St. Clare

From the Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

The seeds of our parish go back to January 1973, when the first Mass in Canyon Country was celebrated in a multipurpose room at Canyon High School. Almost immediately, the growing community moved to the gymnasium and then into our original church, which is now the Father Henry J. Banks Community Center.

Over the years, we have been blessed with the ability to purchase additional property and to build classrooms, meeting spaces, and our permanent church. Whenever a need presents itself, we proudly respond. In the last few years alone, we replaced the church roof and made extensive repairs to the parking lot.

 St. Clare also has a proud history of working within the local community. Our annual Lenten fish fry builds fellowship while raising money to benefit our area’s most vulnerable. Each year, we support groups like A Bridge to Home, Family Promise, the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, and the SCV Pregnancy Center, as well as offer direct assistance to those who find themselves in need.

Archbishop Gomez has now asked our parish to participate in Called to Renew. This capital and ministry campaign will provide much-needed funding for parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, including ours, as well as strengthen ministries and programs in the region.

Each parish has been given a goal for the campaign. Our goal is $975,000, of which 50 percent will remain within the parish. The funds raised for the Archdiocese will help other parishes, provide services to the most vulnerable in society, help fund religious education and faith formation programs, and support vocations to the priesthood. The funds remaining in our parish will benefit religious education and facility needs you can read about on the following page.

This is a unique opportunity for us to help provide for our needs and the needs of others. I invite you to prayerfully consider making a five-year pledge, which will allow us the best opportunity to make our goal. Please help make this a successful campaign for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and St. Clare.

May God bless you now and always.

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Olin Mayfield