As part of our ongoing engagement process, we have come to realize the importance of parishioners sharing their personal stories of how they have connected with Saint Clement as an important factor in their lives. As a feature twice a month, the Stewardship Council will share the stories and reflections of our engaged parishioners who are living a stewardship life of prayer, service, and giving. This week we hear from Jodie Laughlin.

"Who doesn't like an invitation -- to a party, to lunch, to be part of something? In my early days at Saint Clement it was exactly that -- a personal invitation -- which kicked off a journey of service and involvement in the parish community. It started innocently enough in 1999, "Would you help us with the parish picture directory?" Sure, why not! After a couple of years volunteering for Anchor Ball -- where I first met many other long time Saint Clement stewards -- I agreed to be an Anchor Ball chairperson for a few years. Invited to speak at Sunday Masses about why participating in the Sunday Giving Commitment is an important, meaningful piece of being part of the parish community, a couple times I have actually (admittedly reluctantly) accepted.

That was back in the day when to most of us Fr. Ken Simpson was merely one of the fellow priests who vacationed with Fr. Tom Hickey; also back in the day when Saint Clement first invited me into a deeper sense of spirituality. After 10, 20, 30 years in a work profession, many people have confidence and expertise in what they do. After 30 years a Catholic, I can't say that I had much invested in or advanced my Catholic "expertise." Sure, a Sunday Mass regular since Catholic grade & high school, I had thought on work/life balance; what about faith/prayer/life balance?

At Saint Clement there's a steady stream of ways to explore faith questions and the invites keep coming -- to a conversation on Scripture, Catholic writings, ways to pray or to be a part of a Lenten or Advent faith sharing group. Many years ago now I took a leap of faith, signed on to one of those -- though at the time I don't even think I knew what "sharing group" meant. Since then I have even led many groups. This fall my Strengths for the Journey pilot group enlightened and energized my understanding of my God-given gifts and how very much they are a part of me in ways in which I had never given thought.

So here's my personal invitation to you -- consider which day and weeks during Lent work best for you and register today for Strengths for the Journey, just four sessions that I'm confident you will find as enriching to your work, home, and faith life as I have."

For further details on the Strengths for the Journey program, please click here, or register online today!  

Questions? Please contact the Parish Office at 773-281-0371.