In “Unleash the Gospel”, Archbishop Vigneron speaks of the importance of the individual and the family in evangelizing. Have YOU ever thought about bringing together a small group of friends or family to study some aspect of your faith? This is an excellent way to learn, and to reach out and “unleash” to others. You do not have to come to the Church for a small group. You can meet at home, a restaurant, or over coffee (reserve the back room at Starbucks in the Village!)
Fr. Andrew mentioned in his column last Sunday that our Parish Council is working on a Lenten, Unleash the Gospel, Parish Project. When Fr. Andrew came to St. Clare, he walked the streets of our parish knocked on doors, just to introduce himself and say hello. We would like to repeat this gesture of welcome by doing the same. Recently our boundaries changed as a result of the closure of St. Philomena, so this is an opportune time to once again say hello to some familiar faces but also...
The St. Clare Parish family and School has established an annual tradition of participating in the Corporal Act of Mercy to Bury the Dead. During Lent each year, we provide a funeral service for an individual who has been left in the morgue, with no family available to claim the body, and no possibility for burial. More information will be provided regarding the identity of the individual in coming weeks.
If you are looking for a way to deepen your understanding of your faith this Lenten season, St. Clare offers small group faith formation activities in addition to the Thursday evening program. On Mondays...
Bonanza tickets are available from one of our sellers, ushers, or from the Parish or School offices. Be sure to purchase your $50 Bonanza raffle ticket to qualify for the many prizes that will be awarded during 10 multiple drawings, beginning April 28th. Remember: Tickets are good for all 10 drawings.
Children’s Faith Formation: Classes are regular both Sunday and Monday. Next week, February 17 and 18, there are no classes for either group. Enjoy your winter break. All Confirmation paper information is due next week. Please be certain your sponsor has...
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.
Children’s Faith Formation: Regular classes will be held this week, Sunday Family and Monday classes. All those who are preparing to be confirmed are to meet with their parent and/or sponsor on Monday, February 4 at 6:30 in the social hall. Immediate preparations for Reconciliation and First Communion will begin on March 3rd at 9:00 am Mass; a special Mass for First Communion candidates. Invite Godparents to Mass and parent meeting. You will need your child’s Baptismal candle and a record of Baptism must be on...
Beginning January 26, 2019 Catholic Schools across our nation will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week, an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Catholic Schools Week is sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). The observance of this annual tradition began in 1974. You will find that Catholic schools typically observe this week with Masses, open houses, service projects and other fun activities for students. These events, center on the value Catholic education provides to children.
Plan to attend the St. Clare Super Bowl Party held in our Social Hall hosted by the PIC Committee on February 3, 2019. We will provide pizza, hot dogs, all paper products, coffee and water. Please bring a dish to share. A pot-luck sign-up board is in the church. Bring your favorite beverage to enjoy during the game (BYOB). It is a fun, low key way to watch the game and commercials with friends. $10 Tickets will be sold at the door or may be purchased from the Parish Office in advance. I hope to see you there!
Happy Epiphany! Yes, today is the 3rd Epiphany. 1) Three Kings visit to the child Jesus. 2) Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. 3) Wedding Feast at Cana and Jesus’ First miracle. So today celebrate your Baptism. Renew your faith. Do you know the date of your Baptism? The day you became a Child of God and a member of the Community we call church? I suggest you try to find out and celebrate Baptismal days in your family.
At this time of year it is normal to think about the gifts we have given and those that have been received. We stop and count our blessings for all the good in our lives. Now is also a time to give thanks to God for the gift of our...
Welcome to St. Clare Parish on this very special day. With prayers, readings and music; with our Christmas tree, decorations and little manger, we rejoice at the coming of Christ in our midst. Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, whose mere presence brings a special message of hope, peace and the gift of love. This message permeates the fabric of our lives reaching our families, schools, churches, neighborhoods and the entire country. I hope your experience here this Christmas will be one that sparks a desire to re-engage in our Catholic faith and our St. Clare community. I hope the book, along with our parish event bookmark that we are sharing with you today, will kindle that desire to grow.
The end of the year always seems to bring about a time of looking back and reflecting on what happened throughout the past year. Wow! What a year it’s been for the newly formed St. Clare Young Adults group! We started the year off with a wonderful evening at Cadieux Café meeting for the first time. It was a fun evening of getting to know each other, eating their famous mussels, and playing several rounds of feather bowling. We followed this up by hosting of one the parish movie nights this summer. We invited everyone to come to the social hall and enjoy an evening of snacks and a great movie, The Shack. Then in the fall we gathered for post-work happy hour at Atwater in the Park for fellowship and to just relax.
“Families are at the very heart of our efforts to unleash the Gospel, because they are the first and most important setting in which evangelization takes place.” (Archbishop Vigneron, UTG p. 24) This is the season many of us meet up with friends and relatives we don’t see very often. It’s also a special time because college students come home, younger children are off school, and we spend time together. Add an evangelization element to your family time—take a minute to say a prayer together, speak about the many things that have been and will be going on at St. Clare, make sure everyone knows the Christmas Mass schedule, and plan activities so all family members can take advantage of...
We light the rose candle on the advent wreath to mark the Third Sunday of our Advent journey toward Christmas. Throughout Advent we continue to invite all children to participate in the procession at the beginning of the weekend Masses. Please have your child(ren) meet us at the back of church just before Mass begins and enter the liturgy with joy and jubilations. Thank you. I hope you are enjoying the Advent theme on the front page of our bulletin and the inserts about the season. Be sure to check the tables at the back of church for Advent materials sure to enhance your spirituality. Feel free to take one.
Did You Know? . . . 55% of our annual operating income comes from our Sunday Offerings and over 16% of our annual operating income comes from our Christmas Collection. We use a portion of this money to pay for items such as plowing the parking lot, keeping the lights on and...
Thank you to Annie and Tom Warnez who lead Adult Formation activities in our parish for their selection of Thursday evening series guest speakers. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 10 with Msgr. Ronald Brown, from the Marriage Tribunal. The topic of the meeting is Annulment – questions and understanding of what it is and who and what is involved. I highly recommend putting this date on your calendar. You may say – this is not for me or for us. But you may know someone who is in need and you may provide good, sound, and accurate information. Or just simply come to edify yourself on one of those topics of the church around which there are many misunderstandings, myths, and legends that are simply not true. As always, we will gather at 6:30 pm for some fellowship with light refreshments and a hot beverage. The talk will begin at 7 pm. Invite friends, spread the news. Be Bold.
Today on this special day, the Feast of Christ the King, we come to our churches with gratitude for every individual and every family, for our parishes, schools, and country, and we ask the King of Kings, for protection and blessing for the new liturgical year and the season of Advent that begins next week.
Just two more Sundays and we begin the season of Advent. During these final weeks of Ordinary Time, we have an opportunity to reflect on the liturgical year coming to a close. Perhaps our reflection will encourage us to give thanks to God for all the graces and blessings we have received. This reflection could also invite us to ask God for forgiveness for times, talents, and treasures misused. May these two weeks lead us through our communal and personal prayer to trust and hope in God’s loving care. In that spirit...