From the Parish Office:

The 2018-19 electric bills

totaled $13,495. The

monthly bills ranged

from $800 to $1,361.

We of St. Clement of Rome Parish, with the Power of the Spirit, welcome, embrace and unite all the many faces of

Christ who worship with us. As a family, we deepen our faith and seek God in the community,

through prayer and good works.

St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Advent

December 15, 2019

Oplatki Wafers

Oplatki Wafers are available in

the Parish Office for a small

donation.

Christmas Worship Schedule

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Thursday, December 12 Spanish Mass ….. 7:00 p.m.

Music, Mass and Fiesta - All are Welcome!

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Christmas Eve Mass …………. 4:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve - Family Mass...6:00 p.m.

Spanish Mass ………….………..8:00 p.m.

Prelude - Music …………..……. 9:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Mass …….…….10:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Christmas Day Masses

9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Octave of Christmas Mary, the Holy

Mother of God ~ Holy Day of Obligation

New Year’s Day Mass … 11:00 a.m.

Religious Give Thanks

‘’Thank you’ hardly seems

adequate to convey what it means

to us,” says a Catholic sister of the

f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e h e r

community received from the

Retirement Fund for your donation

to last week’s collection.

Sharing Tree Thank You from Christian Service

Thank you to

everyone who

has contributed

to our sharing

tree. It has

been another

successful year

thanks to our

parishioners !

The gifts are

abundant along

with the love

that is being share through these efforts. Also, thank you to all the volun-

teers who dedicated their time in assisting with all the tedious tasks in

making the sharing tree a complete success! ~ Blessings….Christian Service

A HUGE “Thank

You” to all our

parishioners who

donated a coat for

our coat collection!!

We were over-

whelmed with the response.

Trinity Lutheran couldn’t believe

all the coats we had for them.

They were very thankful for

everyone’s donation. Thanks to

these donations there will be many

warmer people during these frigid

temperatures. Blessings to you for

your warm hearts!

MCREST Tags on Sharing Tree

Information on page 6

Page 2 St. Clement Church, Romeo

Religious Education Office Hours

Monday and Tuesday

9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Friday - closed

The office is closed daily from 12:00

noon - 1:00 p.m. for lunch

Youth Ministry Upcoming Event

Tuesday, 12-17: Christmas Car-

oling at Wellbridge 6:30 p.m. - 7:45

p.m.

Ring Bells for Christmas

Please bring a bell

from home and play it

during the singing of the “Gloria

during Christmas Eve and

Christmas Day Masses.

Christmas Music Schedule

Christmas Eve

4:00 p.m. – Judy Richer

soloist

6:00 p.m. – Tessa Magsoudi soloist

10:00 p.m. – Adult Choir with

soloist Rebecca Hnatyk & Annie

Dishnow

Christmas

9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Audrey

and Olivia Brown soloists

Christmas Break until January 4

Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year!

Simple Random Acts of Kindness

Here are 20 small and simple random acts of

kindness that you can do today:

1. Make a list of the needs you see around

you and start praying over them daily.

2. If you have an elderly neighbor, check in to see how you can help him

or her: Chores, food, lifting heavy things, yard work, conversation.

Maybe take them a cup of coffee and settle in for a nice chat!

3. Give your spouse and kids extra hugs and kisses, tell them you love

them and are thankful for them.

4. Leave your spouse love notes all over the house, just a few words on a

post-it to let him know you’re thankful for him.

5. Take dinner to a friend or neighbor. This is especially helpful for

someone who is having difficulty cooking for themselves or is just

overwhelmed at the moment.

6. Send or drop off flowers for a friend along with a note telling her you

appreciate her.

7. Send out a few “thinking of you” cards to friends or family members.

8. Mow your neighbor’s lawn.

9. When you get your morning coffee, pick up an extra for a coworker,

friend, or neighbor. I have a sweet friend who offers to do this for me,

and it always makes my day!

10. Put together a few “blessing bags” with toiletries, nonperishable food

items, and a small Bible. Include in each bag a handwritten note

describing God’s love for us. Put them in your car and be ready to give

them out when you see someone with an immediate need.

11. Leave the server at a restaurant an extra-large tip and a sweet “thank

you” message.

12. Choose an encouraging Bible verse and share it on social media.

13. Pay for the people behind you in the drive-thru.

14. Donate food to a local homeless shelter or food pantry.

15. Make cookies for your (or your spouse’s) coworkers.

16. Make your husband his favorite dinner and have the kids help you

with making a yummy dessert.

17. Send a care package to a long-distance friend.

18. Take care of a chore that you know your spouse doesn’t like doing.

19. Babysit for a friend for free.

20. Donate to a charity: Clothes, household items, or money.

Thank You for your Generous Donations

this Year

With your help, we were able to

send several college care packages

to college students filled with

candy. Helped with Thanksgiving

food baskets for the Agape Center.

Collected bags of socks and mittens

to pass out with sharing tree gifts.

Thanks for all your support. We

appreciate your generosity.

Purchase a Christmas Book with Proceeds going to

St. Clement

A parishioner from St. Clement

has published a children’s

Christmas book. All proceeds will

be donated to St. Clement. The

book is available on Amazon.com

for $7.99.

Page 3 St. Clement Church, Romeo

Please Pray for the Members Serving Our

Country

Cpt. Nicole Adenomas

MSG Omar Ambriz

CTM2 Jonathan Behm

Pvt. Stephen Bennett

3rd Po. Brennan Bennett

Pvt. Dakota Burdo

Capt. John L. Fellows

A1C Andrew Fons

Pfc. Brian Gaines

SSGT Adam S. Girardot

Sgt. James Griffie

Spec. Mark A. Lipinski

SSGT Ian McLaughlin

SSG. Brian Niebel

Maj. Catherine Peuterbaugh

Spc. Zacari Pytleski

MC1 Jeff Richardson

2nd Lt. Stephen Rutherford

Chief Jacob Shey

E5 Rebecca Sovereign

Spc. Michael Stobak

Maj. David Stys

Pfc. Bill Thompson

Pfc. Evan Vanouver

Sgt. Bradley Wing

L/Cpl. Robert Wing

Lord, hold our troops in Your

loving hands. Protect them as they

protect us. Bless them and their

families for the selfless acts they

perform for us in our time of need.

We ask this in the name of Jesus

Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen

Please Pray

for the Sick

Newly Added to the Sick List

David Gonczar

Vigil Lights Special Intentions

~ Employment for son-in-law,

Family Blessings

~ My husband & self - God’s

Blessings, good health protection

~ My daughter S.B. - God’s

Blessings w/good health, longevity

in life & good fortune

~ Friend w/cancer - family

member marital problems

~ Michigan and Utah (2 intentions)

~ Family prayers and special

blessings

Eternal rest grant unto

them, O Lord, and let

perpetual light shine upon

them. May the souls of all

the faithful departed, through the

mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

For Those Who Have

Died....

Daniel Mullen

Richard Polakowski

Joan Wierzbicki

Life has changed, not

ended......

A Family Perspective… The question put to

Jesus in today’s gospel

is also put to us today:

“Are you the one?” Are

you the one who will give guidance

to the children in your life or must

they have look to TV sitcoms, films,

videos and music lyrics for

direction? Are you the one? Will

you be the one? ~ Bud Ozar

Pauline Accica

Myrna Battani

Florence Bauer

Gary Bianchi

Richard Buria

Camille Camron

Adam Cole

Connie Davis

Nancy Degnan

Jerry Farwell

Christine

Gamrat

Thomas Gamrat

John B. Giacoletti

David Gonczar

Jacob Gordon

Martha Gutowski

Henry Hainer

Amelia Hale

Jerry Halker

Karen

Halker-Krause

Ann Hansen

Ethan Kammer

Denise Kappa

John F. Kern

Glen Knoblock

Sharon Lark

Dorothy LePage

Nancy Lukowski

Domenico Maletti

Marisa

Bob Mickelson

Ashleigh

Motoligin

Ellen Myers

Cody Nichols

Rocky O’Berry

Theresa

O’Connor

Paul Paquette

Andre Platevoet

Judy Polakowski

Jim Raska

David Reed

Sandra Richie

Glenda Roberts

Claudio Selva

Shannon Shaieb

Dennis Sobczak

Patricia Stacer

Laura Staller

Frances Turner

Terri Turner

Frank Urban

Dana Winn

Bubba Dan Wirick

Christine Yonkas

And those who

care for them...

Praying the Rosary... On the

3rd Saturday and Sunday of every

month in the Chapel starting at

4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30

a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Save the Date:

February 7 - 6:00 p.m.

Ladies Movie Night

St. Clement Book Club

Our next book club

meeting will be on Tues-

day, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. in

Religious Education Room 3. The

book we are reading is Searching

For and Maintaining Peace by

Fr. Jacques Phillppe. We live in a

day and age characterized by an

extraordinary amount of agitation

and lack of peace. This tendency

manifests itself in our spiritual as

well as our secular live. In our

search for God and holiness, in our

service to our neighbor, a kind of

restlessness and anxiety take the

place of the confidence and peace

which ought to be ours. Since

peace of heart is a pure gift of God,

it is something we should seek,

pursue and ask him for without

cease. This book is here to help us

in that pursuit. If interested in

joining please call Debbie Knoblock

at 752-6592.

Page 4 St. Clement Church, Romeo

A LOVE ONLY HE CAN GIVE By Deacon Kurt Godfryd

Throughout the 19th and part of the 20th centuries, before the invention of

corrugated fiberboard boxes, manufacturers built sturdy wooden crates to ship their

products to retailers. During the decades leading up to World War I, such boxes

(absent the product, of course) could often be found on street corners where they

became portable platforms for those seeking to be seen and heard. Almost always, the

soap-boxers who preached from them sought to convey a certain political or religious

message.

Today, imagine if one of us set up such a box in Romeo and began to preach from it.

One of three things would surely happen: (1) A majority would turn their heads and

pass us by; (2) Some might call the police and report us as a nuisance; or (3) Others might even taunt us and shout

out: "Hey, who do you think you are, some kind of prophet?"

During the Sundays of Advent, prophets pave the way. The YouCat (#116) tells us that: “…in the Old covenant,

God sought out such men and women to console, lead, and, at times, admonish His people.” In a sense, they were

like divine Paul Reveres, alerting everyone to God’s plan and begging them to listen. As such, we should come

away with an understanding that the prophets were not just mouthpieces; rather, they were blessings that God

placed in the midst of His people. Furthermore, they were blessings because before they spoke, they first listened

to God! Throughout salvation history, all the prophets have echoed Isaiah's sentiments that God’s people had

strayed. And yet, through their listening, they wanted us to know something else as well. That although we stray,

we remain part of God’s family. He loves us. As the Prophet Isaiah notes: “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are

the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Indeed, listening to the Lord can have powerful consequences. It can turn us in a different direction. It can move

us from hopelessness to hope. It can unfold for us an entirely different way of looking at things. Ultimately,

however, we can only see the Lord’s action in our lives if we are tuned in to His frequency of love that He pours

down upon us 24/7. Sometimes, it is the case that He makes Himself known in the simplest of ways: through the

smile of another, through a phone call, through a song, through a movie that another has urged us to see, or

through a short article sent to us by a friend.

A few years ago, there was a story from the Diocese of Lansing that caught my eye. It was about how a now

permanent deacon, while in formation for the permanent diaconate, found out that he and his wife would enlarge

an already large family of seven children with the gift of a special-needs child. When he was told, he recounted

how he worried about the future. Who would care for her after he and his wife were gone? Shortly after she was

born, he remembers placing his hand over her and pleading with God to heal her. At that very moment, however,

he recalled feeling an oppressive spiritual attack from the devil. A few weeks later, while sitting quietly in prayer,

he felt as though he had been struck by lightning when a real strong power flowed through his heart. The Lord

said to him: “I promise you that you will see my glory in your daughter’s life. And the second thing is this, I’m not

going to heal her because she is not the person who is handicapped. The person who is handicapped is you because

you’re judging her.” Today, he notes: “When she looks at me, I feel like God is looking at me through her.”

In the Gospel of Mark (13:33-37), Jesus tells His disciples (and us): “Take heed, watch, and pray…” In doing so,

He reminds us of the certainty of the end times and final judgment. His words are action oriented and provide us

with powerful images on our journey through Advent to the Christ child in Bethlehem. His words tell us that we

should focus intently upon Advent’s promise of Jesus’ coming, arrival, and presence. Yes, Advent is a special

time—and it is upon us once again. It is about Jesus’ coming, arrival, and presence. As one author put it: It is

anchored in the Incarnation (the past) and the Return of Christ (the future). But more than that, it is an ongoing

movement and event. In a most powerful way, yet sadly unnoticed to many, our Lord, working through the Holy

Spirit, makes himself known to us in the Eucharist. In giving himself to us, He feeds us with His divine life! Each

day, we become more like Him! We are changed!

Through this Advent season (and each day), Jesus tells us to open our ears and eyes and hearts to Him! When

we do so, we grow in untold ways. Others even look at us and say: "Is that really you? You are different and

changed." And on Christmas morning, God assures us that through our faithfulness, not only will we have found

Jesus, but we will have come to know Him in a special way. We will have found Him not atop some soapbox or

within some Christmas gift; but rather, through a most magnificent love that pierces our hearts. A love that only

He can give!

Page 5 St. Clement Church, Romeo

WEEKLY EVENTS FOR December 16 - 22

Monday, December 16

Distribution of AGAPE

Sharing Tree Gifts

7:00 p.m. - Our Lady of the

Rosary Prayer Group - church

Tuesday, December 17

9:00 a.m. - Communion Service

9:30 a.m. - Rosary

10:00 a.m. - Adoration

Wednesday, December 18

9:00 a.m. -MASS - Int. St.

Clement Parishioners

9:30 a.m. - Rosary

3:00 p.m. - Divine Mercy - church

7:00 p.m. - RCIA Class

Thursday, December 19

9:00 a.m. - MASS - Int. St.

Clement Parishioners

Friday, December 20

9:00 a.m. - MASS - Int. St.

Clement Parishioners

Saturday, December 21

3:30 p.m. - Confessions

5:00 p.m. - MASS - Int. Our dear

friend Ted Czajka req by Cyril

& Mary Rapezzi

Int. Daniel Mullen req by Diane

Pasqual & Mickey Velliky

Sunday, December 22

Fourth Sunday of Advent

No Coffee & Donuts

7:00 a.m. - MASS - Int. Guido &

Lino Angeli req by family

9:00 a.m. - MASS - Int. Emma

Malecke req by Tom & Susan

Cencer

Int. Michael McManus req by

his wife and family

11:00 a.m. - Int. Matt Geric req

by Tom & Arlene

Int. Dad - Merry Christmas req

by Amanda & Erik

12:00 noon - Play practice -

church

7:00 p.m. Spanish Mass - Int. St.

Clement Parishioners

St. Clement of Rome 343 S. Main Street

Romeo, Michigan 48065 Phone: 586-752-9611

Fax 586-752-1601 Website: www.stclementromeo.org

PASTOR Rev. Stephen C. Reckker

Weekend Assistant Fr. Jim Andres, OFM CAP

Fr. Jerry Slowinski Fr. Art Baranowski

Fr. Biju Fr. Binoy

Deacon Rev. Mr. Kurt J. Godfryd

Mass in Spanish

Fr. Binoy Augustine

Vicariate Hispanic Pastoral Minister

(North Macomb Vicariate) Sr. Valerie Knoche, I.H.M. 810-656-3282

Adult Education Coordinator

Mr. Russ Morgan 752-6984

Building Manager

Mr. Peter Bernadich 752-9611

Minister of Music

Mr. Bert Lord 752-9611

Religious Education Director

Mrs. Debbie Knoblock 752-6591

Middle School Youth Group 752-9611

Gabriel Project

Carol 752-9611

Agape Center 336-6842

Pregnancy, Counseling and Adoption

Catholic Family Services 416-2300

Knights of Columbus

Joe Suminski 586-337-5776

Weekend Masses

Saturday - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday - 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Spanish - 7:00 p.m.

Holyday and Weekday Masses

As announced

Reconciliation (Confession)

Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Baptism: Prior arrangements must be made.

Call the parish office.

Marriage: Arrangements must be made at

least six months in advance of the marriage

date.

Care of the Sick: Call the parish office at

any time to make arrangements for

Anointing, Communion calls or Visitations.

Funeral Luncheon Ministry: Please call

the parish office.

Registrations: New parishioners should

register at the parish office. Those moving

should notify the parish office.

Parish Council

Administration Commission

Charles Anglewicz... . . . . . . . . . . . ...752-9435

Christian Service Commission

Denise Kehren. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 752-9611

Social Commission

Dorothy Kida ……………………….752-9611

Rev. 9-19-19

Padgett Business Service

www.padgettsh.com

Support the IHM Sisters Raffle

Order an IHM Sisters Raffle

ticket today. Cash prizes ranging

from $50 to $250. With 144

chances to win, more than $10,000

is awarded through the raffle.

Monthly drawings from now

through June 2020. All proceeds

support the IHM Retirement Fund.

Tickets can be purchased from your

favorite IHM Sister by contacting

Sister Val (810)656-3282 or parish

office.

Memorial Flowers For Christmas

Would you like to have

a poinsettia plant placed in the

church for the Christmas season

in memory of a loved one or in

honor of someone dear to you?

The poinsettia plants are

available for $25.00. You may

bring your donation to the parish

office weekdays, or put it in the

collection basket marked with the

name of your loved one. The

deadline is December 16th. All

names will be printed in the

parish paper in the Christmas

issue. This is a beautiful way to

remember family, friends, and

deceased loved ones at Christmas.

In Honor _____ In Memory _____

Name __________________________

From __________________________

Page 6 St. Clement Church, Romeo

Liturgical Appointments for December 28/29

Sat.

5:00 p.m.

Sun.

7:00 a.m.

Sun.

9:00 a.m.

Sun.

11:00 a.m.

Lector/

Comm.

Jean Obrecht Steve Pytleski Fred Kowalke Kathy Ortiz

Altar

Servers

Joe & Katie

Pollzzie

Cameron & Nate

Joseph

Gwen, Gabby & Abram

Pogodzinski

Choir Adult Choir

Liturgical Appointment for December 21/22

Sat.

5:00 p.m.

Sun.

7:00 a.m.

Sun.

9:00 a.m.

Sun.

11:00 a.m.

Lector/

Comm.

Maureen

Burns Steve Pytleski Michael

McKinnon

Ed Risch

Altar

Servers

Joe & Anthony

Lomakoski

Andrea & Natalie

Frederick

Joey, John & Anthony

Greenlee

Choir Adult Choir

Readings for the

Week of

December 16, 2019

Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a/Ps

25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 [4]/Mt

21:23-27

Tuesday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2,

3-4ab, 7-8, 17 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:1-17

Wednesday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2,

12-13, 18-19 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25

Thursday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps

71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8]/Lk 1:5-

25

Friday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-

4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:26-38

Saturday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-

18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 [1a;

3a]/Lk 1:39-45

Sunday, December 22: Is 7:10-

14/ Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 [7c, 10b]/

Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-2

Need a Gift Idea? St. Clement

Brick Pavers make a

wonderful family gift.

Order forms are

available in the

Parish Office. Bricks

can be purchased for $150 each.

Communion for the Homebound

If you have a family member or a neighbor who is homebound and

would like to receive Communion, please contact the Parish Office

at 752-9611.

Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass

said in honor or memory of

someone you can request at the

parish office, 752-9611. Masses

are offered Wednesday through

Sunday. Intentions can be

scheduled up to 1 year in advance.

Information needed is the person

the Mass intention is for, who is

requesting it (including their

phone number to verify dates) and

the Mass date/time requested.

Requests and donations can be

dropped off in the parish office or

placed in the Sunday Offertory.

Mass intention cards can also be

picked up from the parish office.

Names will be printed in the

bulletin the Sunday prior to the

Mass.

MCREST Tags on the Sharing Tree

This weekend MCREST tags go up on the Sharing Tree. The

items purchased help provide some basics to help get us

through the week. We are requesting items such as coffee,

individual lunch snacks, juice boxes, granola/breakfast bars and other

similar items. All returned items should be placed under the tree.

Our transportation team does a lot of driving during the week and we are

asking for gas cards to help defray these costs. We could also use Meijer

gift cards since we often purchase clothing and other items that may be

needed by the guests. Checks should be made payable to St. Clement

MCREST. Please return gift cards, cash or checks to the church office.

And please consider helping during the MCREST week (January 19 - 26,

2020). Available positions can be found by going to the St. Clement website

Home page and clicking on the MCREST 2020 Box.

You will be taken to a listing of all the volunteer opportunities available,

listed by day and time with a brief description of the position. Then click

the Sign Up box for the position you want and then click the blue Submit

and Sign Up box found at the bottom of the page. After that, enter your

information and then click the Sign Up Now box.

If you want to help but can’t commit to a schedule we really need your

help on Sunday (January 19) the day guests arrive beginning at 10:00 a.m.

for set up. We can also use your help on the Sunday guests leave (January

26) beginning at 7:00 a.m. to noon. You can sign up for these spots on the

online sign up pages.

If you have any questions please call Jeanne Lerchen at 586-219-1150.

Again, thank you for all your help.