Serve at Mass

In this Issue

Seeking to Belong

Are you seeking community and a sense of belonging?

If you are in a stage in your life where you long for community, a community where you are seen and heard, a community where you can find friendships through life discussions, then we invite you to participate in our SEEKING TO BELONG experiences throughout the year. You will be able to spot them in our communications by the green stamp, so be sure to look below, and follow along on our website, in our app, or on social media platforms to see where you can come into community in 2024.

Experience the power of small group community and conversations

Alpha begins on Monday!

In a world of isolation, anonymity, and keyboard-warriors, Alpha offers a space for honest and open conversations about life’s biggest questions in a fun, non-judgmental environment. Hundreds of our parishioners have participated in our Alpha program, each one embarking on a transformative journey that has left an indelible mark on their lives. Now, it's your turn to experience the power of small group community. Everyone is welcome and no questions are off limits.

We invite you to try the Alpha experience!

• In-Person: Mondays, beginning Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m., Lincoln Commons (2350 N Lincoln Ave)

• Online: Mondays, beginning Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., via Zoom

• In-Person: Thursdays, continuing Feb. 15, 8:15 a.m., Saint Clement Parish Chapel

Register here & join us!

Community Dinner

Sunday, February 18, 5:30 p.m., Chapel

Come to the table! All are invited to join us on Sunday, February 18 for Mass at 4:30 p.m. followed by a sit down meal to enjoy together as a community. This is an opportunity to socialize and simply enjoy one another's company, a gift in itself that God has given us through our community.

Please register here by Tuesday, February 13 and join us!

Men's Executive Series: Lent Edition

Wednesdays, Feb. 28, Mar. 6, 13, 20,

7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Fireside Hall (school)

Men of our parish are invited to join us this Lent for an opportunity to invest in yourself and your spiritual growth. Come learn from leaders respected in their fields as they share about the role spirituality has played in their personal and professional lives, and share some insights they have discovered.

• Feb. 28: "Rooted in faith – the true North Star" - Speaker: JP Gallagher, President and CEO of Endeavor Health
• Mar. 6: "Marked by integrity – the foundation of excellence" - Speaker: Chip Mulaney, Partner at Skadden
• Mar. 13: "Driven by holy ambition - making a difference together" - Speaker: Josh Hale, President and CEO of Big Shoulders
• Mar. 20: "Empowering others – bringing out the best in those around you" - Speaker: Mitchell J. Krebs, President and CEO, Coeur Mining

Register and join us!

Lenten Fish Fry!

Friday evening, March 8

All are invited to join us for a night of community and a sit down meal together at our parish-wide Lenten Fish Fry! Come meet other parishioners and enjoy a meal with your parish family. Event will be held in Centennial Hall (in the school), and there will be 3 different seating times from 5-8 p.m.

Register and join us!

Growing as a Believer

Looking to grow closer to Jesus and learn about the Catholic faith?

If you are in a stage in your life where you want to grow your relationship with Jesus, or learn more about the Catholic faith, then we invite you to participate in our GROWING AS A BELIEVER experiences throughout the year. You will be able to spot them in our communications by the blue stamp, so be sure to look below, and follow along on our website, in our app, or on social media platforms to see where you will grow in faith in 2024.

Lenten Bible Study: Time of Mercy with Fr. Kartje

Thursdays, Feb. 22, 29 and Mar. 14, 21 | 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. | Chapel

So often, Lent is associated with deprivation. We follow Jesus into the desert, as it were, because the feasting of Easter is coming, but it's not yet here. But in that desert, where food, drink, and joy can feel scarce, is the mercy of God--the cause of our joy--also scarce? This February and March, you're invited to join Fr. John Kartje, rector and president of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, for a four-week investigation of Lent as a season of abundant, overflowing mercy! 

Because God's mercy is for everyone, this course is for everyone! You don't need to be familiar with the Bible at all; you just need to be interested in learning about the gift of His mercy that God so desires to give you. 

Register and join us!

Growing in Grace: Gratitude & Forgiveness

Saturday, March 2 - Gratitude

Saturday, March 9 - Forgiveness

9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Chapel

Paul of Tarsus, when writing to the feisty and feuding earliest Christians repeatedly spoke of gratitude and forgiveness. It is a spiritual path, easy to remember. Let’s reflect, discuss, practice. 

Join us on the first two Saturday mornings in March as we explore gratitude and forgiveness, facilitated by Fr. Ken Simpson. Hospitality will start at 9:30 a.m., and program will begin at 10 a.m. All are welcome!

Register here & join us!

Growing in Grace is a thriving ministry geared towards those aged 50+ who meet to discuss life topics, purpose, and faith.

YAC Lenten Retreat - Save the Date!

Saturday, March 23 | 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Mission of Our Lady of the Angels

Young adults in their 20s and 30s are invited to join the Young Adult Community (YAC) for its annual Lenten retreat! We join Sr. Stephanie and the Franciscans of the Eucharist for a day-retreat rooted in service and talks around fearlessness, particularly during Lent when we are asked to take up our crosses daily. Our retreat will dive into topics of how to move past fear, with God, so that we may face our crosses daily and share God's light and love with those around us.

Register here and join us!

Questions? Contact Martina Ricca.

Leading Others

Are you feeling called to be a Leader?

If you are feeling called to become a leader, are a parish leader serving on a board or council, or leading a ministry, or leading small groups (like Alpha, Following Jesus, or other faith sharing groups), then we invite you to participate in our LEADING OTHERS experiences throughout the year. You will be able to spot them in our communications by the gold stamp, so be sure to look below, and follow along on our website, in our app, or on social media platforms to see how you can grow as a leader and be rejuvenated in Christ in 2024.

Unleashing Spiritual Power: A Lenten Guide to Deepening Prayer Life

Tuesdays, Feb. 20, 27, Mar. 5, 12, 7 - 8 p.m., Chapel 

Embark on a Lenten journey of prayer with this four-week course! Discover the profound significance of prayer as an encounter with God, which can ignite our faith, strengthen our purpose, and restore us in hope. We will reflect on the potential of prayer in all its forms--personal prayer, prayer with Scripture, and communal prayer, among others--to provide healing, forgiveness, strength, and spiritual connection. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to tap into the critical importance of prayer. It is through this encounter with God that we truly flourish as God's sons and daughters. Join our course and unleash your spiritual power this Lent! See registration form for each session’s focus.

Register here & join us!

Sharing Our Gifts

2024 Annual Catholic Appeal - Together at the table

This weekend at Mass, we will be inviting you to prayerfully consider making a commitment to this year's Annual Catholic Appeal. This year's theme is Together at the table. The Annual Catholic Appeal enables us to support our life together at the Lord’s table. The Appeal shares resources with struggling parish communities, Catholic schools and programs of religious education. It also supports ministry formation, including priest development and funds initiatives for justice, peace, and respect for life. Our target goal this year is $152,023. For more information or to make your pledge today, please visit annualcatholicappeal.com

If you have any questions, please contact Delaney Paul.

Meal Train in support of Madonna House

Thank you, Saint Clement family, for your generous support of the Madonna House partnership so far! As we near the welcome of families to the Madonna House, we are excited to circulate this meal train

that will help provide weeknight dinners to the women and children staying at the House. Saint Clement has committed to providing 2 dinners a week (Monday & Tuesday) to Madonna House. We are looking for volunteers to sign-up to make meals at your home and drop off at the parish on Monday before noon to be delivered to the Madonna House on Monday afternoons. We invite you to sign-up for a date or dates that work for you in the coming weeks! This is a great opportunity to cook with your family, your friends, or maybe even your small group. In the coming weeks, the Madonna House will be home to about 20 people, with the majority of them being small children. For serving sizes, please plan to cook for about 10-12 adults.  

If you need help with recipe ideas, have questions about drop-off logistics, or would like to learn more about other ways to be involved with the Madonna House, please contact Martina Ricca and Christina Oropeza. Thank you!

Lenten Almsgiving - Madonna House

For the past three months, Saint Clement has graciously supported Catholic Charities in their work to reopen the Madonna House, a women's and children's shelter for migrant families who are survivors of domestic violence. Through multiple donations of clothing, bedding, household supplies, children's toys, meal trains, welcome baskets, and more, the Saint Clement community has responded "Yes!" to the call of serving others.  

As we journey through this Lenten season, we ask for your help in supporting the efforts of Saint Clement volunteers and Catholic Charities Staff in the upkeep of Madonna House. This upkeep is not exclusive to the physical structure of the House; but rather, and arguably more important, is the upkeep of the relationships and bonds created between the Saint Clement community and the families. As these women and children have been brought out of exile into a new home, it is our duty as their brothers and sisters to help care for them. Your support of our Lenten Almsgiving for Madonna House will help to cover the operating expenses of the House, and will help to provide programming essential to the families' healing.

Give a gift to Madonna House here.

Help support our Friday Sack Lunch & Hospitality Program

Every Friday morning, our parish offers breakfast, sack lunches, and welcome to our neighbors in need in front of the parish rectory. We invite you to consider serving in our Friday ministry, either helping with hospitality or dropping off sack lunches (or both!).

• Already a volunteer? Sign-up for an upcoming date through the parish App!
• If you are new to this ministry, and interested in volunteering, please fill out this interest form.

We thank you for answering the call to serve one another!

Lenten Fish Fry - Volunteers Needed!

Friday evening, March 8

Coach Soccer for Saint Clement School!

Boys & Girls Coed (grades 1-4)

Saint Clement School's soccer program is looking for coaches for the spring season. Coaches will help conduct and supervise practices and manage games. The season begins in mid-March and ends in early June. Practices are held at Wrightwood Park on Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Games are played at UIC's Athletic Turf Fields on Saturday mornings. 

If you are interested in coaching, please reach out to Athletic Director, Tony Hoolehan, for more information at [email protected] or 219-776-6211.

Prepare & serve dinner at Lincoln Park Community Services

Kick-off the new year in service! We are looking for volunteers to plan, prepare, and serve dinner at Lincoln Park Community Services. Available dates are listed below!

1521 N. Sedgwick location

• Monday, February 12 (6-8 p.m.) -- 4 spots
• Monday, March 11 (6-8 p.m.) -- 6 spots

600 W. Fullerton location

• Friday, March 15 (6-8 p.m.) -- 4 spots

Contact Martina Ricca to sign up!

Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen

Thank you for your support of the Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen! We are looking for volunteers to help package and distribute around 200 meals on the third Friday of every month at 721 N. La Salle from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Please review the upcoming dates below, and consider signing up!

• Friday, March 15
• Friday, April 19



Contact Martina Ricca to be added to the list for any of the upcoming dates.

St. Mary of the Lake service opportunity

Saint Mary of the Lake in Uptown runs a weekly soup kitchen on Wednesday nights. With the growing number of refugees from South and Central America, the needs of the pantry continue to grow. As a part of this program, volunteers also provide sack lunches to the guests at the soup kitchen. These sack lunches ensure each guest who comes to the soup kitchen for dinner may also have a meal to-go. 

Volunteers may signup to provide 5 sack lunches by emailing Darlene Kelly.

Anchor Ball

Anchor Ball -- Through the Eras

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Anchor Ball is February 24, 2024! This parish-wide fundraising gala is a time to socially connect as a community and financially support the ministries at Saint Clement Church and the award-winning Catholic education offered at Saint Clement School. We are excited that we will be honoring three couples at the event who showed dedication and leadership to our community through trying times. You will not want to miss this moment to give thanks to Ellen & Chip Mulaney, Molly & Steve Luthman, and Ellen Slauson & Ed Walsh!  

Worship & Sacraments

Join us in worship!

Weekend Mass & Presider Schedule

WELCOME! We invite you to join us in worship this weekend at all Masses, and we welcome you to join our livestream.

Saturday, February 10

• 5:00 p.m.: Fr. Peter Wojcik

Sunday, February 11 

• 8:00 a.m.: Fr. Brett Williams
• 9:30 a.m.: Fr. Peter Wojcik
• 9:30 a.m. Chapel: Fr. Matt Litak
• 11:15 a.m. (also livestreamed): Fr. Brett Williams
• 4:30 p.m.: Fr. Peter Wojcik
• No 7:00 p.m. on 2/11

Mass Intentions

We invite you to honor a loved one with a Mass intention. The names of Mass intentions are read at Mass. Requesting a Mass intention means that you are asking that the grace of Christ’s sacrifice in his death and resurrection be applied for a particular purpose, for example, for a deceased person or a living person who is ill or in thanksgiving for a favor received.

To schedule your intentions, please visit, email, or call the parish office. You may also schedule your intention online or via our parish App. (To download our App, simply search for “Saint Clement Chicago” in the App Store or Google Play.)

Please note, we have started Family Blessings, where we will be praying for a family from our parish school at an upcoming Mass.

This week, we will pray for the following intentions:

Saturday, February 10, 2024

5:00pm Rottier Family (Family Blessing)

5:00pm Erlinda Lapid (Deceased)

5:00pm Gerard Rux (Deceased)

Sunday, February 11, 2024

8:00am Ryan Family (Family Blessing) 

9:30am (Church) Salvi Family (Family Blessing)

9:30am (Church) Sanchez Family (Family Blessing) 

9:30am (Church) Sean Patrick Richards (Deceased)

9:30am (Chapel) Mark Perkovich (Deceased)

11:15am Samuel Family (Family Blessing)

11:15am Amalia Velma Lopez (Deceased)

11:15am Sr. Jane Kelly (Deceased)

11:15am John Barry (Deceased)

11:15am John Darcy (Deceased)

Monday, February 12, 2024

8:30am Santos-Soukup Family (Family Blessing) 

6:00pm Sasieta Family (Family Blessing) 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

6:00pm Schaltenbrand Family (Family Blessing)

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

9:00am James Sherwood (Deceased)

12:00pm Rose Perry (Deceased)

5:00pm Perla Carandang (Deceased)

5:00pm James Sherwood (Deceased)

Thursday, February 15, 2024

8:30am Schmaltz Family (Family Blessing)

6:00pm Schuler Family (Family Blessing)

Friday, February 16, 2024

8:30am Schulman Family (Family Blessing)

Saturday, February 17, 2024

5:00pm Serafini Family (Family Blessing)

5:00pm Pat Lane (Deceased)

Baptisms this Weekend

This weekend we joyfully welcome the following to our community through the sacrament of baptism:

• Maeve Emma Morris, daughter of Nicholas and Kathryn Morris (Gonner)
• Miles Richard Morley, son of Richard and Meagan Morley (Pagels)
• Ella Kathleen Beyer, daughter of John and Shannon Beyer (Pagels)
• Madeline Grace Leemputte, daughter of Peter and Jacqueline Leemputte (Pasulka)

February Weddings

Congratulations to the members of our parish family celebrating the sacrament of marriage this month! May God's blessings and graces be with them in the years ahead, through all their joys and sorrows.

• Genevieve O’Meara and Kevin Zotti -- St. James Chapel, Chicago, IL 

Ash Wednesday - February 14

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter.

On Ash Wednesday, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that we were shaped from clay by God’s hands, and that we will return to God: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 

Ashes say you belong. You belong to God and are part of the larger church. Ashes serve as a visible reminder that we are not alone. If you have been away from the church, know God always welcomes you home. God willingly gives us His mercy. 

We invite you to join us for Mass on Ash Wednesday. All Masses are held in the church unless the chapel is specified:

• 7:00 a.m. - Daily Mass (no music)
• 9:00 a.m. - Church & Chapel, with our Saint Clement School students
• 12:15 p.m. 
• 5:00 p.m. 
• 7:00 p.m. 

There will be ash distribution available after 7:00 a.m. Mass - 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us!

Lenten Friday Fast & Stations of the Cross

Fridays beginning Feb. 16 at 12:15 p.m.

Skip lunch, join Stations! We invite you to consider fasting on Fridays during the noon hour and joining us for Stations of the Cross. 

Stations of the Cross is a 14-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s suffering and death. All parishioners and guests are invited to join in this mini pilgrimage this season. 

Lenten Healing & Reconciliation Service

Thursday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Mark your calendars to join us for this special Lenten service to pray, reflect, be healed, and prepare your heart for the joyful Resurrection of our Lord!

This service will include the opportunity to receive the sacraments of healing: anointing of the sick, and reconciliation (confession).

School Happenings

Young Adult Community

Come find your crew!

If you're in your 20s and 30s, we invite you to learn more about our vibrant Young Adult Community (YAC)! The YAC offers many spiritual, service, and social opportunities and would love to get to know you and help you on your spiritual journey!

Read latest YAC newsletter!

Resources

Join our Team!

Job Openings at Saint Clement Parish

Know someone who is looking for a new role or career? We encourage them to check out clement.org/hiring and see our open positions.

• Parish Facilities Asst. Mgr.

Job postings from the community

Looking for a job? Looking to add members to your team? We have created a job board as another way to serve our parish family and community. 

Visit the Community Job Board here.

Have easy access to sign-ups, Fr. Peter's weekly video, daily scripture, and more through our Parish App!

We invite you to download and explore our parish app today! You'll be able to sign up to serve as a Liturgical Minister or for our Friday Morning ministry, watch Fr. Peter's weekly video, and more! To download, simply search for Saint Clement in the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Or, you can text stclementapp to 77977. It's that easy!

Click for a video overview of our parish app to learn more!

Hearing Loop technology available in the west transept of our church!

The west transept of our church now has a new technology installed to improve hearing accessibility to our parishioners and guests -- a high quality, state-of-the-art hearing loop system! This system can help you hear better whether you have a hearing aid, cochlear implant or just sometimes struggle to catch every word. For those with a hearing aid, a tele-coil (t-coil) is required to be activated in your hearing aid to tune directly into the hearing loop. We recommend checking with your hearing care professional. We also have hearing loop receivers with headphones available.

To learn more how hearing loops work, click here.

Join the Laudato Si' Platform

The Archdiocese is one of nine dioceses around the world chosen to help launch the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. Saint Clement will be going through this process and we are encouraging all parishioners to register on the platform found at laudatosiactionplatform.org.

Outreach: An LGBTQ Catholic Resource

Welcome! God loves you and we see you! Outreach is an LGBTQ Catholic Resource created by Father James Martin, S.J. and several others. They hope to offer news, resources, and community for LGBTQ+ Catholics and their allies. Click here to learn more & check for updates!

Share your voice at the Archdiocese Women's Committee Hot Topics discussion

The Archdiocesan Women's Committee will host a Hot Topics discussions in late February and early March on pastoral approaches to persons in unchangeable positions that put them in conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church (for example, Catholics who are divorced and re-married without an annulment, who identify as LGBTQIA+, are in inter-religious marriages whose marriages were not blessed by the Church, etc.). The Committee would like to hear the voices of 200 or more women from across the Archdiocese.

Upcoming dates: February 24; March 6; March 11.

See flyer for details and registration.

Tonight - Music of the Masters: Contemporary Praise Concert

Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m., at Queen of All Saints Basilica, 6280 N. Sauganash Ave.

Join with our basilica singers and instrumentalists for an evening of contemporary praise! Listen to, reflect upon, learn and sing current and contemporary Mass favorites. No ticket, no charge; a freewill offering will be accepted. Find more information at www.qasparish.org.

"What Really Happened At..." - Winter Conference for High School Students

Feb. 17 at USML/Mundelein

The Newman Forum Winter Conference for High School Students, presented by the Lumen Christi Institute and co-sponsored by the University of St. Mary of the Lake and the Archdiocese of Chicago Vocations Office, will take place on Saturday, February 17, at USML/Mundelein.

Titled, “What Really Happened At…” the conference will offer 12 lightning-round talks by college faculty and graduate students that address fascinating questions in an accessible 20-minute format. This year’s presentations include “What really happens if we genetically engineer humans to thrive on Mars?”, “What really happens when you see the face of God?” and “What really happened at the Medieval Inquisition?”. The day will begin and close with prayer in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and include “Office Hours” for students to talk to invited faculty in an informal setting about their interests and college decisions. The conference fee is $20. Learn more here.

Vocations - Quigley Days

February 24, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

High-school-age men are invited to come join Quigley Days. In fraternity, we can help discover and guide you to the plan Jesus has for you.

Join us on Feb. 24 as we visit the Shrine of Christ's Passion, in St. John, Indiana.

Learn more here!

3rd Annual Catholic Youth Climate Summit

February 25, 2024, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. Ignatius College Prep

Catholic teens are invited to join their peers from across the Chicago area for a day of discernment, fellowship, prayer, and empowerment for the care of our common home, led by and engaging with high school peers. In the spirit of solidarity, synodality, and subsidiarity, His Eminence Cardinal Blase J. Cupich will celebrate Mass with the students at the beginning of the Summit. Families are welcome to join and support their students for Mass.

Student PRE-REGISTRATION is REQUIRED. Please pre-register here.

REFLECT Weekend Retreat for Mid-Life Singles (mid-30s to 50s)

February 23-25, Joseph and Mary Retreat House

Are you looking for a renewed sense of purpose & belonging? Register today for a life-changing REFLECT weekend retreat at the Joseph and Mary Retreat House (formerly Cardinal Stritch Retreat House) in Mundelein, IL (in the northern suburbs), on Feb 23-25, 2024. Take a chance and get involved... you won't regret it! Cost is $285 for meals and a single room. Visit www.ReflectRetreat.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 630-222-8303 for details. 

Support Little Sisters of the Poor through their Trivia event!

Sat. March 2, 5 - 8 p.m., St. Mary's Home

The Little Sisters of the Poor invite you to attend Travinia on Saturday, March 2nd, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., at St. Mary’s Home, 2325 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago. Bring your picnic, gather your team of friends, and enjoy an outdoor evening of trivia fun! Tickets are $30 in advance or $50 at the door. To buy tickets or to donate, visit www.littlesistersofthepoorchicago.org or call 773- 935-9600. Trivia questions begin promptly at 5:30 p.m., so don’t be late! Sponsorship opportunities with benefits are available!

Little Sisters of the Poor is an international Roman Catholic religious community and have pledged their lives to serving and caring for the elderly poor. This is also one of Saint Clement Parish's partner organizations that we support through our Clement Commits program.

Spring Semester Events at the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage

The Joan and Bill Hank Center, one of Loyola University Chicago's five Centers of Excellence, is a venue to learn about, and investigate, Roman Catholic thought and its links to all academic disciplines. With its strong emphasis on scholarly research and interdisciplinary engagement, The Hank Center is a productive space where the fruits of scholarship and inquiry can be encountered, discussed, and shared. 

Learn about their Spring Events here!