Our Mission:
Believing that we cannot proclaim a gospel we do not live, we dedicate our activities to promoting the welfare of those in need of comfort, shelter and food and, through education and action, to working for justice and peace.


CIA Prayer:
Dear Lord, you are the light that brings us together. We thank you for the gifts that you have given each of us to do your work. Help us to remember our blessings and to recognize the needs of your people. Grant that our minds and hearts are open to your will and give us the wisdom to know how we can serve you. In the spirit of St. Clare, may we respond with charity and love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.


Meetings:

CIA members (below) invite you to join us as we meet the second Tuesday of each month, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Contact Gordon at 832-580-8006 for information.

General Information:
CIA is accepting calls for emergency outreach assistance and is working with Interfaith Caring Ministries to assist those in need. If you know of anyone in local zip codes 77058, 77059, 77062, 77546, 77565, 77573, 77586, and 77598 who needs short-term, critical help with rent or utilities, please have them call 713-530-7452, from Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will answer calls and offer help as available.

CIA members and other parishioners continue to feed the local homeless in partnership with local charity The Mercy Tree. Though we can no longer serve lunches, church volunteers are able to bring prepared food to TMT workers, who then box lunches for recipients. For information on St. Clare’s participation, contact Nancy at 281-286-4548.


Projects/Events,: April-June
During May, the month of Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day, parishioners may opt to participate in the Hospitalized Veterans Project, to collect useful items for our military men and women who receive treatment at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.  Lists of suggested donations are posted on the CIA Bulletin Board in the hallway leading to the Conference Center. Among items sought are sizes M-XL elastic waist shorts for men and women, puzzle books, paperback books and magazines, small fleece blankets, and items that have a Branch of Service logo or name (hats, shirts, blankets, etc.) Donations should be left in the marked bins next to the Food Pantry Box, anytime during May. For more information, contact Karen at 281-685-6881.  


Recent Efforts:
You gave a record number of donations—252!—for the annual Lenten Box Project, which helps clients of Casa Juan Diego, a local Catholic shelter. The toiletries, underwear, socks and other items you gave will be put to good use by grateful women, men and children.  Thank you.

The spring Prison Card Collection brought in donations of nearly 1,600 greeting cards, mostly Easter and Mother’s Day cards for the free use of those imprisoned at the Carol S. Young Prison in Texas City.  Thank you for your generosity.

CIA hosted a Desserts for Donations fund drive during Lenten Fish Fry dinners that raised more than $2,100 for our Emergency Outreach Assistance Fund.  Thanks to all who baked and bought, CIA will be able to offer critical, short-term rent and utilities assistance to more local people in need.  Thanks also to our Knights of Columbus Council 9708, for encouraging  CIA in this fund raiser.


Thank You So Much:
St Clare’s Christians In Action members gratefully thank all parishioners for your support of our outreach efforts last year. After an extended period of reduced activities due to the pandemic, CIA restarted to a near-normal level of  activity in August 2021. Your caring and generous response to these activities ensured that St. Clare parishioners assisted some of the most needy in our community. Below are some of the ways you helped others during 2021.

• Provided lunch for homeless clients of The Mercy Tree six times during the year
• Gave emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities to nearly 170 clients, for a total of almost $75,000
• Donated 3,500 pounds of food to the local hungry served by Galveston County Food Bank, in the Thanksgiving Food Drive
• Shared Christmas blessings and gifts with numerous clients of Houston shelter Casa Juan Diego and many at-risk CCISD students, in the Spirit of Christmas Project
• Offered nearly 2,000 free greeting cards for the use of inmates at the nearby Carol S. Young Prison
• Provided weekly food donations to the Clear Lake Food Pantry, and recycled used eyeglasses and postage stamps, to assist non-profit groups.

 

Ongoing Support:
Because parishioner contributions to CIA’s monthly envelope pay for nearly all of CIA’s financial outreach assistance to the needy, we humbly request your continued support. To donate, please use your monthly envelope entitled CIA Aid to the Poor and Needy. It is collected the fourth weekend of each month. If you don’t have an envelope, just note “for CIA” at lower left on your check. Thank you for making a difference to those in need.

Link your Kroger Plus Card to KM540 and St. Clare’s Christians In Action will earn money to help clients who need emergency outreach assistance. You need to link your card only once, either at a store customer desk or at www.Kroger.com.


Prayer During Coronavirus Pandemic:
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary, we, your children of every nation, turn to you in this pandemic. Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great. Grant that we might deposit them at your feet, take refuge in your Immaculate Heart, and obtain peace, healing, rescue, and timely help in all our needs. You are our Mother. Pray for us to your Son. Amen.


If you have questions, please call Gale at 713-254-0305.