ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

MORE THANK YOU’S Now that Christmas is over and I have finished sending out my personal thank you notes, I have spent several hours signing our "parish thank you notes" — the year end statements. While it takes several hours to sign 900+ statements, I have always considered it a worthwhile project.

The people of St. Mary Magdalen are very generous with their time, their talents and their treasure and signing all of them gives me the opportunity to thank people for their generosity.

What is amazing, is how many people do support the parish. Having done this in other parishes, it is not unusual for 25-35% of the statements to indicate that nothing was contributed to the parish (at least using envelopes). At Mary Magdalen a large percentage of our people do use their envelopes and a large number of those, use them on a regular basis.

While I am the one who says thanks and signs the statements, I am only doing it in the name of us all. All of us benefit from the generous giving of each of us!

THE MONTH OF JANUARY holds special significance for me. It was 51 years ago January 7 that I was baptized at St. Augustine’s Parish in Richmond, Michigan.

Twenty-five years ago this month, I began my first assignment in pastoral ministry. After being ordained a deacon the previous November, Bishop Povish sent me to St. John in Hartland to begin a year-long internship with Fr. Tom Thompson. It was a great year filled with enough challenge to help me learn, and wonderful people to help me grow.

On Monday, I will mark the twenty-fourth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. In many ways, it seems like just yesterday. Yet there have been so many people, so many joys and sorrows, it seems that sometimes it all runs together in my mind.

I have been very fortunate over all these years and there is very little of it I would change. There are some things that I would do better and a few things that I would do differently. But what stands out in my mind most of all, is how blessed I have been to have known so many good people.

TIME OFF Now that the first retreat is over (along with the Christmas Season) I am going to take a week off and away. I am going to rest up for the next retreats and all the events of Lent and spring.

I’ll see you in February!

Fr Dave Howell

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Ralph Bennett, Brandon, Taryn & Carrie Simon, Shannon McKay, Joseph Hommel, Sr., Don Camden, Robert Grace, Nancy Lymangrover, Alicia Miller, Evelyn, Shannon Knapp, Peter Bumpus, Julie Hogland, Sam Marino, Pat Huhn, Madalyn, Mary, Monica, Bill, Marissa Provine, Craig Livingston, Joyce, Helen Jones, Larry Piesko, Bill Kottke, MaryAnna, Colette Bertrand, Carole, Larry Stanley, Rachel Holthus, Bob Brookins, Laura Drittler, Angela Cooney, Donald Schommer, Sophie Martin, June Bennett, Steve, Shirley Brake, Steve Thuss, Ethan Montague, Micah Zielinski, Carolyn Johnson, Mary Johnson, Patti Conahan, Matt Even, Jimmy Sexton, Mel Oja, John, Adam Weitzel, Mary Beth, Mary Lou Colgin, Joey Boyd, Merrick, Kateri Sullivan-Golbiw, Mike, Linda Nagle, Bishop Povish, Joanna Bloese, Ellen Colombo, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, and Donovan.

MINISTER OF PRAYER SCHEDULE

COMMITMENT CARDS the Finance Council would like to receive back from parishioners their commitment card, which can be found in your Sunday Envelope Packet, the very first card. As of January 14, 2002 we have received 456 commitment cards, which is 50% of our parish families of 911. Please pray about your yearly commitment and return the card either by mail or the Sunday Collection Basket.

The watchword today is "immediately." Peter and Andrew, James and John all respond immediately to the call of Christ. May I be as open to God’s call and as ready to use my talents in His service as those first disciples were!

ON THE JOURNEY

Our Retirees’ Lunch Meeting for February will be an ethnic potluck with a presentation on finding your family roots and making a family tree. We will begin about 12:15 p.m. in the Adult Formation Room on Tuesday, February 12. If you have a copy of "A Time for A Scripture Based Life Review", we will be discussing session three--- The Importance of Things Handed Down from the Past. (If you need a copy of this journal, please let me know!)

Our Scripture and Stitches team is meeting every other Tuesday — the machines are humming and the fabric flying as they work on prayer quilts, finish Bible blocks and prepare for their first quilt show in the barn this June. If you are an experienced quilter or someone who has never attempted a quilt but would like to learn, join us for prayer, friendship and fun from 10:00 to 12 :00 noon in the Adult Formation Room. The next meeting is January 29.

Women of the New Testament, our new video series will give us an opportunity to reflect and discuss the impact some of these biblical women have had in sharing the Good News. It began January 17^th at 10:00 a.m. but it’s not too late to join

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

Today at the 9 am Liturgy, 76 of our youth came before Fr. Dave to ask for our prayers as they begin final preparation for the Sacrament of First Penance in the Rite of Enrollment. They presented their names made on crosses to be used on the altar cloth on March 14 and 16 at their celebration of God’s forgiveness and love.

I would like to thank all the parents/sponsors who came last Sunday to spend time with the 9^th grade candidates for Confirmation! Together we prayed, explored the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and even took a TEST! Thank you also to the catechists who helped lead this evening.

Catechists/aides are reminded to mark your calendars for Wednesday, Jan.30 gr. K-4, and Thursday Jan. 31 gr.5-10, for an evening of reflection. Please call Josie or Mary in the office to RSVP!

Just a reminder about snow days, from the Parent Handbook. If Brighton area schools are cancelled due to bad weather our Faith Formation classes will also be cancelled. In case Religious Education is cancelled during the school day, we will notify the radio station WHMI (93.5 FM) and we will call the local schools. We will also notify your child’s catechist and aide.

Thanks! Mary

If you have not already turned in your ski trip money and papers, please do that soon. We are scheduled to go the weekend of February 15-17 to the Harbor Springs area. We will ski Nubs Nob.

Our annual Souper Bowl Sunday collection will be next weekend, the weekend before the actual Super Bowl game. We will be out in the gathering area with pots and pans wearing aprons and soup kitchen hats. All the money collected will be donated to charity.

The date for our spring retreat is March 22-24. We will again be staying at Pine Hills retreat center in Hamburg. Our retreat theme will be "God in Nature." Registration will begin at 7pm, and at 8pm we will gather around a bonfire to begin our weekend experience. We are pleased to announce that the youth from St. Anne’s youth group in Detroit will be joining us.

St. Anne’s youth, however, will be joining us first for 11am Mass on February 10. If you like to cook and would like to share your talents with us, join us for a potluck lunch afterwards. I am in need of those willing to donate food for the potluck lunch. This is a great way to become involved with the youth! Call me at 227-7937 if you are interested in helping with this.

Friday, January 25, is our activity night full of games, movies and music. It will be held from 7-10 in the social hall. Sign up sheets are out now. All adults who would like to volunteer their time to be with us, please also sign up. Thank you.

Margaret Callaghan

Each weekend, a segment of the Liturgy is explained three minutes before the Liturgy begins. This column will offer further explanation and background on that segment.

THE FIRST READING in the Liturgy of the Word is taken from the Old Testament, except during the Easter Season when this reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. This reading is always chosen because of a connection to the Gospel passage that will be read later. It is followed by a responsorial psalm. Like so much of the Liturgy, it was a custom we continued from our days in the synagogue.

In the Roman Liturgy, the cantor or subdeacon went to the ambo (pulpit) after the reading. He stood on the gradus, which means lower step in Latin. Because of this the Responsorial Psalm became known as the Gradual.

The cantor had the precious hand written text. He would sing the verses of the psalm and the assembly would respond with a short refrain usually taken from the psalm itself.

In the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament there is a book called the Psalms also known as the Psalter. All together there are 150 psalms, which tell the history of the faith of Jewish people. Some were written as personal prayer and some were written for use in Jewish Liturgy. They are attributed to King David, but in fact were written by several people over 1,000 years.

Each psalm was composed as a song. But because there was no way of notating the music, all we have are the words. They were very poetic in the original Hebrew, a poetry that is often lacking in the English translation. (A more poetic translation can be found in the Jerusalem Bible.) Nor are they the only songs found in the Bible. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments there are several songs that also are used as part of our Liturgy.

Make A Daily Multi-Vitamin Your New Years Resolution! They contain numerous essential vitamins as well as vitamin B9, or Folic Acid. 400mcg of folic acid contained in a standard vitamin can reduce the risk of brain and spinal birth defects by up to 70%! Folic acid has also been cited to reduce heart disease and colon cancer. Some evidence suggests that it may even lessen one’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease! Please consider this preventive measure for you and your family this year. Blessings!

Women’s Retreat (August 16-18, 2002) at the Weber Center in Adrian, MI. This is a time to reflect, share stories, pray, and be together.

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R.E.A.C.H. Homeless Shelter — Please mark your calendars for the week of April 15^th through the 22^nd. That is the week that parishioners from St. Mary Magdalen church will be hosting the Livingston County homeless using the facilities of St. Joe’s church in Howell. We will need many individuals willing to provide food, meals, and time during that week. Watch the Bulletin and Visionary for information on how to help or call Jan Carpenter 810-227-5269 or Ann Fraser 517-545-9279

Community Life - Mark your calendars regarding this year’s special Mardi Gras celebration. The party will be at the church social hall on Feb.9 from 7 - 10 pm. Don't miss this year’s event! Sign up sheets are in the back of church.