JESSE TREE
What is Jesse Tree?
Jesse Tree is a ministry in conjunction with Advent that provides parishioners an opportunity to support 11 local organizations with clothing, toys, gift cards, and other needed items in the spirit of Christmas giving.
In 2023, Saint Clement parishioners generously contributed over 2,600 clothing items, games and books, and personal care items, and over $7,500 in financial donations!
For details on how our 2023 Jesse Tree worked, please see below.
Get involved in the 2024 Jesse Tree Ministry!
Jesse Tree season is about to begin! Each year Saint Clement parishioners generously donate necessities and gifts to more than 10 charities as part of the Jesse Tree ministry during the Advent season. Volunteers can sign up to help with tag making, decorating and restocking the trees, inventory, and gift delivery. Please contact Julia Keller at chrisandjoo@rcn.com if you would like to join in on the fun of Jesse Tree. Volunteer slot registration will begin November 2.
Mark Your Calendars - Jesse Tree 2024 begins Nov. 23!
We are starting our beloved Jesse Tree gift collection drive a week early this year due to the short span between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tags will be on the trees starting Saturday, November 23. If you’d like to get involved, contact Christa Kingsley to learn more.
Further details on our 2024 Jesse Tree coming soon!
2023 details
How will Jesse Tree work this year?
Jesse Tree is back in full swing for 2023! Please see important information below about gift selection and delivery.
Official kick-off: Sunday, November 26, 2023
Final gift return deadline: Friday, December 15, 2023
Selecting Your Gift
We will have physical paper tags representing items needed on trees in the church. Parishioners will be invited to take a tag to indicate what contribution(s) they would like to make.
Download a printable shopping list here.
Delivering Your Gift
There are two ways for parishioners to return their gifts to the parish:
Drop off gifts in the marked bins at the parish reception office before/after Mass or during office hours.
Mail (or direct deliver) gifts to:
Saint Clement Parish
Attn. Martina Ricca - Jesse Tree
642 W Deming Place
Chicago, IL 60614
The deadline for dropping off gifts is Friday, December 15th.
Partner Organizations
Jesse Tree 2023 will support the following organizations:
H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly)
House of the Good Shepherd & Madonna House (Ministries of Catholic Charities)
Immigration Ministry (A ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office for Human Dignity & Solidarity)
Saint Clement Migrant Ministry
The needs around Christmas are always great. We are so grateful for the generosity from our Saint Clement family to make the holidays joyful and hopeful for those we serve. Thank you also to our amazing volunteers who help make this special ministry possible!
THANK YOU!