Last weekend, 123 households contributed $21,790 to support these services. I hope others will join us in making a gift to DSA! If you were away on Easter break when we began DSA two weeks ago, I hope you will join me and many others in supporting the many services funded by DSA!

In the past, we have presented these teams in a series of special announcements at the end of the Liturgy. Sign up began with Pentecost Sunday. Because Easter is so late this year, our Pastoral Council has decided to take a different approach.

I would ask first, to examine your personal gifts and talents. Then consider offering these to enhance the way we as a parish live and share our faith in Christ.

A list of the eight ministry teams can be found in the special insert found in this week’s bulletin. Please prayerfully consider sharing your abilities and insights to shape our parish!

Formation for ministry comes first by experiencing ministry…so thank you to Jim’s family and many friends, who enabled him to grow as a person, a Christian and as someone who wanted to share the gift of his life with others. Thank you to the people of this parish and the others who are engaged in ministry who supported and challenged Jim to grow toward the diaconate. Most importantly, thanks to Linda Chevalier who has supported, encouraged, challenged, (and most of all) shared Jim’s desire for ministry. Fr. Dave Howell

Please remember in your prayers, Mike Letters and family in the death of William Letters, Mike’s father and David Martin and family in the death of Sophia Martin, David’s mother.

Earlier in the book of Acts, we hear of Saul (later known as Paul) persecuting Christians in Jerusalem. When he went to Damascus to do more of the same, he experienced a dramatic conversion. It was several years before he returned to Jerusalem, the site of his earlier persecutions. His first visit to Jerusalem as a Christian is described in today’s reading.

During this Easter season, we are reading from the first letter of John. In today’s passage, the author is dealing with some members of the community who have defected. They seem to have believed that, as long as you have faith in Jesus, it doesn’t matter what you do in daily life. The author directly refutes that position.

John frequently writes of the "mutual indwelling" and today’s image is the vine and the branches. The point is clear. We are so much a part of Christ, and He so much a part of us, that separation can only mean death. The consequences are we can bear much fruit united with Christ; pruned we can produce even more. The reward is our intimate participation in the risen life of Christ.

As of May 5, 2003 - 123 families of our parish have made a gift to the DSA. Their gifts total $21,790, our goal this year is $ 58,577. If you have not made a decision about your gift to the DSA please set aside a few minutes to pray about your gift. Your can either bring your gift card to the parish office or place it in the collection basket.

ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OPTION-For Sunday Contributions

St. Mary Magdalen is pleased to offer its members an option of making Sunday contributions electronically — through direct transfer from your designated checking/savings account. If you pay your bank for your checks, or have a service charge if you write more than a certain minimum number of checks monthly, this could be for you! Your contribution will be transferred from your checking/savings account on the first business day after the first Sunday of every month. If you wish to sign up for the program, enrollment forms can be located in the gathering area or at the parish office. Please return forms to the parish office (Attention: Kay). Any questions or concerns contact Kay Thurmon (810) 229-8624.

"Vocation: Gift of God, Given for God’s People" Today we celebrate World Day of Prayer for Vocations. God continues to call women and men to be sisters, brothers, priests and deacons. Let us pray in gratitude for the gift of vocations to serve God’s people.

I would like to thank Pauline Flowerday for making the altar cloth that we used for First Eucharist. All around its edges we placed the chalices of our 78 children who received Eucharist for the first time. Once more I would like to thank all those who assisted the children during the Liturgies last weekend: Peggy Weingartz, Kim Cauley, Delynn Pittel, Joan Kramer, Barb Toth, Marie Collins, Brenda Affatati, Cathleen Vanwagner, Julie Lopez, Dorothy Koprowicz, Linda Krueger and Kim Resconich. You all did a wonderful job! It is so moving to see the families come to be together to celebrate. It is beautiful to see the flowers of all kinds around the table to represent each and every different family.

This week we had a dinner to thank our Catechists, Aides, Children’s Liturgy of the Word Leaders, and our Parent Youth Group Leaders. These wonderful folks work so hard to make our Faith come alive to those they minister to! They do much more than just show up for class. They attend training classes, meet on the off days to plan lessons, talk with parents and come up with ideas to make their presentations come alive in class. If you haven’t already, take the time to thank these dedicated people in our parish for all that they do. I know I am thankful for all you do for the youth and adults in our Parish!

Next I would like to thank the new florist in Hartland, Hartland Flowers. Sue donated 6 beautiful spring bouquets of flowers so that I could offer an end of the year door prize for the catechists and aides! If you get a chance, stop in and help me thank her!

Registration will be held on the Wednesday evenings during the month of May from 6-8:00 pm. We will also offer registration after all Liturgies on the weekend of May 17/18. We are not accepting walk-in registrations yet, so please try to make it one of these times, or call me for other arrangements.

Have a good week! Mary mmahar@parishmail.com.

This September the participants attending the National Catholic Youth Conference will be hosting a tin can raffle at the parish picnic. If you are interested in donating services or products, contact me in the parish offices. We will be collecting items throughout the summer.

The teens attending the weeklong work service program this summer are having a bake sale May 18 after both the Liturgies. If you would like to donate baked goods, you can do so by dropping off the goodies in the gathering area before you attend Liturgy.

A sign up sheet is in the gathering area for the senior students of 2003 and their immediate family members. Sign up is a must. The seniors will be recognized at the 9am Mass June 1st. 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.

Saturday June 14, we are having a pool party potluck at the Slack’s home in Brighton from 4-9pm. A sign up sheet will be out. Hamburgers, hotdogs, and pop will be provided.

If you would like to have a Liturgy celebrated for a special intention, please call the parish office to make arrangements. A contribution is usually made to pay for the cost of the bread and wine and all the other items that are needed for the celebration of the Liturgy.

Mark your calendars for Thursday evening May 22 7:00 — 9:00pm. Opening prayer will be in the Church, followed by 5 simultaneous presentations where participants will choose 3 of the 5 and have an opportunity to go to smaller group sessions. Deacon Dave will give the theology of prayer, Father Dave will present liturgical prayer, Sister Maryetta will present various ways for contemporary prayer, Mary Mahar will present family prayer, and Sister Joyce will give a presentation on the Rosary and traditional prayers. The closing prayer will be in the Church for Night Prayer together. Older children may participate if they so desire. Childcare will be provided as needed. Sign up sheets and agenda are in the gathering area.

St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt is offering its annual Scripture days August 5, 6 and 7. Sister Dorothy Jonaitis, O.P. is presentor. Registration is limited and the deadline to register is July 14. I have forms for you to register. Don’t delay.

Sister Joyce

St. Mary Magdalen is hosting the American Red Cross Blood Drive Friday, May 23 - 12pm- 5:45pm. Your donation will help provide the 2,000 blood products used in Michigan every day. Each pint can save up to four hospital patients. Donating blood is safe, it’s simple, and it saves lives. Also needed are volunteers to work the drive. If you are willing to donate blood and/or work the drive, both sign up sheets are in the gathering area. Thank You!!

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Advanced Hearing Care

The children and staff of St. Patrick School would like to thank all the St. Mary Magdalen parishioners who came out and supported the St. Patrick School Library Fundraiser! Your support was overwhelming. We were able to raise $585! We will be able to purchase many books to continue to meet the interests and needs of the children.

How can we worship a creator while destroying creation? This is the challenge taken on at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Wyandotte. With this parish achieving national recognition because of their energy efficient system, Father Charles Morris, pastor and Director of the Michigan Interfaith Power and Light, continues to look for opportunities to cut energy usage and trim utility bills. The triple-hybrid system of PV, wind, and solar hot water was the subject of discussion on the Great Lakes Radio Consortium and covered by the Detroit Free Press. The fifth workshop in our series of speakers on the environment and sustainability will be Father Morris. He will tell us why as well as what he is doing regarding energy. The Chilson Hills Church on Brighton Road near Chilson will host this workshop at 6 pm on Sunday, May 18.

The e-mail addresses for the staff of St. Mary Magdalen have changed. Please note the following:

Fr. Dave Howell pastor1@saintmarymagdalen.org

Dave Scharf deacon1@saintmarymagdalen.org

Jim Chevalier deacon2@saintmarymagdalen.org

Sr. Joyce Hoile pastmin1@saintmarymagdalen.org

Sr. Maryetta pastmin2@saintmarymagdalen.org

Kay Thurmon sect1@saintmarymagdalen.org

Josie Doucette sect2@saintmarymagdalen.org

Margaret Callaghan youth1@saintmarymagdalen.org

Anne Williams rcia@saintmarymagdalen.org