St. Clement Parish First Communion May 4, 2025 Congratulations to all our First Communicants! Asher Thomas Son of Josh & Jennifer Bailie Maverick Joseph Son of Jason & Brittney Cliff Asher Burton Son of Elias & Taylor Cox Adalle Jean Daughter of Mitch & Brandi Dreher Margot Kay Daughter of Eric Dunbar & Bethany Hammel Harper Verlie Daughter of David & Katie Gerhards Annie Ethel Daughter of Daniel & Katie Glass Luella Clare Daughter of Andy & Heidi Haas Bronson John Son of Jesse & Jeanna Hampton Lincoln Remigius Son of Chris & Sue Hoerth Lidia Marie Daughter of Trevor & Heidi Junk Kyler Daniel Son of Dan & Katie Kirschbaum Ivy Sue Daughter of Brandon & Samantha Klein Emersyn Ann Daughter of Josh & Danielle McLimans Adrian Ashan Son of Chanaka & Roshini Mendis Brock Andrew Son of Andrew & Jody Miles Ezra Abe Son of Ryan & Patience Miles Veda Jean Daughter of Matthew & Abby Rasmussen Harper Lynne Daughter of Kyle & Katie Reuter Sara Mae Daughter of Andrew Schluenz & Emilie Bray Charley Elenor Daughter of Scott & Molly Snyder Herman Paul Son of John & Bridget Spraggon Madeleine Anne Daughter of Jacob & Katelyn Stoeffler Evelyn Grace Daughter of Brad & Jody Sturmer Vale Helene Daughter of Brian & Andrea Timmerman

Ss. Andrew-Thomas School Spaghetti Supper on May 13 from 5-6:30 p.m.

We are grateful for your continued support of Steubenville Youth Conference fundraiser of Car Wash Cards from Kwik Trip to offset a portion of the cost to attend ($435). Our teens and chaperones from our pastorate, St. Joseph the Worker, will cooperate with Divine Mercy Pastorate (St. Maria Goretti & St. Christopher Parishes) along with Richland Center parishes in La Crosse Diocese again this year. Pre-orders will be April 7 - 21 of 5-count (5 washes) Ultimate Car Wash cards for $35 each. You can pre-order from Katherine at the Parish Office, Katie Crosby or Joe/Kelly Ihm family. (If you need Car Wash cards before April 26th, Saint Clement School has them in stock to support St. Clement School Scrip Program.) Thank you for your generous support!

Thank you to those who helped out in any way during our recent host week for Family Promise at St. Clement. Whether you brought in food, helped with dinner serving, fellowship, overnights, etc., all of this means so much. The family could not be more thankful for the care and compassion shown to them. Thank you to the people from other churches in our pastorate for your support too. Together, we are living out the mission of caring for the needy in our midst.

Leigh is navigating the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Cassie, who tragically passed away in a car accident on August 16, 2024. In this time of grief, Leigh has found comfort in her God's mercy and in the love and prayers of her family, friends, and community. This fundraiser has been created for those who feel called to help ease the burdens Leigh is carrying. Contributions will help alleviate the financial strain from the accident and burial, as she leans into God’s grace. Leigh is deeply grateful for your prayers, generosity, and compassion. She holds close the promise of Christ’s peace. Thank you for walking alongside her during this journey

Be sure to pick up a copy of THE WORD AMONG US this weekend. During the Lenten season, they are a great way to get into the habit of daily prayer. THE WORD AMIONG US contains the readings of the day, short reflections on the readings, as well as excellent articles. We order extra copies of this publication during Lent to make it easier for us all to enter into God’s Word, and to let His Word transform our hearts and minds. Copies can be found in various places in the back of church. Renew yourself in God’s Word this Lent!

Congratulations to Mrs. Cheryl Raisbeck from St. Clement School on receiving the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award!!!

The Lancaster Association of Churches (LAC) FoodPantry has seen a dramatic increase of those needing help. At the same time, the pantry has been blessed by receiving food assistance from some of the local KwikTrips, Dollar General and individual donations. The Pantry is seeking an individual (or 2 or 3 people) who are willing to pick up the donated food from Kwik-Trip in Lancaster on Thursdays, as well as Dollar General on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Again, this could be the same person, or different volunteers. The process is very simple, and takes only a little bit of your time. To volunteer or to get more information, contact Linda Bendorf, the LAC Pantry manager, at 608-988-6216 or bendorf1982@gmail.com. Whatever help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

Women of the pastorate, give your week a Great Start on Monday mornings with coffee and donuts at 8:00 AM, prayer, Scripture readings of the day and discussion, 8:15 – 9:15, lower level of St. Clement Rectory, beginning Monday, Feb. 24. Sponsored by St. Clement Council of Catholic Women. Bring your copy of Word Among Us or Magnificat. Questions? Call or text Bernadette Schaefer at 608-732-7475.

Its going to be another amazing night. This year our theme is Kentucky Derby. As always, the attire is optional, but if you decide to partake in the fun theme, you will be awarded a FREE Drink Ticket. All are welcome to come and support our amazing school. The night will consist of cocktails, dinner, photo booth, music, live and silent auction. Get your bids ready and come join us for some fun! Festivities start at 6pm, located in the basement Dining Hall at St Clement Catholic Church

THANK YOU for your generous support of St. Clement Scrip Wars, with your help we surpassed our goal of $130,000, reaching $186,000 in scrip sold and the students will enjoy an all-school ice-cream party!

Still considering a New Year’s resolution? Decide now to take part in one of Grant Co. Right to Life’s upcoming 2025 activities! 1. Pray for GCRTL’s efforts to bring a Safe Haven Baby Box to Grant County. 2. Help plan a movie night! Join a team to bring the full-length documentary, Unthinkable, by former PP clinic director, Abby Johnson, to a Grant Co. theater. (Or donate to offset costs.) 3. 2/4/25: Participate - from anywhere – in a 6 p.m. GCRTL Zoom meeting. Call for log-in info. 4. 3/1/25: Volunteer at a GCRTL table at a late a.m. Platteville Public Library Involvement Fair. 5. 4/5/25: Attend a free WI RTL Pregnancy Help Center conference in Wausau. By 3/21/25, register at https://www.classy.org/event/2025-pregnancy-help-center-spring-conference/e626057 . 6. Participate in a group to distribute small gifts to nursing home residents. Consider making a walker bag or lap blanket for residents. (GCRTL will provide materials.) For more info., text or call Marge at 608.732.0850 or email GrantCoRTL@outlook.com (NEW address!)

To the Family Promise Staff, Volunteers and Board Members, Thank you so much for everything you have done for me and my family over the last six months. You have touched our lives in ways you will never know. When we came into this program, we were in a really bad time in our lives. I felt so low [and] broken. You guys helped me build myself back up. You gave all of us hope and peace of mind. Thank you for giving us what we needed and more. I will cherish the memories made and the lessons learned. You made me not only a better person, but a better parent. God bless all of you and everything you do for the families in this county that are in need. Thank you again!”

Thank you to everyone who generously gave donations for the flowers and decorations and to everyone who worked to make our church look beautiful during the Christmas season. We are deeply grateful for your support of our parish! God bless.

The 2025 St. Clement Parish calendars are here and can be picked up in the back of church. We wish to extend a big Thank You to Rita Schmitz and Katie Miles of Homeward Bound for once again supplying our calendars for us. This year’s calendars have been donated by them in memory of their dear husband and father, Greg Schmitz, co-owner of Homeward Bound. Greg was a fabulous man of faith, joy and love to family, friends and so generous in our parish and community. Thank You Rita and Katie for your generosity!

We invite you to find help through Retrouvaille, (ret-tro-vi), where husbands and wives are helped to re-discover each other. In Retrouvaille, couples discover they are not alone. There is hope and grace. Madison’s upcoming Retrouvaille program is January 31 – February 2, 2025 at the Green Lake Conference Center. Follow up sessions will be in Madison. Call (920) 369-8836 or check our website at www.helpourmarriage.org Your confidentiality is always respected.

Hello St. Clement Families: As Christmas approaches, we are checking to see if there is interest in again forming a youth choir for Christmas Eve. Last years’ experience was beautiful. We are asking 4th-8th grade students to join us for three rehearsals: We would like you to make at least two of these (all three is better). Wednesday, Dec. 11 @ 5:45 - 6:45 PM Wednesday, Dec. 18 @ 5:45 - 6:45 PM Monday, Dec. 23rd @ 5:45 - 6:45 PM. We plan to have these students sing at the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass. Please respond as soon as possible or by Saturday, Dec. 7, either by email: dplmurph@chorus.net or by calling or texting (608) 778-0709. Please respond either way (yes or no …or with questions). If there is enough interest, we will move forward with the rehearsals. If not, we will move forward with a different plan. Our goal is to prepare a prelude song or two and have the kids sing as Communion is being distributed. We look forward to making a joyful sound for Christmas. Sincerely, David Murphy and Patricia Leh Murphy dplmurph@chorus.net (608) 778-0709

St. Clement Parish offers an opportunity to remember your deceased loved ones through Christmas memorial donations. The money we collect will go toward decorating our church during Advent and throughout the Christmas Season. Please put your donation in an envelope marked with your name and name(s) of those you wish to remember, and drop the envelope in the offertory basket, the wooden podium by the parish office entrance or at the Parish Office. All checks should be payable to St. Clement Parish and turned in by Dec. 16. Thank you!

St. Clement is once again taking part in the Grant County Holiday Project to assist families in need have a better Christmas. The “Giving Trees” are up and ready for you to grab a leaf. Please return all gifts to the church by Sunday, December 15, wrapping will begin right after Mass. Gift cards or cash should be placed in the wooden podium outside the parish office. Be sure to attach the tag to the gift! We have adopted 7 families who will be grateful for our care and compassion this Christmas. Thank you to Lynn Crooks, Ashleigh Hampton, Cheryl Raisbeck, and Emily and Sue Schildgen for organizing this work of mercy and love.

Our next week to host families with children experiencing homelessness will be the week of December 1 – 7. Volunteer sign-up sheets are in the back of the church. Last Monday was the feast of St. Martin of Tours. One night, Martin, a Roman soldier, was entering a city during the winter. There at the gates he met a beggar freezing in the cold. Martin took his military cloak and cut it into 2 pieces, giving one to the beggar. That night, Jesus appeared to him in a dream, telling Martin that He, Jesus, was that beggar in disguise. That event changed his life. Like St. Martin, we put our faith into action by our care and concern for God’s children, especially those in need. Help us support families that are trying to make ends meet and to achieve independence by volunteering for our host week. Contact Bill Manthe at 723-4990 or Peg Jonas at 723-2051 if you have questions.