IN THIS ISSUE
Annual Parish Camping Trip
Sharing Parish Health Fair
Stories of Stewards: Bax sisters
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
Did You Know?



QUICK LINKS  

 

 

Community, Eucharist, and Plenty of Fresh Air: Annual Parish Camping Trip
 

The weekend of August 24-25 marked the fifth year that some of our adventurous parishioners and pastor celebrated community by camping overnight together.  

Fr. Ken and Rob Svendsen
Many thanks to Rob Svendsen for thinking of the idea and for coordinating the campsite! About 50 members of Saint Clement met at Blackwell Forest Preserve, just outside Naperville, on grounds that provided hills for children to run on while flying kites or bubbles, paths to walk along, a lake to fish in, and even a shower house. Each participant brought their own tent and set up their temporary outdoor home on their assigned camping spot, a comfortable distance from their neighboring campers.

 

This year there were some new campers, and even though we may pass each other on the church plaza on Sunday morning, we had the opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed and natural setting. Awareness of others, and also of nature and the oneness of all creation, helped to provide an experience for our children to become caring people who take stewardship of our earth as a personal responsibility.

 

In Saint Clement's Mission Statement, we say: "Empowered by the liturgy, we worship together and deepen our faith in Jesus Christ..." And so it was on that Saturday in August -- amidst trees, not pews -- we worshiped God together as our pastor Fr. Ken Simpson celebrated Mass on a hilltop overlooking a small lake. According to the Second Vatican Council, the Eucharist is "the source and summit of Christian life," and we indeed shared the Bread of Life that unites and empowers us.

 

Following our celebration of Mass, we shared the food we brought and gathered in the shade until sunset, and then crawled into our tents to sleep in the security of the nearness of our fellow parishioners and the song of the cicadas.

 

If you missed this fun event, don't miss it next year!

More Services, More Info, More People at Sharing Parish Health Fair

 

 

Walgreens provided free screening for high blood pressure which often shows no symptoms.
Saint Clement and our sharing parish, Our Lady of Mercy, collaborated on their second health fair on August 4. Fourteen providers offered health services and information, and more than 200 OLM parishioners took advantage of them.

 

Norwegian Hospitals brought their mobile examining room to do back-to-school physicals. Walgreens provided blood pressure and Body Mass Index screenings and inoculations against shingles and pneumonia.  

Digital equipment enabled Walgreens  employees to quickly and accurately measure Body Mass Index
Digital equipment enabled Walgreens employees to quickly and accurately measure Body Mass Index.
The Illinois Board of Health screened for high cholesterol and blood sugar. Other exhibitors delivered information on mental health, children's safety, cancer prevention, alcoholism, and dental health. Saint Clement parishioners attorney Sarah Flosi, chiropractor Stacie Ahrens, pediatrician Cindy Chestaro, M.D. and family practitioner Blanca Baldocera, M.D. were on hand to answer parishioners' questions.


Volunteers from our Human Concerns Commission and Respect Life Committee worked with OLM parishioners to stage the event. Teens from OLM helped with set up and clean up and provided translation service as part of the community service component of their confirmation preparation.

 

New ideas are already floating for next year's joint health fair. If you would like to be involved, contact Respect Life Committee Chairman, Dr. Maria Munoz.

 

 

Volunteers from the Respect Life Committee and the Human Concerns Commission with Univision favorite (and Saint Clement grad) Nicole Suarez
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 two parishioners who are also staff members (and sisters!): Anna & Christina Bax

 

Bax Sisters
Christina and Anna Bax

"God has blessed us with so many gifts! From an early age, our parents taught us that we have a responsibility to thank God for these gifts, to use them to the best of our ability, and to share them with others. In this way, we multiply these gifts and return them back to God. Although we weren't familiar with the word 'stewardship' growing up, this is exactly what we were being taught. As a result, we seek to be good stewards in the Saint Clement community, both as parishioners and as staff members.

     

As the upper school music teacher, Anna shares her passion and talent for music as she educates children at Saint Clement School. She encourages students to use their voices to worship the Lord at Mass and helps them to recognize their own gifts. Anna inspires students to share their musical talents with the rest of the community through concerts, musicals, and Christmas caroling at a local nursing home. As an active member of the Young Adult Community, Anna has helped coordinate and lead music on the YAC Winter Retreat and has also been a volunteer for Theology on Tap.

     

As Pastoral Associate and Director of Evangelization at Saint Clement, Christina works to create opportunities for adults in the parish to grow in faith and develop their relationship with God. She feels especially privileged to walk with people on their journey towards initiation through RCIA, the Adult Confirmation Program, and Baptism Prep Class for first time parents. As a member and staff liaison to the Young Adult Community, Christina strives to witness to her own faith, form authentic relationships, and invite others into the community. 

      

For both of us, being stewards in our community is not only about time and talent, but also treasure -- as this, too, is a gift from God. We no longer argue over who gets to put the family envelope in the collection basket, but each make our own Sunday offering. We also work hard to be good stewards of the resources the parish has entrusted to us, as Christina prayerfully and thoughtfully budgets for her programs, and as Anna cares for the school's musical instruments and perhaps one of our community's greatest gifts -- our children."

 
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.  

 

Saturday, September 7: Pope Francis Declares Day of Fasting & Prayer for Peace in Syria (details in the "Did You Know?" section):
@ 9:00 a.m.: Rosary prayed with the intention of peace in Syria (Saint Clement Church) 
@ Noon - 5:00 p.m.: St. Alphonsus (1429 W Wellington) is the designated regional church to gather for prayer and will be open from noon until 5:00 p.m., to coincide with the hours of the vigil in St. Peter's Square. Please join Catholics and Christians all over the globe in fasting and prayer during these hours on Saturday.

Sunday, September 8 after morning Masses: Blest Art religious art from the Holy Land for sale 
 
Sunday, September 8 during 9:30 a.m. Mass:
Sunday Morning Child Care begins, for children ages 18 months through 3 years (School Gym)

Liturgy of the Word for Children begins for children ages 4-8 years (children are dismissed during Mass); please register in advance.

Sunday, September 8 @ 5:00 p.m.: God Squad (Youth Group; 8th-12th graders) Kick-off Meeting (FC I)

Sunday, September 8 @ 8:00 p.m.: YAC Wine & Cheese Social (Chapel)

Monday, September 9 @ 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon Book Club (FC I) meets to discuss The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard. Contact Rick Jones with questions.

Tuesday, September 10 @ 7:00 p.m.: Becoming Catholic Information Session (Chapel)  
 
Wednesday, September 11 @ 7:00 p.m.: New Parishioner Reception (FC I)

Wednesdays, September 11 & 18 @ 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Explore and share your musical talents! Sign-up for an audition to be a part of the music ministry. Details online.

Sunday, September 15 @ 6:30 p.m.: Clement Couples Kick-Off Potluck (Centennial Hall)

  

Wednesday, September 18: Adult Confirmation Program begins; pre-register here. Contact Christina Bax.

  

Wednesday, September 18 @ 7:00 p.m.: YAC Book Discussion (FC I); contact Kimm Mering 

  

Sunday, September 22 after 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Masses: Fall Fest (Plaza, Courtyard)

Did You Know?

Pope Francis Declares Day of Fasting & Prayer for Peace in Syria: Saturday, September 7 

 

Dear Friends,

  

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked us to join in prayer and fasting this Saturday, September 7 for the intention of peace in Syria.  

 

Last Sunday, Pope Francis spoke these words:

 

"Today, dear brothers and sisters, I wish to add my voice to the cry which rises up with increasing anguish from every part of the world, from every people, from the heart of each person, from the one great family which is humanity: it is the cry for peace!

...

To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.

 

On 7 September, in Saint Peter's Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God's great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention."

 

Saint Clement will pray the Rosary at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday in the Church.  

 

St. Alphonsus (1429 W Wellington) is the designated regional church to gather for prayer and will be open from noon until 5:00 p.m., to coincide with the hours of the vigil in St. Peter's Square. Please join Catholics and Christians all over the globe in fasting and prayer during these hours on Saturday.

 

For more information about the situation in Syria, click here.  For the full text of Pope Francis' statement, click here.

 

A prayer for peace:

God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria's neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.

God of Hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.

 

Petition: For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace.
We pray to the Lord...

 

In Prince of Peace,

 

Fr. Ken Simpson

Pastor  
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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Photo credits: Top bar images 1 & 2 by John Zich, www.zrweddings.com; image 3 by AmyBoylePhotography.com.