Remember Compassionate Conservatism? It was the promise of a conservative approach to caring for the poor and needy in our society. It was meant to help people help themselves.

Sadly, I have heard very little of this philosophy since the election. Nothing has been done to help the increasing numbers of people without health insurance. Budget cutters are looking for ways to trim the Medicaid and Medicare expenditures. The welfare reforms of a few years ago are up for renewal and even more restrictive requirements for work have been proposed for the unemployed during a time of a weakened economy.

I am sorely disappointed to see that our government has become increasingly conservative and lacking in compassion in so many ways.

Either those most in need have become the victims of terrorism, too, or those who believed the promise of compassionate conservatism are victims of the old "bait & switch" scam.

VACATION I will be back next weekend. But by the time you read this, I will be back in Rome to spend a few days with Fr. McDougal before he starts his sabbatical program there. Jim spent four years in Rome as a student, and has often regaled me with stories of his days there. So I suspect I will see a few of those places which are not part of the usual tourist package, enjoy a few good meals and walk enough to be able to enjoy the long plane ride back!

Fr. Dave Howell

Today’s passage concludes a long section in which Paul has been addressing disputes between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians about what foods are kosher. Paul now makes a general observation that while we may be free to do this or that, we should avoid those things that disrupt harmony and peace.

What a fascinating story Mark tells! A leper comes to Jesus from out of the deserted places where lepers were consigned to remain. As a result of his cure, the former leper is free to return to the community, but Jesus is now forced to dwell apart, his celebrity making him restricted from entering public places.

Like St. Paul in the second reading, the good steward can say, "I do all that I do for the sake of the Gospel in the hope of having a share in its blessings."

The Finance Council

For all "adult" Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ministers of Hospitality and Music Ministers.

Yours is a share… Come, let us pray.

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Tim Vedder, Claudette Wilkinson, Joseph Schwab, Ann Proffitt, Alyssa Roney, Margaret Renaud, Tony Miskolci, Mary Thomas, Al, Ed Myszkier, Dorothy Duffy, Tammie Kramer, Kay Barrett, Don Schommer, Emily Anderson, Karen Spindler, Tom Waldeck, Tim Vedder, Joan Monforton, Wilber Emery, William Modic, Kelly Ferencz, Steven Zacharias Josephine, Joan Hutchinson, Patricia Brown, Corrine Reineke, Jamie Leugers, Margo Twork, Mark Ruf, Beth Hersog, Joe Lopez, Jonathon Forbes, Marie Touchette, Wilma Scott, Joseph Hinkle, Raymond Clark, Carole Jones, Barbara Daniels, Eric Truhn, Pam Davis, Judy Woughter, Stella Paweski, Marcella, Andrew Doyle, Emilee Ritter, John Matta, Ray Willis, Joanne Corey, Virginia Johnson, Bob Stecewicz, Mary Galleher, Megan Grech, Jerry Neaton, George Rutton, Robert, Pat Cote, Tom Clark, Bridget, Alec Schalhamer, Eileen, Scott Delplace, Laura, Judy LaGrow, Becky Wilson, Bradley Stevens, Alexandria Nelson, Debbie, Ginther, Ralph Bennett, Evelyn, Bill, Craig Livingston, Colette Bertrand, Laura Drittler, Sophie Martin, June Bennett, Ethan Montague, Matt Even, Jimmy Sexton, Mary Lou Colgin, Mary Beth, Bishop Povish, and Donovan.

This weekend our 3^rd grade Religious Formation classes are having a bake sale raising money for Catholic Relief Services to assist people in Africa in obtaining food and clean water. Please help our youth raise money to aid those who are in desperate need!

Our Formation Ministry Team meets tomorrow-Monday, February 10, 7:30 in Room 3. All are welcome to attend!

Check your calendar: There will be no classes for Religious Ed/Formation Feb. 16-22 due to the mid-winter break. Classes will resume on Sunday, Feb. 23 for the Kindergarten and the 9^th grade classes. There will be classes on Feb. 26-27.

Have you ever had so many to thank that you didn’t know where to start? Well, I find myself in that situation! Margaret Callaghan and I worked together on a retreat on Monday that was lots of fun, and I’d like to thank her for all her help! Next, I would like to thank our Knights of Columbus for all the help they give the Religious Formation program! Last weekend we had 86 catechists and aides from around the Diocese come here for a day of Formation for their certification as catechists. This day went from 8:00 am-4:00 pm. The Knights and Leo (our wonderful custodian) came in Friday evening on their own time to set up all the walls and classrooms for us. Another big thank you goes to Sandi Phillips for filling in for me last Wednesday at the catechist’s evening of reflection so that I could attend the wake for our friend and coach, Tom Danna. Sandi also came for the day on Saturday to sign in catechists, serve lunch, clean up and be wherever help was needed! And then there was Sr. Maryetta! She not only led the two evenings of reflection for the catechists (besides another one on Monday), she also helped me with set up and came on Sat. as well to greet and help out with the day of training! All these people do so much around here all the time that I need you to help me thank them for their shining examples of Christ’s service to others. We are truly a blessed community! THANK YOU!

If you are interested in participating in our summer week long service program with the National Relief Network (NRN), there will be an information meeting on Thursday Feb. 20 at 7:30pm. We are scheduled to work the week of July 20-26.

Next week is our annual ski trip up north. Keep us in your prayers for safe travel and skiing. We always have a good time and this year should be no different. There will be no meeting February 16.

Can one person make a difference? I believe so. While at the national youth conference four years ago, I was completely awe struck at the thousands of people who had come together for the love of Jesus, one man! He touched the lives of so many in his day and still continues to touch lives today. If all we do is pick someone up who has fallen, we have a made a difference for someone. I received an e-mail from a friend with a great quote, "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might just be the world". If someone has been there for you, make a point to thank them and God for having blessed you with someone special.

We are scheduled to help at the Livingston County Food Bank February 25, from 4-5pm. A sign up sheet is in the gathering area.

Today, we cry out for a sense of connectedness, for meaningful relationships, for community. How wonderful it would be to have teens, young adults, married and single people and parents, both old and young, gather together into small groups to share their struggles with the single life, parenting or marriage, to talk about their desires for "the holy" and their hopes for the world. RENEW gives us all this opportunity. SIGN UP HAS BEGUN! Visit the Renew table after all Masses (this weekend and next), to speak with a Core Team Member, and to register.

There’s magic in the air. Come join in the

pre-Lenten celebration, on Sat. March 1st

from 7 — 10pm, It will be an evening filled with food, music, dance, and surprises. So whip up your most delectable dessert and bring it to the party for all to share. Beverages, pizza and snacks will be provided. Costumes are optional. Family fun is guaranteed! Sign up sheets are in the gathering area. Sponsored by Community Life. If you have any questions, call Mike Christie (810) 229-7557.

Come and See: Sunday, Feb. 16, 5 pm. — 7p.m. A meal, evening prayer, and discussion for anyone interested in talking about the vowed religious life. Sister Maryetta and Sister Joyce will host the evening. It will be at Lexington Manor Apartment # 6, 850 E. Grand River Avenue, Brighton. Call Sr. Joyce if you plan to attend.

Please pray for generous men and women to say yes to the call from God to be ordained or to serve in vowed religious life.

We are pleased that those who came for the introductory session were ready and most have connected with a director. We will offer another introductory session for those who may feel a desire to consider sharing with a spiritual director during Lent. The time will be Sunday, Feb. 23, 10:15 am and end prior to the 11:00 am Mass. The meeting will be in the day chapel.

Have you signed up for a Renew faith-sharing group? Please do so soon so we can form the groups and let the facilitators know who will be in their group. You may sign up at the table in the gathering space today if you have not yet done so.

Please mark your calendars February 17, 7:00 pm. for an hour of prayer for the success of this season’s Renew. God works in many ways and we want to be open and ready. Those not in a Renew group during Lent are encouraged to come and use this time as their Renew participation.

Beacon Financial

Stroke (BrainAttack) Awareness — did you know that only 16% of Americans are able to name one sign/symptom of a brain attack (stroke)? Help us improve this statistic! Take note of the following warning signs of stroke: Sudden severe headache with no known cause; sudden numbness or weakness in the face or an extremity; especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Brain Attack, like a heart attack, is a medical emergency — Call 911. Receiving treatment within three hours greatly reduces the risk of permanent damage.

Stroke Screening with Blood Pressure Screening — February 22/23 after all three Masses. Come and learn your risk for brain attack and ways to lower your risk for the third leading cause of death in America.

CPR Training — Be Prepared to Save a Life! Sunday March 16^th from 1- 5 PM in the Rectory, Lower Level. Mr. Aaron Pressel, EMT and Certified CPR Instructor will facilitate this session. Sign up in the Gathering Space or call (810) 229-2045. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus & the Wellness Ministry Team.

You Are Invited to a "Men’s Health Seminar" - Monday, March 17^th at 7:45 PM presented by Dr. Mark Zawisa, a parishioner and family practice physician. Topics to be addressed include: cardiovascular health, testosterone deficiency, sexual dysfunction, prostate health and depression. Please come and join us for a very informative session. Sign up in the Gathering Space or just show up!

For more information call (810) 229-2045. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus & the Wellness Ministry Team.

"SHARING YOUR FAITH" Share and learn more about your faith. Give support and watch someone grow in their faith. If you like sharing your faith with others than maybe being a sponsor is part of your faith journey. For more information on becoming a sponsor, call Ann Fraser 517-545-9279 or for information on other areas of RCIA involvement contact Anne Williams, RCIA Coordinator 229-8624 or e-mail rcia1@ismi.net.

St. Patrick’s Church in Brighton - February 23rd through 26th from 7:30 to 9pm. The dynamic team of Rev. James McKarns and Mrs. Rose Marie Lombard from Isaiah Parish Missions will lead each night’s exciting, prayerful activities. There is no charge and childcare will be provided. (Transportation also will be arranged for all who need it.) Refreshments will be served following the mission each night. For more information, call (810) 229-9863 or email Mary Ann: passoc1@stpatchurch.org.

The first Victorious Missionaries Caregiver Retreat for 2003 will be Feb 22 at St. Casimir Parish, Lansing. Caregiver Retreats are for family and friends of persons with developmental disabilities, and take place from 2- 5pm ending with Mass at the hosting Parish. The theme for the retreat is Call — Listen: Speak Lord, your Servant is Listening. Retreat masters are Serapio Hernandez and David Martinez. Contact Joann Davis or Sr. Marlene Taylor, 517-342-2500 to register.

REFRESH WEEKEND for Single Young Adults (21-35) March 21, 22, 23 at St. Joseph Retreat House, 1000 Porter St., Jackson MI. Hear a dozen presentations from the hearts of your peers on their experience of God, family, friends, the opposite sex, and more. Meet new friends. Have some laughs. Cost is $90, for more information call Young Adult Ministry at (517) 342-2495.

St. Joseph in Howell will host the Couple to Couple League’s four-part Natural Planning Series beginning on Saturday, Mar 1st at 9am. To register call Brandon and Corrine Rogers at (517) 552-9302.

Divorce & Beyond Workshop for Separated & Divorced will be offered at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Wed Feb 12—April 2 from 7-9pm. Facilitated by Kathleen Boyd, David Green, and John Swantek. For more information call Virginia Mikola 734-994-9194.

An Auction-Dinner fundraising event hosted by St. Mary’s School will be held Saturday, Mar 1st. The monies raised will be applied to the school’s general fund as well as to the Rick Dible Memorial Scholarship. There will be a silent auction, live auction, a fabulous dinner and dancing. The Auction committee is seeking donations in support of this major event. If you are interested in attending or making a donation call 734-878-5616.

REGISTRATION will be in the spring. Join us at our open house on April 6, 2003! For more information, please call (734) 878-5616 or visit their website at faithscape.org and click on the link to St. Mary’s Catholic School.

Extended Care Insurance - Everything You Want To Know — Tom Fieten, K of C insurance agent will present on Sunday, February 23^rd at 2:00 PM in the Rectory, Lower Level (informational session only). Please join us to explore this fairly new avenue of health care insurance. Sign up in the gathering space or just show up! For more information please call (810) 220-8304. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

Couple’s Prayer Church of the Holy Spirit in Highland, invites you to attend a six-week series starting March 7. This program is designed for both engaged and married couples. Those who have experienced it feel that it has truly enhanced both their relationship with God and with each other. For more information, call (734) 414-1235. Please register before February 20.