The Sacrament of Penance is a very important part of that preparation. The Sacrament celebrates not only the forgiveness of sin, but a willingness to open ourselves up to the healing power of God’s love. By confessing our sin, we hand it over; so that we can live the love of Christ more fully.

There are several opportunities for us to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance during Advent. Individual celebrations occur on Saturdays (Dec 16 & 23) from 11 to 12 noon. (Additional times will be listed next week.)

Several Communal Celebrations are scheduled throughout the county over the days leading up to Christmas. Four will take place this coming week:

Sunday at 3 pm at St. John in Hartland

Monday at 7:30 pm at Holy Spirit in Hamburg

Wednesday at 7:30 pm at St. Mary in Pinckney

Thursday at 7:30 pm at St. Agnes in Fowlerville

Saturday at 9 am at St. Patrick in Brighton

It was St. Chad who humbly withdrew his candidacy in favor of the other candidate, Wilfrid. Theodore was so impressed with Chad’s humility in accepting his verdict, he arranged for Chad to be named bishop of Mercia, another region of England.

Chad’s care for his people, his faithfulness and his humility led others to recognize his saintliness after his death on March 2, 672. (From the Dictionary of the Saints, 1980)

There is no patron saint of disputed elections. But given what is occurring in Florida I am sure that many of us would view St. Chad as the best candidate for that job.

Fr. Dave Howell

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Louise Churches, Kathy, Jack Mekjian, Martha Rushak, Laura Matthews, Kate Ross, Paul Duff, Carol, Gregory, Norman VanDerBrouck, Toni Brenneman, Kateri Sullivan-Golbiw, Donna Caldwell, Bev Cermak, Fr. Bill Carolin, Jillian, Dottie King, Dave, Derrick Day, Katelyn ,Dante, Raynald Raymond, Rita Long, Joe, Bonnie Doty, Lottie Machowski, Bob Johnson, Frank Gondek, Lane Kombs, Virginia Williams, Ralph Helmer, Joanne Fournier, Bev Zizka, Barry Wilkinson, Maryanna, Fr. Terry Dumas, Kyle Ward, Lee Alstott, Fr. Gil Rahrig, Vincent Kramer, Mike, Linda Nagle, Judy, Thomas Payne, Joan & John Becker, Danielle Snowgold, Bud Newberry, Bishop Povish, Roe, John Pepa, Margaret Resconich, Rose Kumler, Joanna Bloese, Maureen, Russ Gardner, Susan, Ann Polcyn, Pete, Norman Moon, Cornelius Smits, Matt Even, Ellen Columbo, Adeline Smith, Larry Cecil, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, Jeanette Wood, and Donovan.

Please remember in your prayers the Sitkauskas Family in the death of Ronald’s father, Edward M.Sitkauskas.

In the flurry of buying gifts, deciding which parties to attend, how to decorate the house, or baking cookies, take the time to help reinforce to your children that this is a time of waiting. The classes have been making advent wreaths, advent calendars, and discussing the coming of the Messiah. Faith is only good if we live and share it with those around us.

Take time to bring your children to Evening Prayer Monday, 7:00 in the church. Together you will experience a different form of prayer and meditation.

Help is needed in the office approximately 2 Sundays a month. I am looking for a volunteer to sit in the office for one hour (11-12:00) to help make copies and get supplies for the classes while Religious Ed is going on. It would only be on the days our Family Program meets, and would be perfect for a high school student needing service hours. Please call Mary in the office if you can help.

Mary Mahar

FYI (For Your Information)-- Anytime of the year that you are aware of someone who has been away from the Church and might benefit from a note or a call, please let me know. I maintain a series of leaflets entitled "Another Look" and would love to include them in my mailing list.

On December 12 the Retirees’ Lunch Bunch will have their annual Christmas Brunch with Fr. Dave at 10:00 a.m. in the Adult Formation Room. Bring a dish to pass, memories to share and join us for some holiday cheer after the Tuesday morning Liturgy.

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

It is not too early to think of participating this summer in our Young Neighbors in Action week long work camp. There will be two teams of 5 teens and one adult going to Chicago the week of July 15. I have registered another team of 5 teens and one adult to go to Toronto the week of July 8. I will be sending information home in early January. There will be a meeting for you and your parents Sunday, January 21 at 6pm.

Bake Sale- Our Bake sale is going on after all the Masses. Please stop by and see what goodies we have. Thank you in advance for you donations and support.

Our Christmas gathering will be Wednesday, December 27 from 7-10pm in the rectory basement. Please come and join our celebration. We gather together to eat, play and reflect on the birth of our Savior. There is a $10 donation that we ask for and all the money is donated to the less fortunate.

Our ski trip has been scheduled for February 16-18. We will be going up to Nubs Nob again located in the Harbor Springs area. I am looking for chaperones for this event. Please call me for more information. I will be available after all the masses January 13 and 14 so you can sign up and pay. We ask that you be involved in our youth group meetings and activities so we can get to know you better before we spend a weekend together.

Permission slips are available for our Ashley Court and Mary Lou Brown Mission community service projects. They are located with the sign up sheets. Call me if you have any questions.

Friday, Dec 15 Robin& Bob Shepard,

Saturday, Dec 16 Janet Gentner, Kathy Stegmaier

Our Sunday nursery is staffed by parent volunteers, and we currently have volunteers only through the end of December. If you use the nursery, we would like you to sign up for four to six Sunday Masses in 2001. Please stop by the nursery to get sign-up schedules, and then call Janine Brandner at (810) 220-1107 with your choices!

There is a nationwide ministry available to traveling Catholics providing free information on the location of the nearest church and times of Masses on weekends and holy days. This service is available to all parishes by calling 1-800-627-7846.

A pilgrimage to Medjugorje, accompanied by a spiritual director, will take place, leaving Detroit on April 23 and returning to Detroit on May 2. For a cost of $1,315, the reservation deadline is January 19, 2001. Call Joe or Monique Weiss (810) 227-4664 for further details.

If you are interested in delivering food from the Sunday food collection to the Mary Lou Brown Mission
or St. Anne's Church in Detroit, a new sign-up schedule is in the Gathering Area.

PLEASE SIGN UP. We need someone to drive Christmas week. If you have any questions today, please call Jan Carpenter, 227-5269 or, Jan Denzer, evenings at 229-7852. Thank you.

This is the weekend that all gifts are due back under the Christmas Giving Tree. Please make sure your gift is wrapped with the tag securely fastened on it. We will be sorting and delivering gifts after the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Dec. 10. Anyone is welcome to stay and help.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY for Christmas! Each year the Salvation Army works to provide Christmas gifts and food certificates for families that are unable to meet the extra financial stress of the Christmas season. Consider adopting an entire family (small, medium, or large) and providing gifts for each member (about $75 each) and a gift certificate to a local grocery store for food. If the expense is more than your family can afford, your might consider adopting a family with other friends or a group. Please contact the Salvation Army directly at 517-546-4750. They will share the sizes and genders of the family members that you adopt.

Walkers: Brighton & Hartland High Schools allow you to walk inside from 3 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. & 6 P.M. to 8 P.M., respectively, on Mon & Thurs.

The "SAFE DELIVERY OF NEWBORNS" Law, Senate Bill No. 1052, will become effective January 1, 2001. This legislation allows the surrender of a newborn infant, by a parent, to an emergency services provider; Hospital, Fire Department or Police Station. The infant is taken into protective custody, and the parent "has 28 days to petition the Court to regain custody of the newborn." The infant must be under 72 hours old, and be free from evidence of abuse and neglect, for the parent to receive the protection afforded by the law. After 28 days, parental rights will be terminated, and adoption will be pursed for the child.

Minnesota, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas have enacted similar laws in an attempt to safeguard the infants of mothers and/or fathers who are in great distress, by preventing abandonment.

" And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

MEN’S RETREAT - St. Mary Magdalen has obtained a retreat date for the men of the parish. Our Men’s Retreat is scheduled for the weekend of January 12-14, 2001. The theme for the retreat is "Packing for the Journey". This weekend retreat will look at some necessities for our suitcase on our faith journey, and suggest ways for us to continue the journey with vitality and dedication as Christian persons. Please contact Deacon Dave at the parish office, (810) 229-8624, if you are interested.

The December Charity of the Month is the St. Louis Center.

The St. Louis Center is a caring, residential, family living and learning environment providing for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of boys and men with developmental disabilities. Remember that 25% of the Alms monies collected this month will be sent to the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK Alan’s Asphalt

ST. PAT’S SINGLES ( All 35+ Single — Divorced — Widowed) Meet the First and Third Mondays of each month, at J.B. Brighton House from 6:30 to 9:00 P.M. Dues are $2 per person/per night. For more information call Lynn at (810) 229-9863.