St. Clare of Assisi, Pray for Us!

Transcription

1 The Epiphany of the Lord January 4, 2015 Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Bishop of Belleville We, the people of St. Clare Catholic Parish, In the Diocese of Belleville, are called by God in baptism to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Centered in the Eucharist, and strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we strive to live the Gospel and further the reign of God. We do this by creating a vibrant faith community, by actively promoting justice and evangelization, and by using our gifts in the service of God s people, to give God glory and reverence all of Creation. St. Clare of Assisi, Pray for Us! WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 p.m. Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Nursery service during the 10:30 Mass. BAPTISM Preparation classes for parents are offered every other month for infant baptism. Call the Parish Office to sign up. Adults wishing to be baptized should also call the Office. RECONCILIATION Saturdays 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Community celebrations are also offered every Advent and Lent. MATRIMONY Contact Pastor a year prior. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Communal celebrations twice a year, or by appointment. St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church 1411 Cross Street O Fallon, IL / / (fax) Fr. Jim Deiters Dennis Vander Ven Marcia Fix Jamae Shubirg Shirley Seipp John Harter Sr. Carolyn McWatters Tom Docter Jane Dotson Pastor Deacon Parish Secretary Administrative Assistant Business Manager Facilities Manager Liturgy & Music Director Accompanist Family Faith Formation ST. CLARE SCHOOL West Third Street, O Fallon, IL Milissa Faust Principal Gloria Schmidt Secretary Eileen Yahl Accountant MT. CALVARY CEMETERY Jim Deschesne Sexton PARISH TRUSTEES Michael Crupe John Dempsey ST. VINCENT DEPAUL Emergency Assistance

2 From Our Pastor... Epiphany Greetings! One of the fruits of my sabbatical I have noticed is being more aware of things around me. I am trying to keep a slower pace of living while still caring for as many people as I can each day in the priesthood I love so much. One of those awarenesses is how many great people we have in our parish doing so many good things for others. As I watched the giving tree gifts arrive and then be disbursed to those in need, it was a sign of abundant generosity of so many who helped make it happen. And when I see those involved in St. Vincent De Paul ministry helping the poor in our area on a daily basis, I give thanks to God. And as I notice the many people it takes to make our weekend liturgies prayerful, inspiring, and welcoming, I stand in awe. Thank you! Today s Feast of Epiphany invites us to become more aware of all the ways that God reveals Himself to us in our daily lives. Too often we miss the little ways that God is trying to show us His love and care for us. As we begin a New Year together, I invite you to be more aware of God s epiphany of His love in all the people around you, both in your fellow parishioners and in your own family. Sometimes we get too comfortable and take for granted the very people we love the most and treat strangers more gently than our own family. The star of this feast reminds us to be a true LIGHT for others to help them get closer to Christ. Let us each make a conscious choice to be a person of LIGHT in every conversation and relationship. In our world of so much darkness gossip, greed, petty rivalry, grudges we have to make an extra effort to avoid dark conversations and relationships and live only as a person of God s light! I want to thank each of you who are a witness of God s Light to me. It inspires me to be the same for others. May God fill your New Year with His abundant Light, Fr. Jim Deiters January 3 Mary Kombrink Jeanne Silvestrini Aaron Hohm Brian Gourley Tyler Corbier Ryan Schmidtke January 4 Diane Lutfy-Frierdich Fred Cavese Connie O Donnell Rod Haselhorst Kevin Allison Kim Distler Jennifer Jones Roselyn Migliorini January 5 Lonny Roberts Todd Kortkamp Arlene Cruz-Peel Amy Champion Lisa Mojzis Derrick Jansen Breanna Blacharczyk Patrick Hayden January 6 Shawnee Magparangalan Heather Lee January 7 Kevin Mulheran Lynn Bowen Amy O Connor Silvana Kandala Alvin Ruckwardt Scott Wobbe Alyssa DeBourge Alexandria Krause Sasha McCauley Delaney Nieroda January 8 Carolyn Wottowa William Stoll Ofelia Jozwiak Cindy Stewart Hanna Walsh January 9 Melinda Parker John Ringler Barbara Boyles Lisa Hardimon Michael Swanson Shea Guinn Angela Schoby January 10 Linda Lee Hodges LeVette McKnight Janet Allen Christopher Call Andy Rodriguez Kris Ferro Karelly Gonzalez Jeremy Walker Kelly Fleming January 11 Vernell Rogers Richard Zagorski Cortney Kreke Mary Alexander Colby Mank

3 MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, January 3 The Epiphany of the Lord 5:00 p.m. Lalo Alvarado Sunday, January 4 The Epiphany of the Lord 8:30 a.m. Eugene Langhauser Ferd and Martha Lampe 10:30 a.m. For Our Parish Monday, January 5 Saint John Neumann, Bishop 12:00 p.m. Melvin Seipp Tuesday, January 6 Christmas Weekday Saint Andre Besse e, Religious 7:30 a.m. Priscilla Ann Kennedy Wednesday, January 7 Christmas Weekday Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest No Mass Thursday, January 8 Christmas Weekday 8:30 a.m. Mass at School Chapel Friday, January 9 Christmas Weekday 7:30 a.m. Norma Seipp Saturday, January 10 The Bap sm of the Lord 5:00 p.m. Dorothy Wielgus Sunday, January 11 The Bap sm of the Lord 8:30 a.m. Peter Picchie 10:30 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving 100th Birthday of Vernel Rogers Weekly Readings for January 5-11 Monday: 1 Jn 3: :6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17, Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7-8; Mk 6:34-44 Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13; Mk 6:45-52 Thursday: 1 Jn 4: :4; Ps 72: 1-2, 14, 15bc, 17; Lk 4:14-22a Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Lk 5:12-16 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 3:22-30 Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 55:1-11; Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9; Mk 1:7-11 Next Weekend January 10/11 Cantors Saturday 5:00 pm Mike Lampe Sunday 8:30 am Kristine Blair 10:30 am Sister Carolyn Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Saturday 5:00 pm Sella Roman, Lee & Anne Crowe, Jessica Kalmer Barb Kovach, Tom Grimmig, Tom & Mary Lou Pawlow Robin Bandy, Lucia Barragan*, Ellen Gravlin* Carl Lurk* Sunday 8:30 am Kristy Turner, Mary Fleming, Kevin & Linda Rademacher Linda Cipfl, Judy Lemansky, Audra Driscoll John & Suzie Durnford, Percy Menzies* Jim, Pennie & Sarah Pavlisin* Sunday 10:30 am James Hopper, Jane Dotson, Mark Arbogast Lindsay Goldberg, Michele Taylor, Anne Shambro Mary Anne Burroughs, Stephanie Chambers, Gina Beal Kathy Sjoquist*, Kittly Luehrs*, Dan & Tara Ashbaker* Lectors Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 8:30 am Sunday 10:30 am Servers Saturday 5:00 pm Josh & Kyle Zimmerman, Anson Smith, Cassidy Lurk Sunday 8:30 am Matthew Turner, Josie Nieroda, Kelly & Peter Fleming 10:30 am Sarah Dotson, Ava & Drew Taylor, Mary Jines Ushers Saturday 5:00 pm Don Gravlin, Bruce Rackers, John Winkelmann Hal Harris, Josh Gansauer, Scott Leo Sunday 8:30 am Ryan Luechtefeld, George Martchenko Pat Jurgensmeyer, Jim Hendricks, Mark Huller Sunday 10:30 am Debbie Oitker, Darrell Raynor, Jason Holzum James Taylor, John Meise Gift Bearers Saturday 5:00 pm Doug, Vicki, Anna, Elyse & Nicholas Flath Sunday 8:30 am Ken, Jeanne & Emily Smith 10:30 am Drew Ferguson,, Mandi, Abby & Brian Huelsman Greeters Saturday 5:00 pm Pat Reeser, Lucy Mixen, Jeannie Haukapp Sunday 8:30 am Brandon, Liz & Jude Rotz 10:30 am Patrick, Dannette, William, Joseph & Lydia Kinsella Sound Board Saturday 5:00 pm Dylan Lurk 8:30 am Gary Borges 10:30 am Bread Bakers Shawn Sebora, Scott Brown, Tanja Ramsby Children s Word Saturday 5:00 pm Debbie Zimmerman & Faith Rackers Sunday 8:30 am Pat Vollmer & Sophie Wilkerson 10:30 am Colleen Walsh & Hunter Barr Please pray for the sick, their loved ones and caregivers; may they never lose sight of the love of God Jennifer R. Barajas, Wray Barr, Alex Brown, Joe Burroughs, Shirley Carroll, Joan Cavins, George Covington, Lori Dalton, June Dean, Dennis & Delores Dumstorff, Rita Ferreri, Mildred Gerardi, Mike and Linda Gilkerson, Hannah Grubofski, Patricia Gundlach, Rita Haukapp, Margaret Heinke, Jessica Holmes, Boston Johnson, Rosemarie Jones, Pauline Keller, Dan Kimutis, Dawn Papproth Kuhn, Virginia Leninsky, Abelina Leon, Vincent Lepes, Mary Lugge, John Molnar, Mary Molnar, Nona Morgan, Helen Murphy, Margaret Nettles, Katie Paulochk, Thomas Peters, Doris Prosser, Lynn Robke Crutcher, Madelean Sanford, Michael Schmitz, Craig Seipp, Dick Seipp, Diane Gettis-Simmons, Betty & Jean Stogner, Michelle Strube, Pat Thompson, Betty Tomasovich, Jake Van Hook, Virginia Woods, Norman Wright Please pray for all our military families, especially those who will be apart this New Year.

4 Gifts for the Journey adult faith formation offerings from St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church Wisdom. Learn, grow and deepen your relationship with God. Cornerstone Scripture Study: The Prophets of the Old Testament First meeting (attendance required): Jan. 14, 9:30-11:30 a.m. St. Clare Church library; meeting weekly on Wednesday mornings Get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!...turn then and live. If this sounds like something Pope Francis might preach, think again! These words come from the Prophet Ezekiel (18: 31-32). Learn about the mission of these chosen Messengers of God. Be inspired by their call to personal conversion and reconciliation. Be renewed in God s promise of love and unfailing mercy. or call Kathleen at for information. Bible Study: Gospel of Mark Tuesdays, Jan. 13-March 17, 7-8:30 p.m. St. Clare Choir Room or Church Library Led by Sella Roman Delve into the Gospel we will be hearing at Mass throughout this liturgical year. Open to all levels of Bible students. Book cost is $20. Register with the parish office at by Jan 1. Lenten Soup and Speaker Series: A Beginner s Guide to the Bible Mondays, Feb. 23-March 2, 6:30-8:15 p.m. St. Clare Fellowship Hall Bishop Edward Braxton featured on Feb. 23 Led by Geoff Miller, PhD, SLU on other Mondays Learn your way around the Bible, develop a better understanding of its themes and gain clear insights about Catholic use and interpretation of the Bible. Understanding. What Does the Church Say about Marriage, Divorce and Annulment? Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. Fellowship Hall Presented by Father Jim Deiters Learn about the Church s definition of marriage and the difference between a divorce and an annulment. This session is good for all adults, including any young person who hopes to get married one day. It also covers what is involved in the annulment process in the Catholic Church and how an annulment can bring great healing. There s a Whole New World Out There! Mondays, Jan. 19-Feb. 9, 7-8:30 p.m. St. Clare Church Choir Room Presented by Sister Catherine Vincie, Professor at Aquinas Institute of Theology Recent scientific findings about the origin and scope of the universe are truly a source of awe and amazement. Immerse yourself in wonder as we explore our magnificent universe and consider what the new discoveries are telling us about ourselves and God! Book cost is $15. Register with Sister Carolyn McWatters at or scmcw2001@yahoo.com by Jan. 12. Knowing and Loving the Eucharist Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St, Clare Fellowship Hall Presented by Sister Carolyn McWatters Gain additional insight into the meaning of the Eucharist and God s desire to be one with us, and move to a deeper love and passionate participation in its celebration. Prayer. Retreat for St. Clare Men: Joy in the Journey 6 p.m. Jan. 9 to 1 p.m. Jan. 11 King s House Retreat Center, Belleville Take a break to pray, rest and reflect on your relationship with God. Inspirational talks and one-onone conversations with King s House staff add to the experience. Register with parishioner Leonard Ratajczyk at or lenratajczyk@gmail.com by Jan. 5. Women s Renewal Weekend 8 a.m. Feb p.m. Feb. 15 St. Clare Church Facilitated by a team of St. Clare women Immerse yourself in this life-changing retreat, which features personal and group prayer, stories of God s action in the lives of other women, fellowship, food, fun, Eucharist and Reconciliation. Register with Arlene Cruz Peel at or islandgirlz2@yahoo.com by Feb. 8. Catholic Men for Christ Conference Saturday, Feb. 7 Peabody Opera House, St. Louis Spend a day focusing on your faith, hearing four dynamic national speakers, participating in Mass and sharing with other men from the Midwest. Register online at catholicmenforchrist.org. $45 through Feb. 3 or $50 at the door. Contact John Durnford at or jpdford@charter.net by Feb. 1 if you want to carpool with other men from our parish. Eucharistic Adoration 11 p.m. Dec. 31 until 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1 (Mass at 10 a.m.) First Sunday-Monday of the month immediately following 10:30 a.m. Mass until Noon Mass on Monday. (Except January and April) St. Clare Church Spend quiet time in prayer before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and enter into a spiritual union with Him. Sign up for an hour or come at any time.

5 They Departed For Their Country By Another Way Today we remember the visit of the magi traveling to give homage to the newborn Jesus over 2000 years ago. And a er having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way, thereby protec ng the life of the Christ child. This January marks forty-two years since the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, the legality of a woman s right to have an abor on under the Fourteenth amendment to the Cons tu on. Just as Herod slaughtered the Holy Innocents, the newborn males under the age of two, today over 2,100 unborn babies are aborted in the U.S. each day. We pray for healing for all who are affected by abor on and for pregnant mothers. In this Lighthouse CD, A Voice for the Unborn, Lila Rose reaches out to young people in this powerful talk of her courageous stand for the sanc ty of life. Lila Rose is the president of Live Ac on, a non-profit organiza on dedicated to ending abor on and building a culture of life through new media. Although she is only in her early 20 s, she is a regular guest on The O Reilly Factor, Hannity, and several other TV programs. In this talk, Lila describes her daring undercover inves ga ons into America s most notorious abor on facili es, shedding light on the greatest human rights abuses of our me. Stop at our Lighthouse Kiosk in the Gathering Space to find some wonderful Catholic CDs and Books for friends and family. Prefer MP3 Format? Or looking for a CD or Book that s not on our kiosk? Go to our parish website and click on the blue Lighthouse Logo on the parish main page to shop the store or place an individual order. Automa cally embedded in the link is our parish Promo on Code With the promo on code, Lighthouse will automa cally donate 10% of your purchase back to our parish! Or, to see what tles we have on our kiosk, you can click on the link below the blue Lighthouse logo. Sunday, December 13/14 Tithe.$20, New Church.$8, Sunday, December 20/21 Tithe.$21, New Church.$3, One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; Another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Proverbs 11:24 Walk in the Light" A Choral Celebration of Christmas Join the choirs of St Clare and St Nicholas on the Feast of the Epiphany Sunday, January 4, at 6:30pm as we conclude the Christmas season with a joyful celebration in song! Audience participation included. The program will be held at St. Nicholas and followed by a lovely reception. All are welcome! St. Clare Movie Night Saturday, January 3 A er the 5:00 Mass In the Fellowship Hall Mary of Nazareth Bring an hors d oeuvres Or dessert to share. This highly acclaimed movie Is 153 minutes. Please RSVP to or

6 PSR Parish School of Religion CLASSES MEET 10:30 11:40 on Sundays St. Clare School, 214 West Third Street Dec. 28 NO PSR Christmas Break Jan. 4 PSR Class 6th & 7th graders will receive new Bibles as a gift from the parish. Deacon Dennis will lead a brief prayer service in the gym at the beginning of class Jan. 11 PSR Class Students CPP Training Luke 18 Attention High School And College Leaders January 4: Noon meeting at Corpus Christi If you cannot attend, you must let Amber know at or love2sing85@hotmail.com and attend a make up meeting. Youth Group Schedule Jan 4 Luke 18 planning meeting for high school and college leaders at Noon at Corpus Christi No Youth Group Meeting Jan 5 Youth Commission 7:30 pm Jan 11 Youth Group 6 7:30 pm Jan LUKE 18 at St. Clare School Jan 25 Youth Group Winter Blast at the Edge 4:30 7:30; Meet at Church to carpool Feb 1 Youth Group 6 7:30 pm Feb 2 Youth Commission 7:30 pm in Library Feb 8 Youth Group hosts Confirmation Game Night Crazy 8s Dodgeball and other games (Gym) Youth Room in Basement of Parish Office All are welcome any time. No registration needed! Young Adults Night scheduled for Jan. 13 has been canceled due to scheduling conflict. For info, contact Sally at sallyimad_90@hotmail.com The Event of a Lifetime! Confirmation Schedule: Jan. 5 Turn in Saint Name for approval. Feb. 1 Confirmation Saint Report due Feb. 8 Letter to Bishop Braxton due Feb. 8 Confirmation Activity Night First Communion Parent Night Knowing and Loving the Eucharist Tuesday, January 20 6:30 8:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Free babysitting: RSVP at or janeadotson@yahoo.com Two Special Youth Events; High School and College Youth Winter Blast at The Edge Sunday, January 25 from 4:30 7:30. Includes laser tag, pizza and soda $16 per person. (Let Karen or Kassie know) 6th Annual St. Clare Youth Dodgeball Tourney Feb. 8 from 12:30 3 at St. Clare School Gym Also Apples to Apples and other games! Free and open to everyone in grades National Catholic Youth Conference November 19-22, 2015 in Indianapolis All Parish Youth in grades 9-12 next fall are invited to join us at this amazing event!! If you missed the informational Meeting and want to know more, please contact Youth Leader Karen Jalbert at Or Jane Dotson at the parish office Or janeadotson@yahoo.com.

7 ALTAR ANGELS January 10: Jeane e Giebels, Eleanor Henken, Judy Lemansky BAPTISM CLASS has been rescheduled to Tuesday, January 13 from 7 9 p.m. Please call the parish office to register. ADULT FAITH FORMATION We have many wonderful opportuni es for you to grow in your faith. Look over the flyer in this week s bulle n or visit our website. SIXTH ANNUAL O FALLON METRO EAST DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BREAKFAST Monday, January 19 at New Life in Christ Church, 689 Sco Troy Road from 7:30 8:30 a.m. Mike Bost, US Representa ve-elect, Illinois 12th Congressional District will be the featured speaker for the event and ckets will be priced at $10 each. A endees are asked to bring two canned goods that will be donated to the O Fallon Food Pantry. Tickets may be purchased at our parish office. WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND is February 6-8 in St. Louis. To register or for more informa on, call , or R L C In an age when Church instruc on is being rejected and replaced by secular values, it is not hard to understand why. It is easy to ignore what you do not know. It is also easy to discard what is misunderstood. If you do not know your faith, how do you live it? Learn, Act, Connect, Pray: First, make a commitment to learning. Second, overcome the fear of the truth. Third, seek out the opportuni es to learn. Fourth, leaders come forward. Paul tells us, Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Rom 12:2) ST. CLARE SCHOOL NEWS The choral and band members celebrated with the annual Christmas concert with songs and music for the school parents and visitors. In addi on, the 5th and 6th grades also performed original plays in which they wrote and audi oned for the cast. The chorus also performed A Charlie Brown Christmas. Chorus is led by Mrs. Jamie Eros and the band by Ms. Vicki Smolik. The performances were truly outstanding and showcased the talents of our students! 8th Annual St. Louis Conference Saturday, February 7 Register Soon! Newly Designed Website Registration & Information: Catholicmenforchrist.org Look for: St. Clare, O Fallon IL (Toward bottom of parish dropdown) SPEAKERS: George Weigel, Tim Staples, Terry Barber and Msgr. James J. Ramacciotti Our parish captain is John Durnford (501) or jpdford@charter.net Theology, philosophy, and science all speak of a harmonious universe, of a "cosmos" endowed with its own integrity, its own internal, dynamic balance. THIS ORDER MUST BE RESPECTED. The human race is called to explore this order, to examine it with due care and to make use of it while safeguarding its integrity. On the other hand, the earth is ul mately A COMMON HERITAGE, THE FRUITS OF WHICH ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL. In the words of the Second Va can Council, "God des ned the earth and all it contains for the use of every individual and all peoples" (Gaudium et Spes, 69). This has direct consequences for the problem at hand. It is manifestly unjust that a privileged few should con nue to accumulate excess goods, squandering available resources, while masses of people are living in condi ons of misery at the very lowest level of subsistence. Today, the drama c threat of ecological breakdown is teaching us the extent to which greed and selfishness both individual and collec ve are contrary to the order of crea- on, an order which is characterized by mutual interdependence. (John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message 1990) MONDAY MOMS! Faith Based Study & Prayer Activities, Support Group, Play Time St. Clare Church Nursery 2nd and 4th Mondays each Month 9:30 11 a.m. For more information, call Stephanie at