How different and how special this Holy Week will be for us all. During these days more than ever we are confronted with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded that we are all one family under God. Through our daily prayers, devotions and Sunday Liturgies, we are reminded that God does not abandon us. He stays with us even now in this time of the pandemic. It is important for us to rest our hearts in Jesus Christ through prayers and sacrifices and deeds of charity for one another.

During these challenging times we know that not everyone has been able to access the food that they need. Our St. Clare St. Vincent de Paul Pantry is currently closed however we have made some arrangements to have some food and other service available. ANYONE IS ELIGIBLE – there are three ways to access food - click article for more info...

St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen Lenten Lunch Project has been suspended for the final three weeks. Due to the current climate and coronavirus conditions, we will not hold the last three food collections. There will not be any more Sunday food collections. I greatly appreciate the great lengths you went to honor your commitment. I am very grateful for your loyalty to this program. We will work with St. Leo’s over the next three weeks to help them on Tuesdays, as needed. I imagine they will also evaluate how they can safely deliver services to their guests. If you have non-perishable or frozen items that you have already bought or cooked and would like to drop off at the Parish Office for me to deliver, please contact me.

As we continue to adapt to the evolving situation, I want to let you know that I am still here, thinking about you, praying for you all, and how we as a Pastoral Team can best support our parish community at this time. I hope you are doing well as we collectively attempt to understand and reverse the rise of the COVID-19 Virus that is sweeping across the world. Our government and Church leaders are imposing many restrictions to minimize as much as possible the spread of the virus. In an unprecedented move the Archdiocese of Detroit, has suspended the celebration of public Masses until April 6th. I continue to say the daily Mass and remember the intention for the day in the Rectory Chapel. Although we cannot celebrate the Mass as a parish...

Life seems to change so quickly. One day we are in charge of everything, our families, career, social activities and then we blink and everything has changed. The kids are off to college, married and having children of their own, we are old enough to retire and “enjoy” our new independence, but something just doesn’t seem to feel right. As we age many changes occur, sometimes the changes are not what we were expecting. Feeling anxious or unsettled may be a new experience.

Have you ever picked up and read the orange card in the envelope holder in the pew at church? It provides a glimpse of what the Stephen Ministry is about. Put simply, if you are going through a difficult time, whatever it may be A Stephen Minister will walk that journey with you. Not to “fix” whatever it is, but to support you as you work through it. A Stephen Minister...

Simple Suppers continue Monday March 2 at 5:30 in the Social Hall Kitchen Area. What a great opportunity to meet fellow parishioners, partake in a simple meal, and make a small donation to Operation Rice Bowl. Religious Education families are encouraged to make it a part of their Monday routine. Homemade soups provided by commission members and fresh rolls are offered. Your host will be the St. Vincent DePaul Organization. Come meet this wonderful group of volunteers! We are open until 7:00 PM. The next four Simple Suppers continue on Mondays through March 30th. Come Join Us!

Thank You St. Clare for the great response! We are up and running… Once again main entrees should be cooked, cooled, and ready to go in the freezer at St. Clare. If you cook early in the week you may freeze your dish and bring it frozen. The food drop-off time is 4:45-6:00 PM on Sunday in the Social Hall Kitchen area. Those attending our 5:00 PM Mass can drop off items before Mass. Please wrap all food securely. Once again, the Main Entrée should come cooked but cooled and ready for the freezer.

Last Sunday we kicked off our annual Bonanza Raffle. Tickets were distributed to our Team Captains who will, in turn, distribute them to their sellers. As you know, Bonanza is our only Parish fundraiser. This year, with your help, we plan to sell all 1,500 tickets. There are 34 chances to win, and the top prize is $10,000. Perhaps you would like to help St. Clare with this fundraiser, and at the same time, have a chance to win a prize for just selling Bonanza tickets.

Next weekend February 1st and 2nd is Name Tag Sunday. We do this quarterly, to provide an opportunity to step out of your pews and say hello to someone new. It’s always nice to put a name with a face, we often sit in the same area for Mass and recognize the faces but don’t know the name. Don’t be shy, just a smile and hello can go a long way to feeling like we are all part of the St. Clare family.

A favorite tradition we started a few years ago continues today on the Feast of the Epiphany. We take home chalk that has been blessed and mark our doors with this inscription: 20+C+M+B+20. The number of the New Year is split at the beginning and end. The initials C, M, and B represent Casper, Melchior and Balthasar and the three crosses stand for "saint." The letters also abbreviate the prayer: "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" which means May Christ Bless this House. So today after dinner, gather around the inside of your front door, and use the chalk to inscribe the numbers and letters on the frame or on the door while saying: "May Christ bless this house". Throughout the year those who come and go through that door will enjoy the blessing of Christ. Chalk is available by the Christmas manger at the front of the church. Be Bold!

I hope your New Year’s celebrations were fantastic, that you were able to take some time to relax and visit with family. I take this opportunity to thank all of you for the many kindnesses shown to me over this Christmas season. Your many cards, gifts, and verbal best wishes are most appreciated and gratefully accepted. The Parish Staff wishes to extend their thanks for your kindnesses.

My Dear St. Clare Family, as we come together on this Holy Day, the day of our Savior’s birth I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt wish to each and every one of you for a very Merry Christmas.

On December 3, 2019, St. Clare received a $3,000 grant from the Catholic Foundation of Michigan’s Social Outreach fund. St Clare helped rebuild a house in our parish boundaries that was devastated by a fire. The family is now able to move back into their home. This project was part of St Clare’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative, which is an actionable and measurable effort of Unleashing the Gospel and fortifies the mission of our parish.

Lighting the last candle on the Advent wreath today indicates the fulfillment of the season. We have heard the meaning of Advent and we have heard many prophecies that proclaim the coming of the Messiah, not only at Bethlehem but also at the end of time. Today for the first time the Sunday Advent Gospel tells of events that led to the birth of Christ. As many parish groups and ministries take Christmas time off from their usual activities there will be just one page of our bulletin this...

Each year the work of our conference is supported entirely by donations from our parish community (excluding our energy assistance work funded by the State of Michigan). Included in your regular parish envelope packet is a Thanksgiving offering envelope. The proceeds from this collection support our work. Please consider making a donation this Thanksgiving and join our conference at Thanksgiving Mass. You can turn your envelope in at any time through the regular weekly collection. Here is how we were able to use our funds this past fiscal year (does not include store vouchers or energy assistance):

Following the celebration of two great feasts on our liturgical calendar, All Saints and All Souls day, we enter the month of November. Much of it is dedicated to remembering those that have gone before us. In a special way, this Sunday we remember our loved ones and friends who passed away since last November of 2018. Recalling their names, we bring their memory and commit them to the love and mercy of God. Please also, remember the priests and religious sisters who worked here at St. Clare who have died. We also remember with gratitude our veterans, for their sacrifice, who gave their lives in service for our freedom.

Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Prayer Vigil Saturday, October 19, 2019: St. Basil (22860 Schroeder, Eastpointe – Behind McDonalds north of 9 Mile) will host Mass at 7:30 AM. At 8:30 AM we will meet at St. Veronica (21440 Universal, Eastpointe) to begin a Rosary procession, on foot, to 2 abortion mills. The total walking distance is about 6 blocks. If you have never participated in one of these vigils I encourage you to attend. Witness the power of prayer and the affect it has on changing the hearts of women considering abortion. A few years ago Archbishop Vigneron...

On Tuesday, as we usher in October, we also begin a month dedicated to Our Lady referred to as the month of the Holy Rosary. The memorial of this feast is celebrated on October 7, commemorating the victory in 1571 of the Christian army at the Battle of Lepanto attributed to the intercession of Our Lady. The Rosary is one of the most popular prayers and devotions among Catholics. Remembering the mysteries of Christ’s life and Our Lady’s life, we repeat Hail Mary after Hail Mary, thus we are invoking Our Lady to be with us in all stages of life. Indeed...

School is in full swing! Our Religious Ed. and RCIA programs began last week, and our Thursday Faith Formation gatherings will resume soon. I even saw a few snowflakes on Monday! Ok, just kidding, but before you know it… that is how quickly time passes. The work of our Parish Visioning Team (PVT) has concluded. The AOD has approved our plan and now we will move to the next phase of implementation with more information to follow.