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THE JOURNEY CALLED LENT Lent is one of my favorite times of year. It not because I enjoy fasting or fish or penance. It is because of the wonderful possibilities that are a part of Lent. The days grow longer, and the grip of winter is ebbing. Soon the cold will yield to milder days, and life will return to the earth. Lent reflects this same hope and potential to the believer. Lent is time of trying new things - new ways to pray, new ways of relating to each other. It is a time to attempt to develop some new habits that might improve my life. Lent is a time to succeed at some of these AND a time to FAIL. Only a few of my many different attempts to live better, pray better, love better may actually succeed. But hopefully a few of these good things can be "added to my life" and continue long after Easter.
Even Lent's failures are a lesson. For they point again to our fundamental need for a Savior. No matter how hard we try, no matter how good we may be, we cannot save ourselves by our own efforts. It may be hard for us to fail, but the "fall" should make us grateful that the Lord is there to lift us up. The failures of Lent can lead to a deeper appreciation of what a great gift Easter truly is for us.
The journey of Lent moves though the desert of temptation to the mountain where Christb reveals to us what we are called to be. It is my hope and prayer for us all that we will use Lent as time to try new ways to live a better, more faithful life. May this Lenten journey with all its successes and failures help us grow toward Easter and the life it promises.
Fr. Dave Howell
Please pray that the sick will respond to God's healing will, especially: Paul Allberry, Barb Buwa,
Brenda, Ron, Eileen Auld, Marilyn (mother of Steve Crowell), Mary Wagener, Debbie, Nancy, Steve,
Jeanette, Bob, Pete, Vivian, Jane, Timothy, Zora, Mary Kay, Wayne, Ed, Merle, Tom, Andrew,
Keith, Ruth, Mary, Victor, David, Kenneth, Robert, Cheryl, Laurie, Baby Keegan, and John.
SACRAMENT OF THE SICK On Wednesday, Feb. 24 we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick during the 7pm Liturgy. All who have serious or chronic illness are especially invited.
Scripture is filled with examples of Christ's concern for the physical as well as spiritual welfare of those He encountered. Spreading the Good News often meant curing the sick and feeding the hungry before His message could be heard. It is with that thought in mind that we would like to start a Parish Nurse Ministry and are looking for both registered and practical nurses who might be willing to donate some of their time to health related issues here at St. Mary Magdalen. The scope of this ministry would be determined by the group under the guidance of McPherson Hospital. If you are interested in helping us form this team give me a call (229-8624) and we will set up a meeting. Yours on the journey, Marilyn
We congratulate the children who were received for the Rite of Acceptance for the Sacrament of Confirmation and ask that you continue to pray for them and for all the children who are preparing to receive the Sacraments this year. I would like to thank all who participated in the Family Retreat and all who helped make it a wonderful and growth-filled experience. There is an Education meeting on Monday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m. Sister Maryetta
"Follow Me" for teens is going very well. Kathy Rigley and I lead the reflections every Monday during Lent at 7:30 p.m. at my home. It's not too late to join us! It was good to see teens and their parents interested in the National Catholic Youth Conference at our informational meeting. The conference is scheduled for Nov. 18-21, 1999, in St. Louis. If interested, call me evenings 227-7937. Juvenile Diabetes Foundation we will be collecting for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in March. Drop your donations in the Alms Box and a portion will go to that charity. If you wish information on this charity, pamphlets are available in the gathering space. Thank you in advance for any donations. There will be no meeting tonight because of the ski trip, but I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at "Follow Me", and next Sunday evening at our youth group meeting. Margaret Callaghan
AGE 50+ LENTEN RETREAT, facilitated by Bishop Kenneth Povish, is scheduled for Thursday, March 11, here at St. Mary Magdalen from 10:00 - 3:00 p.m., with Mass at 2:00 p.m. Cost of $8.00, includes speaker and lunch. RSVP by March 3 to Betty Polaske (810) 227-5370.
WANTED - SECRETARY LEVEL III Diocese of Lansing, Catholic Charities Dept., is looking for a full-time secretary involving clerical support for three ministry staff and general receptionist for Catholic Charities Dept. If interested contact Michael Liberato (517) 342-2466. Deadline is March 26.
Traditionally, the origins of the Sacrament of Penance are found in the Resurrection account of John's Gospel. The Risen Lord appeared to His Church, the apostles, breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them..." (Jn 20:21-22) From her earliest days, the Church saw this as her mission - to bring reconciliation to the world. The first way this was accomplished was through Baptism. In this sacred washing, a person was cleansed of sin and reborn as a child of God. Since most were baptized as adults after a long conversion process, most lived this new life faithfully.
The worst persecution of Christians occurred during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian in the third century. Many were imprisoned and martyred, but some renounced their faith. As a result, an intense debate raged when the persecution ended and these unfaithful ones repented. Some folks said there was no forgiveness for these penitents; others thought there was a need for a whole conversion process again ending in re-baptism.
Being unforgiving was not acceptable, neither was re-baptism since we already believed in "one baptism for the forgiveness of sin." The need for repentance leading to a deepening of their conversion was accepted, and the Sacrament of Penance evolved out of this. A ritualized form of conversion evolved.
This ritual began with a confession of sin to the Bishop. Lengthy disciplines or penances were imposed to help strengthen the penitent. These penances lasted from months to years. Often they included wearing sackcloth as a sign of penitence, fasting, prayer and works of charity. The severity of the penance depended on the severity of the sin. Three great sins--adultery, denying the faith and murder--required this new ritual form of conversion. Only after the penitent completed their penances were they re-admitted to Communion.
This form of the Sacrament could only be celebrated once in a lifetime! Because of this, the severity of the penances and fear of their own relapse into sin, many people waited until they were near death to seek absolution. In the ninth century a new form of the Sacrament began to evolve. It was brought to Europe by Irish missionary monks who came from monasteries where they had sought to fully live the Gospel. As monks they had regularly confessed all their sins, even the smallest, to the abbot who gave them a penance. In this new form, the Sacrament of Penance could be celebrated many times in one's life. This form of the Sacrament is the one that has continued to our time.
Stewardship Report Last weekend approximately 1413 people participated
in the Liturgies. These folks contributed $12,205.31 to the parish. Last year
on this Sunday the contributions totaled $8,049.02.
HEALING THE WOUNDS OF DIVORCE, by Fr. Benno Kornely, S.J., of Manresa Retreat Center, will be held Thursday, March 4, 1999, 7:30 p.m., at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in the Parish Hall, 530 Elizabeth St., Ann Arbor. For more information, call Virginia at 734-994-9194.
St. Joseph Men's Club Friday, March 19, 5:00-7:00 p.m. to benefit Livingston County Catholic Social Services. Prices are Adult-$5.75(fish), $4.00(mac. & cheese) and $7.00(baked walleye); Children-$4:00(fish), and $2.50(mac. & cheese). Call (517) 546-3232 for more information and carryout.
St. John's Lenten Fish Fry, March 5, 12, 19 and 26, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Seniors discount 10% from 4-6:00 p.m. Children's portions are for 10 years and under. Call (517) 546-9154 for more information and carryout.
Old St. Patrick Church, Whitmore Lake Lenten Fish Fries all Fridays of Lent from 4:30-8:00 p.m. Cost Adults $6.00, Seniors $5.50, Children $4.75, 4 and under free. For further information, call (734) 426-4553.
February 28 - Second Sunday of Lent
Gn 12:1-4a/2 Tm 1:8b-10/Mt 17:1-9
Monday, March 1
Dn 9:4b-10/Lk 6:36-38
9:00 a.m. Joseph Schwab
Tuesday, March 2
Is 1:10,16-20/Mt 23:1-12
9:00 a.m. Nicholas Pasienza
Wednesday, March 3
Jer 18:18-20/Mt 20:17-28
7:00 p.m. Fredrick Thomas Cupples
Thursday, March 4
Jer 17:5-10/Lk 16:19-31
9:00 a.m. Peter Cabay
Friday, March 5
Gn 37:3-4,12-13a,17b-28/Mt 21:33-43,45-46
9:00 a.m.Dolly Steier
Saturday, March 6
Mi 7:14-15,18-20/Lk 15:1-3,11-32
Sunday, March 7 Third Sunday of Lent
Ex 17:3-7/Rom 5:1-2,5-8/Jn 4:5-42
4:30 (Vigil) Mary & Carl Wojewodzki
9:00 a.m.James Zwick
11:00 a.m. St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners
Minister of the Word:
Jean Feterl, Maura Giardina
Ministers of the Eucharist:
Gary Prise, Laura Drittler, Jill Winship, Casey
& Mike Clabby, Barry Wilkinson, Myrna Angelucci
Ministry of Server:
Julie Crabbe, Tim Clabby
Ministry of Hospitality:
Katie Barazsu, Kathy Petrocella, Mary Janke,
Hurn Family, Ken & Claudette Wilkinson
Minister of the Word:
Rhonda Barclay, Bill Turowski
Ministers of the Eucharist:
Ed & Beccie Govan, Jim Rigley, Pete
Lintzenich, Gary & Linda Kinneer, Irene Cappuccilli, Chris Kovanda, Fred
Arthur, Diane Deater
Ministry of Server:
Andrea Cappuccilli, Erik Gubert, Randall
Manetta
Ministry of Hospitality:
Don & Judy Terns, Kevin Kovanda, Youth
Group, Charlie Klein
Nursery:
Deidre Osborne
Minister of the Word:
David Sullivan, Dan Schifko
Ministers of the Eucharist:
Mike & Karen Hostnik, Sue Hlavaty, Priscilla
& Duke Davis, Joy Sullivan, John Spalding,Jr., Debby Romanelli, Sue Paielli,
Laura DeLaMarre
Ministry of Server:
Colleen Holden, Angie Schifko
Ministry of Hospitality:
Lisa & Jenni Schifko, Andy & Donna
VanBuskirk, JoAnn & Wendel Burkhardt, Steve & Pat Holden
Nursery:
Lisa Klein
Monday, March 1
7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer (Church)
7:00 p.m. Education Meeting (Conf. Room)
7:00 p.m. BeFrienders (Social Hall)
7:30 p.m. Art & Environment (Room #3)
7:30 p.m. K of C (Rectory LL)
Tuesday, March 2
6:30 p.m. Journey Team Meeting (Adult Form.)
7:30 p.m. Inquiry/Journey
Wednesday, March 3
7:30 p.m. Worship Team (Conf. Room)
Thursday, March 4
10:00 a.m. Women of O.T.
6:30 p.m. Scripture Rosary
7:00 p.m. Sacrament of Penance Role Play
(Church)
7:30 p.m. Music Ministry
Friday, March 5
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross (Church)
Saturday, March 6
No Activities Planned
Sunday, March 7
9:30 a.m. New Parishioner Meeting (Adult
Form.)
7:00 p.m. Youth Group
7:30 p.m. WAWWWW (Adult Form.)
Vision Statement | Sacraments | Ministries | Weekly Bulletin
Parish Staff | Religious Education | Miscellanous Information | Special Events