Through these days of Lent, we are asked to scrutinize our lives to find and correct those hidden sinful attitudes that hinder us from being more faithful to Christ and His Gospel.

Sadly, many think of the Sacrament of Penance only in terms of "confession". The reason I say sadly is because this Sacrament is not about me — my sin — but it’s about the grace and mercy of God found in the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. In this Sacrament, we come seeking not only God’s forgiveness, but also the grace that will strengthen and heal us.

One of the great beauties of the Sacrament of Penance during this season of Lent is its effect. If I have truly sought to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel over these forty days, then the celebration of Penance marks the effectiveness of that effort. It also make the renewal of our Baptismal promises at Easter truly meaningful. For when this Sacrament first began, it was seen as a "second Baptism" — a way for penitents to be restored to the holiness of their Baptism.

Over the next weeks, there will be several communal Penance Services in our region:

For those who would like to celebrate the Sacrament individually, I am available in the Reconciliation Chapel from 11 am — 12 noon on the Saturdays of Lent. (Other times will be scheduled near Holy Week.)

I sincerely hope that it will be possible to make our Lenten penance complete by celebrating this Sacrament of God’s mercy.

SPECIAL PRAYERS I would like to remind everyone about the Wednesday evening 7 pm Liturgy. Until the war in Iraq is over, we will be especially praying for all those who are in harms way: our soldiers, sailors, marines and reporters and all the innocent civilians who are caught in the conflict. In particular, we will pray for those who are of special concern for our parishioners. Fr. Dave Howell

The prophet Ezekiel spoke to God’s people during their exile in Babylon, 580 years before Christ. In today’s passage, the prophet (using the image of death and resurrection) assures the people that God will one day bring them back to their homeland.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is his most detailed and important theological work. Throughout the letter, he teaches that Jesus overcame sin and the effects of sin. In today’s passage, Paul stresses that through the Spirit, this saving power of Jesus is present and active in Christians of all times and places.

John’s strange and wonderful story about the raising of Lazarus is filled with strong emotions, dramatic scenes, and profound teaching about the person of Jesus. The combination of narratives with discussion is explained by the fact that John has taken a preexisting account of Lazarus being brought back to life and has overlaid it with his own special style of teaching.

The blind man in today’s Gospel was willing to let Jesus minister to him and willingly did all Jesus asked of him. The Pharisees were more resistant to His message, spending their time and energy to disprove the miracle. Which am I more like, the man born blind, or the Pharisees?

The Finance Council

Please remember in your prayers Marilyn Jeromin and family in the death of her mother, Josephine Wilisvewski.

Our Confirmation Candidates and their parents (or sponsors) are reminded about the Lenten activity tonight at 5:30pm in the Church!

I would like to take this time to thank the youth from all of our Religious Formation classes who participated in the various roles of ministry during our RE Liturgies. The catechists were able to explain different parts of Liturgy to our youth as all of our grades 1-8 had a role in the planning process! Grade 1 were greeters and gave out songbooks before mass, Gr.2 were hospitality, they collected song books and cleaned up the church after Mass, Gr.3 wrote and read our intercessions, Gr.4 were ushers during communion, Gr.5 read the Responsorial Psalm, Gr.6 wrote and read the introduction, Gr.7 were Lectors for the readings, and Gr.8 picked songs for the Liturgies.

REGISTRATION for FALL Religious Formation classes will be held this weekend after all Masses. As usual, classes are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Medical forms need to be filled out for emergencies, so please have your child's medical records available. The days and session times for Religious Formation Classes are as follows:

Kindergarten: Sunday - 9:00, 11:00

Grades 9-10: Sunday evenings - 5:30-7:00pm

Family Program: bi-monthly (Sunday AM)

Grades 1-8: Wednesday 4:30-6:00

Wednesday 6:30-8:00

Thursday 4:30-6:00

Thursday 6:30-8:00

The tuition fees for 2003-2004 are: $60 for one child, $85 for two children and $110 for families with 3 or more children and for the Family Program.

Mary mmahar@parishmail.com.

Little Professor is donating to the St. Patrick School library 20% of all book sales purchased on Sat. April 5th (when using the special coupon available). There will be children’s story readings and prize drawings each hour. Father Dave will be reading at 9:45am. Other readers will include local author, Denise Brennan-Nelson (author of "Buzz the Bumblebee" and "My Momma Likes to Say"). Flyers and coupons will be on the tables in the gathering area starting Mar 29. For more information please call Cyndy Meloche 810-229-7946 or Julie Amman 810-227-8518. Thanks for your support!

E-MAIL ADDRESSES If you have changed your E-Mail address Please contact Deacon Dave deacon1@ismi.net so we can update our records.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to the teens who performed our commercial for this weekend’s Spud Night dinner. They did a great job. The money we raise this weekend will help fund our summer workweek service trip with NRN. We are still looking for people to be in the passion play so if you are interested, please let me know.

Last weekend we had Kevin Walters and a Muslim high school student from Catholic Central, Hamoody Macki, come and talk with us about differences in religions. It was very interesting and informative. I would like to thank them for their time and planning to come talk with us.

Next weekend from 9-11am we are gathering in the rectory lower level to just come together. Many of our Spring Hill participants would like to share pictures and stories about their weekend. All are welcome to come and hear about their experience.

The Sacrament of Confirmation completes our initiation into the Catholic Church. If you are an adult who has not yet been Confirmed, you are invited to participate in an area-wide Adult Confirmation Program during the Easter Season. Six Thursday evening sessions will lead up to the celebration of Confirmation here in our own parish at the 11:00 Liturgy on Pentecost Sunday, June 5. The sessions will take place at St. Agnes Parish in Fowlerville, beginning on May 1 (from 7:30-9pm). For more information and/or to register for the program, call our parish office at 810-229-8624.

Calling all Bakers (or buyers)! We sure could use your assistance. The Easter Vigil is fast approaching. Anyone wishing to contribute cookies for the Easter Vigil reception, please see the sign up sheet in the gathering area. What a great way to welcome the newest members of our Catholic faith! If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Oliver at 810-266-4849

A Family Altar Can Alter A Family

This year’s Seder is Wednesday, April 16. We are still in need of people to help with the Tuesday preparations of setting the tables, preparing the vegetables, baking the bread, etc. If you are available on Tuesday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m. for a couple hours to make the workload lighter we would appreciate it greatly. Please call Sister Joyce or just come.

Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 pm., Evening of Awareness

Sunday, April 12, 9:00 Mass, Presentations

Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 pm., Instructions, childcare will be available.

Saturday, April 26, 6:00 Mass, Baptisms

Sunday, May 4, 12:45 pm., Baptisms

Sister Joyce

The 4th Annual St. Mary Magdalen Parish Golf Outing will be Sat., May 17 at Ironwood Golf Club. 18 holes, breakfast, lunch, dinner and prizes! Talk to your family, friends and neighbors to get your team together. More information will be coming soon or you may call Dave Guidos (810) 229-4728.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

BMS Brighton Mini-Storage, LLC.

For Pain’s Sake — meets Friday, April 4, from 1-3pm in the Adult Formation Room. This is a support/discussion group for individuals coping with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or arthritic conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis. Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to participate. Please contact Mary Kay Foley for more information (517) 545-9462.

Focusing on the symbols of Holy Week, specifically the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday), this evening will be a multi-sensory experience. All adults in the parish are invited. It is especially important for those who are ministers of the Liturgy, those who are "busy" during the Liturgy, to have a quiet opportunity to "rest in the mystery", and for all of us to let God’s shining presence overwhelm and embrace us. We will begin this evening with Evensong of Lent in the main worship space. Please sign up in the gathering area.

The Properties Team has planned a clean up of the church grounds. All those who have pick-up trucks and all who would like to help…please sign up in the gathering space. LAWN CARE With the long awaited spring just around the corner, it is time to think LAWN CARE. We are looking for those who want to be part of the lawn mowing teams this year, and we have a need for volunteers for the riding lawn mower. It requires 5 hrs/month of your time. Most of our volunteers are retirees… this seems to work in their schedules. If you have questions, please call Leo Camden at 229-8624. Sign up sheets are in the gathering area. Thank you!

The Properties Team

Old St. Patrick’s Church, Ann Arbor located at 5671 Whitmore Lake. Rd. will sponsor Fish Fries on all Friday’s of Lent, through April 11. (Good Friday excluded) from 4:30-8 pm in the Parish Center.

Retrouvaille is helping couples put the pieces back together and rebuild loving relationships. If your marriage is tearing you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, we believe Retrouvaille can help. The next weekend is May 16-18 at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. For further information, call 517-669-6631.

On April 22, 29, and May 6 from 6:30 — 8:00 PM, at the Brighton Senior Center, Angela Hospice and Herrmann Funeral Home will sponsor a Men’s Grief Education Seminar. Grief Education is open to men of all ages and is completely free of charge. Sessions are non-clinical and are presented by men in a casual environment. To reserve a seat, please call Nancy Hall at the Brighton Senior Center 810-229-3817

A banquet of celebration the day before we move into our new facility will be held Thursday April 3 at Lake Pointe Manor in Howell from 6-9:30pm. Come join the enthusiasm as we gather for an educational, informative evening of food and fun. Tickets are $40 per person. Call Pregnancy Helpline to reserve your seat 810-632-5656.

The next Men’s Night will be on Thursday, April 3. Our speaker is Dan Dentino who comes to us from Ave Maria College where he is Dean of Students. He will speak on "Fighting, Football and the Faith". For this month only, the meeting location will change to LOBBY B at Domino’s Farms. We will begin with Mass at 7:30pm at Domino’s Chapel and move to the EBA Club for the meeting afterwards. From Earhart Rd. turn onto Ave Maria Dr. and go to the 2nd driveway on the right. Park near the Lobby B entrance and enter. Look for signs to Domino’s Chapel. Information at www.catholic-men.org or call 734-930-4524

Premiering on Hallmark channel on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2003, 7:00-8:00pm. A compelling new interpretation of the life of one of the best known, most loved, and least understood figures in religious history. This one-hour program was filmed on location in Central Italy.

An Attitude of Gratitude will lift you up today!