From Monday to Friday this week, I will attend the Priestly Convocation Days held at Boyne Highlands. Deacon Rich and Sister Kathy will lead our morning celebrations. All scheduled Mass intentions will be said by me at the convocation Masses, while Sister and Deacon will mention and pray them here. All priests of the diocese will be in attendance at this convocation learning more about the outcome of Synod 16. Please pray for us as we gather to study, enjoy fellowship, and have some fun.

What would happen to your family if the only source of income suddenly vanished?  How would you cope if a medical crisis drained your bank account? Could you manage your life without a car?  Faced with the challenges life presents, many of our neighbors in need seek help from St. Vincent de Paul. The SVdP conference at St. Clare is an active group of volunteers who grow their own faith by extending mercy to others, and we always welcome new members!  (For more information, leave a message on our Assistance Line at 313-647-5062 or email us at StClareSVdP@gmail.com)

Continuing the tradition at St. Clare of having a semi-annual financial appeal for the benefit of the religious order looking after the parish, a special donation envelope for the benefit of the Michaelite Fathers has been included in your set of envelopes. These (red) envelopes are also available at the entrances of our church. Donations received from the September appeal will benefit our Seminary that educates and prepares future priests. Say a prayer for them as well as for new vocations to religious and diocesan priesthood. Thank you for your generosity.

This Sunday, August 24, at 11 a.m. we honor the women of the Altar Society with a special Mass and reception. As we welcome and pray for all ladies, past and present members in this ministry, we want to give thanks to God for almost 90 years of service here at St. Clare. All are invited to a reception following Mass in the parish hall. Please see the article by Laura Radgowski highlighting the history of the Altar Society.

September 17 is the big day!  The Detroit Mass Mob will be visiting St Clare at the 11 am Mass!   We have been planning all summer, and hope this is an event to remember for parishioners and visitors alike! Many of you are wondering “Why St. Clare?  Aren’t Mass Mobs usually at historic churches in the center city?”  As part of Archbishop Vigneron’s plan to “Unleash the Gospel”, the fall Mass Mobs are being held at parishes with active schools that support the city of Detroit and inner-ring suburbs. This fall, St. Clare of Montefalco, Gesu, and Christ the King are the chosen sites.  All these parishes have schools that serve students from both the...

The Christian Service Commission will be hosting our annual Capuchin Signature Drive this weekend, August 26-27, to support their local Soup Kitchens.  Look for us after Mass next to the Carport to complete a form and donate.  Your $20 tax-deductible contribution in honor of your family or in memory of a loved one supports this worthy organization.  Checks may be made out to “Capuchin Soup Kitchen” Our tables will be set up next to the carport, weather permitting.

Your CSA gifts are supporting this year’s Convocation of Lay Ecclesial Ministers, which will include discussion on Archbishop Allen Vigneron’s Unleash the Gospel pastoral letter on the New Evangelization. The convocation is a day of fellowship and formation for all lay ecclesial ministers who serve the Church in a professional capacity, such as full-time, part-time, and volunteer Christian service coordinators, religious education and music directors, pastoral associates, and RCIA, youth ministry and evangelization coordinators.

If you would like your loved one who is buried at Resurrection Cemetery remembered during our prayer service on August 13, 2017 please stop by the table near the Family Room and add their name to the list.  We are gathering at 3:00 at Resurrection to pray for them and all the deceased of our parish on our Cemetery Sunday celebration day. All are welcome to attend.  You may also call the parish office to leave the information at 647-5000.

August 17th is the liturgical feast of St. Clare of Montefalco. Since it is the patronal feast of our parish it will be celebrated on Sunday August 20th. St. Clare was an Augustinian sister. She is memorialized in our church in three locations; first, the stained-glass window above the confessional; second, on the façade of the church there is a small relief of St. Clare and third, there is a statue of our patron saint in our court yard by the entrance to our offices. Part of our celebration on the 20th will be ...

The Christian Service Commission will be hosting our annual Capuchin Signature Drive the weekend of August 26-27 to support their local Soup Kitchens.  Envelopes will be on the church tables beginning August 12th if you would like to turn in a $20 donation and a signature early, otherwise, we hope you will consider making a donation after Masses in late August.  Tables will be set up next to the carport, weather permitting.

The Archdiocese of Detroit & Catholic Charities of S.E. Michigan invites all Catholics to volunteer for a 6 day project from July 31 -August 5, as 17,000 volunteers are mobilized to remove blight & beautify 360 blocks near Sacred Heard Major Seminary. Volunteers will mow grass, cut overgrown brush, remove debris and paint. The scope is to transform the former Durfee school into a Community Innovation Center with Central High School & DPSCD.

Remembering the 1967 Civil Disturbance in the City of Detroit. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ~Matthew 5: 9

You are invited to a Tigers Game on Wednesday, August 9th, 7 p.m.   Please let us know ASAP if you would like to attend, so we can buy tickets. In order to attend, a completed permission slip is required and must be returned to the parish office or emailed to Sharon Freitas at Sharon@freitas.com  Parents are welcome to attend and help chaperone.  If you have any questions email me or call Sharon at 313 882-1973.    GO TIGERS!

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing month of July, as we head into the middle of summer.  I usually write a word or two about the MLB Allstar break and the chances of our Detroit Tigers but I think I will refrain this year and just say “I believe in miracles” and hope for the best.  I still enjoy watching the games and will continue to do so.  Go Tigers!  

At the invitation of the Diocesan Director for the Propagation of the Faith and within the framework of the Mission Cooperative Plan, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr. Ray Diesbourg, MSC will be here to talk to us at all of the Masses on the weekend of July 29-30, 2017.  Mission appeals directly remind us that the Church is universal and missionary by nature and presents us with an opportunity to share in missionary work.

Sr. Valerie Binder CSJ, 60 years, Sr. Mary Peter 60 years, Deacon Richard Shubik, 25 years. more info...

The school roof repair project was completed last week on the Charlevoix side of the building. We were fortunate to have good weather and glad there were no major surprises once the tile was removed. It is a methodical process of removing and saving tile while putting down ice shield and underlayment. We will plan to do portions of the roof every summer to keep on top of it. It is rather ominous due to its size and the cost of repairs. Once done correctly, however, it lasts a very long time.

The 2017 Catholic Services Appeal is underway. Gifts to the CSA make possible a wealth of ministries, programs, and services that touch the lives of thousands throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit each day.   This year’s CSA theme, Opening Doors to Encounter Christ, reflects our Holy Father’s invitation to all Catholics to renew their personal relationships with our Savior, as “the joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.”

After an extensive search and evaluation of multiple candidates, we are pleased to announce the selection of the new principal for our school Ms. Ann Tonissen.  The search committee believes Ms. Tonissen  is the best qualified and most appropriate candidate to guide our St Clare students to be the leaders of tomorrow.  She comes to us most recently from St. Frances Cabrini Middle School in Allen Park with glowing reviews, and has spent the majority of her career in the Catholic School system for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

July 1st and 4th are important days for our country and our Canadian neighbors, the land of the free and the home of the brave, and the home and native land. We should be proud and grateful to live in such countries. Many people in the world today do not have a country to call their own, while others live in countries where there is violence, rather than peace. Next weekend let us remember both countries in our prayers. To those who will not be with us on the first weekend of July – our best wishes and have safe travels.