IN THIS ISSUE
Saint Clement Serves Mission of Our Lady of Angels Families at Retreat
Fr. Ken Led Christmas Novena at St. Vincent de Paul
Christmas & New Year's Mass Schedule
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
Did You Know?



QUICK LINKS  

 

 

Saint Clement Serves Mission of Our Lady of the Angels Families at Retreat 

 

MOLA RetreatThe weekend of November 16-17, 35 Saint Clement parishioners joined together for the Urban Mission Retreat, a weekend set aside to allow participants the opportunity to expand their view of Chicago through service, while exploring the connection to their faith. The retreat was held overnight at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in  

MOLA RetreatWest Humboldt Park, a Mission devoted to serving those most in need, hosting a food pantry, clothing giveaways, youth and senior programming, and more.

   

The weekend began with a simple supper, followed by a reflection on the spirituality of service by Deacon Tim Sullivan. Deacon Tim shared several personal experiences and interactions he'd had with the poor, hungry, and homeless, and challenged us to face what prejudices we may have. He encouraged us to look for Christ's face in all, and reminded us of the responsibility we have to treat each person we encounter with dignity and love. Lively small group discussions occurred afterwards, as participants discussed their experiences and how they can respond to needs they encounter in the future.

  

MOLA RetreatParticipant Rebekah Rashidfarokhi reflected on the weekend: "The Urban Mission Retreat provided a rare opportunity to step outside our daily lives and distractions to focus on serving others. Discussions at the retreat helped us realize, with the busy lives we lead, it is possible to forget our neighbors, especially the poor and the homeless. As residents of a big city, it is easy for us to become desensitized to homelessness and poverty because we encounter it so frequently. The retreat helped remind me how important it is to show respect and concern for every individual I encounter, no matter his or her circumstances, and that what matters the most is what we do for those who have the least."

   

MOLA RetreatSaturday morning began bright and early with Mass and breakfast. The remainder of the morning was spent directly serving the members of the West Humboldt Park community, as our retreat group, along with additional Saint Clement families and individuals, assisted with the first annual prayer service, breakfast, and turkey giveaway, hosted by the Mission for 150 families.      
  
MOLA RetreatA prayer service with the community kicked off the morning in the church, led in song by five members of our Saint Clement community. Members of the community had the opportunity to reflect on what they were grateful for this Thanksgiving season. Breakfast then took place in the dining hall downstairs, as volunteers served nearly 500 neighbors a hot, sit-down meal. Following breakfast, approximately 150 families then received a turkey and complete Thanksgiving meal, partially provided by the retreatants and other items donated through Saint Clement's November food drive. Thanks to all who so willingly donated food this past month!

  

Parishioner Peter Corrigan reflected on the service that weekend: "I was privileged to share in a wonderful day of fellowship with the members of the Humboldt Park community as part of the Saint Clement partnership with the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. During our time of prayer, service, and  

conversation, I experienced the presence of Christ through our community's witness of mutual gratitude to God and one another."

  

MOLA Retreat Following the breakfast and giveaway, seminarian Radley Alcantara led us in a group discussion and reflection of our service, challenging us to remember those we met that morning and to find the "Calcuttas" in our lives, where we can continue to serve those around us with dignity and love. Retreat participant Kalene Morris reflected that she "really enjoyed the talks on the retreat, which reminded me that service is not so much about completing a task as it is about encountering people."

  

Fr. Ken Led Christmas Novena at St. Vincent de Paul

 

Fr. Ken leads Novena 
The Christmas Novena of the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers was led on Sunday, December 2, by our pastor, Fr. Ken Simpson. St. Vincent Chamber Chorale members wonderfully sang the canticle and hymn of the Novena, delighting the attending St. Vincent de Paul parishioners. 

 

This Christmas, Novena and Advent Vespers will continue on December 9 and 16 with two more guest preachers. Visit the St. Vincent de Paul website for more information.

 

Christmas & New Year's Mass Schedule
   
  

Christmas Eve - Monday, December 24

  • 4:00 p.m. in the Church: Family Mass with telling of the Christmas story; Carols begin at 3:40
  • 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel: Family Mass (a little shorter than the Church Mass for our littlest worshippers); Carols begin at 3:40
  • 5:00 p.m. at The Cabrini Shrine, 2520 North Lakeview Avenue
  • 6:00 p.m. in the Church: Carols begin at 5:45
  • Midnight Mass in the Church: Carols begin at 11:30

Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25

  • 9:30 a.m. in the Church
  • 10:00 a.m. at The Cabrini Shrine, 2520 North Lakeview Avenue
  • 11:15 a.m. in the Church

New Year's Day - Tuesday, January 1

  • 10:00 a.m. in the Church
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give. 

 

For more information on upcoming events, including our regular, weekly opportunities, please view the parish's master calendar.            

 

Saturday, December 8 @ 9:00 a.m.: Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass (Chapel) 

 

Sunday, December 9 @ 3:00 p.m.: Handel's Messiah Performance (Church); for tickets click here  

 

Monday, December 10 through Thursday, December 13: Bulletin representative, Dan Hrdi, visits our parish to service our bulletin. Please consider purchasing an ad to help support our bulletin. For more information, please contact Dan at [email protected] or call the parish office during this week. Thank you for your support! 

 

Monday, December 10 @ 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon Book Club discusses Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Fahey I); contact Rick Jones 

 

Tuesday, December 11 @ 7:00 p.m.: Four Steps of Prayer with Fr. Peter Wojcik, a program on Tuesdays during Advent (Chapel)

 

Wednesday, December 12 @ 7:00 p.m.: Advent Reconciliation Service (Church)  

 

Thursday, December 13 @ 7:00 p.m.: Anchords Christmas Concert, new school chorale group (Centennial Hall) 


Sunday, December 16: Deadline to turn in Jesse Tree gifts.

Sunday, December 16 @ 3:00 p.m.: William Ferris Chorale Holiday Concert (Church); for tickets click here

Sunday, December 16 @ 8:00pm: Young Adult Community (YAC) Christmas Party (John Barleycorn on Lincoln/Orchard)

Thursday, December 20 @ 7:00 p.m.: School Christmas Concert (Church)

Friday, December 21 @ 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Help decorate the Church for Christmas (Church). Please contact Flo if you are interested in helping.
Did You Know?
Advent Reconciliation Service
Wednesday, December 12, 7:00 p.m., Church
 

Take some quiet and prayerful time during this busy season so that you may examine yourself and your relationships while preparing for God's coming. Our communal reconciliation service will be filled with prayer and beautiful contemplative music in the midst of candlelight. Along with the meditative prayer, we will have the opportunity for individual confession with a priest in the sacrament of reconciliation.  

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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); Christmas Mass Schedule image; John Zich, www.zrweddings.com