1 /5 Marianna B: I graduated from St. Clares as well as my entire family. We all made all our sacraments here. Unfortunately over the years, the mission and heart of this Parish diminished in a very negative and disturbing way. We have all since moved out of the bronx but still visit the Church on a weekly basis and donate cash in the baskets at Mass. I am Baptizing a newborn and was told that because I do not have a envelope number I would not be able to be provided a Sponsor Letter. I was told that even mailing 50 cents a week would constitute me as a practicing Catholic. I signed up on line for weekly donations so my name would be attached to the money so the Church could prove my donations. The secretaries are rude and had the audacity to get loud on the phone and hung up on me multiple times. Shouldnt they be a little nicer and respectful to the general public?? The hostility from these people has me baffled. My 3yr old son can recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and 10 Commandments word for word. That makes me a practicing Catholic. Sharing my faith and teaching the Good Word to my child. Sending money doesnt make me or anyone else a practicing Catholic. Where in the Bible does it say we need to give money to be loved and saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Yelling and hanging up the phone on people should not be tolerated by anyone especially personnel from the Church. Money doesnt define a Catholic. Your faith, your words, your actions, and how you live out your faith everyday does. Anne, my God knows I practice my Faith everyday and have past it along to my husband and son. May God forgive you for defining someones faith with a dollar sign and may he have mercy on your soul.