St. Clare of Assisi Parish Parish Office: 460 Reed Street Clairton PA 15025

Phone: 412-233-7870 Fax: 412-233-0742 Office Hours: Mondays - Thursdays 8AM-2PM CLOSED Fridays

Email: stclareparish2@comcast.net Web Site: www.stclareofassisiparish.com

MISSION STATEMENT We are a Family,

United in the Eucharist, Guided by the Holy Spirit,

Called by Jesus Christ to Grow in Faith, Love and Prayer

in Harmony with the Universal Catholic Church

We will achieve our parish mission by worshipping together and working to evangelize, educate and

serve each other and the entire community.

PASTOR: Rev. Charles J. Baptiste BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathleen Ulmer SECRETARY: Elaine Mancini MUSIC MINISTRY: Sean Thornton BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Amy Ference HOMEBOUND MINISTRY: Beverly Mazza SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR: Lorraine Carter ABUSE HOTLINE: 1-800-932-0313

MASSES: Saturday 4:30PM (Sunday Vigil) Sunday 9:30AM Weekdays 7:00PM (Monday) 8:00AM (Tuesday thru Friday)

RECONCILIATION: After Mass on Monday Evenings & 12:30PM Saturdays BAPTISMS: Call the Parish Office to schedule a day and time. WEDDINGS: Call the Parish Office at least six months in advance. The Diocese requires each couple to attend a pre-marriage course.

ST. CLARE CEMETERY: Worthington Ave. For Information call the Parish Office.

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS – January 2/3 Pages 57 - 58

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS – January 9/10 Isaiah 40:1—5, 9—11 – Page 59 Titus 2:11—14;3:4—7 – Page 60 Luke 3:15—16, 21—22 – Page 61

WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - January 2/3

4:30PM Margaret Gori - (Jimmy Malone) 9:30AM For The Parishioners MONDAY, January 4 – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious 7:00PM Henry Families - (Henry Family) Reconciliation After Mass TUESDAY, January 5 – St. John Neumann, Bishop 8:00AM Lillian K. Julian - (Yolanda & Al Schilling) WEDNESDAY, January 6 – Weekday 8:00AM Kenneth J. Antrom - (Barbara Antrom)

THURSDAY, January 7— Weekday 8:00AM Mildred Carozzo - (Marlatt Family) FRIDAY, January 8 — Weekday 8:00AM Thomas McIntosh - (Wife & Daughters) SATURDAY, January 9 12:30PM Reconciliation

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - January 9/10

4:30PM Jim Tullius - (Family) 9:30AM For The Parishioners

WEEKEND MINISTERS - January 9/10

4:30PM - Eucharistic Ministers - Regina Behary, Russell Behary, Ray Werner Lector - Monica Kapsha

Altar Servers - Keith Cotter, Aaron Maricic Head Ushers - Mike DiCarlo, Ed Obusek

9:30AM - Eucharistic Ministers - Joseph Costello, Susan Finnegan, Joanne Kaskin Lector - Janice DiLonardo Altar Servers - Laura Cronkhite, Kevin Massaro

Head Ushers - Ray York, Vince Gori

January 3, 2016 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Peace, Fr. Chuck

Sunday, January 3 CCD - Grades K-4 - Holy Spirit Church

10:45AM - Counting Team #1 Monday, January 4 to Friday, January 8

Fr. Chuck will be on Retreat. Daily Masses will follow the Regular Schedule

Tuesday, January 5 CCD - Grades 5-8 - CVOL Class - Holy Spirit Church

Wednesday, January 6 6:30PM - Choir Practice

Saturday, January 9 12:30PM - Reconciliation

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This Week

Reflection: New Beginnings

Ah, another new year and all that goes with it. Have you thought of that New Year’s Resolution? Do you remember what it was? Has it been broken already? This year I’m trying something different. It won’t be about eating healthier, or losing weight, or following an exercise plan at the gym. It won’t even include being nicer to family, friends and strangers. It will be to say a prayer; one that Mary prayed and a prayer that was included in my Magnificat Magazine. Mary’s prayer can and should be our prayer as the baptized. We are all called to proclaim Christ in our very being. Following is the Magnificat; a prayer prayed to God, by Mary: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day, all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. The following prayer from the Magnificat Magazine takes the form of a prayer prayed by Mary, for us. I will be praying it every day, for myself and you, for my New Year’s Resolution. This prayer will produce better fruit than any resolution I otherwise could make. My beloved one, be still. Let me look into your eyes. Can you feel the intensity of my love for you? Can you feel my gratitude to you for loving my Son Jesus?

My beloved child, you are so beautiful! Do you want to hold my baby? Will you love him and care for him? I hear his voice in the cries of my suffering children, I need you to be my arms. Will you let go of the things that distract you and prevent you from being single- minded? I call you to a deeper conversion. I call you to love Jesus with all that is in you! I believe that this is the moment, and that by the power of the Holy Spirit you can say yes. You can live Yes! Now, go live out your Magnificat! God Bless you with an even more profound relationship with Christ this year

Keeping Our “Church Alive” in Clairton. From OUR PAST. . .

St. Clare – St. Joseph – St. Paulinus To OUR PRESENT. . .

St. Clare of Assisi Parish 1994 – 2016 and INTO OUR FUTURE. . .

. . .by making the celebration of our Liturgies and Sacraments a joyous and spiritual event in our lives!

PLEASE PRAY FOR Our Recently Departed… Richard Antrom (Brother of Barbara Antrom), Vince Bianchi (Former Parishioner), Rev. R. Donald Jones Our Sick and Shut-ins. . . Barbara Antrom, Pete Azzari, Fr. Chuck Baptiste, June Bendik, Eleanor Berggren, Joan Bradley, Vincent Capane, Maria Campano, Mildred Demchak, Rebecca Farabaugh, Dolores Ferrero, Marie Hodge, Mary Julian, John Karnac, Off. James Kuzak Jr., Ann E. Martin, Linda Massaro, Sally McBride, Edward Obusek, Barbara Pavlack, Kathryn Pavlack, Lou Pavlack, Jr., Renee Coleman Radlien, Colten Riley, Betty Rothbauer, Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, Ruth Ann Skop, Sophie Slavick, John Sorrentino, Fr. Bonaventure Stefun, Kathy Tachoir, James M. Tullius, Catherine Vukovich, Rita York - and all Names and Intentions listed in our Prayer Request Book

FISCAL YEAR JULY 2015 - JUNE 2016

Budgeted Weekly Offering Required…......$ 5,128.00 Actual Weekly Offering Dec.26/27.........….$ 4,995.50 Deficit…………………………...…………….$ - 132.50 Christmas…………………………………….$ 8,976.00 Christmas Charities…………………………$ 1,426.95 Maintenance…………………………………$ 910.00 Parish Share YTD………………………......$ 27,209.00 Cemetery Envelopes 2015 YTD….….…......$ 9,026.00

For family members of our parishioners serving in the military:

Dante Capane, Tara Felker, Gregory Lentz, Jason Middleton, Daucent Radlien Jr., Michael Santoline, Anthony Svetz,

Andrew West, Jeffery West

PRAYERS FOR OUR SEMINARIANS This week, please pray for David Egan from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Glenshaw.

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SECOND COLLECTION - 1/3 & 1/10 The Second Collection THIS weekend is for the Diocesan Parish Share Program. The Second Collection NEXT weekend will be for the Caring Ministry Fund that helps those in our Parish and Communities.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY - Drawn December 29 Our December Golden Opportunity Drawing occurred on Thursday, December 31, (the last working day of the month), but after our bulletin was already print-ed for this week. December Envelopes Entered to Date:

FAB FIVE LOTTERY This January begins our 8th year for this fundraiser! It was called the “Fab Five” Ticket back in June 2007 because each person would have 5 chances on one Ticket to win $500 every month! This is a unique tick-et and not many printing companies can accommodate this 5-number set-up. We did find a company that was able to print it and we would then solicit companies or individuals as sponsors to offset the printing charge of $65 per month. Unfortunately, the owners of the printing company retired and the shop was shutting down in 2014. We wanted to pre-order as many “monthly sets” as possible before they closed. 2015 was the last year that we had Fab Five Ticket sponsors because back in 2014 when we placed our final order (so far in advance), how could we know if a ticket sponsor in the upcoming years would still be in business, or even alive? With that in mind, new January Fab Five Tickets may be picked up in the Sacristy this weekend, without a Sponsor listed. Our Parish paid the $65 printing charge for all the months in 2016. Donations, however, can be made to help to off-set this expense; sponsor names can appear in the bulle-tin each month, but not on the pre-printed tickets. The winner of December’s Fab Five Ticket will be in next week’s bulletin.

TAX STATEMENTS AVAILABLE If you would like a statement of the contributions that you made to St. Clare of Assisi Parish in 2015, please call the Parish Office to request a copy.

REMINDER When the Nicene/Apostles Creed is recited during Mass, we should BOW at the words, “And by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man’; reminding us of the mystery of the Incarnation. This special sign is used to honor the “Word made flesh”.

CONCERNING OUR FUNDRAISERS. . . OFFERTORY COLLECTION

CONCERNING OUR PARISH. . .

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A NOTE OF THANKSGIVING At this time of year, it is proper to give a gift to one like the Christ Child, poor, homeless and hungry, but every year I find myself extremely blessed with your thoughtful and generous gifts. Thank you for the Masses, prayer intentions, goodies and food of all kinds, monetary gifts and all the good wishes. I will try to be a good steward with your monetary gifts, as I am so blessed already in more ways than I can count. Thank you, too, for the kindnesses for the staff. They really hold this place together as you may imagine. They have the tiresome obligation of keeping me focused and my head out of the sky. They are grateful for your love, gifts and respect. May God Bless you this New Year with great Joy and Hope! With Love and Gratitude, from Fr. Chuck, Kathy, Amy and Elaine

PARISH MEMBERSHIP FORM Registering at our Parish is a declaration of your desire to be part of a Catholic community.

We extend a warm welcome and hope you will find our Parish Community a place where your faith will be nourished. If you are moving into, or out of the Parish, please let us know. Fill out this Form and return it to the Parish Office.

NAME______________________________________________ADDRESS__________________________________________ TELEPHONE________________________________________ __________________________________________ Check One: New________ Change of Address________ Moving out of Parish________ Want Envelopes________

Our Bulletin is Sponsored This Week in Memory of

James Ward By His Family

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“Big Bang Theory? You’ve got to be kidding.” - God ”

BILLBOARD SIGNS FROM GOD

CONCERNING OUR DIOCESE. . . CONCERNING OUR COMMUNITY. . .

ADORE THE LORD IN HOLY ATTIRE (Ps. 96-9)

What we wear says a great deal about what we value. We usually dress well when we go to places that are important to us and as Catholics, this is the most important thing that we will do each week. The manner in which we dress is part of the reverence that is shown to the Lord present in the Eucharist as well as respect shown for God’s holy people.

Family PERSPECTIVE After meeting Jesus, the Magi returned home by “another way.” What in your family needs to be done “another way?” Do you need, “another way to resolve differences, to communicate or show affection? This is a new year; time to change what isn’t working. Take a tip from some wise men, there’s always “another way.” Marriage MOMENTS A funny thing happens when couples get into an argument. Often it degenerates into what communication experts call a “self-summarizing syndrome.” It means each partner just keeps repeating their own position in different words. Say it once, then try to understand your spouse’s side. Parenting POINTERS Don’t think you have to rush in with a solution to every problem your child has. Sometimes all that a child needs is your listening presence to figure out his or her own solutions.

“JUST THE FACTS, MA’AM” Please let us know if you “see” or “hear” news happening in our Community. You probably already know that The McKeesport Daily News is no longer publishing a paper newspaper. A lot of information in our bulletins came by way of this newspaper. You can help us to keep our parishioners well-informed by submitting accurate information...not just hearsay.

CALENDAR TICKET Holy Spirit Parish, West Mifflin, is selling 3 digit Lottery Tickets that will run from February 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016. (Winners determined by first number drawn at 7PM Pick 3 Drawing) Each Calendar Ticket is $10. You can win $30 on Sundays through Thursdays, $50 on Fridays and $100 on Saturdays. Win $250 on four special days. Call Theresa at 412-346-0477 to request a Ticket!

THANK YOU. . . . . .to Everyone who returned an Angel from our Angel Tree. We were able to make Christmas a little merrier for 13 families by sending them Giant Eagle or Walmart Gift Cards for their Christmas Dinners and 19 Walmart Gift Cards to needy children in our Parish and Community. . . .from Sr. Mary Parks, Director of Sisters Place, who sends her gratitude for the faithful and generous support we gave them to help with their Christmas Party expenses and Food Bank; made possible by your Angel Tree donations. . . .from Bevin Kennedy, Assistant Director for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, that provides critically needed pastoral resources to parishioners as diverse as Helena, Belleville and El Paso. The $632 that was collected for this annual drive in March 2015 will enable them to carry the message of mercy to people in all corners of the country.

MARCH FOR LIFE “All that is necessary for evil to succeed in the world is that enough good people do nothing.” This is the year to make a difference by “putting your feet on the street” in Washington, D.C. on January 22, with the St. Elizabeth Respect Life Group. A bus will be leaving at 6AM and returning around 10PM. A box lunch will be provided in the $35 price. For reservations, call Mary Pat at 412-885-4429. Do something to end abortion!