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Parishioners Thankful for Experience at MOLA Retreat
The weekend of November 22-23, 34 Saint Clement parishioners joined together for the Fourth Annual Urban Mission Retreat, a weekend set aside to allow participants the opportunity to expand their view of Chicago through service, while exploring the connection to their faith. The retreat was held overnight at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (MOLA) in West Humboldt Park, a Mission devoted to serving those most in need, hosting monthly food pantries, clothing giveaways, youth and senior programming, and more. This retreat was run by Saint Clement parishioners, and funded by the donations of the retreat participants and generosity of Saint Clement Church and School.
Event coordinator Michelle Lammers personally wanted to thank parishioners Megan Carroll, Erin Neal, and Dave Brenner, and our Associate Pastor, Fr. Rex Pillai, for their tireless work preparing for the weekend. She adds, "Thank you, also, to the retreatants, whose lively participation helped make this an exceptional retreat, and whose incredibly generous donations raised more than $1,500 for the Mission."
 The weekend began with a simple supper, followed by an inspiring talk on faith, service, and vocation by Saint Clement parishioner Dave Brenner. Dave's day job is at Google, but he is also a former seminarian, regularly volunteers at the Mission and other service projects around Chicago, and is a liturgical minister at Saint Clement. He spoke about living our mission, or call from Christ, our gifts from the Holy Spirit, and our prayer lives. He further addressed reconciling our jobs in corporate America (which many participants on the retreat hold) with living lives of service. One of the most memorable lines from Dave's talk was when he spoke about work at the Mission not being work of "vague idealism," but, rather, work that is very real, serving one neighbor at a time. Small group and large group discussion followed. The night ended with Fr. Rex leading us in a guided prayer, the Ignatian Examen.
Parishioner Kasey Bree reflected on the weekend: "I signed up for the Urban Mission retreat thinking it would be a nice way to serve others, but it was also very uplifting for me personally. The time we spent in prayer and faith sharing was an awesome complement to serving the community...I came home with a definite retreat high!"
 Saturday morning began with Mass led by Fr. Bob Lombardo, the Franciscan priest who runs the Mission. The remainder of the morning was spent directly serving the members of the West Humboldt Park community, as our retreat group, along with additional families and individuals, assisted with the second annual prayer service, breakfast, and turkey giveaway hosted by the Mission for 150 families.
  During the morning prayer service, members of the community had the opportunity to reflect on what they were grateful for this Thanksgiving season. Breakfast then took place in the dining hall downstairs, as volunteers served nearly 500 neighbors a hot, sit-down meal. Following breakfast, approximately 150 families received a turkey and food basket to complete their Thanksgiving meal. Thank you to the Saint Clement School students and other volunteers for donating and putting together the beautiful food baskets!
Parishioner Tracy Schmidt reflected on her retreat experience: "The retreat was an incredible way to bond with my fellow parishioners, look deeply at my own life as I am currently living it, and to support our neighbors in Humboldt Park. To say that the retreat opened my eyes to the needs of our community is an understatement."
Following the breakfast and giveaway, Mission staffer Sister Alicia Torres gave a beautiful reflection to the retreat group about her experiences at the Mission and with the community over the past several years. She encouraged us to continue to serve those around us with dignity and love.
Parishioner Terry Ward stated, "The retreat was a truly moving experience filled with prayer, service, and fellowship. I was inspired by the hard work and dedication of Father Bob and the Sisters." He added, "I will definitely be returning to volunteer in the future."
Saint Clement has been involved with the Mission for more than three years. Parishioners volunteer at the Mission on a monthly basis and have been able to create a rich relationship with the Mission staff and the West Humboldt Park community, for which we are truly grateful. To learn more about the work of the Mission, please visit www.missionola.com.
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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 the Rux family: John, Angie, Megan, and Gerard.
 "For the Rux family, life apart from Saint Clement is hard to imagine. Shortly after we (John and Angie) were married here, we started our family. Soon the Saturday night Masses became early Sunday Masses, with diaper bag and car seat in tow. We might have missed a few homilies walking Gerard on the plaza or throughway. The ushers became our friends as they chatted with our kids and offered them books. As our kids got older, Children's Liturgy of the Word at 9:30 became the Mass to attend. Now we're settled at the 11:15, with the occasional 7pm after God Squad for Meg.
The defining moment in our family's spiritual growth was attending Saint Clement School. Instantly, we had a community of friends and volunteer activities to fill our calendar! The teachers gave hugs, developed our children's minds, formed their faith and found permanent places in our hearts. Memories we take with us are the angelic voices of the Jubilate choir, the echo of the Our Father at All School Mass, Carol of the Bells at the Christmas Pageant, Confirmations and First Communions (of course), and altar serving for our favorite priests, and on occasion, for our bishops.
Now with teens, we are grateful to the priests and staff at Saint Clement as they continue to minister God's Truth in the unique way that relates to teens through God Squad. They fill their need to serve through Service Day and the Lincoln Park Shelter. They validate their many questions and uncertainties in the safety of their meetings. They offer opportunities to view the world outside of their own existence. And who doesn't like 'Ask Father Ken?'
How does one put a tag on these many blessings? Saint Clement gives us the gift of faith in so many ways. Our family is enriched by our involvement in the parish. Our family serves as Eucharistic ministers. We take part in quiet prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament at Eucharistic Adoration. Angie helps prepare the altar for Mass as sacristan and also helps with Baptisms. John and his Boy Scouts help out with Service Day, the Fair Trade Market, and Hospitality. And yes, we're live on ParishPay for our Sunday Giving Commitment.
On Thanksgiving Day, we received a reminder on how to be a good steward - 'Give something away every day.' While thankful for our many blessings, we are reminded to give ourselves to serve the needs of others. As we enter the season of Advent, what a perfect way to welcome the coming of the Perfect Gift of All."
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Holiday Mass Schedule
Christmas Eve -- Tuesday, December 24
- 4:00 in the afternoon in the Church: Family Mass with telling of the Christmas story. Carols begin at 3:40.
- 4:00 in the afternoon in the Chapel: Family Mass (a little shorter than the Church Mass for our littlest worshippers). Carols begin at 3:40.
- 5:00 in the afternoon at The Cabrini Shrine (2520 N. Lakeview Ave.)
- 6:00 in the evening in the Church: Carols begin at 5:45.
- Mass at Midnight in the Church: Carols begin at 11:30.
Christmas Day -- Wednesday, December 25
- 8:00 in the morning at The Cabrini Shrine (2520 N. Lakeview Ave.)
- 9:30 in the morning in the Church
- 10:00 in the morning at The Cabrini Shrine (2520 N. Lakeview Ave.)
- 11:15 in the morning in the Church
New Year's Day -- Wednesday, January 1
- 10:00 in the morning in the Church
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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: Mass Journal initiative, to support our participation and reflection at Mass. Extra journals available in the church vestibule.
Sunday, December 15: Please return purchased Jesse Tree gifts today!
Monday, December 16 @ 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon Book Club discusses
Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler (Fahey I) Wednesday, December 18 @ 7:00 p.m.: Advent Reconciliation Service (Church) Thursday, December 19 @ 6:30 p.m.: School Christmas Concert, Grades 1-8 (Church) Monday, December 23 @ 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Help decorate the church to reflect the joy of the season! Contact Flo Merkl-Deutsch if interested.
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Did You Know?
Advent Reconciliation Service
Wednesday, December 18, 7:00 p.m., Church
 We invite you to our communal reconciliation service, which will be filled with prayer and beautiful contemplative music in the midst of candlelight. Together we will examine our lives and ask for forgiveness from the burdens that afflict us each day. Along with the meditative prayer, we will have the opportunity for individual confession with a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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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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