Old Bulletins

January 23-24 1999

All Things Considered

"FATHER, DID YOU KNOW... that there is a strong smell of gas by the office door?" Probably sixty-some people told me that last weekend. There was a gas leak to one of the roof top heating units. As a result of the cracked pipe on the roof, the smell of gas seeped into the building. The line was shut down and capped Sunday morning and repaired on Monday. Although I heard the comment about the leak many, many times, I really do appreciate the concern of people for the safety of each other and our facility. I hope that type of concern will continue and even grow.

ANOTHER FIRST - A MEAL! Next Saturday evening we will have our first parish dinner. Our Knights will prepare a spaghetti dinner. Given the Italian & restaurant background of some of our knights, it should be a good meal.The prices are reasonable and it gives us the opportunity to come together to share a meal. I hope you will be able to come.

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS Although our K of C Council began in October and the officers were elected at the first meeting, they have not yet been officially installed. That will be remedied next weekend. The ceremony of installation will take place Sunday afternoon at 12:30. Everyone is invited.

MARDI GRAS In the midst of the winter bleakness, the French held a celebration to ward off the drabness of winter and to prepare for Lent. Mardi Gras literally means Fat Tuesday. That was because they would prepare special food that would use up all the fats and other things that were not eaten during Lent.

Gradually the day-long celebration extended to several. These included not only special foods but costume parties and parades. The French founders of Mobile, AL and New Orleans brought the custom with them to this country. As a result, the Mardi Gras of New Orleans has become legendary.

While it may not become a legend, we will have our first Mardi Gras Saturday, Feb 13. Food, fun, dancing and even a parade of costumes will be a part of the celebration. Costumes are optional (but they make it more fun). You can even wear them to the 4:30 Liturgy if you plan to attend it before the party. It is all part of our preparation to enter into the season of Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday, Feb 17. Fr. Dave Howell P.S. I'm on vacation and will be back next weekend.

PRAYER LIST

Please pray that the sick will respond to God's healing will, especially: Ron, Eileen Auld, Marilyn, Cinnamon & child, Debbie, Nancy, Steve, Jeanette, Bob, Pete, Vivian, Jane, Timothy, Zora, Mary Kay, Wayne, Ed, Merle, Tom, Keith, Ruth, Mary, Victor, David, Kenneth, Robert, Cheryl, Laurie and John.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK Mass of the Anointing

On Wednesday, January 27, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick during the 7pm Liturgy. All who have serious or chronic illness are especially invited.

ON THE JOURNEY

Last weekend we celebrated the Rite of Acceptance/Welcoming with five adults whose journeys of faith have led them to this commitment to prepare in earnest for the sacraments of initiation. Please keep Brian Sennett, Dynetta Cadaret, Vi Lohaus, Scott Price and Tom Kolpacki in your prayers as they continue to study and reflect on the mysteries of our Catholic Christianity. Yours on the journey, Marilyn

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION - There is some confusion regarding the PENANCE retreat for parents and children. The date for the retreat is Saturday, February 27, from 10:00-3:00 in the social hall. Please call the office to register for the retreat. You also need a sack lunch and a snack to pass.

The FAMILY retreat during lent will be held on Saturday, February 20. This will be a day of sharing, listening, praying and being together as a family. Please call the office to register. Sister Maryetta

YOUTH NEWS

SOMETHING NEW!! Every month we will be collecting donations for a different charity, beginning in February. Posters are hung now, and next week Kimber Kunkel will speak at the Masses. We would appreciate your support for the work being done for the Autistic next month. There will be a special box for donations and a fact sheet if you wish to know more about Autism. Due to popular request, some of our youth have volunteered to baby-sit. Please make note of the ones listed below and those to be added later.
Jocelyn Denzer - 229-7852
Theresa Eagle - 229-8973
Ashley Lange - 227-1625
Special thanks to David Deater, Matt Murphy and Nick Huston for helping Leo with the floors over the holidays. Your help was greatly appreciated! Margaret Callaghan

MARRIAGE DIFFICULTY

Marriage Difficulty Retrouvaille is helping couples put the pieces back together. Retrouvaille weekends are held at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt on February 12-14, 1999 and May 21-23, 1999. For further information call (517)669-8321, Ext. 36.

SPIRITUALITY FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

Last weekend approximately 1373 people participated in the Liturgies. These folks contributed $12.095.78 to the parish. Last year on this Sunday the contributions totaled $7,735.17. Sacrificial Giving presently we have 715 families registered in the parish and 265 families have made their stewardship commitment. If you have not filled out your stewardship commitment card yet, please pray about the sacrificial giving you will be making weekly/monthly and return the card either by mail or the collection basket on Sunday. The Finance Council

COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN meets at St. Mary's Chelsea on Wed., Jan. 27. Please call Joanne Fredal, 428-8010 for more information.

CELEBRATING LITURGY

January 24
Is 8:23 - 9:3/1 Cor 1:10-13,17/Mt 4:12-23

January 25 Conversion of Paul, apostle
Acts 22:3-16/Mk 16:15-18
9:00 a.m. Communion Service

Tuesday, January 26 Timothy and Titus, bishops
2 Tm 1:1-8/Mk 3:31-35
9:00 a.m. Communion Service

Wednesday, January 27
Heb 10:11-18/Mk 4:1-20
7:00 p.m. Fr. David Doepker

Thursday, January 28 Thomas Aquinas, presb.,relig.,doctor
Heb 10:19-25/Mk 4:21-25

9:00 a.m. Ruth Howell

Friday, January 29
Heb 10:32-39/Mk 4:26-34
9:00 a.m. Edward Howell

Saturday, January 30
Zep 2:3; 3:12-13/1 Cor 1:26-31/Mt 5:1-12a

Sunday, January 31
Is 8:23 - 9:3/1 Cor 1:10-13,17/Mt 4:12-23
4:30 (Vigil) St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners
9:00 a.m.Richard Sieczka
11:00 a.m. Keith Erickson

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE

Weekend of January 30 & 31

4:30 p.m. Saturday

Minister of the Word:
Stephanie St. Clair, Maura Giardina

Ministers of the Eucharist:
Bob & Mary Weyand, Laura Drittler, Doris Jones, Steve & Pat Hancock

Ministry of Server:
Gabrielle Witt, Kristy Hancock

Ministry of Hospitality:
David Witt, Wagener family

9:00 a.m. Sunday

Minister of the Word:
Rhonda Barclay, Bill Turowski

Ministers of the Eucharist:
Ed & Beccie Govan, Jim & Kathy Rigley, Pete LIntzenich, Gary & Linda Kinneer, Irene Cappuccilli, Laura DeLaMarre, Lisa Burridge

Ministry of Server:
Charles Phillips, Andrea Cappuccilli, Erik Gubert

Ministry of Hospitality:
Terns family, Kovanda family, Hancock family, Sadowski family Nursery: Dan Nagle

Nursery:
Jeanette Martin

11:00 a.m. Sunday

Minister of the Word:
Diane Kubus, Russ Gentner

Ministers of the Eucharist:
Jim & Linda Chevalier, Maryann Hargrave, Sue Hlavaty, Allison Gentner, Kimber Kunkel, John Spalding, Katie Francis, Jean Weishaar, Josie Doucette

Ministry of Server:
Jeff Kubus, Nicholas Barker

Ministry of Hospitality:
Margaret & Tom Callaghan, Youth Group

Nursery:
Pam Hurn

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, January 25
7:00 p.m. Catechist Mtg. (Social Hall)
7:00 p.m. BeFriender Tng.(Adult Formation)

Tuesday, January 26
7:30 p.m. Inquiry/Journey

Wednesday, January 27
7:00 p.m. Sacrament of the Sick
7:30 p.m. Pastoral Council (Conference Rm)

Thursday, January 28
10:00 a.m. Women in the Old Testament (Adult Formation Room)
6:30 p.m. Scripture Rosary (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
7:30 p.m. Baptism Class (Chapel)
7:30 p.m. Christian Parenting (Adult Form)
7:30 p.m. Music Ministry

Friday, January 29
No Activities Planned

Saturday, January 30
5-6:30 p.m. K of C Spaghetti Dinner

Sunday, January 31
11:00 a.m. Baptism
7:00 p.m. Youth Group
7:30 p.m. WAWWWW (Adult Formation)
7:30 p.m. Grief Support (Rectory LL)

THREE MINUTES MORE

Before each weekend Liturgy begins, there is a three minute explanation of a segment of the Mass. This column offers additional information.

THE PREFACE In the hierarchy of prayer, contrition or sorrow for sin is the beginning, next comes petition or prayer of request, then prayer of praise. But the highest form of Christian prayer is thanksgiving, for it goes beyond praise. True thanksgiving praises God for all that has happened, all that God does now in our lives and all that God will do for us. It is the prayer that arises out of a confidence in God, who gave us Jesus, the eternal Son to be our Savior. In Greek, the word for thanksgiving is eucharistia.

Ancient texts often refer to the Eucharistic Prayer as the Great Prayer. For in this prayer, we enter into the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus who offered His life completely to the Father. With deep and confident gratitude, we offer ourselves with Christ to the God of our salvation.

Because it is the Great Prayer, it does not begin with a simple invitation to pray. It opens with a dialogue between the presider and the assembly using a pattern similar to one used in the first century by the rabbi and his congregation before he offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of the Sabbath in the synagogue service. This dialogue serves as an invitation, an admonition and an affirmation. For it is the grace of the Holy Spirit that we pray (the Lord be with you...); it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to direct our whole focus to the Father (lift up your hearts...); it is the Holy Spirit that enables us to confidently give thanks to the One who has made us children through Christ Jesus (let us give thanks...).

In the Roman tradition, only the first part of the Great Prayer varied. The varied opening of the Eucharistic Prayer is called the preface. While the whole prayer is one of thanks, the preface states more specifically why we give thanks to God this day. So the preface for funeral Liturgies expresses our gratitude for the promise of resurrection. At Christmas, we gratefully praise the God who gave us the Son, born of the virgin Mary and so on.