Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation, in which we recognize and give thanks for those who have gone before us preserving and promoting Christianity, some having paid the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs. Tomorrow we celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, or All Souls. The saints, our models of Christian living, are one with God in heaven. All the faithful departed are those who have died with hope and trust in a loving God who calls us to greater growth and development, even beyond death.

These November feasts vividly remind us of the rich reality known as the Communion of Saints (click here for a great article on the Communion of Saints). This expression is defined first and foremost in the Eucharist, by which the faithful are united in one body. It also refers to all who have suffered in the name of Christ to better our lives (Catechism of the Catholic Church 960-961). This belief stresses the strong affirmation that the Church is always one in Christ. Death does not sever any of the bonds that unite us in Christ. That is why it is a fitting practice to pray for the dead and to ask them to pray for us. Just as we do that for each other when we are alive, so, too, do we continue that bond and concern for each other even beyond death.

Please join us for Mass tonight at 7:00 p.m. to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, and tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. We invite all families who have lost a loved one over the past year to join us for the Saturday evening Mass; you are welcome to bring a small token of memorabilia, such as a picture, or a small treasured object, to display that evening in the church at the baptistery. You may also inscribe names in the Book of the Dead. Please know that you are in the prayers of our staff in a very special way. We are here to support you and assist you through your grief and mourning. Our faith assures us both of God's mercy and our conviction that those who have died will share life with God in the heavenly Kingdom. Please gather with us.

Text in first two paragraphs pulled from articles offered through our bulletin publisher © Liturgical Publications Inc (LPi).

Image of Adoring Saints by Jacopo Di Cione (1370-71) © 2007 by Dover Publications, Inc.; cover design © LPi.

Symposium on New Laws that Impact Religious Freedom

"The Church is in crisis right now," said Thomas Brejcha, Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society.  "The government is aggressively insisting that things our faith holds sacred can no longer be done."  

On October 17, Brejcha was joined at Saint Clement by Robert Gilligan, Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, and Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz of Agudas Achim Congregation, in a symposium on how new laws redefining marriage and certain mandates in the new healthcare law impact religious freedom.

"The first amendment to the Constitution is pretty clear," said Gilligan, "'Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.'" He added, "What do we do when we leave the Mass or the Synagogue or the Mosque or what have you; I mean that's what we're called to do, when we leave, and this is how we exercise our religion." (Houses of worship themselves are exempt from the mandate that requires employers to provide insurance for things like sterilization and the abortifacient drug Ella, but religious employers like Catholic Charities and Notre Dame are not exempt, and they are suing the government.)

"The principle is the thing that we need to focus on, not the subject of the spat," Gilligan said, "and I know the media doesn't like that, but we try to focus on the principle, which is that we should be free to engage in ministries and do what we need to according to the tenets of our faith without governmental interference."

Rabbi Lefkowitz told the audience that, "The Rabbinical Council of America, over a thousand Rabbis, wrote a position paper demanding that the Jewish community support the Catholic Church on this issue."

"Forget about being a Catholic," he said, "Remember you are a believer in the one true God that created us all. We all are. And we have to take a united position."

Gilligan said that one argument heard in the marriage debate is "this law does not force [the Church] to marry same-sex couples, so what is the problem with it?" The problem, he said, is, "what happens when we leave the church, what happens with Catholic Charities ministries, what happens with our hospitals, what happens with our schools?"

The video of this symposium can be viewed online.

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 Kimm Mering.

"I moved to Chicago a little over two years ago. In my first months here, I had never felt so alone and untethered. Not only was I out on my own for the first time, my faith was suffering; I couldn't seem to find a parish that was the right fit for me. After a few months of drifting, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I should talk to a priest, and when I did, he suggested I try Saint Clement. 

From the first moment I walked in the door for 7:00 p.m. Mass, I knew I was home. I signed up for the YAC winter retreat and it was there that I met my new Saint Clement family. I couldn't get enough of everything Saint Clement had to offer! I participated in every YAC activity I could, signed up to be on the planning committee for Theology on Tap, and started going to Mass regularly again. The opportunities to meet new people and develop friendships while developing faith, and the relatable priests who give homilies that speak to me, are things I had never experienced before in church. 

That spring I participated in Strengths for the Journey. Almost all of my strengths pointed me toward the same action: join a faith-based book club. However, the book club at Saint Clement just wasn't the right fit with my schedule and interests. An idea began to form: a way I could give back to this community which had already given me so much! Last winter, the YAC Book Discussion group was launched, and since then we have read eight books on a variety of faith-based topics and have had some fantastic discussions. We even had an author come and participate in our discussion of her book last month!

Now that I'm financially able, I've felt so blessed to also begin giving back to the parish. While it might not be much, I know every little bit helps to support the wonderful programming provided and to keep Saint Clement the vibrant community that it is."