Our support makes it possible for the "Catholic Church" (you & I) to more effectively witness to the resurrection.

In our diocese, there have been very few abuse cases over the years. The offending priests have been removed and, when possible, turned over to civil authorities for prosecution. An insurance fund has paid for the services needed to help victims heal the pain the abuse has caused. None of the money donated to DSA has ever been used in these situations and none of DSA money leaves our area.

All of the money we donate to DSA remains in our diocese to support a wide variety of services. The largest single area of support is education and formation of seminarians, priests, deacons and pastoral ministers.

They have been very busy preparing for most of this past year. They have been waiting for this day with great excitement even longer.

I invite you to keep them in your prayer and to share their enthusiasm in receiving this Easter Sacrament of the risen Lord! (There will be a group of first Communicants at each of our three Liturgies next weekend.)

Everyone is welcome to attend the Ordination Liturgy at St. Mary Cathedral on Saturday, May 10 at 10 am. The cathedral is located one block north of the state capitol building in downtown Lansing.

Jim will function as a deacon during the Liturgies of that same weekend, so you will have the opportunity to congratulate him then!

Fr. Dave Howell

Chapter three of Acts describes how Peter and John healed a lame man who sat begging each day at the gate of the temple. The people were astonished at this miracle. Peter used the opportunity to give a sermon encouraging the people to believe in Jesus. We hear a portion of this sermon in today’s passage.

The first letter of John was written for the community from which the fourth gospel emerged. At the time, this community was seriously divided. Some members believed that as long as you had faith in Jesus, it didn’t matter what you did in daily life. The passage today refutes that opinion.

This passage is Luke’s last recorded instance of Jesus appearing to the disciples after the resurrection. Now that sin and death have been conquered, Jesus instructs them of the implications of His resurrection. Jesus died for love of us. If we believe we are loved, we will do everything we can to love in return by showing our love and concern for all God’s loved, redeemed creatures. We will become Christians.

The Christian community described in Acts understood and practiced total stewardship. St. Paul reports that the believers did not claim anything as their own, but held everything in common, and distributed to each whatever was needed.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Reserve a weekend for just the two of you. The next weekend is June 27-29. For more information or to schedule a weekend call Jerry & Gail Allen toll free at (888) 628-7433

Looking for something to do with the kids in the fall? Registration for RE classes resumes on Wednesday and Thursday this week for fall classes! It is "first come, first serve" so be sure to sign up!

Our final classes are this week! Please be sure to bring your children to the last class, as we still have lessons to cover! Please be sure to thank those who serve as Catechists and Aides in our classrooms — they have put a lot of themselves into the hours of preparation for our children! Many have also served in a big way that often goes unnoticed. We have babysitters so that many of our parents can teach and hall monitors that make sure our halls are safe (and that the children return from the bathrooms!). Thank you to all who have helped this year.

First Eucharist families are reminded that the flowers for the altar are due that last week of class. For those who signed up, pictures are Monday and Tuesday in Church. Rehearsal for First Eucharist is Friday, May 2 at 6:30 pm in the Church.

JWJ our summer vacation bible school will be held July 28-August 1. We are looking for new leadership to be on the planning committee this year! Please call Mary in the office or Peggy Weingartz at (810) 220-1678. Come join the team to take our youth on their summer journey! This year we’re going under the sea! Have a great week!

WE NEED YOU!!!

The Properties Team

Holy Thursday evening, 14 of us stayed awake all night at our Walk With Jesus Retreat. The evening’s reflections and discussions provided for a learning opportunity for everyone involved. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the evening.

A sign up sheet is in the gathering area for the senior students of 2003 and the their immediate family members. Sign up is a must. The seniors will be recognized at the 9 am Mass on June 1. Come wearing your cap and gown then join us for breakfast afterward in the social hall.

If you are interested in attending the National Catholic Youth Conference in November, contact me. Spots have opened up and room is available.

M.U.D (6, 7 and 8 graders)

April 29, we will be volunteering at the Community Food Bank from 4-5pm. Please sign up in the gathering area. Money for the Lugnuts game is due this week. Thank you. Margaret

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.

The 4th Annual St. Mary Magdalen Golf Outing is Sat., May 17 at Ironwood Golf Course. The course is located on M-59, 3 miles west of US23. The day includes 18 holes of golf with cart, in a scramble format, continental breakfast, chicken and rib dinner, over $1000 in door prizes, and a chance to win a 2 yr lease on a new car from Varsity Ford with a hole-in-one! Proceeds support various parish and community programs/charities. Cost is $80/golfer or $300/foursome. Businesses can sponsor a hole for $100. For more information call 810-225-2040 or 810-229-4728.

Monday Evening, April 28

St. Mary Magdalen Church along with St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Hartland, St. Joseph Catholic, Howell, and St. Augustine, Deerfield Twp. will be conducting an ongoing series called Catholics Returning Home on six consecutive Monday evenings at 7 p.m. beginning April 28. Sessions will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2099 Hacker Road. For more details, call Sister Joyce (810) 229-8624

Adults who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation may do so Pentecost Sunday, June 8, after required preparation. The six required sessions will be on Thursday evenings beginning May 1, at 7p.m. at St Agnes Church in Fowlerville. If you are interested at this time please call me soon to register.

Drivers Needed to deliver our parish food contributions to St. Anne’s Catholic Church (SA), Brown Evangelical Mission (BEM) in Detroit or Shared Harvest (Gleaners community Food Bank of Livingston) in Brighton Township. Weekly deliveries to Detroit are made on Sundays, after the 11 a.m. Mass. Deliveries to Shared Harvest will be made during the week or on Saturday. The sign up schedule for the months of May through July will be in the Gathering Area. If you have questions or need to change your scheduled date of delivery, please call Marilyn Farrington 810-229-2871. The hungry of Detroit and Livingston County thank you!

On Saturday, May 3, those who register may go on a tour of the IHM Motherhouse and grounds (located in Monroe, MI) from 10am to Noon. Those registered will see a video explaining much of what the Sisters have done, go on a tour with a docent, learn of all that the Sisters learned in this world, where we see the need to address the issues of our planet Earth. If you are interested, you may call Carol McGrath at 517-5467-7053 or sign up after the Masses on April 27.

St Joseph, Howell - Spiritual Development April Speaker Carol Garbacik will speak Monday, April 28 and focus on the Power of Prayer. How can individuals, couples and families find forms of prayer that will help grow their relationship with God, and ask for His help and guidance? Carol is a spiritual director and retired Director of Religious Education. She will help by sharing insights and prayers from St. Theresa of Avila and others, as well as providing tools to guide us in prayer. Join us 615-730 pm in the church. Call Linda 552-0818 for more info.

Beginning Experience of Lansing will offer a spiritual weekend for widowed, divorced, and separated persons May 2,3,4, in Jackson, MI. at the St. Joseph Center, 1000 E. Porter Street. Designed to help those among us who are wounded by the loss of a spouse, the weekend is gently guided by a trained team of peers. It is a time for working through grief and moving on to a new beginning in life. Pre-registration is required. Contact Mary Jo, to 810-229-0040 for more information.