We, the people of St. Clare Catholic Parish, In the Diocese of Belleville, are called by God

in baptism to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Centered in the Eucharist, and strengthened

by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we strive to live the Gospel and further the reign of God.

We do this by creating a vibrant faith community, by actively promoting justice and evangelization, and by using our gifts in the service of God’s people, to give God

glory and reverence all of Creation.

WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 p.m. Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Nursery service during the 10:30 Mass.

BAPTISM—Preparation classes for parents are offered every other month for infant baptism. Call the Parish Office to sign up. Adults wishing to be baptized should also call the Office.

RECONCILIATION—Saturdays 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Community celebrations are also offered every Advent and Lent.

MATRIMONY—Contact Pastor a year prior.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK—Communal celebrations twice a year, or by appointment.

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church 1411 Cross Street

O’Fallon, IL 62269 618/ 632-3562

618/ 632-9036 (fax) www.stclarechurch.org

Fr. Jim Deiters Pastor Dennis Vander Ven Deacon Marcia Fix Parish Secretary Jamae Shubirg Administrative Assistant Shirley Seipp Business Manager John Harter Facilities Manager Sr. Carolyn McWatters Liturgy & Music Director Tom Docter Accompanist Jane Dotson Family Faith Formation

ST. CLARE SCHOOL 632-6327

214 West Third Street, O’Fallon, IL Milissa Faust Principal

Gloria Schmidt Secretary

Eileen Yahl Accountant

MT. CALVARY CEMETERY 632-7631

Jim Deschesne Sexton

PARISH TRUSTEES

Michael Crupe

John Dempsey

ST. VINCENT DEPAUL 632-4270

Emergency Assistance

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 1, 2015

Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Bishop of Belleville

St. Clare of Assisi, Pray for Us!

From Our Pastor...

January 31 Andrea Martin Paul O’Brien Don Adams Mary Sheehey Luis Gonzalez Beth Ruckwardt Gregory Adams Michelle Erb Courtney Kombrink Tyler Klingelhoefer Liberty Barr Ansley Ori February 1 Paul Riley Su Holmes Bernard McManus Matt Steinkamp Anna Barackman Rachel Baines Eric Banker Jimmy Hendricks Lily Klostermann February 2 Nancy Fuccillo Mary Anne Hempsted Julie Grubofski Jamie Dintelman Joshua Muckensturm Mahdi Gourdine Alex Brown Maggie Papproth Alexandra Day Isaac Day February 3 Michelle Strube Celerina Collins Rick Klingelhoefer Amy Ori Dan Holtgrave Amber Elliott Amy Jansen Corinne Saplin Megan Koch Marissa Walker Francesca Gross

February 4 Pat Stumphy Gail Jurgensmeyer Johanna Crowe Mary Pressnall Carol Martz Mario Mendez Theresa Borges James Newbold Alex Heitzman Rhianna DeBourge February 5 Helen Costello Judith Kocinski Cindy Johll Greg Schwartz Corey Ramsby Allison LaSalvia February 6 Bob Guithues, Sr. Judy Wylie Dan Kimutis Ken Katzer William Auclair Adam Gonzalez Alexander Bendele Aidan RoosEvans Jonathan Stowe February 7 Jana Stephens Ken Smith Michele Kombrink Patrick O’Neil February 8 Patty Klingelhoefer Julie Carlson Sarah Gonzalez Brandon Fergus Alexander Holba Joshua Miller Kayla Boone Calvin Murphy

How to Stay Connected to the Universal Church Each year at the beginning of February I promote our diocesan news-paper called “The Messenger.” This month is the time to renew or begin your subscription using the envelope in your monthly tithing packet or by using the website www.bellevillemessenger.org. Having our diocesan newspaper mailed directly to you allows you to keep abreast of all the important information of what is happening both in our Diocese of Belleville as well as in the Catholic Church through-out the world. It helps us stay connected to the Universal Church with articles from Pope Francis, the U.S. Bishops, and lay Catholic writers from other parts of country. There are often articles about our own school, PSR, youth group, adult education, bible studies, and other St. Clare parish activities. It also helps us know about picnics and activi-ties in other parishes in the area. For a simple $25, you can feel more connected to what is happening in your beloved Catholic Church both locally and around the world. Thanks to all of our long-time subscribers and all of you who will be starting your new subscription. God’s Peace, Fr. Jim Deiters

Ten years ago a dear friend of mine died. I used this in her funeral homily and would like to share it with you in her memory:

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.

Tao Te Ching

Recent Deaths: John Ringler, Sr., Father of John (Candy) Ringler Florence Pat Semko, Mother of Mark (Paula) Semko Michael Howk, Sr., Father of Michael (Carolyn) Howk May they rest in the eternal peace of Christ. Please pray for all who are mourning the death of a loved one.

Join us for Eucharistic Adoration after the 10:30 Mass this Sunday until Benediction at 11:40 a.m. on Monday followed by Noon Mass. Along with Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for the month of February, we pray “for prisoners, especially the young, that they may be able to rebuild lives of dignity; and for separated spouses, that married people who are separated may find support in the Christian community.”

We also pray every month during this Year of the Consecrated Life for our priests and religious, for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and for our seminarians.

Please pray for the sick, their loved ones and caregivers; may they never lose sight of the love of God… Jennifer R. Barajas, Wray Barr, Alex Brown, Joe Burroughs, Shirley Carroll, George Covington, Lori Dalton, June Dean, Dennis & Delores Dumstorff, Rita Ferreri, Mildred Gerardi, Mike and Linda Gilkerson, Hannah Grubofski, Patricia Gundlach, Rita Haukapp, Margaret Heinke, Jessica Holmes, Boston Johnson, Rosemarie Jones, Pauline Keller, Dan Kimutis, Dawn Papproth Kuhn, Thelma LaSalvia, Virginia Leninsky, Abelina Leon, Vincent Lepes, Mary Lugge, John Molnar, Mary Molnar, Nona Morgan, Helen Murphy, Margaret Nettles, Katie Paulochk, Thomas Peters, Doris Prosser, Lynn Robke Crutcher, Roy Rogge, Madelean Sanford, Michael Schmitz, Craig Seipp, Dick Seipp, Diane Gettis-Simmons, Betty & Jean Stogner, Michelle Strube, Pat Thompson, Betty Tomasovich, Jake Van Hook, Steve Wells, Virginia Woods, Norman Wright Please pray for all our military families, especially those separated by deployment.

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, January 31 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 p.m. Gerry Munie and Jackie Loyet

Sunday, February 1 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 a.m. Brian Hendricks Clifford and Rose a Weiler Guiseppe Speranza 10:30 a.m. For Our Parish Eucharis c Adora on Monday, February 2 The Presenta on of the Lord 11:40 a.m. Benedic on 12:00 p.m. Ferd and Martha Lampe Tuesday, February 3 Weekday Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr; Saint Ansgar, Bishop 7:30 a.m. Lillian Lammers 8:30 a.m. No School Mass Wednesday, February 4 Weekday No Mass Thursday, February 5 Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr 8:30 a.m. All School Mass in Gym First Friday, February 6 Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs 7:30 a.m. Vincent Bazan Saturday, February 7 Fi h Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 p.m. Evere Tru mann Dorothy Wielgus

Sunday, February 8 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 a.m. Viola Huller 10:30 a.m. Frank Pu mann

Weekly Readings for February 2—8 Monday: Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40 [22-32] Tuesday:Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-28, 30-32; Mk 5:21-43 Wednesday:Heb 12:4-7, 11-15; Ps 103:1-2, 13-14,17- 18a; Mk 6:1-6 Thursday:Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Ps 48:2-4, 9-11; Mk 6:7-13 Friday: Heb 13:1-8; Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9; Mk 6:14-29 Saturday:Heb 13:15-17, 20-21; Ps 23:1-6; Mk 6:30-34 Sunday: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19,22- 23; Mk 1:29-39

The new schedule for Liturgical Ministers was not available at the time of bulletin printing. Your schedule will be emailed to you.

Have you ever wondered why periodically a youth from our parish brings up the offerings at weekend Masses?

This is because on the first weekend of every month, we ask a young member of our parish to help bring up the Mass offerings to symbolize all that our youth do and contribute to stewardship at St. Clare. Beginning this year, the youth have also had their own offertory envelopes. With these envelopes, they may contribute a monetary tithe and/or act of stewardship from the previous week.

We thank ALL of our wonderful youth for their faithful acts and contributions.

St. Clare Communal Anoin ng of the Sick Next Weekend February 7/8

Saturday at 5:00 and Sunday at 8:30 Masses

If you or someone you know could benefit from the grace and strength of this Sacrament, please plan to join us.

If you need transporta on, please call the parish office at 632-3562. We get hurt. We wear out. The lungs, the eyes, the memory, and any of the many limbs and organs that compose us break or ache. Gloom comes over us then: pity for ourselves, sorrow, depression, anger. But HOPE can come, too, and COURAGE, and some-

mes PEACE. All of this is marked and celebrated in the rites of our tradi on. With a word and a deed, with touch and breath and spit and mud, Jesus heals those who ail. In every place and me, we who are the church re-member and tell stories of healing, anoint the sick with oil and share the one bread even with those who cannot assemble for Mass. Thus the sick and the healthy, the homebound and the spry, saints and sinners are made one and remain one, a single body of many parts. Anyone who is seriously ill can be anointed, including the elderly who become weaker, even if no illness is present; those wai ng for surgery when a serious condi on is the reason for the opera on; sick chil-dren who have sufficient use of reason to be helped by the celebra on; and those who are unconscious or who have lost the use of reason, provided that they probably would have asked for the sacrament had they the use of their facul es. Furthermore, many forms of mental illness are now known to be serious. So the mentally ill may be anointed, provid-ed that they will be helped and not harmed by the rite. If you have ques ons, consult a priest or other parish leader.

The most complete celebra on of the sacrament is a communal one, a celebra on in which those to be anointed are surrounded and supported by other members of the Chris an community, whether at home, or in the house of the church (for those who can leave their beds and come here). In song and in silence, with scriptures and prayers, we strengthen the bonds of love and faith that are stronger than the most lethal disease and more powerful even than death. Copyright © 1997 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publica ons, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800. Text by David Philip-part and Gabe Huck. Art by Chuck Ludeke.

Taize Prayer Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Give yourself a treat of 40 minutes of peaceful, lovely prayer before the Cross.

Confirmation Schedule: Feb. 1—Confirmation Saint Report due Feb. 8—Letter to Bishop Braxton due Feb. 8—Confirmation Activity Night 6—8 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

CLASSES MEET 10:30—11:40 on Sundays

St. Clare School, 214 West Third Street

Feb. 1 PSR Class (4th Grade Soup Kitchen)

Feb. 8 PSR Class (except 8th grade)

Feb. 15 NO PSR (Presidents Day)

Feb. 22 PSR Class (except 2nd grade) Blessing Cup Retreat 1-4 pm

PSR Parish School of Religion

www.stclarechurch.org

Feb 1 No Meeting—Super Bowl Feb 2 Youth Commission 7:30 pm in Library Feb 8 Crazy 8s Dodgeball and other games 12—3 St. Clare School Gym

Youth Group hosts Confirmation Game Night 6—8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall Feb 15 No Meeting—Presidents Day Weekend Feb 22 Youth Group—6-7:30 pm in Youth Room

Youth Room in Basement of Parish Office All are welcome any time. No registration needed! 

Youth Group  Schedule 

Althoff Catholic High School

Incoming Freshman Registration February 4 & 5

Make your appointment today! 235-1100

All High School Youth Invited to:

Diocesan Youth Conference “Anchored in Christ”

March 28-29 Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville

Keynote Speakers: Oddwalk Ministries Mass and Q&A with Bishop Braxton

Registration forms available at youth events starting February 8 or on our website

Adults must sign up now and be CPP compliant

Contact Youth Leader Karen Jalbert at 610-9149 or karenjalbert@gmail.com

Blessing Cup Retreat

Required for 1st Communion students

And their parents/guardians

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 1-4 PM at St. Clare School cafeteria Snacks will be served at mid-afternoon

Free babysitting for siblings; RSVP to janeadotson@yahoo.com or 632-3562

Shoes for Water Project wraps up…Thanks to those who donated shoes to the Shoeman Water Projects in conjunction with the Luke 18 retreat and St. Nicholas’ Confirmation class. We had a great response, and your shoes have been sent off. We are no longer collecting shoes.

Stewardship

Share God’s Gifts You have been given wonderful gi s

from God...Will you share them?

Sunday , January 25 Tithe……………………….$16,611.78 New Church……………...$1,605.00

“One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; Another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Proverbs 11:24

Are You Called to Holiness? The answer is YES! “All Chris ans in any state or walk of life are called to the full-ness of Chris an life and to the perfec on of charity. All are called to holiness: Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is per-fect. (CCC 2013) The call to living a holy life, which begins with our own bap sm, is not just about striving to live a life without sin but rather is a lifelong process of seeking God, through the person of Jesus Christ. In his work, the Introduc on to the De-vout Life, St. Francis de Sales gives a step-by-step explana on on how to approach holiness in everyday life. On the heels of the feast of St. Francis de Sales on January 24, our CD this week, Pursuing Holiness: Lessons From St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church, will help us grow on our path to holiness as we pre-pare for the liturgical season of Lent just over two weeks away.

Renowned speaker and author, Ralph Mar n, presents the me-

less teachings of St. Francis de Sales, bishop, Doctor of the

Church, and famous 16th century author, in a way that provides pro-found wisdom for living in today’s world. Through the inspira ons of

this influen al and well-known saint, we gain great insight into

how sin affects our lives, our rela-onships, and our witness to the world. St. Francis de Sales

equips us in our pursuit of holiness, enabling us to live the fer-vent, authen c Catholic life to which we are called.

Parish School of Religion Kindergarten Teacher Our parish will need a kindergarten teacher for PSR class on Sunday mornings from 10:30-11:40 a.m. in the 2015-16 school year to replace Mrs. Short, who will be moving to a second-grade classroom. PSR Classes meet September-April, except for school holidays. Mrs. Short has plenty of lesson plans and ideas for ac vi es and cra s for the new teacher, plus there is a teacher's guide. Contact Jane at janeadotson@yahoo.com or 632-3562 to learn more about how you can help our young-est PSR students learn more about their faith. Vaca on Bible School key leaders If you want to help our children learn more about Jesus in a fun environ-ment, please sign up to help with Vaca on Bible School. This year's VBS will be July 13-17 at St. Clare School in conjunc on with Corpus Chris Parish. College-age and adults who would like to chair a sec on of VBS, like cra s, games or registra on, or lead a class should let us know now as we are star ng to plan. Contact Jane at 632-3562 or janeadotson@yahoo.com. Key college and adult leaders will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19 in the Fellowship Hall. Youth helpers (incoming grades 6-12) will sign up in May. Youth Stewardship At this weekend’s Masses, you will see the youth of our parish turning in their stewardship commitment cards. On the cards, they will have filled out specific ways in which they commit to prac cing Catholic stewardship in their homes, schools, neighbor-hoods and Church. While monetary thing is not the focus of this stewardship commitment, some youth do commit to the a small part of their allowance, babysi ng money, or other hard-earned funds. It is never too early to introduce stewardship to our chil-dren. The most important way is for us, as adults close to these youth, to model stewardship and generously give of our me, talents, and treasure for the good of the Church and others. An act as simple as having a dis-cussion with your child about why you volunteer to help others can have a las ng impact. If you have the chance, please acknowledge these youth for their com-mitment to Catholic stewardship and our parish.

Women’s Renewal Weekend February 14/15

This weekend provides a unique opportunity for the women of our parish to

grow closer to God and develop a deeper sense of faith, along with forming las ng friendships.

For more informa on or ques ons, contact Arlene Cruz-Peel at islandgirlz2@yahoo.com

or Tanja Ramsby at tramsby7089@gmail.com or 589-3723

I pray that you may know the Love of Christ that surpasses all understanding, and be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:19

ALTAR ANGELS February 7: Rose Brennan, Celerina Collins, Ely Gillespie Babe Papproth ST. CLARE SENIORS MEETING Monday, February 9. Chicken and Dumplings will be served! Elec on of officers and dues of $6 will be due. We are going to set up some trips for the coming year. Ques ons? Call Judy Bugger at 632-4074 or Mary Ann Winans at 632-7137. BAPTISM CLASS Tuesday, March 10 from 7—9 p.m. in Church Please call the parish office to register. MOUNT CALVARY CEMETERY Christmas Blankets will be removed during the week of February 1, all other flowers will be removed March 1. Thank you. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SUPER BOWL PARTY Please join us at the KC Hall, 402 East Highway 50 in O’Fallon on Sunday, February 1. Doors open at 3 p.m. All you can eat appe zer buffet from 4—7 p.m. $10 a person, $5 children 10 and under. Cash bar.

ST. CLARE SCHOOL The students and faculty recently celebrated Catholic Schools week. The week began with our Annual Open House. Parents and prospec ve new students visited the school and learned about the curriculum, academics, athle cs, clubs and various service opportuni es available. Registra on was held for the fall 2015 school year. Throughout the week, the days focused on several of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. On Monday, a prayer service was held and the many volunteers that make our school

such a success were honored. On Tuesday, the students wrote a note or drew a picture of what they were thankful for. On Wednesday, parents visited the class-rooms and discussed examples of their personal prayer life. The theme for Thursday was Respect Life. The school a ended Mass, followed by a Respect Life Speaker and a concert by Karl Zimmerman. The week concluded with Community Day. Teachers and parent volunteers helped the students decorate cards which will be given to local businesses and organiza ons that support our school. The week was truly a celebra on of the strong faith of our students, their families and our faculty.

It must also be said that the proper eco-logical balance will not be found with-out directly address-ing the structural forms of poverty that exist throughout the world.

Rural poverty and unjust land distribu-on in many countries, for example,

have led to subsistence farming and to the exhaus on of the soil. Once their land yields no more, many farmers move on to clear new land, thus accelera ng uncontrolled deforesta on, or they se le in urban centers which lack the infra-structure to receive them. Likewise, some heavily indebted countries are de-stroying their natural heritage, at the price of irreparable ecological imbalanc-es, in order to develop new products for export. In the fact of such situa ons it would be wrong to assign the responsi-bility to the poor alone for the nega ve environmental consequences of their ac ons. Rather, the poor, to whom the earth is entrusted no less than to others, must be enabled to find a way out of their poverty. This will require a coura-geous reform of structures, as well as new ways of rela ng among peoples and States. (John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message 1990)

FEBRUARY FAIR TRADE COFFEE AND MORE… February 14 – 15 a er each Mass

The Fair Trade Ministry would like to thank all parishioners that supported the ministry last year. Because of you, we sold over 185 pounds of coffee and 80 pounds of chocolate in 2014. Your contribu ons have also helped farmers across the globe to earn a fair price for their labors and

helps small family farmers in developing countries. We were also able to raise $625 for the Holy Angles Women’s Shelter and the Guatemala Scholarship Fund. For more informa on, please contact Steven Hughes at smhughes44@hotmail.com or 632-5882.

8th Annual St. Louis Conference Saturday, February 7

Newly Designed Website

Registration & Info: Catholicmenforchrist.org

SPEAKERS: George Weigel, Tim Staples, Terry Barber

and Msgr. James J. Ramacciotti

Our parish captain is John Durnford (501)425-4506 or jpdford@charter.net