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Street Construction on Deming Place
For the next several weeks, there will be street construction on Deming Place from Geneva Terrace to Orchard Street. Please note, Deming Place will be closed to traffic Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. When Deming Place is closed, the parish parking lot can be accessed by proceeding North on Orchard and entering through the alley off of Orchard Place. This will result in a reversal of the flow of the parking lot -- from south to north (see diagram).
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Summer Programs Moved Minds and Bodies!
This summer, two special programs at Saint Clement Parish helped parishioners engage with their spirituality in two very different ways: one had discussions, while the other had downward-facing dog.
First we held Theology on the Rocks, our annual summer speaker and conversation series geared toward adults ages 35 and up. Theology on the Rocks is designed to provide a welcoming environment for adults to connect with each other and engage in discussions with leaders on social, spiritual, and service-related topics pertinent to our faith.
This year's Theology on the Rocks focused on two themes: Scripture and social justice. Mary DuQuaine, Saint Clement Director of Catechesis, led one evening's reflections on Wisdom literature and art from the Saint John's Illuminated Bible. June Wessa, a Pastoral Associate from Milwaukee, spoke on "The Balancing Act--The Challenge of Being a Faithful Catholic Citizen."
The sessions were full of sharing and personal reflections on the topics. June shared her faith journey and identified herself as having a "church vocation." She helped us to see that our faith is filled with a rich spiritual depth and showed how Catholic Social Teaching offers a mandate for all Catholics, including the regular "people in the pew," to go out and live the Gospel. Attending sessions like Theology on the Rocks gives us an opportunity to spend time exploring our faith and challenging each other to go out into the world and give witness to our beliefs.
Another special program this summer moved our parishioners not only spiritually, but physically! We offered a four-week Prayer Yoga program. Prayer Yoga is a practice that helps engage the body in a unique form of prayer that promotes physical and spiritual balance and well-being.
Classes were composed of a customized yoga practice inspired by Sunday's Mass readings and included an opening reflection and closing centering prayer. Our summer Prayer Yoga series highlighted Ordinary Time themes of gifts, rest, abundance, and believing. As one flowed through poses, the instructor reminded students of the connection back to the theme and the continual use of breath throughout. Students described the sessions as "centering" and "grounding."
Prayer Yoga founders and certified yoga instructors, Ali Niederkorn and Saint Clement parishioner, Dina Wolf, have been teaching in the Catholic yoga community for over 3 1/2 years. You can reach Dina to learn more about the program.
Prayer Yoga will continue to be hosted just a few blocks away at the Cenacle Retreat Center on Fullerton Avenue every Sunday from 4 - 5:30pm. Practice is open to all levels--beginner through advanced. Saint Clement Parish will be offering $12 Prayer Yoga classes during Religious Education classes after the 9:30am Mass on October 28, November 4, 11 & 18. Watch the bulletin for more information on Prayer Yoga and other spiritual opportunities this Fall.
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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 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 David & Amanda Butts.
"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name."
-Cheers
"We started attending Mass at Saint Clement when we moved to the neighborhood in 2005. We loved the church and it wasn't long before we became registered parishioners. It was almost two more years, however, before we really felt like Saint Clement was our home.
During those first years, we attended Mass regularly, but we still felt like something was missing--a sense of community. We saw the same faces every week, but we didn't really know anyone. Mass offers so few opportunities for interaction. We just couldn't imagine saying, 'Peace be with you, what's your name, where do you live, Molly's cupcakes or Sweet Mandy B's?'
It wasn't until we had our twins in 2007 that our sense of community finally solidified. It started when we volunteered to help out at Anchor Ball. We thought it would be a fun excuse to get out of the house for the night and have a little adult conversation. But it turned out to be so much more. In that one hour of volunteering, we met parishioners who've been our friends ever since. They introduced us to Saint Clement Moms and Dads where we met even more parishioners. Parishioners with similar interests as ours. Parishioners with different interests and backgrounds. Parishioners who introduced us to other parishioners.
After that one hour of volunteering, I also decided to become more involved in Anchor Ball. For the next few years I served as the Ball's publicity co-chair. Dave found his calling helping out with Fall Fest every year. He also eventually joined the Stewardship Council. His involvement with those committees introduced him to even more of the parish community. Over the past five years, Saint Clement has evolved for us. It's still the place where we worship on Sundays. But through volunteering, it has also, finally, become our home."
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Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
For more information on upcoming events, including our regular, weekly opportunities, please view the parish's master calendar.
August 18-19 and 25-26: School Supply Drive for our sharing parish, Our Lady of Mercy's Religious Ed. Program (drop-off boxes located in the back of the church). See below for further information.
Saturday-Sunday August 25-26: Annual Family Camping Trip (Blackwell Forest Preserve in DuPage County). Reserve a site online. Questions? Contact Rob Svendsen.
Saturday/Sunday August 25/26 @ All Masses: Monthly Food Drive
Monday, August 27: Welcome back Saint Clement School students!
Saturday, September 1: Religious Education registration due (late registration will be an additional $50). Register online. Click for further information.
Monday, September 3: Happy Labor Day! Daily Mass at 9:00 a.m. Parish campus closed.
Sunday, September 9 @ 8:00 p.m.: YAC (Young Adult Community) Wine & Cheese (Chapel)
Monday, September 10 @ 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon Book Club discusses Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks (Fahey Center I); contact Rick Jones
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Did You Know?
School Supply Drive for Our Lady of Mercy (Sharing Parish)
August 18-19 and 25-26
It's school supply time again! Our annual school supply drive for the Religious Education program of our Albany Park sharing parish, Our Lady of Mercy, will take place August 18-19 and 25-26. More than 450 students in grades two through twelve will be attending the religious education classes at Our Lady of Mercy when the program starts up again this fall. Our Lady of Mercy families have been very appreciative of our past support. Everything is used! Drop-off boxes will be located in the back of the church. Click for a list of what's needed.
As always, thank you for the wonderful support!
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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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And finally...
Please note, by unsubscribing via the link below, you are opting out of receiving The Plaza newsletter. You will continue to receive other messages from Saint Clement Parish.
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Photo credits: Top bar (left) and Did You Know?: John Zich, www.zrweddings.com. |
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