Rev. C. Lou Martin Pastor. May 16, Dear Brothers & Sisters,

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1 May 16, 2009 Dear Brothers & Sisters, I am pleased to have received the appointment from Archbishop O Brien to be your pastor. As I assume this position, I am aware that Saint Clare s has a long history of being a vibrant parish. Over the years, many wonderful priests and staff persons have ministered to and with you. I hope I can match their goodness, humanity and holiness. We have some challenges to address as a parish: 1. The School 2. Beginning a vibrant youth ministry 3. Being financially stable so that we can meet our operational expenses I believe that the best way I can offer leadership in addressing these challenges is by listening to you and hearing your stories. I intend to spend a great deal of time doing this during the coming year. I am aware that some have experienced varying degrees of pain in recent years. Let us heal these wounds and move on so that we can become the church of our hopes and dreams. I have shared with Archbishop O Brien, Bishop Madden and Ruth Puls that my plan is listen to your stories so that I can learn who we are as a parish community and how we can best work together to make our hopes and dreams a reality. As a way to begin, I intend to schedule a series of informal pot luck dinners in our hall where we can listen to one another and share what is most important to our faith development as a parish. I need your help. I will be leaving after Mass on June 14 th for my annual summer vacation, which I spend with my family in Naples, Italy. I will return on July 7th and will be ready to dig in. While I am away, I ask you to think about what is most important to you, talk with one another, think about what you would like to share and then pick your top five. For example, you may want to talk about: 1. Our parish debt 2. How to support and rally around our school 3. How to start a vibrant outreach to our youth 4.? 5.? I ask that you print your list legibly and either place it in the collection basket or send it to Carla Berkenkemper in the parish center/rectory office. While I am away, Sister Connie Gilder, from the Archdiocese, will help to collate your lists and develop a set of priorities. When I return, we can begin our pot luck dinners. I promise to listen as best I can to your concerns and I ask that you promise to listen to one another s concerns. We will schedule as many listening sessions as necessary to assure that all have been heard. I look forward to our future together. I believe God has his hand upon us. I know that you have the ear and pastor s heart of Archbishop O Brien and his staff. Together we can forge a future which will make us proud. I am your brother and pastor, In Christ, Rev. C. Lou Martin Pastor

2 May 17, th Sunday of Easter 7 th Sunday of Easter Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26 1 John 4:11-16 John 17:11b-19 Mass Intentions for the Week 5/18 Monday 8am John Klos 5/19 Tuesday 8am Agnes Thomas 5/20 Wednesday 8am Carl Cunningham 5/21 Thursday 8am Joseph Gordon Myers 7pm Melvin Carter 5/22 Friday 8am Charles Fisher Jr. 5/23 Saturday 4pm Saint Clare Parishioners 5/24 Sunday 9am Richard G. Berkenkemper 11am Yolanda Easter-Ash Prayer List: One of the most important gifts we give one another as a Christian community is the gift of our prayers. We join in praying for one another s needs, especially for the sick: Joseph H. Bangert, Linda Bonolis, Lorraine Campbell, Bradley Catterton, Peggie Cunningham, Ralph E. Greer Sr., Andrew Hagan, Maryann Holcomb-Dziennik, Jeanette Gleason, Alex Holtschneider, Margaret Kalinowski, Paul Mosmiller, Sharon Mosmiller, William C. Ogden, Carol Prendergast, Christopher Poling, Julie Rybczynski, Colleen Slifker, Lillian Stumpf, Charles Szmurlo, Jeff Vilkas, Cynthia Vollmer, Barbara Wancowicz, Louie Wancowicz, Peter Wancowicz, Sandy Wancowicz, Torrance Wattson-Ville, Rose Williams, Marian Wilt, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Zahner. Prayer Line: If you or a loved one needs prayers for any situation, including terminal illness, critical surgery, loss of a loved one, severe emotional problems, loss of employment or any other intention, please call any of the following to have your intention added to the prayer line: Betty Sinisi ; Maryrose Scism or Joanne Reiter QUESTION OF THE WEEK Adults: What signs accompany you as you profess your faith in the Lord? Children: What important message did Jesus give us before he went back to the Father? Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Thursday, May 21 Holy Day of Obligation Masses at 8am & 7pm STEWARDSHIP CORNER Jesus commandment is that His disciples love one another, even to the point of laying down their lives, if necessary. What gifts of myself my skills and talents, my time and resources will best demonstrate my love for God s people? Thank you for your generous contributions to our Parish. 5/10/09 Envelopes $ 6,558 Loose Money $ 1,157 Children $ 90 Maintenance Env $ 281 School Collection $ 989 Number of Collections Next Week: 1 Many Thanks To the many volunteers who helped at B3 Bingo The Broznowicz Family, The Hurley Family, Cathy Lanocha, Theresa Gillespie, Kathleen Ramsey, Melody Burton, Bree Keffer, Sandra Jernigan, Dawn Fitzpatrick, Louise Berkenkemper, Sharon Tomko, Jeff Zahner, Christopher Weaver, Stephanie Broznowicz, Ashley Fitzpatrick and Meaghan Podgorski. For this and other random acts of stewardship, may GOD BLESS YOU! THE WEEK AHEAD 5/17 Monday 10:00am Riverview Service 10:00am PreK Graduation - C 7:00pm Boy Scouts - H 5/18 Tuesday 7:00pm Living Water Mass & Reception - C&H 5/19 Wednesday10:00am Kindergarten Graduation-C 7:30pm Legion Mary - PC 5/20 Thursday 5/21 Friday 5/22 Saturday Please note: Hot Meal is cancelled until May 29. For the families of those who are interred at New Cathedral Cemetery MEMORIAL DAY MASS MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 at 10am ST. JOSEPH MONASTERY CHURCH 3801 Old Frederick Rd., Baltimore, 21229

3 Upcoming Parish Events. mark your calendar May 30 Volunteer Dinner June 1 Healing Service June 4 Haiti Cash Bingo June 6 Parish Flea Market June 14 Confirmation June 14 Holy Name Communion Breakfast June Dance Camp June 18 Haiti Cash Bingo July 2 Haiti Cash Bingo July 16 Haiti Cash Bingo July Vacation Bible School St. Vincent de Paul In the Gospel today, Jesus says to us, This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you You are my friends if you do what I command you. Sodality Saint Clare Sodality will hold our Sodality Mass on June 7, 2009 at 9am. We will resume our meetings in September. If you are interested in joining Sodality or would like information about it, we would love to hear from you, call Karen Ness Holy Name Communion Breakfast on June 14 after Holy Name Mass. Narration by Lou Houltz (Notre Dame Coach) Do it Right Inspiration Talk. The breakfast will be in the parish center basement meeting room. Continental breakfast, fruit salad and Panera breads and coffee. Minimal cost: around $3 per person. Contact Joe at for reservation. Bring a son, bring a brother, bring a father. By your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you fulfill this commandment. Saint Clare School would like to extend a warm welcome to Fr. Lou. We are looking forward to working with him to continue the great work of the Saint Clare community. We would like to extend our congratulations to Olivia Kropp, Victoria Lipscomb, and Sophia Zahner who were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society on May 8. The Saint Clare National Junior Honor Society was established this spring so this was the first induction ceremony. Congratulations to these young women and their families! Thank you to Joe DiCara (school board member), Tyler Gillespie (8 th grade student), and Sophia Zahner (6 th grade student) for speaking at the masses last week about their experiences at Saint Clare and why it is am important part of their lives. Thank you to all the religion teachers and students for all of the hard work to make the religion fair last weekend in the church so wonderful. We would also like to thank Mr. Carlo Stebbings for his work in coordinating the religion fair. It was wonderful to see the wonderful displays in church. All Are Welcome to Join Our Parish Community Name: Address: Phone: Please Check One: New Registration Change of Address Want Envelopes Mailed Moving Out of Area Please cut out and drop in the Collection Box or mail to the Parish Center.

4 SAINT CLARE PARISH PRESENTS $ HAITI CASH BINGO $ THURSDAY, JUNE 4 Doors open at 6:00pm game starts at 7:00pm Tickets: $12 in advance Ticket Includes: 20 games of Bingo $15 at the door Door Prize Chance 5 Specials ALL WITH CASH PRIZES We will have 3 specials for $2 each or 3 for $5 Food, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets available through the Parish Center or call Leo at Proceeds from this event go to Feed the Children of our Sister Parish in Haiti

5 Saint Clare Parish Presents Explore the Wonders of the Word! Discovery Canyon brings kids full circle with amazing activities, lasting friendships and Bible adventures. Each day kids will explore the Word, make Bible connections, and collect critter friends each carefully linked to the Bible verse and daily story. July :00pm 8:30pm Children entering kindergarten through 6 th grade are welcome to register. Registration Fee due at Time of Registration Early Bird Registration Fee: $25; $45 for families with 2 kids; $65 for families with 3 kids Registration after June 8: $30; $55 for families with 2 kids; $85 for families with 3 kids Registration Forms are located in the church and on Interested in helping or have questions? Call Carla in the Parish Center on , ext.117 or cberkenkemper@saintclare.org

6 Saint Clare Annual Flea Market & Uniform Exchange Saturday, June 6 Raindate: June 20 8am 1pm Outdoor Flea Market Spaces Available $10 per Space Reserve Your Spot by Calling the Parish Center , ext. 117 or cberkenkemper@saintclare.org Refreshments will be for sale by the Holy Name Society.

7 Hey Saint Clare Volunteers Y o u a r e S h i n i n g S t a r s! Whether you serve as an Eucharistic Minister, an Altar Server, help in the school, tend the gardens, fix the plumbing, change light bulbs, serve on the Home School Association or another committee, clean the campus, support our events or anything else at Saint Clare, we want to honor all you do! Please join us at the Saint Clare Annual Volunteer Dinner Saturday, May 30 Dinner Following 4pm Mass Please RSVP by filling in the form below or calling the Parish Center Interested in nominating a fellow volunteer for an award? Check out the nomination form in this bulletin. V o l u n t e e r s A r e O u r S h i n i n g S t a r s! Name: Phone Number: # of Children # of Adults: Please return this form through school, in the vestibule of the church or mail (714 Myrth Ave., 21221) or fax ( ) to the Parish Center.

8 O u r V o l u n t e e r s a r e S h i n i n g S t a r s! Please consider nominating a fellow volunteer for an award. We are looking for the people who give of their time and talent to our community (parish and school) on a regular basis. Please provide a couple of sentences describing your nominee and why. In case your nomination is chosen and we need more info for the presentation, we would love to have your contact info. Please return this form through school, in the vestibule of the church or mail (714 Myrth Ave., 21221) or fax ( ) to the Parish Center. Thank you! Name: Phone: