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Happy Thanksgiving from Saint Clement Parish
We wish you and your loved ones a very blessed holiday!
 Mass will be held today at 9:00 a.m. in the Church.
This is the only Mass celebrated on Thanksgiving at Saint Clement Parish.
Please bring your Thanksgiving Food Drive donations to Mass.
Please bring donations of non-perishable items such as canned meats, fruits, vegetables, tuna, hearty stews and soups, juice, pasta, rice, etc. to Mass today, and this weekend, November 24/25. Items will be distributed among four different food pantries -- St. Teresa of Avila, St. Vincent de Paul Center, Lakeview Pantry and Casa Catalina -- all of whom have reported a significant rise in people coming for food. The recipients of your generosity will be most thankful!
We Give Thanks
Almighty God, you bring forth bountiful food from the earth that our loved ones may never grow hungry. For this, we give thanks. You give us families that meet at this time to reunite and be one with each other. For this, we give thanks. You have let us live in a land that has unbridled opportunity and unparalleled freedoms. For this, we give thanks. For those who are hungry today, we pray for their fulfillment. For families that are separated, we pray for their unity. And for people who live in the midst of persecution, we pray for their deliverance. We ask all these things through Christ, our ever-risen Lord. Amen.
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
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Thanksgiving Prayer Service at our Parish School
 
Last week, Saint Clement School had their Thanksgiving prayer service, which principal Melissa Dan writes, "was such a fitting way to truly close out our first trimester. Ms. Otter, along with the faculty members on our Liturgy/Social Justice Committee and the students, coordinated a beautiful service which helped us focus our attention on giving thanks for all that we have at Saint Clement. It is wonderfully summarized in this article written by 8th-grader Bartolomeo Rondelli."
On November 16, the whole school came together to celebrate Thanksgiving in a prayer service. It started with an opening prayer by a seventh grader. It was followed by the first reading, a letter from St. Paul to the Colossians, which a sixth grader read. Afterwards, fifth graders read the psalms, and the eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Terrasi read the Gospel. After the Gospel, an eighth grader read her reflection on what she was thankful for. It showed the little children why Saint Clement is great. That was followed by the little children's intercessions, and a closing prayer. After those events, Father Manny gave his own reflection on thanksgiving. He talked about choosing kindness, and thanked the kids for their positive impact on the kids in El Salvador. He also introduced the new seminarian, Radley. Overall, the prayer service made everyone feel thankful. -Bartolomeo Rondelli |
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Superstorm Sandy Relief
We have all watched as much of the upper east coast of the United States has been devastated by "Sandy." Less publicized was the damage done throughout the Caribbean in countries with far less resources. Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities consistently
deliver aid to all those in need with extremely high efficiency and low administrative cost. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, consider giving a donation through these organizations:
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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.
Thursday, November 22 @ 9:00 a.m.: Thanksgiving Day. Daily Mass at 9:00 a.m. (Church); Thanksgiving Food Collection -- please bring donation of non-perishable food to Mass.
Saturday, November 24: Jesse Tree begins. Select a tag from one of the trees, and support one of 12 charities this Christmas season. See below for details.
Tuesday November 27 @ 7:00 p.m.: Four Steps of Prayer with Fr. Peter Wojcik, a program on Tuesdays during Advent (Chapel)
Sunday, December 2 @ 10:30-noon: Family Advent Workshop (Centennial Hall)
Tuesday, December 4 @ 7:00 p.m.: Four Steps of Prayer with Fr. Peter Wojcik, a program on Tuesdays during Advent (Chapel)
Tuesday, December 4 @ 7:00 p.m.: Wine & Chat night, welcoming Fr. Francisco Rodriguez, the first priest from our sister parish in El Salvador (Fireside Hall)
Saturday, December 8 @ 9:00 a.m.: Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass (Church)
Sunday, December 9 @ 3:00 p.m.: Handel's Messiah Performance (Church); for tickets click here
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Did You Know?
Jesse Tree Begins this Weekend
Please take tags from trees in Church and Chapel
 Wondering what those Christmas trees with paper ornaments are doing in the church and chapel? They are part of the Jesse Tree program, a ministry in conjunction with Advent that provides parishioners an opportunity to support local organizations with clothing, toys, gift cards, and other needed items in the spirit of Christmas giving. Starting this weekend, you are invited to choose one of the colored tags from the trees in the church and chapel that represent wish items from the 12 charities we support annually with this project; click here for a listing of these 12 charities and a short description of each.
Gifts are due in the parish office by December 16. We thank you for your generosity this Advent season!
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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) John Zich, www.zrweddings.com. |
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