IN THIS ISSUE
Married Couples Retreat Warms up a Cold Weekend
Confirmation Candidates Complete Matthew 25 Project
Parishioners Reconnect with their Strengths
Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give.
Did You Know?



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Married Couples Retreat Warms up a Cold Weekend

 

On Saturday, January 18, 10 couples from Saint Clement braved sub-freezing temperatures and 3-5 inches of falling snow to trek out to the beautiful Saint Mary of the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein. Sponsored by Clement Couples, the retreat has traditionally been held on a Saturday afternoon in Fireside Hall at the school. "This year we wanted to give couples a real opportunity to get away from the day-to-day routines with home, work, family, and kids that take up so much of our lives," said Steve & Nicole VanderVoort, the retreat organizers.

 

This year's theme was "The light within, the light around us." Rev. Dennis Koopman, a Franciscan Friar who has spent the past 20 years working with married couples in the Worldwide Marriage Encounter and in developing Pre-Cana programs in parishes throughout the Midwest, acted as the facilitator along with five couples from Saint Clement. Fr. Dennis and one of the couples would offer a brief reflection on a specific topic, followed by a time for each couple to individually reflect and dialogue on the topic by themselves. Topics ranged from a hard look at marriage today, to examining our unique gifts and challenges as married couples, to ways that our marriage can help us to enhance our spirituality together.

 

Of course, there was also time set aside for group discussion and for socializing. On Saturday evening the couples shared as a group the traditions and rituals in their own marriages and families that help to give meaning in their lives together. This was followed by an informal time socialize in the "family room" of the Conference Center. Everyone agreed that this was a good time to relax with friends from the parish and an opportunity to get to know other couples as well.

 

Sunday morning found the couples back for more presentations followed by time for individual couple reflection and dialogue. The weekend concluded with a special "marriage Mass" in the Conference Center Chapel presided over by Fr. Dennis. During the mass, the couples attending the retreat had an opportunity to renew their marriage commitment to one another.

 

Thanks to the members of the retreat team, Jim and Kirsten Greco, Rob and Lisa Jillson, Bill and Sherri Frick, and Griffin and Amanda Lothrop, for making it happen. 

Thank You from The Women's Centers

 

Dear Fr. Ken:

 

Saint Clement collected a total of $3,395.18 for The Women's Center in this year's Baby Bottle Project! It's fantastic that your parish is so generous and charitable. We appreciate your help with this endeavor again this year. Your support of our Pro Life work is truly an incredible blessing to the women and babies we serve and we are grateful for your help.

 

These funds allow us to provide material and financial assistance to women in crisis pregnancies. By choosing life for their babies they can be assured that they will be provided with the many necessities they require. We have more 3,500 appointments with women every year and give away over $1,000,000 in material goods!

 

We want to express to you, Stacey Steele, Mary Ellen, Dave, the staff, the parishioners, and everyone involved our sincere appreciation.

 

Congratulations and thanks again!

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Mary A. Strom, Executive Director

Janet Back, Manager of Development

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 Abby Spoerl.

 

"Be thankful for who you are and what you have." One of my students wrote this on a small cutout heart for our Advent bulletin board as her way of preparing her heart for the coming of Jesus. As I think back on my years at Saint Clement, I can't help but feel incredibly thankful for who I am and what I have because of the home into which I have been welcomed. One of the basic needs all humans have is to belong. I am lucky to have this need met in so many ways through my life at Saint Clement.

 

I joined Saint Clement Parish in 2009 as a neighbor in Lincoln Park and began teaching one year later at Saint Clement School. I immediately felt I had a found a home. Having grown up attending a parochial school, I was reminded daily that this was a deep-rooted tradition I was able to carry on. One of my favorite traditions is the Jesse Tree -- picking out the tags, shopping for the gifts, picturing who it is for, and how they will use it in their lives. At Saint Clement, this is just one of the many projects we embark on as a parish and school that I am incredibly fortunate to take part in.

 

In my job, being a steward means bringing God to the children in my class. In return, they give much back to me. Saint Clement has encouraged me to grow in so many ways I never knew I was capable of. The past two summers Saint Clement has provided me the opportunity to attend Responsive Classroom professional development trainings. This training gave me the skills I needed to enrich my students' lives in new ways.

 

Two of the seven principles of Responsive Classroom are a constant reminder to me of the importance teachers have in being stewards:

 

1.  Knowing the children we teach -- individually, culturally, and developmentally -- is as important as knowing the content we teach.

 

2.  Knowing the families of the children we teach and working with them as partners is essential to children's education.

 

Both of these principles resound with my mission and the mission of Saint Clement. I am grateful for who I am and what I have."

Opportunities to Pray.Serve.Give. 

 

For more information on upcoming events, including our regular, weekly opportunities, please view the parish's master calendar.
 
Friday, January 31 @ 7:00 p.m.: Annual New Parishioner Dinner (Fireside Hall); contact Maggie Hanley
 
Saturday, February 1 @ 10:00 a.m.: Sacrament of First Reconciliation (Church). Please keep the students receiving this sacrament in your prayers.
 
Sunday, February 2 @ All Masses: Blessing of the Candles
 
Sunday, February 9 @ 9:30 a.m.: Confirmation Retreat. Please keep these students in your prayers.
 
Sunday, February 9 @ 11:15 a.m.: Teaching Mass (Chapel)
 
Sunday, February 9 @ 8:00 p.m.: YAC Wine & Cheese (Chapel)
 
Monday, February 10 @ 1:15 p.m.: Afternoon Book Club discusses So Big by Edna Ferber (Bride's Room); contact Rick Jones
 
Saturday, February 15 @ 8:00 p.m.: Concerts Under the Dome features Chicago Black Catholics Choir with "There's a Brighter Day Ahead" (Church) 
Did You Know?

Blessing of the Candles: The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Sunday, February 2

 

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is also called Candlemas Day. According to Luke's account of the Gospel, Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah in the Temple and declared him "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel." This sparked the tradition of blessing candles for the year and processions which became known as the celebration of Candlemas.

 

Since February 2 falls on a Sunday this year, we have the opportunity to celebrate this Feast at Sunday Mass. You are invited to bring candles from your home for the blessing. The Mass will begin with a special procession of lit candles followed by the blessing of our liturgical candles and a blessing of any candles that you bring from home. The blessing will be held at all Sunday Masses on the weekend of February 1-2.

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.