St. Clement Parish Cincinnati, Ohio

UP COMING EVENTS

St. Clement Festival, Vine Street Park, September 10, 11, and 12, 2021 - click on this Facebook link for details.

St. Clement School Families Opening Mass and School Open House, August 29th, 2021 at 9:30am 

From Fr. E.J. - - 

           Almost everyone in St. Clement parish or at the school will know Fr. Fred Link, OFM, although some of us have come to St. Clement since last November 30. That is the date when the pastorate of St. Clement passed from Fr. Fred to me. At that time Fr. Fred began a sabbatical. A sabbatical is that period of months or even a whole year when a person can step back from their work or ministry to focus on personal enrichment, spiritual growth, and/or professional development. The reason why Fr. Fred is smiling in the picture to the left is because he is returning to St. Clement beginning August 2.

           Fr. Fred has been talking to our Franciscan Provincial Minister and to me about returning to some level of ministry. He would like to do that here at St. Clement. The Provincial Minister and I have agreed. Because of friary renovations, Fr. Fred will not move back to St. Clement to live right away but he will begin some ministry here. He won’t be the pastor, but he will be considered part of the parish staff. He and I might be alternating weekend Masses; he will probably preside at one of the weekday Masses. I know for sure he wants to celebrate at one of the Spanish-speaking Masses each month. What else he may be interested in we’ll figure out as we go. Any compensation will come from the Franciscan Province rather from than the parish. We are thankful to the Franciscan Province for their generosity. Welcome back, Fr. Fred!

            Right now, in the middle of summer, the outside of our St. Clement School looks as calm and peaceful as its picture to the left. On the inside however, there’s lots of action in preparation for the new school year beginning on September 1st. Our new principal, Mrs. Brainard, is working hard on hiring the eleven faculty and staff members we need to replace those who have moved on to other opportunities. I believe all the new air conditioners throughout the school are installed and in working order. In large measure, we can thank government Covid funding, Gerke Electric, and the installing work of our maintenance staff for enabling this to happen. On those hot, humid school days, teachers, school staff and students will think they are in heaven! Several items have been cleaned, repaired, and painted. The northwest front corner door will have a new ramp. A classroom ceiling on the first floor has been repaired. The school should be looking in tip-top shape on the first day of school.

          Meanwhile the St. Bernard German Luau is coming up this weekend of August 6-8. We are very grateful to the Village of St. Bernard for their annual support of our parish festival each year and will extend our thanks to the Village by manning one of the booths this year at the Luau. Come join the fun. You might also want to pray for me: the mayor has invited me to tap the firstkeg at the start on Friday evening. I have never done such a thing. I hope I do it right.