I would ask you to examine your personal gifts and talents, and then consider offering these gifts to enhance the life and mission of our parish community.

St. Mary Magdalen will now have two deacons. Most of you will see a deacon functioning in his Liturgical role, most of what a deacon does happens during the week.

Dave Scharf’s ministry as a deacon evolved over the last eight years and the same will happen with Jim. Both Jim and Dave will share responsibility for coordinating our parish’s response to the needy. But the rest of what Jim does among us will evolve over the next months.

Fr. Dave Howell

Please remember in your prayers Ronald Clark and family in the death of Raymond Clark, Ronald’s father.

Peter was originally skeptical about preaching the Gospel to non-Jews. Then one day, the Holy Spirit summoned him to preach to the pagan army officer Cornelius and his household. The result, as we see, is the first recorded conversion of Gentiles to Christianity.

The tradition of the apostle John’s teachings is expressed in the first letter of John. There is a legend that John in his old age would simply repeat over and over to his people, "Love one another." Today’s passage from that letter particularly illustrates this story.

The theme of love is taken up again in this Gospel passage. The emphasis, as always in John is on what has been done for us: God has loved us. As there is only one commandment (to love one another), so there is one sin (refusal to love one another). The bottom line is: God is the love that appeared in the person of Jesus and brought us into complete union with the unending goodness. The only response is to love as God loves.

The good steward lives the advice of St. John, loving in deed and in truth, rather than just talking about it.

As of May 12, 2003 - 175 families of our parish have made a gift to the DSA. Their gifts total $31,405. 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.

I would like to thank our High School youth who make service to the church a lot of fun! Last week they helped serve at our appreciation dinner and were there from start to finish! They worked hard and gave meaning to service with a smile! I also would like to thank Mary Jo Cagle and Glenda’s Flowers for donating flowers for each of the catechists, aides, youth leaders, and CLW. They not only decorated our tables with a breath of spring they brightened up everyone’s evening as they took them home!!

Speaking of the appreciation dinner, it takes a community to work with the hundreds of youth here in our parish! With the ministry fair starting this weekend, we need many more volunteers to work with our youth in the fall. There are so many areas that are flexible to meet your needs, AND we train you, give you your own personal lead catechist to work with and give out door prizes during the year! Besides sharing your faith there are just so many perks to helping out in Religious Ed! Even if you consider being on the Formation Team, our meetings are the best and we offer the BEST snacks of all the ministry teams! Stop by our table for information!

Registration will be held after all Liturgies on this weekend and on the Wednesdays in May from 6-8 pm. We are not accepting walk-in registrations yet, so please try to make it one of these times, or call me for other arrangements.

If you did not pick up your child’s First Eucharist Certificate, you may pick it up in the Gathering Area.

The Wellness Team Presents… "Journaling & Me" - Wednesday, May 28^th following the 7PM Healing Mass. Give your spiritual life a boost! Journaling is a creative means toward personal growth, deeper spirituality and healing. Sr. Maryetta will facilitate this workshop. Contact her at (810) 229-8624 for further information.

Monday, May 19 Ginger Smith, Richard Hauck

Betty Horka

Tuesday, May 20 Christine Reid, Kathy Riccardi

Wednesday, May 21 Ron Clark

Thursday, May 22 Sharon Linck

Friday, May 23 Kim Keller, Cindy Sultana

Saturday, May 24 Theresa Wolterman, Andrea

Nashar

Thanks to Liggie Perkins and Karen Zapalski for all of their help and time with the Relay for Life walk. I appreciate all the meetings they attended and their effort in collecting the money.

There is a meeting for the participants of the National Relief Network program Tuesday, May 20, at 7:30pm. We will be discussing balances due, paper work, a possible destination, and fundraising efforts. Please plan to make the meeting.

All graduating seniors are invited to attend the 9am liturgy June 1, when you will be recognized and prayed for. Come wearing your cap and gown. There will be a breakfast for you and your family in the social hall following. Reservations are a must, so take a minute to do so in the gathering area. Thanks.

The participants attending the National Catholic Youth Conference are having a bottle and can drive May 30. Please start saving your empties for us. Every can counts! We will be collecting them in your neighborhoods.

Wed., May 21, 9:30 a.m. Scrapbooking

Wed., May 28, 9:30 a.m. Discussion on the book: The Lovely Bones.

All Moms are welcome of any age children.

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

Sister Joyce

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

Margaret Callaghan youth1@saintmarymagdalen.org

Anne Williams rcia@saintmarymagdalen.org

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Tuthill Construction Co.

Participants can rent a parking space for $10 and are encouraged to bring used tools, athletic equipment, car parts, camping gear, lawn equipment, boat parts, fishing gear, outdoor clothing . . . PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!! But keep in mind that the things you bring have to be appropriate even for children to buy and that means absolutely NO firearms or weapons. You can tailgate or bring your own table. Call in advance or just show up! For more information, call Bob at (810) 227-6245 or Dan at (810) 227-7848 for details.

**Pick up a form in the gathering area and return it by mail or fax form to parish office (810) 229-6471.

Sign-up at church June 14/15 thru June 28/29,2003

Has openings in their all day Monday — Friday Kindergarten, 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade. Please call Julie Jarnes at 517-546-0090 ext. 202 with any questions.

Scholastic is opening up their Warehouse Book Sale to the Public and will be at St. Joseph School 425 E. Washington St. Howell, Mi., on May 29 —31, 2003. This is a great opportunity to get books at a tremendous savings. The sale will be open Thurs., 12 — 8 PM., Fri. 10 AM — 6 PM., Sat. 10 AM 2 PM. Don’t miss out on this fantastic 50% off sale. Call 517-546-0090 for more information.

The Bishop’s Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs is sponsoring a women’s mini-retreat Wed May 21 from 6-9pm. The pre-registration cost is $10 and includes a light dinner. Entitled sobriety and Spirituality, this evening will allow participants to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of their lives. Not necessarily an easy task for women who may be mothers, work full time, and face special challenges that can often impede the quest for healing. The Bishop’s Council recognizes the need to support the spiritual development of those seeking to live a clean and sober life. Call 517-342-2463, or email to: blaprad@DioceseofLansing.org

Project Rachel is looking for a few good men and women to work with our hurting post abortive brothers and sisters. If you are interested in being a support group leader, belonging to the speakers’ bureau, or being a mentor, call Wilson Perkowski at the Project Rachel office 517-342-2581 to find our how.

The seven scrolls found by shepherd boys in 1947 are now housed at The Shrine of the Book, a museum in Jerusalem. After that first discovery, more than 100,000 FRAGMENTS were found and pieced together into over 900 documents. The Israel Antiquities Authority loaned 12 of those documents to the Public Museum of Grand Rapids for this exhibition. Call 616-456-3977 for museum hours and general admission cost.