Blessings abound at St. Clare Church in Santa Clarita --- a large, beautiful church and grounds, a very active parish community of 5,600 families, the presence of their recently retired founding pastor, Msgr. Edmond Renehan, and a new administrator, Father Olin Mayfield, who grew up in neighboring Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Most of all St. Clare parishioners are blessed to have one another.

"There is a wonderful spirit of ownership within this parish," says Father Mayfield. "The people, when they see a need, rush to do whatever needs to be done. There is a wonderful mix of people and families who have been here from day one and others who have lived in the area only for a short time. I have been inspired and amazed with the members of this parish. I am proud to say that I came from the parish community across town and I am blessed to be the servant leader of this community."

Among many active parish community members are Nancy and Juan Arriaga. She teaches religious education in Spanish with Dominican Sister Cristina Soto; he is coordinator of the Guadalupanas. Says Nancy, "When I was young, we knew about God and our religion, but didn't really live it. I needed to live it. You hit a point when you actually accept God in your life and say, 'What can I do to serve like he wants us to serve?' That's why I do it."

Juan is inspired by the late Francisco Maldonado who founded the Guadalupanas. "He was so spiritually alive," says Juan. "I learned a lot from him. And it's something I like to do for the people. It feels like I just started yesterday and it is not going to finish."

John Murray, a confirmation teacher and youth minister with his wife Kathy and Nancy and Tom Fishwick, says, "I decided at a young age to make the church a big part of my life. I had been really blessed and I wanted to give back. I feel the peace that is there. I knew I just wanted to make God in my life and the church a part of it."

John calls Msgr. Renehan, now pastor emeritus, "a foundation in my life. He had that vision to know that the youth needed these programs. He has been such a leader."

So has Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception Father Bill Ustaski, longtime associate pastor, who baptized Kathy and married the couple in 1981. "All the priests and associates have made a major impact on my life," says John. "We are very blessed to have Father Olin."

Aurora Montejano --- who, like so many, attended church at Canyon High School when the parish was still part of Our Lady of Perpetual Help --- assists with children's initiation and teaches bilingual classes. Every Wednesday night and Saturday she goes to Camp Scudder for detention ministry and liturgy. About 60 special needs girls attend liturgies and programs.

Aurora has 12 volunteers helping her, but says, "The Lord is in charge. I am just helping. It is beautiful to see the changes that can happen in their lives because we are there. I love to serve the Lord and it is such a joy to serve my family, my community. If I could give more time, I would do it."

Peggy Pigors, St. Clare's DRE since its founding, also trains teachers and children for Safeguard the Children, teaches adult education for sacramental preparation and oversees children's initiation. "I love God, I love the Catholic faith, and I love teaching," she says.

As the first woman lector in the parish, she has seen the parish grow and become what it is today. "I like to see the Aha! moment come alive to adults and children-when they put the pieces of the Jesus Story together and connect it to their life experience story. Then it becomes part of who they are and then they never forget it."