Working toward the best-ever Oktoberfest! - Our dedicated team of Oktoberfest leaders has been working hard on plans for our fantastic annual festival. Now, it’s your turn to join us in making St. Clare’s big Oktoberfest fundraiser the best ever! Sign up today to volunteer and donate items. It’s easy to sign up online- go to www.stclarechurch.org/oktoberfest. Or, just check in with the booth captains and leaders after Mass this weekend. Top 5 reasons to sign up today for one or more of the 300 volunteer slots...READ MORE
The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study
Study. Connect. Transform. These words describe the mission of The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study. We invite you to join us for our upcoming study of The Gospel of Matthew, “Jesus, The Cornerstone”. This study is for adults who wish to deepen their faith through an increased knowledge of the inspired Word of God which can transform your heart and mind. Weekly meetings will be held from September thru April at St Clare of Assisi, O'Fallon. Come and see what we are all about at a Visitors Session, Wednesday, September 25, 9:15-11:15 am in the parish hall...READ MORE
Why I Love Our Oktoberfest…When we were planning the very first Oktoberfest 24 years ago, it started out as a way to build community since at that time there were no parish-wide events that brought us together as a parish family. That goal of ‘community’ remains today and has expanded to the much larger community of the whole metro area as we keep our Oktoberfest as a very family-friendly event for everyone. As your pastor, I love seeing our parishioners of all ages volunteering together...READ MORE
Message from our Music and Liturgy Director, Stephen Eros - We are so fortunate at St. Clare to celebrate liturgies with great intentionality that embrace the rich traditions of our Catholic faith. Fr. Jim’s vision and leadership are the foundation for this, and it is an honor for me to carry out this dignified work with so many well-formed dedicated lay minsters, deacons, musicians, art and environment team members, and dozens more people behind-the-scenes. I want to acknowledge three recent donations ...READ MORE
Did you know St. Clare of Assisi sponsors a Cub Scout Pack? Cub Scouting is open to boys enrolled in K - 5th grades. Many of our members come from St. Clare School, however, we also welcome parishioners or friends from other schools! Scouting provides boys with an opportunity to serve their community while learning new skills. We realize that many boys are involved in sports and other activities, at school or in the community. We strive to make the experience of Scouting work for ... READ MORE
Tau Cross - Last weekend, one of our junior high students noticed the unique vestment I wore for the Feast of St. Clare. I wear it for various feasts of Franciscan saints since it has a beautiful, gold Tau Cross stitched onto the front, a symbol often associated with Francis and Clare. Be sure and stop by and see our beautifully carved Tau Cross made in Assisi from an old olive tree. The Tau Cross is now hanging in
our St. Clare devotional chapel (located next to our baptismal font). A brief history of this unique ...READ MORE
End of Year Financial Report 7/1/23 - 6/30/24 - Thank you all for the extra effort made in June to help meet the end of the year goal for the Operating Budget. Your generosity enabled us to finish the fiscal year on June 30 with a positive financial position. This continued support allows us to offer so
many programs and services to our parishioners and our community. Toni Stanton, Parish Business Manager...CLICK TO VIEW CHART
The Poor Clare Nuns invite you to join them for the Solemn Novena in honor of St. Clare. To be celebrated in the monastery chapel August 2 - 10, 2024. 7:00 p.m. Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament night prayers and Compline; 7:30 p.m. The Novena Service concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The theme of this year’s Novena will be: St. Clare of Assisi - the Lady of Holy Love. You are welcome to bring your prayer petitions with you, or mail them to The Poor Clare Monastery, 300 North 60th Street, Belleville, IL 62223-3927. For dates and times...READ MORE
Gospel Hospitality - One of the key elements of Jesus' ministry was hospitality. He welcomed all people, especially those who had been excluded by others. We try hard to practice that here at
St. Clare Parish through such things as: + Welcoming liturgies that are also prayerful, + Our large ‘gathering space’ to socialize before & after Mass, + Welcome receptions for all new parishioners, +
“Donut Sundays” once a month, + Over 80 ministries that allows/encourages everyone to be
involved ... READ MORE
Parish Staff Blessings… Here at St. Clare, we are so blessed to have a great staff who give so much of themselves to keep our parish thriving and centered in prayer, Catholic faith formation, community, and the Spirit’s joy. I am so grateful for each of them and the ministry they do, which helps me stay focused on my main role as spiritual leader in the sacraments, preaching, teaching, and governing our parish and school. Their names and roles are on the front of the bulletin each week. ...READ MORE
Steubenville “illuminates” our youth...What a weekend! Thank you for your support in making our
Youth Group’s trip to the Steubenville Youth Conference possible again this year. Our 52 youth (and 14 chaperones) had many great opportunities to encounter Jesus through the sacraments, music
Adoration, and inspiring talks alongside 4,800 of their peers! It was powerful, faith-affirming and exhausting! Our prayer is that these wonderful young people were “illuminated” in the light of Christ
National Eucharistic Congress 2024...As most of you know, last Sunday and Monday our diocese
hosted a spiritually powerful event of Eucharistic devotions. It was inspiring to have so many people (our St. Clare Youth were well represented!) from around Southern Illinois praying together around the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist. This week (Wednesday-Friday), I will be going to Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress, joining thousands of ...READ MORE
Recommending a New Book...John Mark Comer's new book, Practicing the Way - Be with Jesus, Become like Him, Do as He did. His nine rules of life for practicing the Way: 1. Practice Sabbath in a culture of hurry and exhaustion. 2. Practice solitude in a culture of anxiety and noise. 3. Practice prayer in a culture of distraction and escapism. 4. Practice community in a culture of individuality and superficiality. 5. Practice scripture in a culture of ideological infection and ...READ MORE
Parish Staff Change Blessings - Our wonderful parish Facility Manager, Eric Schmitt, is retiring from his position here at St. Clare. Eric has been such a faithful, humble servant, who has done so many great things for us. You will still see him in the pew and volunteering but having more time for the outdoors and his hobbies. Thank you, Eric! I am pleased to introduce Steve Michelfelder, who will take over Eric’s position. Steve and his wife, Laura, have been very involved in several ministries...READ MORE
Eucharistic Revival Sunday July 7th Shrine of Our Lady of the Snow 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM 3:00 PM: Opening Activities: ~ Come early to enjoy the beauty of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. ~ Enjoy activities at the Visitors Center including music by Steve Angrisano. ~ Tour Devotional Sites and Shrine Museum. ~ Visit the Children’s Art Display at Millennium Spire at the amphitheater - READ MORE
Thank you to our parish choirs!...It is one of the most rewarding parts of my job to work with the nearly 100 singers who comprise our parish choirs each week of our choir season, which extends from September through the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Parishioners often stop me after Mass and offer compliments on how our choirs enrich our liturgies. I would like to publicly acknowledge these singers' talent and significant commitment to our parish...READ MORE
INFANT BAPTISM CLASS Saturday, July 28 1:00 p.m. - Room 3 For parents that have not attended a Baptism Class at St. Clare and wish to have their child baptized here. Please call the parish office if you plan to attend! (618) 632-3562.
St. Clare School Updates...First, I want to thank our parishioners who serve so generously as parish representatives on our School Board. Special thanks to our two board members who are transitioning off the board, Tim Claxton and Jen Tebbe. Tim and Jen have done such a great job. This past year Tim has served as chairperson. Thanks Tim and Jen! Our two new members who have stepped up and said “yes” to serving are Emily Joost and Lauren Walford. Thank you Emily and Lauren! Other St. Clare ... READ MORE
