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Christmas Message from the Pastor
"The angel of the Lord
appeared to them and
the glory of the Lord shown around them...
The angel of the Lord said to them, 'Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you
good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.'"
The Gospel of Luke for the Mass of Nativity of the Lord at Midnight
 Dear Friend,
The glory of the Lord does shine around us!
Messengers of good news walk our streets,
labor next to us, fill our pews, occupy our homes,
catch us by surprise, invade our hearts...
Joy, peace, comfort, consolation, reconciliation, solace, salvation, hope, love, God...takes flesh...in a city, in a family, in a troubled time, in a sleepless night, in a cry of pain and joy, in a rush of life, in fulfillment of a promise. This is good news for all people; this is good news for you.
We give thanks and praise for the glory of the Lord that shines around us and through us as a community of faith. Our parish is a messenger of good news to members, guests and visitors, and people who never enter our beautiful church. We are committed as an act of faith to reach beyond our immediate needs to the hopes and sleepless nights of others. Nourished by prayer, gifted by service, stretched by our giving, we join in the mission of the messengers of good news to "all the people."
May the good news of the angels surround you and the warmest of Christmas blessings fill you.
Fr. Ken Simpson
Pastor
Please include Saint Clement Parish on your gift list. We depend on each other to be able to continue our ministry of good news. Thank you in advance for your continued generosity.
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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
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Saint Clement School Gets in the Spirit of the Season: Giving and Building Community
 About a year ago, our pastor Fr. Ken introduced our school's principal, Melissa Dan, to the principal of Our Lady of Charity in Cicero, Katie Olson. Approximately 95% of the students at OLC qualify for free and reduced lunch.  To start building a stronger local relationship with this Catholic school in need, our parish school decided to partner with Our Lady of Charity this Christmas. Each grade level at Saint Clement sponsored an OLC classroom, and each Saint Clement student bought a Christmas present for a specific Our Lady of Charity student. Teachers at OLC compiled classroom wish lists which we were also able to fulfill. Thank you to our school community for giving so generously! 
On Wednesday, December 19th, our 8th graders along with Principal Melissa Dan, Associate Pastor Fr. Manny, and jolly Santa Claus, delivered these gifts from our school community to the students of Our Lady of Charity.
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 One of the highlights of the event was seeing the overjoyed reactions of the children receiving and unwrapping their gifts. Perhaps most memorable was the child who received the plush penguin that he "really really wanted!" Watching him hug his gift so tightly added to an already wonderful experience that left all involved with big smiles on their faces. Photos courtesy of amyboylephotography.com.
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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.
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.
Sunday, December 23 @ 12:15 p.m.: Art & Architecture Tour (Church)
Monday, December 24 & Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses
Saturday, December 29 & Sunday, December 30 @ All Masses: Monthly Food Collection of non-perishable foods. Please place donated items in the boxes located in the church vestibule.
Tuesday, January 1 @ 10:00 a.m.: New Year's Day Mass (Church)
Sunday, January 6 @ 11:15 a.m.: Teaching Mass (Chapel)
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Did You Know?
Start Your New Year Right:
Holiday Bulletin Filled with Opportunities
 We have created a special holiday bulletin filled with several months' worth of opportunities at Saint Clement Parish to pray, serve, give, learn, and become an even more engaged Catholic.
Whether you are a long-time parishioner or new to our parish, we invite you to page through these many events and opportunities. Listen to your own reactions as you look them over and mark on your calendar those things which may be of interest or attract you. Or perhaps pay special note to those offerings that turn you off or challenge you. These may be exactly the things you need to do. One of the sure lessons of this season is that God works in the unexpected.
We hope you will join us as we strive together for deeper holiness, greater communion, and wider service in the year to come. May every good blessing be with you.
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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); photo of Fr. Ken; Christmas Mass Schedule image;
John Zich, www.zrweddings.com. |
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