God bless you in your priestly ministry.

A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in the St. Clare Social Hall on Wednesday June 20 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Appointments may be made at redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code stclare13. Questions may be directed to Tamara at 313-779-9282. The Red Cross is in constant need of blood and plasma, especially over the summer months. Please consider registering to give blood or drop by and sign-up.

While you are on summer holiday enjoying a little slower pace, maybe this would be an opportunity to participate in a service your normal routine doesn’t allow. The church remains open with regular weekday and weekend Masses. The sacrament of Reconciliation is available every day before Mass. Wednesday evenings Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is available for you to come and pray in the presence, or at the foot, of the cross of the Lord. As an added incentive in this very warm weather - St. Clare church is air-conditioned. You can pray in a comfortable and cool environment.   

As we continue our journey with St. Philomena some of the changes the Transition Team recommended will begin to be implemented. July 1st our bulletins will be combined. After meeting with the companies currently producing each bulletin, we selected Diocesan as our vendor. They will contact all advertisers to confirm renewals. If anyone would like to advertise their business or company in our new bulletin please contact Susie Frazer at: 313-647-5022 or Joanna Saady at: 313-882-4300. Thank you for supporting our parishes.

Thank you to the parishioners of St. Clare and St. Philomena who joined the Transition Team for the Town Hall Meetings last Sunday. This process is highly charged with emotions that run deep, it was not easy for anyone who participated. However, in good faith and with trust in the One who saved us I believe, and I commit myself to creating a strong and vibrant Catholic Community in Detroit and Grosse Pointe by celebrating our faith, working together and strengthening our pastoral activities. This does not come without pain – for all of us, I know that and I heard that. I pray for healing, that we can all accept the decision of the Archbishop when it comes, and together make plans and provisions for the future.  Please pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit for our future deliberations. Thank you to the members of the Transition Team for your time, commitment and guidance during this difficult process.

BIBLE SCHOOL: Our Bible School will be held August 13-17 from 9:30-12:00  We need help from adults and young adults.  If you wish to help, adults must have Protecting God’s Children and high school students must have Called to Serve.  Those who wish to help and need this class, please see Sr. Kathy or call her. We need a photographer and ...

A fantastic opportunity has come our way but you will have to act quickly to be part of this journey. Corporate Travel – the company that sponsored out trip to Poland had created a package to visit the Marian Shrines of Lourdes and Fatima, and explore the beautiful highlights of southern France, northern Spain, and Portugal!  Join me on this 9-day pilgrimage includes roundtrip airfare (from Detroit); Daily Mass; professional Catholic tour manager; highlights including: Lourdes, Burgos, Santiago de Compostela, Braga, Porto, Fatima, and more! Cost: $3,299, if booked by June 15th. Space is limited. Join us for a Wine & Cheese reception and Trip Presentation: June 7th at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall. Check the link on our website or call Corporate Travel: 866-468-1420 or visit  online at ctscentral.net for more details & reservations.

Congratulations to the 23 parishioners commissioned last Sunday as Stephen Ministers. May the Lord strengthen you with the gift of the Holy Spirit as you minister to the needs of our community. Congratulations as well to the 22 children who celebrated their First Communion last weekend. It was great to see the families come out in full force, godparents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles to recognize this special occasion in the lives of our little children. It not only provides a witness to our faith but...

We are now into the Month of May, which is Traditionally known as Mary’s month. During this month we honor the Mother of Jesus but also celebrate major events in our parish Community: first communions, confirmation, weddings, ordinations, and anniversaries of our families. A special celebration honoring Mary will be held this weekend at 9 am with the Crowning of Mary. May all of our celebrations keep the Easter spirit alive.  

Our Evangelization Series this year has taught many of us to be firmer in our faith and convinced of the need to spread the good news of Jesus.  During the months of June and July we hope to have movie nights.  Watch the bulletin for dates, times and topics.  Special thanks to our Faith Formation Team: Our leader-Tom Warnez. Our secretary- Annie Warnez.  Our members:  Fr. Andrew, Rosemary Campbell, Greg Mantho, Shannon Scanlon, and Marge Zurack. They have worked hard all year to bring you the best programming to further our faith formation here at St. Clare.

On May 7th at 6:30 pm there will be a closing picnic for all religious education families. There will be hot dogs, chips, salad, and cake.  Plan now to join us.  I think we will play “JESUS” bingo again.

K-2 Basketball has home games on Saturday, April 14th and Saturday, April 28th in the afternoon.  Stop on by the gym to see the young Falcons in action. St. Clare Track has home meets at Grosse Pointe South on Sunday, April 22nd, Sunday April 29th and Sunday May 6th beginning at 12:30 for field events and 1:00 for running events. ​​​​​​​ St. Clare Baseball has home games at Messmer Field (corner of Bluehill and Minneapolis) on Friday, April 20th at 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 26th time TBD, Saturday May 5th at 3:00 pm and Sunday May 6th at 12:00.

Easter provides a new opportunity for us to come out from behind our locked doors, from behind whatever is keeping us from speaking out on our faith. Look around and ask yourself, “who’s missing? Who’s not here who should be here? Who got left at home? Who didn’t get invited?” Maybe it’s a son or a daughter and you’re just tired of arguing with them about how boring Mass is? Maybe it’s a husband or wife who has given up on their faith? Perhaps it’s a close friend who is putting “their conditions” on their beliefs? Tell them that Christ will meet their conditions and do whatever is necessary to bring them to faith.

Now that Spring has officially arrived, it is time to gear up for the SVdP summer camp season!  Please help us spread the word about the seasonal employment and volunteer opportunities at Camp Ozanam for summer 2018. Staff and volunteers will be a part of something truly remarkable – a summer camp experience where children grow to experience God’s love through the support of caring adult role models. We are looking for staff and volunteers who want to help change lives! One summer camp experience can change a child’s perspective and make a huge impact on their future.

St. Clare of Montefalco is calling all Young Adults, ages 21-35, to join us on Wednesday, April 11th from 7:00-9:00 pm at Cadieux Café for “Fellowship and Feather Bowling.” This event is open to ALL!

During the Holy Triduum there will be a few monetary collections: on Holy Thursday, the collection is for the general running of our parishes. The Good Friday collection is for the Holy Land. For your Easter offering, please use the special envelope included in your Sunday envelope packet, or included in the Easter mailing or the envelope available in the pew. As we come together to celebrate these Holy Days as one community, we still need to keep up our buildings and provide care for the ministerial support and ministries within our parishes. Please keep this in mind as you make your generous contribution. Thank you very much for your continued support.

On March 21st at 10:30 our St Clare Parish family and school will provide a funeral service for Mr. Henry Stanton of Detroit.  Mr. Stanton collapsed and died in his home on October 16, 2016, his body has been in the Wayne County Morgue since that time.  There was no immediate family found to claim him and the extended family did not have the means. 

We have hit the half way point in our Stephen Ministry training.  Last week we concentrated on the importance of confidentiality in our caring relationships, this week the focus will be on understanding grief and depression.  Those training are equipping themselves with the tools to walk alongside someone, providing a listening ear and support.  If you or someone you know has experienced a loss or is navigating a difficult situation, Stephen Ministry may be able to assist.  We will be ready to meet the needs of the community beginning in mid-May.   We thank God for the dedication of our Stephen Minister trainees and ask for your continued prayers for them and for God’s blessing upon this ministry.

On March 21st at 10:30 our St Clare Parish family and school will provide a funeral service for Mr. Henry Stanton of Detroit.  Mr. Stanton collapsed and died in his home on October 16, 2016. His body has been in the Wayne County Morgue since that time.  There was no immediate family found to claim him and the extended family did not have the means. Each of us has been asked “to consider how the Lord may be calling us to go out, beyond where we may have gone before, even in the most unlikely places…