St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Day of Obligation
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15
7:00 AM & 7:00 PM

Back-to-School Mass
Wednesday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m.
 All students preschool through high school bring your backpacks to Mass for a special blessing on this Holy Day of Obligation. Students: Sit with your families and then bring your backpacks forward for a blessing by Fr. Jim when he calls you up after Communion.

Centered in the Eucharist -- Using Our Time Well
Annual Stewardship of Time and Talent

Time and Talent Commitment Cards were enclosed in our parish's Time and Talent Booklet, which was mailed to you last week. Please use those cards to indicate which ministries you would like to volunteer for and return the cards at Mass on August 11-12.

Open your heart, open the booklet and be open to the Holy Spirit as you read about the wonderful ways to serve God through ministries in our parish! 

If you are new to the parish and don't receive a booklet in the mail, you may pick up a booklet before Mass on August 11-12 OR sign up online.

Do you know someone who is curious about our Faith or interested in learning more about what is involved in becoming Catholic?
Information Night:
The Process of Becoming Catholic
Thursday, Aug. 16
6:30 p.m.
St. Clare Church
Invite a spouse, family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker who might be interested in learning about what would be involved in the process of becoming Catholic (or returning to the Church).
Offer to accompany them, if you can.

The Good Shepherd Preschool affiliated with St. Clare Catholic School has openings currently for preschool and pre-K (ages 3-5) for the 2018-19 school year. The Good Shepherd Preschool is located on the campus of St. Nicholas Church, 627 St. Nicholas Drive in O’Fallon. Half day (8:30-11:30 a.m.) and full-day (8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) options are available with extended care offered until 3:30 pm. The school also has a playgroup for caregivers and children 9 months-age 3. For more information about The Good Shepherd Preschool please contact Director Sherri Hertzler at (618)726-6532 or sherhertz5@gmail.com.

Sacramental Preparation: Children wishing to receive 1st Communion and 1st Reconciliation or Confirmation during the upcoming school year must be attending weekend Masses in our parish and be students in St. Clare School, the Parish School of Religion or an approved home school program. Students typically receive First Communion in 2nd grade after having faith formation in 1st & 2nd grade. Confirmation is a two-year program for students, typically beginning in 7th grade with Confirmation near the end of 8th grade. For any of these sacraments, they also will need to participate in the parish’s sacramental preparation program, and parents or guardians must attend a parent meeting for that sacrament and register their children for that sacrament (in addition to PSR or school registration). If your child is a little behind on preparing for a sacrament, contact Jane Dotson, Director of Family Faith Formation at janeadotson@yahoo.com or the parish office at 632-3562.

Congratulations to parishioner Simone Wheeler, who has been awarded the Faith in the Marketplace award by The Messenger for how she lives out her faith at work.  She will receive the award at a dinner on Saturday, September 15.  The cost of the dinner is $40.  If you would like to attend, you may make a reservation by calling (618) 722-5045 or contact the parish office at (618) 632-3562 if you would like to be seated with other parishioners.

Have questions?  Ready to dive in?  It doesn't matter where you are.  The path into the Catholic Church is a process of discernment and conversion.  The first step is meeting with Matt Flynn, our Director of Adult Faith Formation and Mission.  For some people, the process may take a while (those who are very unfamiliar with Catholicism), but, for others, it may be relatively short and simple (those who are already Christian and/or have been around the Catholic Church for a long time), or it might be somewhere in between.  If you have been thinking of becoming Catholic, contact Matt Flynn to find out how.  You are always welcome!
Contact Matt Flynn at 632-3562 or  matthewflynn5@gmail.com.