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IN THIS ISSUE
Prayer Day
Stories of Stewards
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
Did You Know?
QUICK LINKS
Celebration of our Catholic Imagination at Prayer Day

 

Prayer Day is an annual parish-wide event offering an opportunity to learn ways to enhance our prayer lives. It also can be a reminder of how simple and rewarding it is to fit God into our day to day lives. There are several speakers and presentations held throughout the day. On Sunday, March 4 we held the 5th annual Prayer Day, coming together for a celebration of our Catholic Imagination in prayer. As Catholics we have a rich tradition of utilizing sacred art, literature, and music to inspire and enrich our life of faith.

 

Prayer Day 2012 Keynote, Laurie Brink:
Prayer Day 2012 Keynote, Sr. Laurie Brink O.P. PhD:
"Of God and Cheerios: Finding the Holy Moments Among the Ordinary"

We began the day by worshiping together at the 11:15 a.m.  

Mass. Next, parishioners gathered for food and fellowship. After lunch, we had our Keynote presentation by Sr. Laurie Brink, O.P. PhD. Sr. Brink shared fascinating insights into the Scripture using story and imagination. She showed how Scripture helps us to see God's affection for us in our everyday lives.

 

There are many prayer practices that help to engage our imagination  

and help us to see and experience the divine in  

new ways. Each of the presenters helped us to reflect upon the creative ways we use imagination to enter into prayer, center our lives on Christ, and experience the beauty of God and creation.

 

Fr. Ken Simpson, our Pastor, helped us to listen to the beautiful symbolic language that is present in the new translation of the Mass. 

 

Kate Lynch, DRE from St. Therese of Avila, helped people to prepare for liturgy and sacred space. She referenced the classic book, Preparing Yourself for Mass by Romano Guardini.

 

Parishioner and artist, Jean Unsworth, provided a visual presentation of sacred Christian art and shared ways to experience art in a such a way as to enrich your prayer life.

 

SpeakerFr. Bill Creed's presentation was an exploration into Ignatian spirituality and shared how to engage the imagination to help "pray one's life" to help with discernment in everyday life.

 

Finally, we shared in prayer together with a beautiful experience of Vespers, evening prayer, to conclude the day.

  

Thank you to all who participated, our presenters, and all who shared their time and talent in coordinating this event! 

 

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 Beth Hattel.

  

Hattel

"I have been a parishioner of Saint Clement Church for almost ten years. We first joined when Brett and I moved to the neighborhood and shopped churches. There were plenty to choose from but Saint Clement felt like the right place for us.

 

I joined Clement Moms after I had my daughter, Brigid, and was surrounded by parishioners and neighbors who were 'just like me' which was comforting as I transitioned into life with a child. I joined the Human Concerns Commission in 2006 as the liaison from Clement Mom's Outreach Committee and found myself with a group of parishioners not 'just like me' and it was around that time that I knew I belonged at Saint Clement. I've done some wandering spiritually and otherwise but have always considered the Catholic Social Teachings as a litmus test when navigating and grappling with complex issues, and here was this committee whose guiding tenets were just that. The wisdom, kindness and clarity of the committee members is infectious and inspiring.  

 

I've been a member of the Engagement Committee for the past two years and have been facilitating Strengths for the Journey groups which has been a rewarding privilege to work with parishioners--familiar friends and new friends--as they discover and absorb their unique gifts and talents.

 

To me, being a good steward means being a citizen,not a consumer at our parish. In addition to my HCC involvement and where that leads me, we participate in Service Day, Anchor Ball efforts, have facilitated Pre-Cana, and pledge money to the Sunday Giving Commitment which

is a simple but important way of supporting our parish as a whole."

 

Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.

  

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

    

Saturday, March 17 @ 9:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Centering Prayer: Contemplative Outreach United Day of Prayer (Fahey Center I)   

 

Monday, March 19 @ 7:00 p.m.: Human Concerns Committee Mtg (Chapel)

 

Tuesday, March 20 @ 6:30 a.m.: Saint Clement Men's Communio (Chapel)

 

Tuesday, March 20 @ 9:30 a.m.: Focus on Sunday Scripture (Fahey Center I)

 

Tuesday, March 20 @ 7:15 p.m.: Young Adult Volleyball (School Gym); contact Brian Slosson

 

Wednesday, March 21 @ 6:15 p.m.: Stations of the Cross (Church)

 

Wednesday, March 21 @ 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.: New Parishioner Reception (Fahey I); contact Maggie Hanley 

 

Thursday, March 22 @ 8:15 a.m.: A Mother's Rosary (Chapel)

 

Thursday, March 22 @ 10:00 a.m.: Clement Moms Playgroup (Chapel)

    

Thursday, March 22 @ 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Eucharistic Adoration; Rosary at 6:00 p.m.; Benediction at 7:30 p.m. (Church)

 

Saturday, March 24 @ 9:30 a.m.: Centering Prayer (Chapel)

 

Saturday, March 24 @ 10:00 a.m.: 8th Grade Confirmation (Church)

 

Saturday March 24 - Sunday, March 25 after all Masses: Registration begins for Saint Clement's 7th Annual Service Day: April 28 (Plaza); contact Maggie Hanley for more information.  

    

Sunday, March 25: Monthly Food Collection; you are invited to bring non-perishable donations to Mass

  

Sunday, March 25 @ 12:30 p.m.: Art & Architecture Tour (Church)

    

Sunday, March 25 @ 5:00 p.m.: God Squad (Youth Group) Meeting (Fahey I)

 

Tuesday March 27 @ 6:30 a.m.: Saint Clement Men's Communio (Chapel)

 

Tuesday, March 27 @ 9:30 a.m.: Focus on Sunday Scripture (Fahey Center I

 

Tuesday, March 27 @ 7:00 p.m.: Movie Night featuring A Small Act (Fireside Hall); free event sponsored by the Human Concerns Commission

 

Tuesday, March 27 @ 7:15 p.m.: Young Adult Volleyball (School Gym); contact Brian Slosson

 

Wednesday, March 28 @ 6:15 p.m.: Stations of the Cross (Church)

 

Thursday, March 29 @ 8:15 a.m.: A Mother's Rosary (Chapel)

 

Thursday, March 29 @ 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.: Eucharistic Adoration; Rosary at 6:00 p.m.; Benediction at 7:30 p.m. (Church)

 

Saturday, March 31 @ 9:30 a.m.: Centering Prayer (Chapel)   

 

Sunday, April 1: Palm Sunday -- Start of Holy Week.  

Masses at 5:00 p.m. (Saturday), 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. (Church & Chapel), 11:15 a.m., and 7:00 p.m. (Church) 

Did You Know?
 
Welcome Reception for New Parishioners 
Event set for Wednesday, March 21

 

Saint Clement welcomes all new parishioners for a reception on Wednesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. The reception will begin with a tour of the art and architecture of our magnificent church by parish historian Maria Leonard. Following the tour, all are invited to the Fahey Center for refreshments, information, and conversation.

 

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other members of the parish and learn more about the many opportunities Saint Clement offers. If you've recently joined the parish, please join us! For more information, contact Maggie Hanley.

 

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.