Vision Statement | Sacraments | Ministries | Weekly Bulletin
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REJOICE!! Traditionally, the Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday, which means rejoice. And, like the Third Sunday of Advent, the vestment color is rose. What is the reason we should rejoice? Because we are only three weeks away from salvation. Soon we will celebrate the Passover of the Lord: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday's great Easter Celebration.
These three days are much more than a celebration of the Passover of the Lord. By our understanding, the Liturgies of these days actually make us present to the events they celebrate. So on Holy Thursday we gather around the Last Supper table and go with the Lord out to the garden to watch and pray. On Good Friday, we stand at the cross to witness His death. On Holy Saturday night, we are in the tomb to witness the rising of Christ.
THE SCRUTINY SUNDAYS The last three Sundays of Lent take us through the last events leading up to the Passover of the Lord. So last Sunday we were at Jacob's well in Samaria. This weekend we are at the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus cured the man who had been born blind. Next Sunday we will go to Bethany, where Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead.
These three Sundays are meant to be more than just a travelogue of Jesus or even a catalogue of significant events. We, along with those preparing for the Easter Sacraments, are making this journey with Him. Along the way, Jesus will reveal to us the deeper meaning of these events.
Last week, He opened the heart of the Samaritan woman to the deeper "thirst" that motivated her actions. When her heart was open, He "flooded her life" with His love. In Baptism, Jesus became our living water which flooded our lives with the gift of eternal life. Today, we wash at the Pool of Siloam and our eyes are opened. We come to see the Light of Christ. In Confirmation, we receive the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that enables us to walk as children of the Light.
Next weekend, Jesus will tell us that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Not only will He call Lazarus from the tomb, but He will give us the gift of Himself in the Eucharist and share with us His risen life.
The readings of these three Scrutiny Sundays are an invitation both to those preparing to join the Church on Holy Saturday and to all of us. We are invited to scrutinize our lives and to rid ourselves of anything that hinders us from accepting the salvation Christ offers us. We are also invited to scrutinize the Scriptures, so that we might more fully appreciate the gift of life He offers
us.
Fr. Dave Howell
Please pray that the sick will respond to God's healing will, especially: Jake, Shirley Brake, Keith Dunn, Karen (Pat Spindler's daughter), Nancy Spears & unborn child, Paul Allberry, Barb Buwa, Brenda, Ron, Eileen Auld, Marilyn (mother of Steve Crowell), Mary Wagener, Debbie, Nancy, Steve, Jeanette, Bob, Vivian, Jane, Timothy, Zora, Mary Kay, Wayne, Ed, Merle, Tom, Andrew, Keith, Ruth, David, Kenneth, Robert, Cheryl, Laurie, Baby Keegan, Evan Snowgold, Danielle & Wyatt Campbell, Barb, and John.
Youth Grades 6-7-8 on Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m., we invite all students and parents who are interested in a youth group for Grades 6-7-8 to attend this meeting. We will be planning two activities for this year, thinking of a name for the group and brainstorming for next year. If youhave any questions, contact
Sue Wagener (810) 229-9592.
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. If you are a health care professional who might be willing to donate some of your time to health-related issues here at St. Mary Magdalen, please consider joining us on Sunday, March 28th at 12:30, in the Religious Formation Room. Mary Ann Tedman from McPherson Hospital will be here to give us some basic information about starting this ministry. For more information please call me at 229-8624.
SEDER 1999 Reclaiming our Jewish roots is an important part of our understanding of Christ's life and passion. Each year we as a parish family celebrate a Seder meal during Holy Week. This Seder is a combination of specific Jewish prayers, ritual foods and reflection on Israel's liberation from the enslavement in Egypt called the Passover.
Sign up sheets will be available next weekend for this year's Seder on Wednesday, March 31, at 6:00 p.m. Bring your family and a dish to pass. If you are available to help set up the day before or would like more information, call Ann Meredith, 227-2986, or Karen Polcyn, 229-1728. We are looking for donations of empty Paul Masson wine carafes for use that night; if you have any, please leave them in the box provided in the gathering area. Yours on the Journey, Marilyn
We congratulate the children who received the Sacrament of Penance this week. May they continue to feel the peace, joy and love of the Lord! There will be a meeting for parents with children in the Eucharist program on Thursday, March 18, and Thursday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. Sister Maryetta
What an exciting weekend we had last week! There was a lot going on with our teens involved with Odessey of the Mind and with band competitions.
Congratulations to David Deater and his team for taking first place at the OM competition last Saturday, and to Colleen Collins for her fourth place finish. Some of our freshmen took first place at the band festival, being the only freshman band to score all ones in all categories. You should be very proud of yourselves.
My mom will be coming over to teach us how to make rosaries tonight. She makes them herself and sends them over to the missionaries, who use them for the people they see and help every day. We'll give the rosaries back to her, so ours can be sent to the missionaries as well. What a great way to get involved and help people around the world to make God a part of their lives! As always, everyone is welcome to attend our meetings.
There will be a meeting on Thursday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. to organize a walk at Kensington Park, which we will be sponsoring this summer. We have contacted all the youth groups at the different churches in Brighton to participate. So far the response has been very positive. Special thanks to Kimber Kunkel for her time and energy in getting this set up. If you are interested in helping with this project, please attend the meeting; there will be a lot to talk about.
We will be sponsoring an Easter egg hunt on March 27 here at St. Mary Magdalen from 10:00-12:00 noon back by the barn. There will be two separate egg hunts, one for toddlers thru age 6, and one for children ages 7 thru 11. There will also be face painting, and a special rabbit will be there passing out candy from his basket (be sure and bring your camera). St. Pat's is co-sponsoring this event with us. Anyone interested in helping to fill the plastic eggs, please come to the meeting Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the youth room. Margaret Callaghan
Parents and students in grades 6, 7 and 8 are invited to attend a meeting Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m. about planning activities. Please bring creative ideas and suggestions for a name for this group.
I. William Olzack & Nancy Pence
In most discussions of the Sacrament of Penance, there is usually an agreement on the presence of sin in our lives and the need for forgiveness. But then the discussion narrows down to the question: Why a priest?.
An answer to this question begins with a look at the nature of sin itself. By its nature, sin is a social reality. By the very fact that a person chose self-centeredness over other-centeredness, another suffers. Moreover, even the most solitary sin diminishes the person that commits it, and when I diminish myself, society as a whole and the Church are lessened. Every person either adds to the betterment of our world or lessens it. There is no neutral state, no one is an island.
In the Sacrament of Penance there is both a personal and a social dimension. On the personal level there is one spiritual and psychological reality that, as the old wizened adage goes, "Confession is good for the soul." There is an inner need within us to open ourselves to another in all honesty. This enables me first to unburden myself and secondly to accept the truth about myself. When the other is accepting, it enables me to grow in an honest self-acceptance and self-esteem. There is also a social dimension to this as well. Since sin is itself social, there is a need to seek forgiveness from those affected by it. A person seeking true reconciliation seeks not only forgiveness from God, but also those affected by sin.
So why a priest? The role of the priest in the Sacrament of Penance is threefold. The wise and welcoming confessor is to be the expression of God's love. (Unfortunately, being human, not all priests fit this description, so it's important to seek one out). The priest gives to the penitent the gift the Risen Lord gave His Church - the forgiveness of sin. Secondly, the priest as a human being expresses for both the Church and society, the forgiveness of those who have been diminished by sin. Lastly, the wise and welcoming confessor enables the penitent to move beyond sin.
"Can't I just tell God I'm sorry?" Yes, most certainly! That should be a response every time I am aware of sin in my life. It is something we should do each time we approach the Eucharist. Yet there are the other dimensions to sin and forgiveness which make the Sacrament of Penance both necessary and important for our growth in holiness.
Stewardship Report Last weekend approximately 1249 people participated in the Liturgies. These folks contributed $14,991.l8 to the parish. Last year on this Sunday the contributions totaled $9,529.48.
Sacrificial Giving presently we have 718 families registered in the parish and 390 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
The Art and Environment Ministry Team is ordering the Flowers of the Easter Season. As we did for Christmas, we are giving parishioners the opportunity to purchase a plant in memory of loved ones. The cost is $10.00. Please sign on the sheet in the gathering space and place a check (payable to St. Mary Magdalen) in the basket. The names of those remembered will be published in the bulletin.
Lost - UofD Class Ring (Class of 1965) in front of church on Monday, March 1, 1999; Initials KJW inside. Please contact Ken Wilkinson (810)229-5354. Found in several areas of the church money has been found and turned into the office, please contact Kay (810) 229-8624 if you lost some money.
There are still a few tags remaining on the Easter tree of life, please consider helping the area seniors. Gifts should be returned next weekend (March 20/21) with the tag attached. Contact Kathy Kolpacki (810) 229-0258 if you have any questions.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S - 24 hour relay for life, a community celebration to honor and remember those who have battled cancer. Teams of family, friends, co-workers and neighbors collect donations prior to the event and then dedicate 24 hours to camping out with teammates and taking turns walking or jogging around a track. There will also be games, contests, prizes, a Cancer Survivors' lap and luminary ceremony to pay tribute to those who have been touched by cancer. Outback Steakhouse is to provide the Cancer Survivors' Dinner and lunch at the Relay. For more information and details contact Cammie Gaubatz (810) 225-8590.
Calling all Catholic prayer warriors of the Lansing Diocese willing to offer one hour of adoration per week for the intentions of Bishop Mengeling. He will be offering Mass and blessing the participants at 12:00 p.m., St. Marys Cathedral, Lansing, on March 16. For more information, call Barb Yaich (517) 224-6766 or e-mail rodney@voyager.net.
The next meeting of the Washtenaw/Livingston Council of Catholic Women will be held March 24, 1999 at St. Joseph's, Dexter. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. Rabbi Robert Levi of Temple Beth Emeth will speak at 9:45. His topic will be the Jubilee Judeo-Christian Relationship in the twenty-first century. Mass, a potluck luncheon and a short business meeting will follow. For further information call Joanne Fredal (734) 428-8010.
The Charity & Justice Ministry Team continues to ask you to save your VG's receipts and return them in the container provided in the Gathering Area. Through these receipts organizations can collect 1% of the receipt total. These funds will be used to help those in need within our parish.
Keeping in Shape??? Are you exercising and dieting, jogging, swimming, and playing tennis to stay fit and trim? What are you doing to keep you marriage in good shape? Why not try a Marriage Encounter weekend? Weekends are scheduled for April 16-18 and September 24-26. Contact John & Michelle Macari (313) 572-8952 or toll free (888) 628-7433, for more information.
If you would like to have a Liturgy celebrated for a special intention, arrangements can be made by calling the parish office (229-8624). A contribution is usually made to pay for the cost of the bread and wine and all the other items that are needed for the celebration of the Liturgy.
Sunday March 14 - Fourth Sunday of Lent
1 Sm 16:1b,6-7,10-13a/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41
Monday, March 15
Is 65:17-21/Jn 4:43-54
9:00 a.m. Our Properties Team
Tuesday, March 16
Ez 47:1-9,12/Jn 5:1-16
9:00 a.m. Rudy Miller
Wednesday, March 17
Is 49:8-15/Jn 5:17-30
7:00 p.m. Mark Shipley
Thursday, March 18
Ex 32:7-14/Jn 5:31-47
9:00 a.m. Keith Erickson
Friday, March 19 - Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary
2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16/Rom 4:13,16-18,22/Mt 1:16,18-21,24a
9:00 a.m. Vincent Porcaro
Saturday, March 20
Jer 11:18-20/Jn 7:40-53
Sunday, March 21 Fifth Sunday of Lent
Ez 37:12-14/Rom 8:8-11/Jn 11:1-45
4:30 (Vigil) Norman Latour
9:00 a.m.St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners
11:00 a.m. James Zwick
Monday, March 15
7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer (Church)
7:00 p.m. BeFrienders (Social Hall)
7:30 p.m. K of C Business Mtg.(Rectory LL)
7:30 p.m. Properties Meeting (Adult
Formation Room)
Tuesday, March16
7:00 p.m. Junior High Meeting (Conf. Room)
7:30 p.m. Inquiry/Journey (Adult Formation
Wednesday, March 17
No Activities
Thursday, March 18
6:30 p.m. Scripture Rosary
7:00 p.m. First Eucharist Mtg.(Social Hall)
7:30 p.m. Music Ministry
7:30 p.m. Youth Walk Organization Meeting
(Youth Room)
Friday, March 19
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross (Church)
Saturday, March 20
No Activities
Sunday, March 21
7:00 p.m. Youth Group (Youth Room)
7:30 p.m. WAWWWW (Adult Formation Rm.)
Vision Statement | Sacraments | Ministries | Weekly Bulletin
Parish Staff | Religious Education | Miscellanous Information | Special Events