I know I never tell you often enough, so let me say it again: Not only do I love you folks, I am very grateful for all the love you have shown me. You have been one of the very best parts of my life!

Septuagesima means 70 and it referred to the fact that Easter was 70 days away. Septuagesima Sunday was the third Sunday before Ash Wednesday; the second was Sexagesima Sunday (60 days before Easter) and Sunday just before Ash Wednesday was Quinquagesima (50 days before Easter).

The vestments worn for these Sundays was purple and the Glory to God and Alleluia were omitted from the Sunday Liturgy. While it almost seemed like Lent, it was not a time of fasting and penance. It was a reminder for the faithful to prepare themselves for Lent: that season of prayer, penance and good works intended to help us prepare for EASTER.

There will be Faith Sharing Groups, Bible Study, the Catholic Catechumenate and the Men’s Breakfast to bring adults together to give serious reflection to what it means to be a disciple of the Lord. We will have daily Mass (Mon,Tues,Thur.,Fri at 9am and Wed evening 7pm). Evening Prayer on Mondays; Stations of the Cross on Fridays (at 7 pm) to bring us together in other forms of communal prayer.

We will also have booklets for families and another for teens and adults for family faith activities and individual daily prayer and reflection.

Finally, what will be the good works each of us will be undertaking during Lent? In other words, who beyond myself will benefit from my participation in Lent.

There was a wisdom to the old calendar: Septuagesima Sunday urged us give some serious thought to how we will grow through Lent. It doesn’t take three extra weeks of purple vesture to create that awareness any more. A word to the wise..

For almost 14 years, Peanut had been my sister’s constant companion spending most of the day no more than a few feet away from her. It was also hard for my niece, Kayla. Peanut has been in her life since she was a baby.

I am reminded of what I was told by a nun many years ago. She was a dog lover and often spoke of how her dog taught her about God everyday: faithful companionship, unconditional love, the joy of seeing us return home and so many other lessons. I think my sister & my niece would agree.

Fr. Dave Howell

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Ayla Hill, Jerry Veatch, Ray White, Rheda Kane, Thomas Dimaggio, Debbie Carlton, Yvette Lagimodiere, Beverly Spiess, Joey Boyd, Bill & Anne Hare, Merrick, Jack Bitterle, Julianne Camilleri, Tony Pasienza, Diana Jox, Bill Janke, Vladimir Jandasek, Ken & Erin Colombo, Louise Churches, Jack Mekjian, Martha Rushak, Laura Matthews, Paul Duff, Carol, Gregory, Norman VanDerBrouck, Kateri Sullivan-Golbiw, Toni Brenneman, Derrick Day, Dante, Rita Long, Bonnie Doty, Lottie Machowski, Frank Gondek, Lane Combs, Ralph Helmer, Joanne Fournier, Bev Zizka, Barry Wilkinson, Tyler Ward, Lee Alstott, Vincent Kramer, Mike, Linda Nagle, Thomas Payne, Danielle Snowgold, Bud Newberry, Bishop Povish, John Pepa, Margaret Resconich, Joanna Bloese, Maureen, Russ Gardner, Ann Polcyn, Pete, Cornelius Smits, Matt Even, Ellen Columbo, Adeline Smith, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, Jeanette Wood, and Donovan.

The words of the Psalmist echo the theme of all of today’s readings. "Happy are they who hope in the Lord." As good stewards, firmly grounded in that hope, may we bear fruit in due season-assisting the poor, feeding the hungry, and consoling the sorrowful whenever we have the change.

Scripture and Stitches group will meet on Monday, Feb. 12. We will be passing out the new material and patterns for our fourth Habitat for Humanity quilt. If you do quilting and are available to help with this worthwhile project please join us at 10:00 a.m. in the adult formation room.

Retiree’s Lunch Bunch will gather on Tuesday, February 13 at 12:15pm in the adult formation room. Bring a sack lunch and join us for our Valentine get together. Joyce Gonda, from our Parish Nurse Ministry will be our speaker for this meeting. The topic will be "Stroke Prevention" an appropriate subject for the month dominated by hearts.

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

DATES TO REMEMBER

R.E.AC.H. Out & Touch Someone: Volunteer sign-up has begun for R.E.A.C.H. — The Salvation Army’s rotating homeless shelter. St. Mary Magdalen will be hosting the area’s homeless from April 16 to April 23. Volunteer positions include driving, chaperoning, and providing meals (more details are in the February Visionary). Sign-up sheets and job descriptions will be in the Gathering Space on the weekends. Contact Ann Fraser (517-545-9279) or Jan Carpenter (810-227-5269) with questions or to volunteer.

There are no classes February 18-22 for Religious Education/Formation due to the Winter Break. Classes resume February 25.

Important reminder, 9^th grade students preparing for Confirmation will celebrate the Rite of Acceptance on Saturday, February 24 at 4:30.

Also on the 24^th, St Pat’s Parish is hosting Blast 2001! Invited are all youth in grades 6,7,& 8! This is a night of food, music, prayer and FUN! There is a small cost and registration forms are in the gathering space! Call the office or St Pat’s 229-4221 for more information.

I leave you with this thought for the week from Stephen, 3^rd grade: Listen to God and you will make the right choice. Have a great week.

Mary Mahar

Last weekend many of us were away up north participating in a Spring Hill retreat, a Christian retreat center in Evart MI. What a great opportunity the speaker provided for the teens to deepen their Catholic faith. The speaker, Mike Ashburn, spoke of being saved and accepting Jesus as our personal savior. His message and use of certain words were hard for some to understand, yet at the same time we were able to talk about our faith as Catholics and learn from each other.

Thank you to Fr. Dave who celebrated Mass with us on Sunday when we returned. It was also a great weekend of praise and worship.

What an awesome experience it was to be amongst other denominations singing and praising our Lord God! The Holy Spirit filled the gymnasium with music, song and love. We may pray differently and believe differently, but in the end; we are all believers of the same loving God.

There is a meeting tonight; information will be handed out to those skiing next weekend.

April 6-8 is our spring retreat, Outrageous Request with guest speaker Phil Leonard. Mark your calendars now for a great weekend. Sign ups will begin in March.

Tuesday February 27 we will be gathering with some of the Sr. High youth group to talk about Lent from 6-8pm in the social hall. There will be pizza, ice cream and donuts for dessert. Sign up sheet is out in the gathering space, along with the registration forms for the Middle School Rally.

Margaret Callaghan

A Slide Show on Brain Attack will be presented between the masses February 18. Brain Attack or stroke, is the third leading cause of death and the # 1 cause of disability in the US. Let us commit ourselves to recognizing the warning signs of stroke and seeking prompt medical attention.

ARC Blood Drive February 23 1-7pm Sign up sheets are in the gathering area. I

f your are interested in helping out with the event contact Cathy Kolpacki (810) 229-0258.

Who Will Decide? You will!! Come and learn the advantages and procedure of Advanced Directives / Durable Power of Attorney documents. These steps insure that in the event that you are incapacitated from accident or illness and you are unable to communicate or make your own health care decisions, your wishes will be known and honored by health care personnel and also by your family. March 11 - 7:30pm at St. Mary Magdalen, the Parish Nurse Ministry will host a panel discussion featuring Fr. Dave Howell, Dr. Mark Zawisa M.D, and Mrs. Erin Mulvihill MSW.

February 2001 Charity of the Month

The effects of the Jan. 13 earthquake in El Salvador have been devastating to tens of thousands of Salvadorans. There is no water or electricity functioning in the capital city of San Salvador. Initial reports out of El Salvador by Catholic Relief Services is an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 citizens nationwide have been affected and the formal health system is saturated with hospital patients staying outdoors for fear of collapses. Community buildings are being used as temporary shelters. This month 25% of Alms monies will be sent to Catholic Relief Services — El Salvador.

There is a dresser and crib in our gathering area! If you would like to help Pregnancy Helpline assist a family in need, tags are still available for items to help fill the dresser and crib. If you took a tag, please remember your item can be brought and placed in the dresser/crib throughout this month. The baby bottle is there for monetary funds, for milk and formula.

Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church is hosting a Women’s Retreat on February 24, from 9 — 3: p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel (just off of 1-96) at 27000 Sheraton Dr., Novi, MI. Cost is $20.00/person. For info. call, Lori McDowell (248) 889-2802, or Mary Yigon (517) 545-3407.

On Saturday, February 24, from 9: - 12:30 p.m. a morning of prayer and reflection, "Living The Gospel Of Jesus" with Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, at St. John the Evangelist Church. Bishop Gumbleton is founding president of Pax Christi USA, the national and international Catholic peace movement. A continental breakfast will be served. Deadline for registration is Fri. Feb 16; registration is $5.00, For more information call (810) 629-1817.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

American Lawn Care & Brick-Scapes

Sunday, Feb. 11 Beth Economou

Saturday, Mary Jo Cubr, Donna Cayuela