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Still Point Theatre Collective 20th Anniversary Celebration
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Martha Hennessy, Dorothy Day's granddaughter, speaks on
"Waging Nonviolence."
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On Sunday, September 15, a special event took place at Saint Clement Church. Still Point Theatre Collective, a Chicago-based nonprofit arts organization, presented peace activist Martha Hennessy in a public speaking engagement on Waging Nonviolence. Seventy individuals were in attendance, including many Still Point donors, volunteers, and friends. The subject was in keeping with Still Point's mission to use theater to educate, inspire, and challenge communities to action. Through performances, workshops, retreats, and community events, Still Point artists celebrate spirituality and raise consciousness on issues of peace and justice. Since 1993, Still Point has used theater-making to amplify hard-to-hear voices at society's margins, including prison inmates, former inmates, and adults with developmental disabilities. This special event helped to mark and celebrate the organization's twentieth anniversary.
Martha Hennessy, mother and grandmother, lives with her husband on a farm in Vermont. She is the seventh grandchild of Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. She participates in resistance
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performed a portion of the Dorothy Day play,
"Haunted by God"
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work against nuclear power and war, Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp, and the siege of Gaza. She has traveled to Russia, England, Mexico, Iraq, Egypt, Iran, and around the United States, learning about social and economic conditions. She was recently part of a delegation that journeyed to Cairo to take part in the Gaza Freedom March on the first anniversary of "Operation Cast Lead," with a hope to end the blockade on the Gazan people. At the anniversary celebration, she talked about her travels, growing up with her grandmother's influence, and how the Catholic Worker communities are continuing the works of mercy today.
Ms. Hennessy exuded a spirit of gentleness and deep conviction. The post-show discussion was moderated by a long-time friend of Still Point: Kathy Kelly. Ms. Kelly is one of the founding members of Voices in the Wilderness, and currently a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. After the event, Ms. Hennessy reflected that she very much enjoyed the discussion, and was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the questions.
The first play ever produced by Still Point Theatre Collective was the critically-acclaimed Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day, which is still touring to enthusiastic audiences today. Therefore, the collective was overjoyed that Dorothy Day's granddaughter joined them to celebrate Still Point's twentieth year. The collective is grateful to Saint Clement Church for hosting the event, and thankful to everyone who attended!
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Time Out for Your Marriage: Clement Couples Share Faith and Friendship
 Married couples in the Saint Clement community are invited to participate in Clement Couples, a parish group that offers couples a chance to meet monthly in small groups to talk, minister to and support one another, sharing faith, fun, and friendship.
Clement Couples recently held a kick-off event for the upcoming year, where 17 couples and Fr. Rex enjoyed a potluck dinner and fellowship. Returning members of the group were able to reconnect while new members had the chance to meet others and join a group. Parishioners Tracey and Shaun Elder commented: "We met people who have been in the group for years -- even decades -- as well as newly-married couples like us. It became clear as we talked with longtime members just how important Clement Couples was to them: they formed close friendships with other members, truly appreciated the 'time out' from busy lives to focus on their marriage, and deepened their faith with other like-minded people. We left the event excited by the new couples we met, and eager to get involved."
 Participants heard information on the upcoming Clement Couples retreat in January (the first overnight retreat in 10 years! Keep an eye out for details later in the fall). Also highlighted was the opportunity for Saint Clement to host the national Christian Family Movement meeting in July 2014. Those interested in service opportunities may inquire about getting involved in either of these events or assisting with the parish's Pre-Cana program.
Ultimately, Clement Couples is dedicated to strengthening marriages, developing strong families, deepening ones' faith, building leaders and raising social consciousness.
For Dina and Clinton Wolf, who have been involved with Clement Couples for more than three years, the best part of participating in this parish life group is that "it helps couples to take a pause in their fast moving lives by reconnecting with each other and other couples, enrich their faith, and see each other at Saint Clement. Personally, our group has grown in the last few years with all the experiences that life brings our way, i.e. aging parents, career transitions, health issues, new babies, and children growing up, to name a few. To experience Clement Couples with long-term friends in a dynamic city is heartfelt and incredible knowing that God is carrying us all on this journey together."
If you are interested in joining a faith-sharing community through Clement Couples, please contact Amanda & Griffin Lothrop or contact the parish office.
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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.
Saturday-Sunday, September 28-29: Food collection after each Mass to support area food pantries; collection boxes located at the back of church.
Monday, October 7 @ 7:00 p.m.: Jesse Tree volunteer kick-off meeting (Chapel); contact Georganne Palffy if interested in helping out, but unable to attend. Sunday, October 13 @ 8:00 p.m.: YAC Wine & Cheese Social (Chapel)
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Did You Know?
Putting the Council Into Action: The Directors of Chicago's Office for Divine Worship
Tuesday, October 1, 7:00 p.m., Centennial Hall
 The first document released by the Second Vatican Council was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) on December 4, 1963.
How did this document become the living liturgy that we celebrate week to week?
Why has Chicago been instrumental in implementing the changes to the Mass in the United States?
How does the Office for Divine Worship continuously work to enrich the people of Chicago and beyond?
The four directors of the office over the last fifty years will share the experience from the early days until now. Much has happened and the directors of one of the most important resources to the church will tell us their stories. Please join Father Dan Coughlin, Father Ron Lewinski, Sheila McLaughlin, and Todd Williamson for a most interesting evening.
This event is free and open to the public. Please register for this event.
Centennial Hall is located in the school building, which is directly to the west of the church on Orchard Street. Click for parking and directions.
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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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