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IN THIS ISSUE
The Romero Scholarship of Saint Clement Parish
Meet Our New Seminary Intern
Stories of Stewards
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
Did You Know?
QUICK LINKS



Our Lenten Almsgiving: The Romero Scholarship of Saint Clement Parish

 

The Romero ScholarshipA unique relationship formed 25 years ago after a Dominican priest named Fr. Jim Barnett invited Saint Clement parishioners to expand their social service involvement to include the poorest of the poor -- outside our country's borders -- in El Salvador. With the support of our then-pastor, Fr. John Fahey, the Saint Clement community established itself in a sister relationship with the Catholics of Colonia 22 de Abril.

 

That relationship has strengthened over the years by parishioners traveling often to Colonia 22 de Abril in San Salvador to meet our brothers and sisters. During one such trip in 2011, the 22 de Abril community expressed the need for further education of its young men and women. Schools are not readily available to the 22 de Abril community and many families cannot afford transportation costs to attend school, never mind the fact the children need to work to help support their families.

 

Hearing these concerns, Saint Clement has created The Romero Scholarship of Saint Clement Parish. The Romero Scholarship was named by the young men and women of Colonia 22 de Abril after the life and ministry of Oscar Romero, the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, who was known as the "bishop of the poor."

 

The Romero Scholarship will be open to highly motivated young men and women who have the desire to attend high school or college and who show extreme economic need, academic potential and a commitment to service and solidarity.

 

For more information on the history of Saint Clement's relationship with Colonia 22 de Abril, the development of the scholarship and the life and death of Archbishop Romero, please see the brochure on our parish's website.

 

When you support The Romero Scholarship of Saint Clement Parish, you help young people receive a college education that will change their lives, their families, and the Colonia 22 de Abril itself. Your donation will directly pay for the students' tuition, books, uniforms, lab fees and transportation. A donation of any size helps. Please make your check payable to: Saint Clement Parish - Romero Scholarships.

Meet Our New Seminary Intern    

Michael Wyrzykowski joins us for four months

 

Michael WyrzykowskiDear Friends,

 

Thank you for welcoming me into the Saint Clement family!

 

My name is Michael Wyrzykowski and I am the new seminary intern here at the parish. I will be staying with you for four months, assisting in the busy life of Saint Clement and at the same time learning more about priesthood and other ministries of the Church. I am sure that it will be a very enriching and blessed experience for me. Currently, I am in my fourth year of seminary studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, and I am studying for the Archdiocese of Chicago. With God's grace I will be ordained to the priesthood in May of 2014.  

 

The Chicagoland area is my second home. I was born in Szczecin, Poland (northwestern part of Poland). In 1989, I came to the United States with my mom and sister to join my dad who had come here two years earlier. Due to his activity in Solidarność--the underground Solidarity movement against the communist government in Poland--he was not welcomed in Poland and therefore found his new home here in Chicago. When we joined up with him, we moved to the suburb of Addison. There I finished Addison Trail High School and at that time also attended the Polish Saturday School (it was a means of maintaining my Polish language, learning about my heritage and Poland's history). As to my undergraduate studies, I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management from DeVry University.  

 

To learn more about our intern Michael, please view page 2 of the bulletin.

 

Stories of Stewards

 

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, we 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 Heather Kracik.

 

"Everyone needs a 'lifeline' at some point, right?
Dennis and I have been attending Mass together at Saint Clement since we started dating in 2001. We were married here in 2003. Even though we felt very comfortable in the parish from the beginning, it wasn't until after our daughter Julia was born and I left the workforce that I really began to feel like a part of the community.

I truly didn't know where to start the process of navigating this new phase of my life. First, I started noticing Clement Moms activities in the bulletin, but was nervous about trying it out alone. Then, I noticed they sponsored a book club -- ok, I like to read! Then, the next meeting was being hosted in a parishioner's home and she lived in our neighborhood -- ok, maybe I can meet some people who both live near us AND are part of our parish community! It was that simple, the 'open door' I found at Saint Clement -- the Clement Moms Book Club served as that much needed lifeline in a transitional time in my life. I feel so blessed to have stumbled into a group of such wonderful, faithful and active women!   

Over the years, I have been involved in several ministries. Clement Moms, Anchor Ball, and SCPA (our school's parent association) are where I have dedicated most of my time, and I have formed treasured friendships through my work in each of these. The increased sense of belonging, which developed with my continued involvement, also gave me the 'courage' to explore other ministries which have helped deepen my faith. Dennis and I are particularly fond of Service Day, having participated since the beginning, and we now enjoy having Julia share in the day's service activities and community building. I also enjoy helping with the Jesse Tree and Julia now joins in on that fun too! As a couple, Dennis and I enjoy co-hosting Pre-Cana and we also serve as Eucharistic Ministers. We are thankful for our many opportunities to pray, serve, and give within this amazing community!

Saint Clement has so much to offer, no matter what stage you are in life. Whether you are new to Chicago, new to the neighborhood, or newly re-connecting with your faith...there is something at Saint Clement that is sure to fit as your lifeline!"  

 

Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.

  

For more information on upcoming events, please view the latest bulletin.

   

Saturday, March 3 @ 9:30 a.m.: Centering Prayer (Chapel)

 

Sunday, March 4 @ 11:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: 5th Annual Parish-wide Prayer Day: The Catholic Imagination; event begins with 11:15 a.m. Mass, followed by lunch, 1 p.m. Keynote speaker (babysitting available), 2-4 p.m. workshops, 4 p.m. evening prayer. Details online. Please register by emailing Mary DuQuaine your name and name of guest/spouse, email, phone number, and whether you are attending the lunch.       

   

Tuesday, March 6 @ 6:30 a.m.: Saint Clement Men's Communio (Chapel)

 

Tuesday, March 6 @ 9:30 a.m.: Focus on Sunday Scripture (Fahey Center I)

 

Tuesday, March 6 @ 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Viewing of Catholicism Episode 2 "Happy Are We -- The Teachings of Jesus" (Fireside Hall); contact Christina Bax, click here for more information or register here

  

Tuesday, March 6 @ 7:15 p.m.: Young Adult Volleyball (School Gym); contact Brian Slosson

 

Wednesday, March 7 @ 9:00 a.m.: All-School Mass (Church)

 

Wednesday, March 7 @ 6:15 p.m.: Stations of the Cross (Church)

 

Thursday, March 8 @ 8:15 a.m.: A Mother's Rosary (Chapel)

 

Thursday, March 8 @ 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Eucharistic Adoration; Rosary at 6:00 p.m.; Benediction at 7:30 p.m. (Church)

 

Saturday, March 10 @ 9:30 a.m.: Centering Prayer (Chapel) 

   

Saturday, March 10 @ 6:00 p.m.: Anchor Ball, our annual gala fundraiser benefiting both the church and school (Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel); RSVP  now.  Start perusing the silent auction items and even bid online now through March 9. You can also show your support by purchasing a $25 cash raffle ticket to win up to $15,000!      

 

Sunday, March 11 @ 2:00 a.m.: Daylight Savings Time: Spring forward one hour! Also, a reminder to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. 

 

Sunday, March 11 @ 5:00 p.m.: God Squad (Youth Group) Meeting (Fahey Center II)    

 

Sunday, March 11 @ 8:00 p.m.: YAC Wine & Cheese Social (Chapel)

 

Monday, March 12 @ 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon Book Club discusses The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (Fahey Center I)  

 

Tuesday, March 13 @ 9:30 a.m.: Focus on Sunday Scripture (Fahey Center I)

 

Tuesday, March 13 @ 7:15 p.m.: Young Adult Volleyball (School Gym); contact Brian Slosson

 

Wednesday, March 14 @ 6:15 p.m.: Stations of the Cross (Church)

 

Wednesday, March 14 @ 7:00 p.m.: Lenten Communal Reconciliation (Church)

 

Thursday, March 15 @ 8:15 a.m.: A Mother's Rosary (Chapel)

 

Thursday, March 15 @ 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Eucharistic Adoration; Rosary at 6:00 p.m.; Benediction @ 7:30 p.m. (Church)

 

Thursday, March 15 @ 7:00 p.m.: Speaker Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson speaks on the topic: "Courtship: The Treacherous Adventure." Event geared towards young adults in their 20s and 30s. (Fireside Hall)  

 

Saturday, March 17 @ 9:30 a.m.: Centering Prayer (Chapel)

  

Did You Know?
 
The Way of the Cross -- Stations
Pray the Stations of the Cross at Saint Clement at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays during Lent

 

Station2
One of the Stations of the Cross at Saint Clement Church.

The 14 Stations of the Cross adorn the walls of almost every Catholic church and chapel. In Saint Clement, the stations are indicated through simple crosses located in the side aisles.  We remember Christ's Passion by walking the stations with him.

 

Throughout our history, Christians have longed to literally walk in the footsteps of Christ. The shrines of the holy places in and around Jerusalem have drawn pilgrims inspired by the life and death of their master.

 

However, not everyone is able to travel to the Holy Land. So, ever since the Middle Ages, churches and chapels began erecting images devoted to an aspect of the passion. By the 15th century, the Franciscans had developed a devotion they called "stations." The word means a place where people stand still or gather together. So even though it implies something "stationary," the service obviously must include the movement of pilgrims following the footsteps of Christ. It took a while to fix the number and the names of the stations, but in 1731 Pope Clement XII established the 14 we know today.

 

Window
One of the Stations replicated in the stained glass windows.

We still find some variations on the number. Many places add a 15th station, for example, the resurrection of Jesus. Discontent with leaving Christ in the tomb when our faith expresses so much more, worshipers have found consolation in completing the story of the cross.

 

Over the years our church has authorized various versions of the stations for different occasions. For example, Pope John Paul II altered the traditional stations for his Good Friday service in Rome. He eliminated some stations that derived from tradition, and substituted them with events from the Gospels. Here are the stations he used: 1. Jesus in the Garden of Olives; 2. Jesus betrayed by Judas; 3. Jesus condemned to death by the Sanhedrin; 4. Jesus denied by Peter; 5. Jesus judged by Pilate; 6. Jesus flogged and crowned with thorns; 7. Jesus carries his cross; 8. Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene; 9. Jesus encounters women of Jerusalem; 10. Jesus is crucified; 11. Jesus promises the kingdom to the good thief; 12. Jesus on the cross; 13. The mother of Jesus and his disciple at the cross; and 14. Jesus is placed in the tomb. For this reason, the Stations at Saint Clement are not indicated with any artwork. It allows us the ability to reflect upon many different images on Jesus' way to the cross. 

 

At Saint Clement, Stations will be prayed each Wednesday during Lent at 6:15 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. Stations are also prayed on Good Friday at 10:00 a.m. for children, and Noon for adults. Please join us.

 

Adapted from Paul Turner � 1997 Resource Publications, Inc.

Submit Your Ideas
 
We hope you have enjoyed this week's issue of The Plaza. If you know of a parishioner living their life as a steward or a topic that would interest other parishioners, please submit your idea here.
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Photo credits: Top bar (left-right): (1) John Zich, www.zrweddings.com; (2, 3): Amy Boyle, www.amyboylephotography.com.