Saint Clare of Assisi, Pray For Us!

The Bap sm of the Lord January 10, 2016 Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Bishop of Belleville WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 p.m. Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 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. Saint Clare of Assisi, Pray For Us! 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 Catholic Church 1411 Cross Street O Fallon, IL 62269 618/ 632-3562 618/ 632-9036 (fax) www.stclarechurch.org Fr. Jim Deiters Dennis Vander Ven Marcia Fix Jamae Shubirg Shirley Seipp Patrick Jurgensmeyer Stephen Eros Jane Dotson Matt Flynn Pastor Deacon Parish Secretary Administrative Assistant Business Manager Facilities Manager Music and Liturgy Director Family Faith Formation Adult Faith and Mission ST. CLARE SCHOOL 632-6327 214 West Third Street, O Fallon, IL Milissa Faust Principal Gloria Schmidt Secretary Eileen Yahl Accountant MT. CALVARY CEMETERY 632-3562 Jim Deschesne, Sexton PARISH TRUSTEES Michael Crupe John Dempsey ST. VINCENT DEPAUL 632-4270 Emergency Assistance

From Our Pastor... God s Abundant Generosity When we become aware of God s abundant generosity toward us, it impels and inspires us to keep doing and giving our best. As the saints have told us through the centuries, we can never out-do God s generosity...but striving to match His we become holier. During this Advent-Christmas season I have become more aware of both God s generosity to our parish... and the generosity of our parishioners to God, the Church, and the poor. I was in awe to see the piles and piles of gifts donated to our giving tree for the needy in our area, and the generous donations given to our St. Vincent De Paul collection. When I presided at our prayerful Christmas liturgies and heard the voices and instrumental music of our talented parishioners, and saw the hospitality of our ushers and greeters toward the extra visitors, my spirit was lifted in gratitude. When I took time on Christmas day to open the many cards and gifts sent to me by parishioners, I was overcome with a deeper sense of God s love that is shown to me through you. And when I learned of the amazing amount pledged to our debt reduction campaign I simply knelt in humble silence in my prayers for you before God in the tabernacle. God s abundant outpouring of grace and mercy into the life of our parish never ceases to amaze me...and my soul proclaims the greatness of God! Thank you, thank you, thank you! May God fill you with a deeper awareness of His love and mercy for you, Fr. Jim Deiters We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family of Wilma Seel who died last week. May she rest in the peace and love of Christ. We continue to pray for all who have died and all who are mourning the death of a loved one. January 9 Melinda Parker Barbara Boyles Lisa Hardimon Angela Schoby Michael Swanson Shea Guinn January 10 Linda Lee Hodges LeVette McKnight Janet Allen Christopher Call Andy Rodriguez Kris Ferro Nicole Bute Karelly Gonzalez Jeremy Walker Kelly Fleming January 11 Richard Zagorski Cortney Kreke Colby Mank January 12 Brian McAnulty Ryan Boyles Marques Davis Javier Favela Carter Darnall January 13 Virginia Woods Jane Buechler Diane Henson Kristy Turner Pete Pace Kenneth Kasper Jacob Hataway January 14 Jackie Brown Sharon Ripplinger Donna Kloustermeyer Barbara Bieri John Caamal January 15 Richard Suski Susan Erb Becky Lopez Claudia Barragan Jay Adams Jane Normansell Daniel McManus Danny Protocollo Cara Reilly January 16 Gary Lickenbrock Sue Yost Kim Pavao Julie Wieman Cassidy L Hote R. Jesse Kennedy III January 17 Michael Fitzgerald Tim Guskey Deanna Grimmig Bailey Spengler This weekend the Respect Life Committee will hand out baby bottles for us to take home for two weeks. Please place loose change or dollar bills in them and return by January 23/24. The proceeds will benefit Fontebella, a maternity home for women in need. The collection date also coincides with the March for Life in Washington, DC. Please pray for all the marchers, our elected representatives and Supreme Court Justices, and our nation. We also pray for Fontebella s ministry and for everyone who is considering, has gotten, or performed an abortion when we encounter them, may we wrap them in God s embrace and support them with mercy, love and community.

MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, January 9 The Bap sm of the Lord 5:00 p.m. Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday, January 10 The Bap sm of the Lord 8:30 a.m. Ted and Patricia Gundlach 10:30 a.m. For Our Parish Monday, January 11 12:00 Noon Wilma Seel Tuesday, January 12 7:30 a.m. Ann Langhauser 8:30 a.m. School Mass Wednesday, January 13 No Mass, St. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Thursday, January 14 8:30 a.m. Mass at School Chapel Friday, January 15 7:30 a.m. Special Inten on Saturday, January 16 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 p.m. Jerry Gass Patricia Sholl Sunday, January 17 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 a.m. Jerome and Dorothy Warchol Marcellus Huller 10:30 a.m. Eleanor Thoman Readings January 11-17 Monday: 1 Sm 1:1-8; Ps 116:12-19; Mk 1:14-20 Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:9-20; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Mk 1:21-28 Wednesday: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20; Ps 40:2, 5, 7-10; Mk 1:29-39 Thursday: 1 Sm 4:1-11; Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Mk 1:40-45 Friday: 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a; Ps 89:16-19; Mk 2:1-12 Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a; Ps 21:2-7; Mk 2:13-17 Sunday: Is 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-3, 7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11 Next Weekend January 16/17 Cantors Saturday 5:00 pm Jamie Eros Sunday 8:30 am Katie Szwedo 10:30 am John Gomez Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Saturday 5:00 pm Brigid Sternberg, Lee & Anne Crowe, Lucy Mixen Michael DeCarpentry, Jeff & Pat Taylor, Ellen Gravlin Lucia Barragan, Jim Calandro*, Dennis Holdener* Tom Grimmig*, Barb Kovach* Sunday 8:30 am Simone Wheeler, Sharon Ripplinger, Percy Menzies Gary Borges, Jim, Pennie & Sarah Pavlisin Fred Favela, Betty Deschesne, Ely Gillespie* John Gomez*, Kevin & Linda Rademacher* Sunday 10:30 am Lea Bautz, Richard Smith, Tara Sill, Steve Bovich Mary Anne Burroughs, Margaret Andrasko Tanja Ramsby, Lindsay Goldberg, Mark Arbogast Dominic & Rena Sabatino*, Karen Holzum* Patty Klingelhoefer* Lector Saturday 5:00 pm April Leo & Nancy Buttimer Sunday 8:30 am Sandy Gross & Joe Motowski Sunday 10:30 am Dan & Tara Ashbaker Servers Saturday 5:00 pm Cassidy Lurk, Faith Rackers, Ryan Voss, Natalie Spain 8:30 am Liam Kenney, Javier Favela Madison Luechtefeld, Sophie Wilkerson 10:30 am Hannah Sill, Emmie Higgens, Alex & Allison LaSalvia Ushers Saturday 5:00 pm Don Gravlin, Zakharie Stoll, Bruce Rackers Hal Harris, Richie Meile, Carl Lurk Sunday 8:30 am Ryan Luechtefeld, Jim Hendricks, Don Proffer Gregg Ryan, John Bechtoldt, George Martychenko Sunday 10:30 am Brian Huelsmann, Matt Chambers, Darrell Raynor Blaine Phillips, Ruben Abalos, John Meise Gift Bearers Saturday 5:00 pm Barbara Calandro, Jenny & Carolyn Vogt Sunday 8:30 am Winnie, Heather & Anya Kenney 10:30 am Patrick, Dannette, Joseph, William & Lydia Kinsella Greeters Saturday 5:00 pm Erin Prest, Rose Brennan, Walter O Dell Sunday 8:30 am Babe Papproth, Jim & Corrine Wright 10:30 am Anne Shambro, Connor, Mariah, Kristie & Holden Sound Board Saturday 5:00 pm 8:30 am Jacob Nguyen 10:30 am Jim Colombo Bread Bakers Amy Short, Sarah Mattingly, Sherry D Amico Children s Word Saturday 5:00 pm Lucy Ueda & Ian Ratajczyk Sunday 8:30 am Alicia Luechtefeld 10:30 am Krissy Greene & Hunter Barr Nursery 10:30 am Amanda Mergen & Kim Huber 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, Shirley Carroll, Yasuko Estabrooks, Rita Ferreri, Mildred Gerardi, Mike and Linda Gilkerson, Hannah Grubofski, Rita Haukapp, Margaret Heinke, Jessica Holmes, Elnora Hostetler, Boston Johnson, Pauline Keller, Keith Klein, Liz Klingler, Dawn Papproth Kuhn, Thelma LaSalvia, Abelina Leon, Vincent Lepes, Mary Lugge, Nona Morgan, Jenifer Morris, Margaret Nettles, Katie Paulochk, Doris Prosser, Dale Reeser, Megan Saldana, Madelean Sanford, Michael Schmitz, Clete Schwaegel, Craig Seipp, Betty & John Stogner, Betty Tomasovich, Jake Van Hook, Deacon Dennis Vander Ven, Steve Wells, Virginia Woods Please pray for all our military men and women, especially those serving away from their families.

PSR Parish School of Religion Sunday Mornings 10:30 11:40 St. Clare School, 214 W. 3rd St. Jan. 10 PSR Class CPP Training (All) Youth Group Schedule Jan. 10 Ice Skating Party at Steinberg Rink in Forest Park, meet at 5:30 p.m. in church parking lot to carpool; return at 9 p.m. Jan. 15-17 Luke 18 Retreat Jan. 17 No Youth Group Jan. 12 Jan. 15 17 Jan. 17 Jan. 24 Knowing and Loving the Eucharist 6:30 8 p.m. in Fellowship Hall 2nd Grade Parents; adults welcome! Luke 18 Retreat (Grade 8) School No PSR Martin Luther King Day PSR Class Jan. 24 Youth Group 6-7:30 p.m. in new room Jan. 31 Youth Group 6-7:30 p.m. in new room Feb. 7 Dodgeball Tourney and Other Games 12:30-3 p.m. at St. Clare School gym New Youth Room in lower level of St. Clare School All high school youth and early college-age youth are welcome to attend Youth Group meetings and activities at any time. Jan. 31 PSR Class (4th grade Soup Kitchen) New students are welcome to register for PSR upon moving into the parish. Call the parish office or register on line at www.stclarechurch.org. First Communion Parents Meeting Tuesday, January 12 6:30 8 p.m. Fellowship Hall Free babysitting is available; contact Jane at janeadotson@yahoo.com to RSVP Children s Word Leaders Needed If we do not get more volunteers this ministry will no longer be offered at all Masses. If you send children to this ministry, please consider leading once a month. This is one of the most rewarding ministries I ve participated in at church. I am more engaged with the gospel and connected in my children s spiritual life. You do not need any experience or deep understanding of the Gospel. There is a script to follow and training provided at your convenience. The only requirement is child protection training. Please contact Alicia as soon as possible! 531-0220 Youth Group Ice Skating Party! Sunday, January 10 5:30 9 p.m. Carpool from church parking lot To Steinberg Skating Rink Forest Park, St. Louis Parent permission slips at stclarechurch.org Cost is $7 admission/$5 skates Please let Karen know you will attend so we can have enough drivers. Parents are invited to help drive youth to event. Siblings are welcome if parents drive them. Snacks and drinks available at Snowflake Café- we cannot bring in outside refreshments. Don t Miss the Fun! Family Bingo!! January 29 St. Clare Fellowship Hall Free Fun Night! Doors Open at 5:45 Games begin at 6:30 Lots of Prizes!! Daubers $1 each Bring your own snacks! Soda will be available to purchase

You Are Invited! To an Intimate Relationship with Jesus I came so that they might have life... Faith Formation Opportunities Cornerstone Bible Study: The Gospel of Luke Wednesdays, Jan. - April, 9:30-11:30 am, Fellowship Hall Interested in joining? Guest day is Jan. 13. This is an orientation to the study, so new members must come to this session. Contact Heather Ertel (heatherertel76@yahoo.com, 622-2193) or Kristy Turner (krisnturner@hotmail.com). Salvation History and Me: Lenten Soup Series Mondays, Feb. 15 - March 14, Mass at 6:00 pm, Meal and Presentation at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall Enjoy food, fellowship, prayer, and faith formation. Each session focuses on a different aspect of our story as God s people and how we live that story in our daily lives. Tuesday Evening Bible Study: The Passion Narratives 7-8:30 pm, Feb. 16 - March 22, in the Church Library Take advantage of this opportunity to explore this crucial section of the Bible. Register at 632-3562 by Jan. 20. Cost is $20.00. Special Events Marriage, Divorce, and Annulments: Realities and Myths Thursday, Jan. 21, 7-8:30 pm, 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, including any person who hopes to get married one day. It also covers what is involved in the annulment process in the Church and how an annulment can bring great healing. Marriage Enrichment: Holy Matrimony Lord Have Mercy! Saturday, Feb. 13, 6:15-8:45 pm, Fellowship Hall Presented by Father Jim Deiters Enjoy a date night of laughter and surprises as you learn about the mercy it takes to keep your marriage holy and healthy. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Register at 632-3562 or janeadotson@yahoo.com by Feb. 8....and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) Retreats and Conferences Catholic Men for Christ Conference Saturday, Feb. 6, at the St. Louis Peabody Opera House Experience spiritual rejuvenation with men from St. Clare. Parishioners meet in the church parking lot and carpool. Zip Rzeppa will be the emcee. Details and registration can be found at catholicmenforchrist.org. Women s Renewal Weekend Saturday, Feb. 20, 8 am to Sunday, Feb. 21, about 2 pm Join with other women of the parish for a weekend of fun, spiritual renewal, and good food. Presenters share their own joys and struggles of faith. Contact Judy Kocinski with questions/to register: 530-0531 Register by Feb. 14. Diocese of Bellevile Cursillo in Christianity Men's Weekend: Feb. 25-28 / Women's Weekend: March 3-6 Held at the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in Ruma, IL The Cursillo in Christianity Movement has produced abundant fruits, including renewal of family life and parish vitalization. Each weekend is a wonderful experience that builds personal spiritual growth and understanding of your faith. Contact Pat Cates: jettcates@charter.net,588-4147, or 806-9658. Catholic Women for Christ Conference Saturday, Feb. 27, at Lindenwood University s J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts Renew your faith through outstanding speakers and prayer. Details and registration at catholicwomenforchrist.org. Faith Formation Groups St. Clare Catholic Men for Christ Saturday, Jan. 23, 8 am, Fellowship Hall (7:30 am Rosary) Meets monthly, usually fourth Saturday At the January meeting, guest Lucia Signorelli will speak about prayer guides. Young Adults Meets monthly Are you a young adult looking for fellowship, faith formation, and growth? Contact Sally Ayoob at sallyayoob@gmail.com or check us out on facebook Welcome to the Guatemala Corner! We will be featuring information about our sister parish in Guatemala, scholarship students (past and present), and the culture and region to help keep you all informed about this ministry. Please also visit our wall across from the library in the Church. Our sister parish is Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas (Our Lord of Esquipulas) and is located in Guastatoya, Guatemala. The parish is one of 33 parishes in the Jalapa Diocese. Guastatoya is the capital of the Department of El Progresso and is located 45 miles or 73 km east from the capital city of Guatemala, Guatemala City. Have some fun by looking these places up online or trying to find them on a map!

Share God s Gifts You have been given wonderful gi s from God Will you share them? Every Good Gift is from the Father Stewardship THANK YOU for making our 2015 Capital Campaign an incredible success! More than 230 households have made a financial commitment to help pay down our mortgage. Your generosity and faithfulness have resulted in donations and future pledges that will reduce our parish debt by over 30%! Moreover, we are delighted to report that as of this writing, 96 new parish households have come forward in support of this campaign, all but meeting our goal of 100! Remember that there are numerous ways to fulfill your pledge OR make periodic contributions towards St. Clare s mortgage payments. You can use the red envelope from your monthly packet, or contact the parish office to arrange a traditional direct deposit transfer from savings or checking accounts. Also available through the parish website is the quick and simple We Share online giving tool, with options for donating electronically via credit or debit accounts. Go to www.stclarechurch.org any time, day or night, to get started! We are so grateful for your dedication to St. Clare Parish. God bless you and yours in the year ahead! Kathy Sjoquist, Chair, St. Clare 2015 Capital Campaign Sunday, December 27, 2015 Tithe...$17,308.00 New Church.....$9,096.00 Sunday, January 3, 2016 Tithe...20,626.49 New Church..6,387.00 Month of December: Christmas $21,201.00 For the Poor... 2,636.36 Guatemala (including scholarship...2,024.00 Immaculate Concep on...1,410.00 Children s Envelopes..24.00 Christmas Flowers....923.00 Coming soon! Across the street, near you! An opportunity to participate in Works of Mercy! In this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis asks us to focus on the ways God's mercy transforms our lives and is at work in the world. At some point in life, each of us has been sick, if not hospitalized, and has, hopefully, experienced the unconditional love that comes from someone visiting us in our illness. God came to be with us in our humanity and continually seeks to be with us through grace working in the lives and actions of others. Now is a chance to make a commitment to participate in God's being present to those who are injured, sick, or dying. The Memorial East Hospital Branch, right across the street from St. Clare, is scheduled for completion on April 1st. In order to prepare for this, the diocese has asked St. Clare as well as other local parishes to recruit volunteers to take communion to and visit with Catholic patients in the hospital. The hope is to be able to schedule one or two people every day and have enough volunteers that people are only scheduled once or twice a month. At Memorial Hospital in Belleville (which is much larger), one or two volunteers are generally able to make their visits in 2 hours or so the time commitment here should be equal or less. There will be two diocesan Information Sessions (you only have to attend one) at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3rd. Please register at the parish office before Wednesday, Jan. 27th. There will also be four diocesan Training Sessions (you only have to attend one) at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both February 16th and 23rd. Please register with the parish office before Tuesday, February 9th.

ALTAR ANGELS January 16: Arlene Cruz-Peel, Kathy DeVan Linda Riedel, Sharon Ripplinger ST. CLARE SENIORS MEETING Monday, January 11 at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Chicken & Dumplings will be served and a speaker from St. Elizabeth Hospital with an update on the new hospital will be our guest. ALTAR SODALITY MEETING Monday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All women of the parish are invited to join us!! HOLY TRINITY QUILT & CASH BINGO Sunday, January 24 Lunch at 11:30 a.m. and Bingo at 1:00 p.m. Bring canned goods for the Fairview Heights Food Pantry and receive a free card w/tally purchase. Silent Auc on, lunch, desserts and refreshments No outside food or drinks. Call Patricia at 234-0321 or notop3216@outlook.com for more informa on. Proceeds to St. Ann Council of Catholic Women. OPEN HOUSE Kindergarten registra on at St. Clare Catholic School, 214 West Third Street in O'Fallon will be held during our Open House on Sunday a ernoon, January 31, 2016, from 1:30-3:00. Children entering Kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2016. Please bring your child's cer fied birth cer ficate and a copy of their bap smal cer ficate with you to the registra on. All students must be current on immuniza ons as required by the State of Illinois. There will be a registra on fee of $50 per newly registered families. This amount will be nonrefundable. It will, however, be applied to the June tui on for those families sending their children to St. Clare School. PLEASE PRAY FOR...Please keep Emma Koory and the students and chaperones of Althoff Catholic High School in your prayers as they leave for a mission trip to Honduras on January 12. St. Clare is pleased to be helping sponsor Emma and her fellow classmates on this trip. Watch for a newsle er ar cle about their trip a er they return! MANY THANKS! Thank you to everyone that contributed gi s to the Giving Tree! Many area families would not have had Christmas without your generosity. An extra special thanks to Bill Matzker and Pat Jurgensmeyer for all their help to make this happen. FAIR TRADE MINISTRY would like to thank all parishioners that support fair trade through the year. They sold 167 pounds of coffee and 76 pounds of chocolate grown by small family farmers from around the world, enabling them to earn a fair market price for their crops. Addi onally, $480 was donated to the Holy Angels Shelter and the Guatemala Scholarship Fund. Stop & see us this weekend! Luke 18 Bringing fun and faith together for an awesome weekend retreat. Jan. 15-17, 2016 St. Clare School Please keep our youth and volunteers in your prayers for this life changing event!! Leaders and Guardians! Work Day Today! Sunday, Jan. 10 from 12 3 at St. Nicholas Youth Room Luke 18 Schedule Friday, Jan 15 4 p.m. High school and college leaders arrive to set up (dinner is provided to leaders) 7 p.m. 8th graders check in at St. Clare School Saturday, Jan 16 5 p.m. Mass at St. Nicholas; families invited Sunday, Jan 17 1:30 Closing ceremony in school gym; families invited 2:15 clean up by all high school and college leaders Special thanks to all volunteers & sleep house hosts! A full-day retreat for Confirmation candidates Saturday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville Keynote Speaker: Curtis Stephan Special presentations * Reconciliation * Adoration Closing liturgy at 5 pm is open to the public. Please see link below for registration form. Registration fee for attendees is $25, lunch included. A ratio of one adult chaperone per 7 youth is required. Registration deadline is Friday, January 29 Questions? Email youthministry@snows.org or call 394-6276 If anyone wants to attend and form a group from St. Clare Parish, contact Jane janeadotson@yahoo.com or 632-3562 by Jan. 18. We will need chaperones.