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Our Parish Celebrates the Newly Ordained Fr. Kevin McCray and Fr. Mark Augustine
On Saturday, May 18, two deacons connected with Saint Clement Parish celebrated their ordination to the priesthood. Congratulations to the newly ordained Fr. Kevin McCray and Fr. Mark Augustine! Fr. Kevin is a long-time parishioner of Saint Clement and has been a regular presence throughout his seminary training; Fr. Mark served as an intern here two summers ago. We were honored and pleased that each choose to celebrate their "first" Masses at Saint Clement these past two Sundays during the 11:15am Mass, one of our regularly scheduled Sunday Masses, as a sign of their being ordained to serve and as an invitation for all to join in this celebration. A joyful reception followed Mass. We asked each of them to share a short reflection on the experience:
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Fr. Mark Augustine presides at his first Mass as a priest,
celebrated at Saint Clement Church on Sunday, May 19.
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How can I possibly describe the graces, love, and immense blessings that were part of my ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving?
 As I lay prostrate on the floor of the Cathedral, submitting my life wholly and entirely to God, I had a profound sense of peace. I was prepared for what I was about undertake, even though the reality of it all still had not sunk in. The reality that I am a priest of Jesus Christ for ever still had not sunk in after the ordination as I gave many people my first blessings (some of which were to random strangers in front of the Bean a Millennium Park that evening), blessed various objects, and heard confessions for the very first time.
It finally began to hit me as I celebrated the Mass of Thanksgiving. For anyone who was present, they saw how moved I was as I began to consecrate the bread and wine into the body and blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was so choked up that each and every word was a struggle to get out. At times the tears were so much I had to pause and re-collect myself. The profundity of what was taking place in my very hands, hands which had been anointed the day before for just such a task, was incredible. I am a Roman Catholic priest, giving my life in service to the Archdiocese of Chicago. I thank you all for the immense support and generosity you have shown me throughout the years, starting with my internship assignment at Saint Clement's two years ago.
Please pray for me as I begin my priestly ministry and know that I hold
all of you in my thoughts and prayers daily.
God Bless,
Fr. Mark Augustine
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Fr. Kevin McCray presides at his first Mass as a priest,
celebrated at Saint Clement Church on Sunday, May 26.
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When reflecting on the Ordination at Holy Name Cathedral, and the First Mass and reception at Saint Clement, three words come to mind:
 Peace, Service, and Community. As I entered the Cathedral with my classmates and saw a packed church, my heart leapt for joy and I had much peace, because I knew I had been prayed to this point by all of their prayers for vocations. I couldn't stop smiling -- I was so happy and I was so full of joy. Later in the ceremony, as the Litany of Saints was chanted, and I laid prostrate on the marble floor of the sanctuary, I felt the Cloud of Witness, the Saints, and the entire Church surrounding me, welcoming me as a Pilgrim, welcoming me as a Servant, and welcoming me as a Shepherd.
I also felt this belonging and this feeling of service to the larger Church, during my First Mass at Saint Clement. I saw my family, friends and fellow parishioners in the pews, and I felt the presence of all of the saints and angels that adorn the walls, ceiling, windows, mosaics and dome of our beautiful church. I was not alone and again I felt connected to all who had come before us in faith. I again experienced the feelings of peace and community.
In these last 10 years of being a parishioner of Saint Clement, I have been given peace, I have grown in service, and I have been grounded in a vibrant, fun, and faith-filled community. These gifts I will take to Queen of Martyrs, gifts that will be given away, so they become even greater gifts, so they reflect the face of Christ to all who seek peace, service and community.
I was also blessed to use a restored chalice that has a historical connection with Saint Clement. Fr. George Heimsath was an Associate Pastor at Saint Clement through 1914. Archbishop Quigley asked him to become the Founding Pastor of St. Pascal, at Austin and Irving Park. He built that parish and remained there as pastor for 45 years -- until he died as a Msgr. in 1959. His damaged chalice remained unused for over 50 years until the current Pastor, Fr. Paul Seaman offered to restore it as an Ordination gift from his parish to me, since I had a connection with both Saint Clement and St. Pascal. It will be a joy to continue the tradition started by Msgr. Heimsath, by using the chalice at my new parish on the southside of Chicago.
May God continue to bless you here at Saint Clement, and please be assured of my prayers.
In Christ's Peace,
Fr. Kevin McCray
Let us continue to pray for both Fr. Mark and Fr. Kevin as they continue onto their first assignments in the Archdiocese of Chicago: Fr. Mark at Our Lady of Ransom in Niles; Fr. Kevin at Queen of Martyrs in Evergreen Park.
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Parishioners Called to Religious Vocations
We are very proud of Fr. Kevin McCray and Fr. Mark Augustine for answering their call to religious life. Other Saint Clement parishioners are currently discerning their call to religious vocations; click on their names for information on them and how they discovered their call. Please pray for Radley, Dan, and Chrissie as they continue to discern God's call!
 Radley Alcantara  Radley is a 2nd year Pre-Theology Student studying at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and is a member of Saint Clement. In 2012, he spent his summer at Saint Clement participating in various parish ministry, including the Ministry of Care prog ram, Theology on Tap, the annual visit to our sister parish in 22 de Abril in El Salvador, and a number of liturgical ministries. "Participating in a variety of activities with the people of Saint Clement has given me first-hand exposure to the enduring tradition of service that makes the Archdiocese of Chicago a beacon of hope for so many. I have learned that for this legacy to continue, we must remain committed to reaching out to the city and the world. This effort is fundamental to our collective mission as Christians."Dan Hernandez
Dan joined the Benedictine Order at Marmion Abbey in June 2012 and is a member of Saint Clement. He started attending Mass at Saint Clement three years ago while working for the Chicago Park District. He attended the 7pm Mass and was amazed by the number of young adults there, actively engaged and so welcoming. He then started attending events like Theology on Tap and again was amazed to see how many young people were going to learn and better themselves as active young Christians. He joined Schola Clementis, the choir that sings at 11:15 Mass, which allowed him to be "part of the central action of the Mass"; he then realized he wanted to do more. "The short of it is, the people of this incredible community make me want to go out and do more!"
 Christina (Chrissie) SkelleyChrissie (pictured second from the left) is postulant with the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hamden, CT. She joined them in the summer of 2012. During her years as a parishioner at Saint Clement, she felt part of a caring and supportive faith community. The beautiful liturgy helped her pray and listen to God, and thought-provoking homilies encouraged her to go deeper in her faith and reflect how God was calling her. "I found opportunities to learn about many different aspects of our faith and apply it in my daily life, and to join other parishioners in meaningful conversation and service to the community. I was able to grow through leadership roles, such as facilitating a faith sharing group and chairing the Respect Life Committee, and to reflect on how I could share my gifts. When I finally had the courage to share my discernment of religious life with others at Saint Clement, I found warm support and encouragement." She also writes that "it means a lot to me to know that I will always have a home here [at Saint Clement], no matter what the future holds." Is God Calling You to Religious Life?
If you think God is calling you to consider a vocation to the priesthood, contact Fr. Brian Welter at 312-534-8298, or visit www.ChicagoPriest.com. For information on religious life, contact Sr. Elyse Ramirez, OP at 312-534-5240, and for the Permanent Diaconate program, contact Deacon Bob Puhala at 847-837-4562. |
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 Maria Munoz, MD. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy" (Jn 16:20).  In February 2011, when our city was covered in a record-breaking snowfall, my brother succumbed to a massive heart attack while shoveling snow, and passed away. We wanted to plan a Catholic Mass and burial, but it was no simplistic task. Not only was there the physical obstacle of two feet of snow covering most roads, but my brother was no longer a "practicing Catholic," didn't belong to a parish, and was divorced. My husband and I occasionally attended Mass, but didn't belong to a specific parish either. We turned for guidance to a long-time friend, Cathy Madayag, a staff member of Saint Clement Parish who had provided us with emotional support following the loss of my mother in 2009. She arranged a family meeting with Father Manuel Dorantes, and service arrangements were made.Sitting through the funeral Mass was arduous, but in an odd way, inspirational. The homily delivered by Father Manny not only paid homage to my beloved brother, but it rekindled the meaning and power of our faith. My husband and I somehow knew that we had found a parish we could call home. We started attending weekend Masses at Saint Clement, but soon felt the need to become more involved. A posting in the bulletin sparked my interest. The Respect Life Committee needed volunteers to help at Heather's House, a home for pregnant women facing adverse situations. Motivated by the young residents' stories and hardships, and the organization's program goals, I decided to become a regular volunteer at the House. Being an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, I have often struggled to strike a balance between career demands and Catholic teachings. Discussing all possible options with women during antenatal counseling sessions often includes the option to terminate pregnancies deemed imperfect by diagnostic testing, a concept in direct opposition to my conscience. Touched by the Heather's House Project, I decided to step out of my comfort scientific zone and attend a Respect Life Committee meeting. Surprisingly, I found a lot of commonalities in our core beliefs and goals, so I continued attending their meetings. Since then, I have become much more active and recently was elected to chair the Respect Life Committee. Last year, I helped organize a health fair at Our Lady of Mercy Church, our sharing parish; the "Pancakes for Pampers" project to collect diapers for women shelters; collected and distributed toys and blankets to "New Moms," a shelter for homeless pregnant teens in the Logan Square area; and organized various lectures including a panel discussion on religious liberty. My husband became an altar server, Eucharistic minister and is also a member of the Respect Life Committee. Although the pain and void in our lives will never be erased, the warm embrace provided by the Saint Clement family has been quite inspirational and comforting. We couldn't be more grateful! |
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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.
Weekend Masses in 2013: New Mass Journal initiative, to support our participation and reflection at Mass. Extra journals available in the church vestibule.
Friday, May 31: Congratulations Saint Clement School 8th Graders on your Graduation Day!
Thursday, June 13 @ 7:00 p.m.: A Shot of Theology (John Barleycorn Pub, 658 W. Belden), speaker series for young adults, 20's & 30's.
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Did You Know?
Reception to Welcome Newly Registered Parishioners this Sunday!
 On Sunday, June 2, following 9:30am Mass, we invite new parishioners to gather in the Fahey Center for a reception and refreshments, information and conversation. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parishioners, parish staff, and members of the Welcome & Hospitality Committee, as well as to learn more about the many opportunities Saint Clement offers. We hope you can join us!
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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...
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