St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church 1411 Cross Street

O’Fallon, IL 62269 618/ 632-3562

www.stclarechurch.org

Fr. Jim Deiters Pastor Dennis Vander Ven Deacon Marcia Fix Parish Secretary Jamae Shubirg Administrative Assistant Ed 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 Clarice McKay Principal

MT. CALVARY CEMETERY 632-3562

Paulo D’Amico

PARISH TRUSTEES

Michael Crupe

John Dempsey

ST. VINCENT DEPAUL 632-4270

Emergency Assistance

Twenty-Fi h Sunday in Ordinary Time September 24, 2017

St. Clare Parish’s 150th

Anniversary

Two big ways to Celebrate!!

Celebrate with Grateful Praise! Plan to join your parish family at

4 p.m. Saturday, October 7

as we gather to thank God for St. Clare’s 150 year heritage in the O’Fallon Community.

This special anniversary Mass, celebrated with Bishop Edward Braxton

from the Diocese of Belleville, will be the high point of our “150 Days for 150 Years”

Sesquicentennial Celebration. You’ll want to be with us for

this memorable liturgy! A light reception will follow.

Cheers to 150 Years...Join us at OKTOBERFEST

Let’s make this the best Oktoberfest yet as we celebrate St. Clare Parish’s Sesquicentennial!

We’re inviting EVERYONE to celebrate with us Saturday, September 30 from 4 to 11 p.m.

Third and Oak Streets in downtown O’Fallon

5K Run, German Dinner, Games and Inflatables, Live Music Raffles — $150 Cash Prizes every hour for five hours, plus

$10,000 in our Big Otto Raffle! Bingo, Festival Food And Wine and Beer Gardens

Go to stclarechurch.org/ofest to learn what you can do to help make our parish’s major annual fundraiser a major success!!

From Our Pastor...

September 29 Vance Huller Richie Meile Robert Cherry Don Gravlin Dale Rupright Cathleen Browning Katie Jurgena Lynda Lang Andrew McDonald Sarah Ferrara Tyler Stanton September 30 Kurt Kalmer Thomas Levrault Lynn Joseph Stephen Lyons Michael Ryan Mark Arbogast Casey Triplett Aubrey Mister Catherine Gross Addison Stoltz October 1 Katie Feger Joni Kennedy Shirley Suski Dominic Sabatino Cindy Zidarevich Dan Richter Bonnie Brave John Knapik Tom Reid Jennifer DeBourge Melissa Alblinger Jeff Cooley Gregory Mertens Ryan Richter Kyle Gomez Sarah Pavlisin Emily Raynor Emily Cerbie Braden Henson Bella Scire Zachary Alblinger Skylar Voss

September 23 Michael Ueda Marcia Fischer David Guebert Sara Mayden Katie Missey September 24 Peter Glennon Samar Heimann Lou Siville Nathan Estervig Amanda Fender Chad Garcia Christopher Currier Kelly Masterson Ava Vojak September 25 Clark Wells Donald Gendron Lisa Kortkamp Jeremy Monroe Dess Fix Peggy Snyder Matthew Howk September 26 Cheryl Raynor Cheryl Druse Nolan Vojak Holden Chapple September 27 Kevin Sweeney Janet Hellmann Heather Ertel Katie Schad Milton Saltmarsh September 28 Pat Thompson Pat Sherbert Amanda Smoot Jay LeChien Mikaela Mongeon Xavier Gourdine Isaac Hubbard

Oktoberfest! YOU Make It A Success!

Thanks to all of you who have signed up to volunteer, donate, and are selling raffle tickets. On behalf of the Oktoberfest leadership team, I’m making one more request for you to do your best to help make next Saturday night great!

A few things to do this week:

Make another effort to sell a few more raffle tickets! And make your own donation and get this incredible opportunity to win $10,000 - remember, just 250 tickets sold so what a great chance!

Stop by the tables after Mass to see where the leaders need help! We still have open spots for volunteers!

Send an extra email and Facebook post inviting family and friends to come for this great festival.

On Friday afternoon, evening, and Saturday morning, we always need extra help setting up and decorating so stop by for an hour or two.

In gratitude for your generosity, Fr. Jim Deiters

Mass Time Change Reminder!

For the next TWO weekends, notice the change in Mass schedule!

Saturday, September 30 Mass at 4:00 PM for Oktoberfest Sunday morning Masses as usual

Saturday, October 7 Mass at 4:00 PM

for our 150th Anniversary celebration with Bishop Braxton. Sunday, October 8 - only ONE Mass at 10:30 since we

want everyone to attend the Saturday Mass for the anniversary!

We extend our prayerful and loving sympathy to the family and friends of:

Alex Emmons, Father of Lona (Joe) Moore, and their sons, Charlie and John Hannah Grubofski, Daughter of Chad and Julie, Sister of Chad, Jr. and Luke May they rest in the peace and love of Christ. We continue to pray for all who have died and all who are mourning the death of a loved one.

Please pray for the sick, their loved ones and caregivers: Jennifer R. Barajas, Wray Barr, Sister Barbara Ann Bosch, Joyce Correale, Rita Ferreri, Randy Fultz, Sharon Gage, Tom Giger, Jean Green, Allison Hartmire, Rita Haukapp, Margaret Heinke, Jessica Holmes, Patricia Jones, Liz Klingler, Dawn Papproth Kuhn, Abelina Leon, Mary Lugge Nona Morgan, Pauline Puttmann, Dale Reeser, Grace Regutti, David Rice, Megan Saldanha, Madelean Sanford, Rosa Garcia, Craig Seipp, Mary Ann Seipp, Donna Sparks, Betty Tomasovich, Jake Van Hook, Jenny Vogt, Pat Vollmer, Patricia Weiler Steve Wells, Doris Zink Please call the parish office if you have a family member that is homebound or in the hospital. Please pray for our military families, especially those deployed and separated from loved ones.

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, September 23 Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 p.m. Ted, Stephanie and James Bohnak Sunday, September 24 Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 a.m. Walter and Virginia Woods Ed Kloustermeyer 10:30 a.m. Robert Braswell Monday, September 25 Weekday 12:00 p.m. Special Inten on Tuesday, September 26 Weekday Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs 7:30 a.m. Ron and Mary Lee Hillen 8:30 a.m. Mass in School Chapel Wednesday, September 27 No Mass Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest Thursday, September 28 Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr; Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs 8:30 a.m. Mass in School Chapel Friday, September 29 Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels 7:30 a.m. Cecilia Louis Saturday, September 30 Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00 p.m. Sylvia Ritzel Sunday, October 1 Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30 a.m. For Our Parish 10:30 a.m. Martin and Stella Gannon

Readings of the Week September 25—October 1

Monday: Ezr 1:1-6; Ps 126:1b-6; Lk 8:16-18 Tuesday: Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20; Ps 122:1-5; Lk 8:19-21 Wednesday: Ezr 9:5-9; Tb:13:2, 3-4abefghn, 7-8; Lk 9:1-6 Thursday: Hg 1:1-8; Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b; Lk 9:7-9 Friday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12a; Ps 138:1-5; Jn 1:47-51 Saturday: Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a; Jer 31:10-12ab, 13; Lk 9:43b-45 Sunday: Ez 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-9; Phil 2:1-11 [1-5]; Mt 21:28-32

Next Weekend: September 30/October 1

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion Saturday 4:00 Nancy Buttimer, Stacey Cutter, Walter O’Dell, Shirley Suski Tom & Maggie Grimmig, Jessica Kalmer, April Leo, Bethany Kazmierczak, Carl Lurk, Tom & Mary Lou Pawlow Len Ratajczyk

Sunday 8:30 Fred Favela, Percy Menzies, Frank Morski, Alex Schillinger Marie Berry, John Gomez, Jason Homrig, Donna Meyers Linda Rademacher, Kristy Turner, Simone Wheeler Tina Whitlow, Sophie Wilkerson

Sunday 10:30 Steve Huber, Ray Matherne, Larua Polillo, Toni Stanton Mark Arbogast, Andrea Picchietti, Patty Klingelhoefer Kitty Luehrs, Elizabeth Reichenbach, Chris, Tara, Hannah Sill Betsy Weinel

Readers Saturday 4:00 Sella Roman & Bobbi Schaefer Sunday 8:30 Justin Alberico & Kathy Devan 10:30 Margaret Andrasko & Noelle Matherne

Servers Saturday 4:00 Jon Marble, Milton Saltmarsh, Ryan Voss 8:30 Isaac Hubbard, Javier Favela, Madeleine Henken 10:30 Drew Ferguson, Joseph & William Kinsella

Ushers Saturday 4:00 Jett Cates, Noah Cutter, Hal Harris Scott Leo, Scott Voss, John Winkelmann Sunday 8:30 John Bechtoldt, Doug Gross, Jim Hendricks Robert Kirchgessner, Mike Lafferty, Lonny Roberts Sunday 10:30 Matt Chambers, Brian Huelsmann, Carlos Mariles Debbie Oitker, Blaine Phillips, Ron Polillo

Gift Bearers Saturday 4:00 Bill, Joanna, Will & AJ Theismann Sunday 8:30 Mary Zeissett Family 10:30 Christopher, Amy, Aiden, Grace & Nora Stapenhorst

Greeters Saturday 4:00 Matt, Tracy, Alex Eichholz, Jamie Eros, Hal & Bridgett Harris 8:30 Muriel Barber, Audra Driscoll, Su Holmes, Sharon Ripplinger Jim & Corrine Wright 10:30 Steve, Amanda, Joshua, Bethany, Anna, Levi & Zeke Huber Ed Lorden, Paulette Roberg, Donna Swanson

Sound Board Saturday 4:00 Jett Cates Sunday 8:30 Peter Timpson 10:30 Colby Mank

Bread Bakers Sherry D’Amico, Kathy DeVan, Tanja Ramsby

Children’s Word Saturday 4:00 Theresa Voss & Sophia Cherry Sunday 8:30 Alicia & Madison Luechtefeld 10:30 Mandi Huelsmann & Hunter Barr

Nursery 8:30 Jacqueline Teeling & Sean Brown 10:30 Carolyn Howk & Sean Brown

Voca on Corner “Each of you has a personal vocation which He has given you for your own joy and sanctity. When a person is conquered by the fire of His gaze, no sacrifice seems too great to follow Him and give Him the best of our-selves. This is what the saints have always done, spreading the light of the Lord ... and transforming the world into a welcoming home for everyone.” – Pope Benedict, April 3, 2012

September 16/17 Tithe: $15,488.00 New Church: $ 4,117.00

“One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; Another withholds what he should give, And only suffers want.” Proverbs 11:24

Corpus Chris Parish Monthly Prayer Hour for an increase in Voca ons to the Priesthood, Diaconate and Consecrated Religious life will be held on the 1st Thursday of each month beginning on October 5 at 7 p.m. in the Church. The hour will include Eucharis c exposi on, Scripture, praying of the Rosary, some medita on me, and concluding with Benedic on. Everyone is welcome to a end. Any ques ons can be forwarded to our Parish Voca ons Coordinator, Marvin Winkeler at mewinkel51@gmail.com or 402-214-1155.

Diocesan Seminarian Educa on Fund

This year the collec on totaled $90,591. (St. Clare $1,240). Through your help and assistance, we have raised $184,994 the last two years to support the ongoing costs of preparing the six seminarians the Diocese has been blessed with.

Get Ready! Get Excited!

Get Involved!

Oktoberfest 2017 September 30

Last chance to sign up to help!

Stop by the Oktoberfest tables in the Gathering Space after Mass today or sign up online at www.stclarechurch/ofest to: ♦ Volunteer to set up or tear down and clean up the Fest grounds ♦ Sign up to work shifts in a stand or to help prepare and serve our homemade German dinner ♦ Make a donation, large or small. We’ve got a long ‘wish list’ to choose from! ♦ Purchase raffle tickets for our fabulous Big Otto and Li’l Otto raffles ♦ Get more raffle tickets to sell to friends and family ♦ Learn about our great new game, the crowd-pleasing “I Dood It!” ♦ Register for the 5K or kids Fun Run ♦ Support the parish and promote your business as an Oktoberfest sponsor ♦ Meet the Oktoberfest Committee and find out how to get involved Drop off your baskets by Noon Sunday, Sept. 24 in the Fellowship Hall Basket-making party at 12:30 Sunday, Sept. 24 in the Fellowship Hall Drop off food and drink donations Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 or 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 29 IN THE SCHOOL GYM

We need EVERYONE to help!! Your contributions will make our 17th Annual Oktoberfest bigger and better as we celebrate 150th Anniversary!!!!!

Catholic Men for Christ

September Monthly Meeting

The Catholic Men for Christ will meet

Saturday, September 30th 4 – 11 PM

3rd & Cherry Street

(i.e., the St. Clare Oktoberfest)!

We will not have a regularly scheduled meeting but we hope you all attend the Oktoberfest and have a great time! And, if you want to have an even better time at the Oktoberfest, please sign up to help in some way; buy raffle tickets, donate items, work a shift at you favorite stand, set up or clean up. Re-member, it’s better to give than receive – so spend some time with St. Clare parishioners at the 17th Annual St. Clare Ok-toberfest - share a beer or soda with friends, meet new friends (especially if you sign up to work a shift at a stand), and enjoy the festival!

THE REWARDS AND CHALLENGES OF

PARENTING All parents are invited to a parenting series on building healthy, confident and faith-filled families. Learn how to: • Strengthen relationships within the family • Build skills for raising responsible children • Nurture family faith and spiritual growth The series, facilitated by Sister Joyelle Proot, will meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Spirituality Center at St. Nicholas Parish. The series will be offered October 10, November 14, January 9, February 13, March 13 and April 10. You do not have to attend all six sessions, but you won't want to miss a minute of these wonderful presentations. The last time she offered these skills, the participants wanted to frame her picture to remind them of the ideals and skills she taught. For more information, please call Barb Furdek at 618-632-1137.

The Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal…

Join us as Partners in Hope

Did you know your gift to The 2017 Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal can be made online?

Visit www.diobelle.org and click on “Giving to the Diocese”. It’s that simple! Through your prayers and generous help you are partnering with 14 ministries funded by The Appeal that serve thousands of people each and every day throughout southern Illinois!

Thank you so very much!

RESPECT LIFE CORNER Love is Our Life Mission – “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring comfort to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive.” God‘s love is our life mission. If we choose to embrace this mission, we will have a new perspective on many issues. This may also mean that we will sometimes live as minorities, with different values from our surrounding secular culture. Learn, Act, Connect, Pray: If we understand that love is our mission then we have learned a basic truth that will shape many other areas of life. Pray for the ability to see clearly the path to take when situations arise that are contrary to our beliefs as Catholics.

There’s More to Life!! You’re Invited to the

Men’s Renewal Experience November 4/5

DISCOVER: What’s missing in your life

What matters most What matters least What to do about it

DEVELOP Lasting and Meaningful Friend-

ships ENJOY

Fellowship, Food and Fun

For more information, Contact the parish office

Join biblical expert and Catholic apologist Stephen Ray on a personal pilgrimage through the pages of St. John’s Gospel. He draws from extensive scholarship and his time spent in the Holy Land filming documentaries to bring forth many of the profound theological truths that lie be-neath the surface of this gospel. This ex-citing presentation will hold your interest from beginning to end, igniting your heart and soul with a deeper understanding of this amazing gospel. Perfect for those doing a bible study on the Gospel of John!

Eucharistic Adoration

Next Weekend!

Sunday, October 1 after 10:30 Mass

until 11:40am Monday,

October 2 With Benediction and Mass at Noon Come and share some quality time with Jesus, giving Him your burdens and wor-ries so you can be fully open to know just how much He loves you and wants to help you know the perfect plan He has for your life. Sign-up sheets are on the table in the Gathering Space for those who can commit to an hour.

XLT Join us for 45 minutes of great music and prayer! Sunday, Oct. 1 from 5—5:45. Live music and guided prayer. My soul exalts the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Luke 1:46

Sept 24 Youth Group 6—7:30 p.m. Sept 30 Youth help with snow cones & face painting at Oktoberfest From 4—11. Sign up online! Oct 8 Youth Group 6—7:30 p.m. Oct 15 Youth Group 6—7:30 p.m. Oct 22 Youth Group 6—7:30 p.m.

High School Youth Group meets in our new youth room in the lower level of St. Clare School. Bring a friend!!

St. Clare Parish School of Religion Sundays at St. Clare School 10:30—11:40

Sept 24 PSR Class Soup Kitchen Grades 3 & 7

Oct 1 PSR Class

Oct 8 NO PSR Class Columbus Day W/E

Oct 15 PSR Class

Oct 22 PSR Class Soup Kitchen Grade 1

Oct 29 PSR Class

K-4 parents/guardians: Please pick up students in the gym promptly. If you plan to park and then walk into the school for PSR, please park in a park-ing area along the street and keep the drop off lanes clear for those just dropping off or picking up. Students should exit & enter on the right side of the vehicle.

Please keep everyone’s safety in mind!

Sacramental Preparation Children wishing to receive Confirmation, First Eucharist or First Recon-ciliation must be attending weekend Mass in our parish and attend St. Clare School, our PSR or an approved home-school program. They must have a (school) year of religious education before they begin preparing for a sacrament and participate in the parish’s sacramental preparation program.

Confirmation Parent Education Night Monday, September 25 at 7 p.m. In the Fellowship Hall with Fr. Jim. This even-ing is for parents or guardians of 8th grade students in the second year of our 2 year program.

1st Reconciliation Parent Education Meeting Monday, October 23 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall with Fr. Jim. Required meeting for parents of all students who will be preparing for the First Recon-ciliation and First Communion during this school year. Babysitting available. Contact Jane at the parish office or janeadotson@yahoo.com.

Nursery Our nursery is now open at 8:30 a.m. Mass in addition to 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays. This is for children 6 months to age 4. Limit of 12 children with 2 nursery volunteers or 6 children with 1 volunteer. Thanks to our nurse-ry volunteers for allowing us to expand this ministry! To volunteer, contact Kim Huber at (618) 301-0534.

YOUTH GROUP SAYS THANK YOU!! Thanks to all our generous donors and hard-working parents and stu-dents, we collected two truckloads of clothing and household goods for Savers Thrift Store in Fairview Heights, which will donate $1,185 toward our trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference this fall. Plus, they paid for our U-Haul truck rental. What a great way to help us and help others!

Save the Date!

Friday, October 27

ALTAR ANGELS OCTOBER 7: Rose Brennan, Celerina Collins Ely Gillespie, Jeannie Haukapp, Babe Papproth SPECIAL THANKS A special thanks to all who donated to, assisted in prepara ons for, and worked so diligently to make the Feed My Lambs program a success for St. Clare Church’s par cipa on in the program this year. Your help is very much appreciated! THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LADIES AUXILIARY September mee ng will be held on Thursday, September 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the KC Hall in O Fallon. The mee ng is beginning a half hour earlier this month be-cause we will be having a pot luck dinner. All Catholic women and wives of KC members are invited to join us for the pot luck and to see what we are about! Fried chicken will be provided, please bring a side dish or dessert to share. KELLSIE’S HOPE PRESENTS MUSIC TRIVIA!! Friday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m. (registra on begins at 6) Caseyville Community Center, 909 South Main Street, Caseyville. Awesome Prizes include Cash Grand Prize of $300; Silent auc on, 50/50, Trivia DJ Jim Rudy. $100 per table of eight ($120 at the door) includes two drink tokens per person (beer, wine or soda) No outside drinks please. Bring your own snacks. Register at www.kellsieshope.com. Challenge your family and friends while raising money for children with cancer! HAVE YOU HEARD OF SERRA? The Serra Club is Catholic men and women dedicated to foster and affirm voca ons to the priesthood and religious life. The Club meets every first and third Friday of the month for Mass, lunch, a speaker and brief mee ng. All are welcome! Please contact Mike at 397-2320or Mel at 531-4244 for more informa on. 30TH ANNUAL ALTHOFF CATHOLIC GOLF CLASSIC Sat., October 14 at Stonewolf Golf Club New Day! New Format! New Pricing! Six hole-in-one prizes, nine players will compete for a chance at a $100,000 grand prize! For sponsorship and registra on info, contact ACHS Advance-ment Office at 618-235-1100 ext.109 or pmiller@althoffcatholic.org or visit althoffcatholicgolfclassic.com.

HOPE FOR THE JOURNEY

Wednesday, September 27 at 2 p.m.

St. Clare Church Library

Hope For The Journey is a ministry reaching out to anyone

that has experienced the loss of a loved one, recent or not.

We meet for conversation, suggested reading, encouragement,

prayer and to walk this journey with you.

For more information, please contact: Ken & Barb Kenney

726-7587 or kj_kenney@sbcglobal.net

Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible

and achieves the impossible!

One Hour for Life

Join your friends and other area Christians Sunday, October 1 for one hour of prayer

and witness from 2-3 p.m. in the Metro East Life Chain. We will be standing along Hwy. 159 at Associated Bank by the mall, quietly praying and holding Life Chain signs. Life Chain is a powerful witness to a passerby that life is precious and should be protected and that Jesus forgives and heals.

Pro Life Video Challenge

Create a 1-5 minute video that relates to the theme "Celebrate Life". Entries will be judged on content, creativity, relevancy, and videography skills. Videos may be done by individual or groups, age 10-21. The winner receives $100!! Submissions due by October 15. Visit stclarechurch.org for details.

NEW HOSPITAL OPEN HOUSE The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, the Board of Directors, and staff invite you to come see the wonderful new hospital here in O'Fallon. Come see why Catholic Healthcare and the new facility blesses our community and your family with the best of care and most advanced technology in the area.

Open House - October 7 and 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day at the new hospital