IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome Fr. Rex Pillai, our New Associate Pastor!
Clement Commits Program Reaches 10% Sharing Goal
The Plaza Switches to Summer Schedule
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
Did You Know?



QUICK LINKS  

 

 

Welcome Fr. Rex Pillai, our New
Associate Pastor! 

 

"My name is Fr. Rex Pillai, the new Associate Pastor at Saint Clement Parish. I take over from Fr. Manny who did an outstanding job as your Associate Pastor for over four years.

I come from Sri Lanka, an island that is located off the southern coast of India. I was ordained as a member of a religious order known as the "Redemptorists." After my ordination I was engaged in preaching parish missions, retreats and parish ministry in Sri Lanka. I arrived in Chicago in 2005 to go to graduate school at Loyola University to obtain a degree in Psychology and Counseling. It was during my time at Loyola University that I began to discern a calling to the diocesan priesthood in the Archdiocese of Chicago. After prayer and guidance I made a decision to transition to the Archdiocese of Chicago, a process known as "Incardination." The Incardination process consists of two phases in two different parishes. I began the first phase of my incardination process in November 2009 at St. Benedict Parish on W. Irving Park Road. The time I spent at St. Benedict Parish gave me an insight into parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I was able to learn much at St. Benedict Parish and feel blessed to have been part of a vibrant faith community.

While taking classes at Loyola University, I was a resident at St. Michael Parish in Old Town. It was there that I first heard about Saint Clement Parish in Lincoln Park. In May, on the recommendation of the Priests Placement Board, Fr. Ken invited me to join the pastoral staff of Saint Clement Parish. This will also mark the beginning of the second phase of my Incardination process. As I begin my ministry here at Saint Clement Parish, I am honored and humbled to be part of a parish that has served God's people in Chicago for over a century, and share in the vision of this great parish. I am also excited to be working with the amazing staff at Saint Clement Parish. It is indeed a privilege for me to share my gifts with a parish that is as vibrant and active as Saint Clement. In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to getting to know you, learning from you, and walking this journey of faith with you and growing together. My sincere to thanks to Fr. Ken for having me on board and to you for your warm welcome."
Clement Commits Program Reaches 10%
Sharing Goal!

 
At the recommendation of the Finance Council and the Stewardship Council, Father Simpson and Saint Clement's Pastoral Council have approved a plan to increase the annual percentage share of the Clement Commits program from 9.5% of general collections in fiscal year 2013 to 10% in fiscal year 2014. By giving 10% of general collections to needs other than our own, Saint Clement has reached the percentage sharing goal set when the parish adopted the Clement Commits program in 2003.     

Students from our sister parish in El Salvador.
When the Clement Commits program was first established, Saint Clement committed over $100,000, representing 7% of its general collections for fiscal year 2003, to help meet important needs beyond the boundaries of the parish. Last year, the Clement Commits program contributed nearly $200,000, representing 9.5% of Saint Clement's general collections, to a wide variety of charities and other service organizations in need throughout Chicago and beyond. The recipients of Clement Commits funds are chosen and reviewed each year by parishioners and the pastor. In the decade since its creation, Clement Commits has enabled Saint Clement to make impactful contributions to our local and El Salvadoran sharing parishes, the Lincoln Park Community Shelter, numerous anti-poverty and abuse victim programs, a variety of other community-based and immigrant programs as well as many Archdiocesan-based charities.

A health fair held at our sharing parish,
Our Lady of Mercy, organized by the
Saint Clement Respect Life Committee.
Most Clement Commits funds for 2013 will be distributed at or around the end of the fiscal year.  Recipients of the 2013 Clement Commits funds will include Our Lady of Mercy (our local sharing parish), the Lincoln Park Community Shelter, the Jean Donovan Foundation and 22 de Abril Parish (our sharing parish in El Salvador), the Iraqi Student Project, the Archdiocesan Office of Immigrant Affairs, Madonna House, Little Sisters of the Poor, the Peacebuilders Initiative, and the St. Vincent DePaul Learning Center.

Clement Commits also enables us to eliminate most second collections at Mass by contributing to a variety of Archdiocesan collections, including the Retirement for Religious, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Missions Office, Seminaries, Retirement for Priests, Propagation of the Faith, Peter's Pence, and Aid for the Church in Latin America and Eastern Europe.     

The nature and scope of the Clement Commits program is unique in the Chicago Archdiocese. Saint Clement can be proud to have achieved the 10% sharing goal set over a decade ago for Clement Commits. As Saint Clement's Mission Statement recites: "Grateful to God for our many blessings, we have a sacred responsibility to share our gifts, serve the common good, make a meaningful difference in people's lives and respond to the challenge to live the Gospel every day." Clement Commits represents a tangible expression of our parish mission as we strive to give meaning to our stewardship theme to "Pray.Serve.Give."
The Plaza Switches to Summer Schedule

 

The Plaza has switched to its summer schedule and will be published on a bi-weekly basis. There are many great stories of the wonderful people of Saint Clement. If you have a story idea you'd like to share, please send an email to [email protected].

Have a safe and wonderful summer!
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, July 5 @ 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Day 1 of Hearts on Fire Retreat for young adults in their 20's and 30's (Centennial Hall).

Saturday, July 6 @ 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mass: Day 2 of Hearts on Fire Retreat for young adults in their 20's and 30's (Centennial Hall, then Church).

Sunday, July 14 @ 8:00 p.m.: YAC Wine & Cheese Social (Plaza)

Tuesdays, July 16 - Aug. 6 @ 7:00 p.m.: Theology on Tap summer speaker series for young adults begins (Plaza).
Please note, food and drink donations needed; if you have connections to a business or restaurant, please contact Kelsey Davis.

Sunday, July 21 @ 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Blood Drive (Gym)
 
Wednesdays, July 24 & 31 @ 6:30 p.m.: Theology on the Rocks summer speaker series for adults ages 35+ (Courtyard). 

Weekend of July 27/28 @ all Masses: Monthly Food Drive; collection of non-perishable foods and hygiene products to support local parish-operated food pantries. Please place such donations in the boxes in the vestibule. 
Did You Know?

Saint Clement Parish Holds Two Outdoor Summer Speaker Series   

 

Theology on Tap, 7:00 p.m., Plaza
TOT Adults in their 20's and 30's are invited to enjoy free food and drink as you meet new people and enrich your faith on a beautiful summer evening on the church plaza. TOT is designed to provide a welcoming and fun environment for young adults to connect with each other and engage in discussions with leaders on social, spiritual, and service-related topics pertinent to our faith. We begin at 7:00pm with registration, food and drink. The program starts at 7:30pm. Click here for further information.    

Tuesday, July 16 -- "When Life Doesn't Go As Planned: The Hidden Gift of Disappointment"
Speaker: Timothy O'Malley PhD; Director, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy


Tuesday, July 23 -- "Sex and the City of God"
Speaker: Cristina L.H. Traina; Professor of Religious Studies, Northwestern University


Tuesday, July 30 -- "#Discipleship in a Digital World: A Challenge, a Chore and the Charge"
Speaker: Clarissa Aljentera; Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation and Media Resources, Archdiocese of Chicago


Tuesday, August 6 -- "From the Other Side of the Confessional:
Insights into God's Loving Mercy"
Speaker: Fr. Ed Shea O.F.M.; Coordinator of Young Adult Ministry, Saint Peter's in the Loop


Theology on the Rocks, 6:30 p.m., Courtyard
TOR Adults ages 35 and up are invited to this fun, faith-formation opportunity. Theology on the Rocks will be held on the back courtyard. Enter from the driveway (rain location: Fireside Hall in the school). Come at 6:30 p.m. for light appetizers and drinks. Speaker will begin at 7:00pm. Click here for further information.

Wednesday, July 24 -- "Living in God's Grace."
Speakers: Alma Blasquez, a parishioner of Saint Clement with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from DePaul University; and Mary DuQuaine, Director of Catechesis at Saint Clement Parish,

with a M.A. in Theology from Catholic Theological Union.

Wednesday, July 31 --"Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day," an acclaimed one-woman show! Featuring Lisa Wagner-Carollo, founder and director of Still Point Theatre Collective.
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.
 
And finally... 

 

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Photo credits: Top bar (left), and many of the pictures from Fr. Manny's final Mass and reception, John Zich, www.zrweddings.com