Serving with CFM at Saint Clement

CFM groups often work together in service, reaching out to serve the needy. Here are a few examples.

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

A CFM group rings the bell at a Salvation Army kettle in the Loop for a day during the Christmas season. See www.salvationarmyusa.org. Saint Clement CFM contact: Nicole & Steve Vander Voort, 312-266-8133.

The Chicago Night Ministry

A CFM group makes soup and travels with a van from the Night Ministry, feeding and counseling homeless youth. See www.thenightministry.org or call 773-935-8300.

Inspiration Café

A CFM group helps serve a meal to homeless people at this restaurant and counseling center in Uptown. See www.inspirationcafe.org. Saint Clement CFM contact: Steve & Nicole Vander Voort, 312-266-8133

H.O.M.E.

A CFM group takes a weekend day to clean and paint apartments for the elderly poor in housing provided by this organization.
Saint Clement CFM contact: Alan Wesolowski & Kathleen Nolan, 773-404-2382.

Misericordia Heart of Mercy

Several CFM groups raise money for Misericordia by sponsoring a streetcorner during Candy Days. Misericordia cares for developmentally handicapped children and adults. See www.misericordia.com. Saint Clement CFM contact: John & Jule Ward, 773-871-0488.

Adopt a Family at Christmas

A CFM group "adopts" a needy family during the Christmas season by providing food, gifts for children, and so on. Two organizations that facilitate this are Catholic Charities and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago. Web Site: www.catholiccharities.org, www.bgca.org. Saint Clement CFM contact: Nicole & Steve Vander Voort, 312-266-8133.

Ronald McDonald House

CFM groups take Christ's command to love our neighbor literally: the Ronald McDonald House is two doors down from Saint Clement. See www.rmhc.com. Saint Clement CFM contact: Brendan & Carol Deely, 773-348-5214.

Chicago Food Depository

A CFM group spends an evening packing boxes of food to be distributed to needy families throughout the Chicagoland area. See www.chicagosfoodbank.org.

Lincoln Park Community Shelter

A CFM group cooks meals and serves guests at one of the Lincoln Park churches affiliated with the Shelter. See www.lpcsonline.org or call 773-549-6111.

CFM Proclamation

The Gospel (Luke 4:18) calls us "to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free." As members of CFM, we pledge:

To observe the world around us with compassion,
To judge what we see in the light of the Gospel,
To act out of love and in justice,
To pray regularly for greater justice and peace,
To learn more about the social teaching of the Church and its call to protect human life, to stand with the poor, and to care for creation,
To reach across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and disabling conditions,
To live justly in family, school, work, the marketplace, and the political arena,
To serve those who are poor and vulnerable, sharing more time and talent,
To give more generously to those in need at home and abroad,
To be an advocate for public policies that protect the family, promote human dignity, and preserve God's creation,
To stand against violence, and to form in our homes a circle of peace,
And to encourage others in our family, neighborhood, city, and nation to work for greater charity, justice, and peace.