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.

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 Patrick Jurgensmeyer Facilities Manager Stephen Eros Music and Liturgy Director Jane Dotson Family Faith Formation Matt Flynn Adult Faith and Mission

ST. CLARE SCHOOL 632-6327

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

Gloria Schmidt Secretary

Eileen Yahl Accountant

MT. CALVARY CEMETERY 632-3562

Jim Deschesne, Sexton

PARISH TRUSTEES

Michael Crupe

John Dempsey

ST. VINCENT DEPAUL 632-4270

Emergency Assistance

Third Sunday of Lent February 28, 2016

Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Bishop of Belleville

Saint Clare of Assisi, Pray For Us!

From Our Pastor...

February 27 Jane McManemy Patrick Frazier Brian Spellman Rose Tanner Clare Bultmann Rodney Holas Joseph Kinsella Isabell Wohlgemuth Grace Stapenhorst February 28 Sharon Busch Brandon Church Hayden Spencer Abigail Frazier February 29 John Boysha Brendan Girard March 1 Miguel Cotto Juliette JnBaptisle Jennifer Tebbe Kevin O’Neill Jay Johnson KC Riedle Taylor Klingelhoefer Seth Kueker March 2 Andy Molnar Susan Hosman Michael Busch Christine Goss Andrew Huber Victoria Birchem Ian Ratajczyk

March 3 Linda Rademacher Nancy Protocollo Tracy Pace Monique Spencer Juan Barragan Marife Sabillano Nick Ashbaker Lanie Gravlin Nolan Gavin Stosh Porzukowiak March 4 Judy Gavin Ruth Ann Britt John Risavy Anette Hagarty Gabriella Sabatino Paul Owens Anderson Harris Brady Johnson William Barbieri March 5 Darrell Raynor Giselle Russell Haley Hardimon Lauren Price Alexa Coates March 6 Donna Mezel Jeffrey Muckensturm Kathleen Duckworth George Fender Brooklyn Artime

Gratitude

Each night in my prayers, in addition to remembering struggling people and families in our parish, I also raise up my prayers in gratitude to God for the many, many parishioners who do so much volunteering around the parish, many of them behind the scenes.

In just this past week alone I noticed generous parishioners in the following areas: leading the women’s retreat, helping with the First Communion class retreat, RCIA leaders and sponsors for the Cate-chumens and Candidates, the planning team for our Pentecost Pic-nic, Bible study leaders, our faithful quilters, youth group leaders, our respect life team, the men and women cleaning the inside and working on the outside grounds, the soup kitchen volunteers that prepare and deliver sandwiches, soup and desserts and those who prepare and serve the soups for our Monday night Lenten soup series. Of course many other people are around the church on a daily basis keeping St. Clare alive in the Spirit - THANK YOU!

I also want to again thank all of you who give so generously and regularly to our parish tithe and our Capital Development Fund that is making a great dent in our debt. Giving of our time, talent, and treasure back to God in gratitude for all that He gives to us is such a rewarding and fulfilling way to live out our discipleship.

As we continue to grow spiritually during these days of Lent, let us also keep developing a heart of gratitude, noticing the ways that God takes care of our needs...that inspires us to be generous too.

God’s Peace to you, Fr. Jim Deiters

Important Dates to Put on Your Calendar:

March 6-7 Eucharistic Adoration

March 17 Parish Penance Service and Confessions

March 24-26 The Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil

7th Annual Dinner Gala March 12 at 6 pm

Four Points Sheraton in Fairview Heights Guest Speaker: Summer Owens

To mail in reservation: Fontebella Maternity Home, P.O. Box 137, O’Fallon Tickets $50, Table of 8 $400. Passionate Supporter: Individual ticket $100

includes VIP seating and one hour cocktail reception before dinner. fontebella.org

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, Shirley Carroll, Linda Cipfl, Yasuko Estabrooks, Rita Ferreri, Mildred Gerardi, Hannah Grubofski, Rita Haukapp, Margaret Heinke, Jessica Holmes, Elnora Hostetler, Boston Johnson, Pauline Keller, Keith Klein, Liz Klingler, Dawn Papproth Kuhn, Thelma LaSalvia, Abelina Leon, Vincent Lepes, Mary Lugge, Nona Morgan, Jenifer Morris, Margaret Nettles, Katie Paulochk, Doris Prosser, Dale Reeser, Megan Saldana, Madelean Sanford, Clete Schwaegel, Craig Seipp, Mary Ann Seipp, Betty & John Stogner, Betty Tomasovich, Jake Van Hook, Patricia Weiler, Steve Wells, Virginia Woods

Please pray for our military men and women, especially those separated from loved ones by deployment.

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, February 27 Third Sunday of Lent 5:00 p.m. Russell and Eleanor Thoman Sunday, February 28 Third Sunday of Lent 8:30 a.m. Irmine Jurgensmeyer Dorothy, Jim and Steve Strayhorn Joan Cavins 10:30 a.m. For Our Parish Monday, February 29 Lenten Weekday 6:00 p.m. Bill Germain Tuesday, March 1 Lenten Weekday 7:30 a.m. Lillian Lammers 8:30 a.m. School Mass Wednesday, March 2 Lenten Weekday No Mass Thursday, March 3 Lenten Weekday 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Clare School Chapel First Friday, March 4 Lenten Weekday. Saint Casimir 7:30 a.m. Special Inten on 6:00 p.m. Sta ons of the Cross Saturday, March 5 Fourth Sunday of Lent 5:00 p.m. Bea Lurk Sunday, March 6 Fourth Sunday of Lent 8:30 a.m. Florence Ockovick Augus ne Abalos 10:30 a.m. For Our Parish

Weekday Readings February 29-March 6 Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab; Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Lk 4:24-30 Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6, 7bc, 8-9; Mt 18:21-35 Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9; Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Mt 5:17-19 Thursday: Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; Lk 11:14-23 Friday: Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81:6c-11ab, 14, 17; Mk 12:28-34 Saturday: Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4, 18-21ab; Lk 18:9-14 Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12; Ps 34:2-7; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Alternate readings (Year A): 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23:1-6; Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41 [1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38]

Next Weekend March 5/6

Cantors Saturday 5:00 pm Jamie Eros Sunday 8:30 am Donna Kloustermeyer 10:30 am Amber Hardy

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Saturday 5:00 pm Jeff & Pat Taylor, Shirley Suski, Tom Grimmig Jack & Patti Leisure, Lucy Mixen, Kevin Mulheran Paulette Roberg, Tom & Mary Lou Pawlow

Sunday 8:30 am Jim, Pennie & Sarah Pavlisin, Caron Proffer Mark & Amie O’Connor, Tina Whitlow, Mary Fleming Kristy Turner, Fred Favela*, Leslie Goldberg* Sara Wise*

Sunday 10:30 am Steve Bovich, Karen Holzum, Krystle Hatter Margaret Andrasko, Kitty Luehrs, Laura Pacate Toni Stanton, Richard Smith, Tanja Ramsby Kathy Sjoquist*, Michael Howk*, Dan & Tara Ashbaker* Lector   Saturday 5:00 pm Barbara & Jim Calandro Sunday 8:30 am Ken & Jeanne Smith Sunday 10:30 am Glen Christensen & Diego Wendt

Servers Saturday 5:00 pm Isabelle Wohlgemuth, Milton Saltmarsh, Josh Zimmerman 8:30 am Javier Favela, Jordan & Jacob Nguyen 10:30 am Allison & Alex LaSalvia, Alyssa Faigal Ushers Saturday 5:00 pm Scott Leo, Bruck Rackers, Josh Gansauer John Boysha, John Winkelmann, Richie Meile

Sunday 8:30 am John Bechtoldt, Don Proffer, Jim Hendricks Pat Jurgensmeyer, Mike Lafferty, Dennis Collins

Sunday 10:30 am Paulo D’Amico, John Meise, Joe Ertel Debbie Oitker, Roy Rogge, Tyler McDaniel Gift Bearers Saturday 5:00 pm Carl, Dawn & Cassidy Lurk Sunday 8:30 am Jacob, Aimee, Josie, Emerson & Delaney Nieroda 10:30 am Blaine & Debbie Phillips

Greeters Saturday 5:00 pm Carolyn & Jenny Vogt, Erin Prest Sunday 8:30 am Aileen Motowski, Babe Papproth, Audra Driscoll 10:30 am Brian & Abby Huelsmann & Drew Ferguson Sound Board Saturday 5:00 pm 8:30 am Gary Borges 10:30 am Jim Colombo

Bread Bakers Kathy DeVan, Andrea Harris, Stephanie Chambers

Children’s Word Saturday 5:00 pm Amanda Mergen & Faith Rackers Sunday 8:30 am Alicia Luechtefeld & Madison Luechtefeld 10:30 am Krissy Greene & Sarah Dotson

Nursery 10:30 am Brandy Koory & Shelby Koory

Sunday, February 21, 2016 Tithe………………………$18,552.00 New Church……………..$2,777.50

The 2016 Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal Begins Next Weekend

Next weekend, every parish in the diocese will be par cipa ng in The 2016 Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal. This annual collec on supports 14 ministries and agencies in our diocese whose scope of services could not be duplicated by an individual parish. During this next week, please prayerfully consider making a gi or pledge at Mass next weekend. No amount is too great or too small.

On behalf of the ministries that receive funding from The Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal and all those they serve, thank you for your prayers and for your considera on.

“For it is in giving that we receive.” Saint Francis of Assisi

Stewardship Share God’s Gifts

You have been given wonderful gi s from God…Will you share them?

Special Thanks to Fr. Jim, Sco Brown, Lisa Murphy, Amy Short and Michelle Van De Voorde for your special efforts with the Blessing Cup Retreat. Thanks to the First Communion Class of 2015 parents for hos ng the recep on during the retreat. What a wonderful day, thanks to all of you! Wanted: Hosts for Inquiry Ministry The Inquiry Ministry at St. Clare is designed to introduce people who are just beginning to explore an interest in Catholicism to our Faith. Sessions occur every other week in the evening at parishion-ers' homes. Parishioners who volunteer would be asked to host 2-3 sessions per year. Hosts provide light refreshments (appe zers/snacks and beverages) for an informal gathering and conversa on about a basic topic for people interested in Catholicism (Jesus, Mary, the Sacraments, etc.). Hosts are NOT asked to facilitate these conversa ons, only to par cipate in them with everyone else. A separate facilitator a ends to lead the conversa-

on. Group size can range from 5-15 people, depending on the number of inquirers and sponsors. Please contact Ma hew Flynn at 632-3562 or ma hewflynn5@gmail.com with ques ons or to sign up. Easter Egg Hunt coordinator for Easter Sunday morning: Supervise Confirma on students and other youth who put eggs out on lawn at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. for hunt that happens right a er 8:30 Mass and 10:30 Mass on Easter Sunday, March 27. Eggs will be prefilled by youth and ready to go. Easter eggs: Dona ons of empty, plas c Easter eggs accepted. Drop in the basket in the credenza in the hallway outside the restrooms at church by March 13. Volunteers Needed Please consider helping once a month with bread deliveries to Holy Angels Shelter on Sunday mornings. The en re trip, including bread pick up and delivery, usually takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. For more informa on or to volunteer, call Bob Johnson at 632-2662. Thank you for your support of this important ministry! Energe c and enthusias c adults needed to chaperone teens on Hoyleton Mission Trip June 26-July 1. Group leaves late a ernoon on Sunday, June 26 and returns late a ernoon on Friday, July 1. If you can't make the en re week, we could use you for a few days. Must be able to relate well to teens, help them grow in their faith, laugh, supervise yard work or minor building updates and be able to sleep on an air ma ress or cot in an old church. Contact Jane at janeadotson@yahoo.corm or 632-3562 for more informa on.

Guatemala Corner Guatemala has a rich history that includes the Mayan people who inhabited the land before the discovery of the Americas by Europeans.

Today, over half of Guatemalans are descended from the indigenous Maya people, and there are 21 different varieties of the original Mayan lan-guages that are still spoken in Guatemala.

As a small piece of trivia for those who gave up chocolate during Lent, the first chocolate bar was invented in Guatemala during the Mayan period.

Corpus Chris Parish is having a raffle to benefit the Parish. Only 150 ckets will be sold at $100 each. Don’t miss out on your chance to win $5,000, $1,000 or $500. Tickets are available a er their weekend Masses or at Corpus Chris parish office (632-7614). Drawing is March 12.

What is a Scrutiny,

and why do we use different readings

for them?

Every year, the Church celebrates rites known as “scrutinies” during Lent. These scrutinies are for the spiritual benefit of the elect (those who will be baptized this year at the Easter Vigil). They are called scrutinies because they scrutinize (or examine) the elect, helping them prepare for baptism. These rites include the pray-ers of the faithful (the assembly and the universal Church), a minor exorcism, and a blessing. The purpose of the minor exorcism is to help ward off the temptations that may afflict the elect in this final step of their prepa-ration. It is not a major exorcism (often seen depicted with varying degrees of accuracy in movies and televi-sion shows) used for actual demonic possession, but a rite that helps strengthen the elect since they do not yet enjoy the grace that comes with baptism. We use different readings for the scrutinies because the prayers used in each scrutiny are directly connected to the readings for the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent for Year/Cycle A. These readings find their climax in the Gospel stories each Sunday, which lead the elect to think about what they are preparing and longing for in their baptism. These stories are The Woman at the Well, The Man Born Blind, and The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead. The prayers for the scrutinies tie into our false and true thirsts, our blindness and sight, and our death and life. The scrutinies will be taking place at the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, February 27; the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 6; and the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 13. Please keep the elect in your prayers in a special way this Lent as they prepare for rebirth in the waters of baptism. Additionally, the Church lovingly entrusts to the elect the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, the ancient texts that ex-press the heart of the Church’s faith and prayer. Next Monday, February 29 at the 6:00 p.m. Mass, we will pre-sent the Creed to the elect and on Monday, March 14, we will present the Lord’s Prayer. Deacon Dennis Vander Ven and Matthew Flynn

Join us on Monday Nights of Lent

Soup and Speaker Series

6:00 p.m. Mass 6:30 p.m. Soup Supper

7:00 p.m. Speaker Series

This series of five educational and inspiring talks will concentrate on the story of God’s mercy for us as His people and as individuals, including how we encounter and live that mercy in our daily lives. Matt Flynn, our new Director of Adult Faith Formation and Mission, will be the presenter for each night.

February 29 Prayer

March 7 Fasting

March 14 Almsgiving

Stations of the Cross

Friday nights of Lent at 6:00

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:00 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration follows Night Prayer 9:30 p.m. Good Friday Morning Prayer 8:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross 3:00 p.m. Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 7:00 p.m. Holy Saturday Morning Prayer 8:00 a.m. Easter Vigil 8:00 p.m. Easter Breakfast immediately following in Fellowship Hall Easter Sunday Masses 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Triduum

Schedule

PSR Parish School of Religion

Sunday Mornings 10:30—11:40 St. Clare School, 214 W. 3rd St.

Feb. 28 PSR Class (except grade 8) Soup Kitchen 1st Grade

March 6 PSR Class 6th & 7th grade Soup Kitchen

March 13 PSR Class

March 20 PSR Class except grade 8 4th grade Soup Kitchen

March 27 No PSR—Easter

April 3 No PSR—First Holy Communion

Feb. 21 Youth Group Living Stations Practice Youth Group fun...6—7:30 p.m. in Church

Feb. 28 Youth Group Living Stations Practice and Youth Group fun...6—7:30 p.m. in Church

March 4 Youth present Living Stations at 6:00 p.m.

March 6 Youth Group 6—7:30 p.m.

March 13 Youth Group Winter Blast (details coming)

March 20 Youth Group hosts Confirmation Activity Nite

Youth Group  

Confirmation Schedule  

Feb 28            REAP team retreat (youth & sponsors/            local mentors)  1-5 In the Fellowship Hall  

March 1            2 Sponsor-candidate faith sharing work            sheets due  

March 20        Confirmation Activity Night (youth only)              Games to review 6—8 in Fellowship Hall  

March 24—26   Easter Triduum:  Holy Thursday and    Good Friday at 7 p.m.  Easter Vigil at 8:00 p.m.  Bishop asks for students to be a part of these three Holy Days...lots to experience and learn from participating.   

Bishop Braxton will ask about it at Confirmation!  

Confirmation is Monday, April 18 

Hey Girls! What’s on your mind?

Join our new Girls Group for all high school girls

Every other Tuesday, March 1, 15 & 29

from 6-7 p. m. in St. Clare Youth Room (lower level of St. Clare School enter through school’s middle doors)

Support * Encourage * Share Faith * Fun * Food

Come talk things out in a safe space. Learn how to keep strong in your faith

and morals in a challenging world. A new topic each month:

Friendships, peer pressure, relationships, social media, self-confidence, faith family,

giving, time management, bullying, your future and more. For more info, contact Alex Garza at

a_garza1022@yahoo.com

VBS teachers and adult leaders Meeting Wednesday, March 16

7 p.m. in Library. New volunteers welcome!

VBS—July 18—22

Crazy 8’s March Madness

For all 7th and 8th graders

Sunday, March 6 at St. Clare School Gym Please note me: 4—6 p.m.

Games and open gym

Bring your friends and a snack to share! Parents invited to help!

Youth: Save the Date: Hoyleton Mission Trip June 26—July 1

for incoming freshmen through graduating seniors

ALTAR ANGELS March 5: Rose Brennan, Celerina Collins Ely Gillespie, Babe Papproth, Judy Wylie ST. CLARE SENIORS NO MEETING IN MARCH The Senior Group will host the Monday night Soup and Speaker Series in March. BULLETIN ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK! Please support our bulle-

n adver sers whose adver sing pays for our weekly bulle n. Our adver ser of the week is Ace Hardware!

ST. CLARE SCHOOL NEWS

Good Shepherd Preschool and Pre-K Registra on Open House:

The Good Shepherd Preschool, which is affiliated with St. Clare School, will hold registra on for the 2016-2017 school year, March 1 at The Good Shepherd Center located on St. Nicholas Campus from 6:00-7:30 pm. Both half day (8:30am-

11:30am) and Full Day (8:30am – 1:30pm) op ons are available with extended care offered un l 3:30pm. For more informa on please contact Director Sherri Hertzler at sherhertz5@gmail.com or 726-6532.

SAVE THE DATE!

30TH Annual St. Clare School Benefit Auction

Saturday, April 23 Regency Conference Center in O’Fallon

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Sit down dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Oral Auction begins at 8:00 p.m.

To purchase tickets or to make a donation, please contact: Laura Adkins at lauradaly2000@yahoo.com

Or Mona Toennies at mona@toenniescpa.com

The Diocese of Belleville Child Protec on Policy requires background checks and training for all volunteers over 18 and out of high school who will work with children in St. Clare Parish, St. Clare School or Scou ng organiza ons that are sponsored by the school or parish. Volunteers who have not a ended the Ini al Child Protec on Policy Training in the Belleville Diocese must take the two-hour training course once and then an on-line refresher course each year; both are free of charge.

An ini al CPP course will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 Sat-urday morning, March 12 at St. Clare School. Space is lim-ited. Email gloria.schmidt@saintclareschool.org to register for the class. Please arrive at 9:20 a.m. for the class.

School or Scout volunteers should obtain volunteer and background check forms from the school office. Other St. Clare parishioners should pick up forms at the parish office or email janeadotson@yahoo.com for informa on.

Want to help save the environment and save money at the same me? Use rechargeable ba eries.

Ba eries are extremely dangerous for the environment and, unfortunately, only a frac on of used, recycled ba eries can actually be recycled. The rest is le over waste than can be very harmful. As we all know, ba ery acid is dangerous and hazardous for humans, and it is the same for the environ-ment as well. Consider inves ng in two or three sets of re-chargeable ba eries along with a ba ery charger. The ini-

al investment will pay off in the long run by not having to buy new ba eries anymore, and you will help protect the environment from dangerous waste.

7th Annual St. Clare Athle c Associa on Easter Eggstraordinaire 5K

Saturday, March 26, 2016 Race begins at 9:00am at Rohr Field, 586 W. State Street, O’Fallon. Registra on fees are $22.00 for adults, $20.00 for par cipants 18 years and under; Kids 1/2 mile Fun Run (Kids run registra on fee is $12 and is for children 10 and under) Egg Hunt to follow the run. Please register by March 11th to receive a tee shirt. To register or for more informa on, please contact Tom Fischer at Thomas.Fischer@SaintClareSchool.org

Eucharistic Adoration Sunday, March 6

after the 10:30 Mass until Monday, March 7 at Noon. Here is the living fountain of your mercy;

here souls receive consolation and refreshment. St. Faustina

St. Peregrine Devotion

Every First Thursday of the Month Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Belleville

Mass at 8:00 a.m. followed by devotion to St. Peregrine, Patron Saint of Cancer Patients.

Call our Parish Office to carpool.