PENTECOST CELEBRATION: The Sunday before Ordination was the Pentecost Celebration at our home parish, St Clare of Assisi in O’Fallon, Illinois. The parish community provided a wonderful pre-Ordination celebration, and my family was so very grateful for the support, hospitality and generosity we received. The memories created will be cherished and remain with us for quite some time.

Our Care for the Poor - I am inspired by the many ways our parishioners follow Jesus’ teaching about caring for the “hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, and the stranger.” I am especially grateful for those who serve in our St. Vincent De Paul and St. Louis de Marillac ministries and our Soup Kitchen ministry. Our monthly envelope (online giving) labeled “For Those In Need,” supports these outreach services for the poor, and I am so grateful to those of you who donate to these important causes...READ MORE

Gratitude...With almost 80 opportunities for volunteering at St. Clare, I am always encouraging each of you, from a stewardship perspective, to ‘step up’ and be a part of our parish family by being involved in one or more of our ministries. While it may look like things are going smoothly around here, like a family, we need everyone to do their part and share your time and talents. I am especially grateful for all of our ministry leaders who organize our 500+ volunteers. Our Respect Life Ministry is going through a change in leadership and I want to thank Mary Fleming for...READ MORE

“We Are Many Parts…One Body…” In my column each week, I like to highlight various “good news” items that are happening in our parish. Recently, I gave a shout out to both our Youth Group and Young Adults, two thriving groups of parishioners who bring so much life to our parish. But another very significant group whom I call our ‘pillars’ of the community is our Seniors, the ‘youth’ from a previous generation. Our Senior Group meets every second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and are known for their evenings of laughter, food, friendship and hospitality. Led by long-time parishioners, Judy Bugger and her team...READ MORE

Celebrating Our Youth - We are blessed to have so many young people engaged and active here at St. Clare. You see some serving in liturgical ministries at Mass, praying at Adoration and daily Mass and others taking on leadership roles in retreats, Vacation Bible School, Parish School of Religion and other areas of parish life. In addition to our weekly Youth Group, many are involved in our Youth Council, Girls Group and John Paul II Young Men for Christ. This coming Friday we will bless and send off 42 high school students from St. Clare and 16 from St. Nicholas to the Catholic “Steubenville Youth Conference” in Springfield, Missouri. This is a huge Catholic rally/retreat for youth...READ MORE

During the month of July, you are invited to pray the Patriotic Rosary For America with family and friends, in your home or at church, for God’s Mercy and Peace in our country...READ MORE