MAY 29, 2020
ST. CLARE CONNECTION
Reopening of Church Possibilities
The State of Illinois has issued new guidelines for the reopening of churches. Our Illinois Bishops are reviewing these and working on new procedures for us but are not completed at the time of this email release. Thanks for your patience and faithfulness.
Sunday, May 31
9:00 a.m. Live Stream Mass &
10:30 a.m. Reception of Communion
Step 1: Watch Mass from your home at 9:00 a.m. 
Step 2:  Distribution of Communion
will begin in the parking lot at 10:30 a.m.

The parking lot will open for traffic at 10:15. Please do not arrive earlier than that.
Our volunteers need to arrive, get set up, and get to their posts.

UPDATED INFO AND MAP: 
  • Please refer to the diagram below for the traffic flow. 
  • All cars will enter using the north entrance (by the St. Clare of Assisi sign).
  • Ushers will begin parking cars in spaces at 10:15.
  • Park your car in the yellow space; exit your car and stand in the purple space in front of your car. If you are unable to exit your car, the communion minister will come to your car window. 
  • Communion will be distributed in the hand to each communicant.
  • Communion Ministers will have a mask and sanitized hands. If they make physical contact with anyone, they will sanitize their hands before distributing to the next communicant.
  • After you receive communion, reenter your car, pray the prayer on the Mass worship aid (access on phone/tablet or print at home), and pull forward to exit.
  • All cars will exit the parking lot via the south entrance.
Thank you in advance for your patience with everyone as we try this new procedure. We want to maintain a spirit of prayer and peace in the lot during distribution. 

Congrats to Grads!
Congratulations to our 2020 graduates -- college, high school and 8th grade! Realizing it's more challenging to celebrate our graduates' accomplishments this year, some of our high school graduates' parents have shared photos from First Communion, Confirmation and senior year/graduation in this special video. Our prayers are that our graduates keep firm in their faith and know they are always loved as children of God.
If You Need Assistance...
Although the state is beginning to re-open, some people may still need help with errands or tasks due to COVID-19, being at-risk, or other circumstances. If you need such help, please call the parish office at 618-632-3562 or email matthewflynn5@gmail.com. For those with financial hardship, call the St. Vincent de Paul helpline at 618-632-4270.
Building Update
Foundation being poured for the parish offices.
Check our website weekly for building updates!
May Devotions
May: The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Go to our May Devotions website page for Rosary Resources and Suggested Videos to watch this month.
Parking Lot Rosary Continues in June
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
We will gather in the church parking lot and pray the rosary. Participants will be directed to park one space apart for everyone's safety. Since we will be spread out, we will be able to roll down car windows and enjoy the weather. For those who are unable to attend, we will also be live streaming on our website - www.stclarechurch.org/live
Webinar for Caregivers
Webinar for Caregivers - Caring for Yourself when You Care for Others
Register HERE . Rarely has there been a tougher time to be a caregiver, whether in a health-care setting, parish, or home. In this free webinar, learn from the wisdom of Henri Nouwen on caring for yourself during the COVID-19 crisis so you can better care for others and discover valuable insights into your own needs and how to find spiritual and emotional nourishment.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Rotary Club of O'Fallon sponsoring Red Cross Blood Drive,
Tuesday, June 2 at St. Clare School from 3 - 7 p.m.
In order to help comply with social distancing guidelines, please make an appointment to doante at the Red Cross website, redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code RotaryOfallon. Donors will be temperature screened, wear face masks (provided) and use hand sanitizer (also provided) before and during the donation process.
Donations
Food, toilet paper and jeans drive continues in June from 10-noon on Tuesdays and 5-7 on Thursdays. Drop off at St. Clare Church parking lot. Click HERE for more details.
Ordination Dates
Please keep in your prayers those to be ordained in the Belleville Diocese.

Saturday, July 11
Bishop Braxton will ordain to the Priesthood Nick Fleming, Joel Seipp,
and Carl Schrage.

Wednesday, July 22
The Ordination and Installation of Bishop-Elect Michael G. McGovern
as the Ninth Bishop of Belleville.
Live Stream Mass
Support
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ST. CLARE CHURCH!

HOW TO DONATE WHILE THERE ARE NO MASSES
Our parish continues to have expenses that need to be met, even without public Masses. There are several ways that you can continue donating to St. Clare Parish.

You can make your weekly offering online. Please consider setting up an online giving account to make your weekly offertory contribution.  Online giving is an easy, safe and convenient way to keep your offertory giving in support of our parish during this time of staying at home. Go to stclarechurch.weshareonline.org to get started.

You may also continue using your contributions envelopes by mailing to the parish office at 1411 Cross St., O’Fallon, IL 62269 or you can drop the donations off at the parish office. There is a black drop box on the parish office porch.
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