ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

When our catechumen who are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and our candidates who are preparing to join the Church through Confirmation and Eucharist first hear of the "scrutinies" they get a little nervous. Perhaps their anxiety is appropriate. Perhaps all of us should be a little nervous.

The reason for our anxiety is simple; for the next three weekends, all of us are called to examine our lives in the light of the Gospel!

This Sunday, we meet the Lord at Jacob’s well in Samaria. Do we recognize our need for Jesus? If only we would recognize God’s gift and ask Him for the life and love that will sustain us…

Last week the Wednesday evening group prepared for that evening’s Liturgy and assisted in the Anointing of the Sick.

This week, the Wednesday evening Liturgy will be at 5 pm, to enable the afternoon session of Religious Ed to plan and participate. We will have a 7 pm Liturgy on Thursday. Our youth have prepared that Liturgy, so I hope you will come and join them!

Please pray that it will be a wonderful experience for them!

Fr. Dave Howell

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Victor, Matthew Evancho, Larry, Charlie Brenner, Ashley Horning, Pauline Jones, Joan, Kathy, Alexandria Nelson, Jessica Wolfe, Janet Hucke, Jon Hancock, Debbie, Diane Lickfold, Bob Szajnecki, Ralph Bennett, Taryn Simon, Shannon McKay, Joseph Hommel, Sr., Robert Grace, Don Camden, Alicia Miller, Evelyn, Shannon Knapp, Peter Bumpus, Sam Marino, Monica, Bill, Joyce, Bill Kottke, Colette Bertrand, Larry Stanley, Bob Brookins, Laura Drittler, Sophie Martin, June Bennett, Shirley Brake, Steve Thuss, Ethan Montague, Micah Zielinski, Carolyn Johnson, Matt Even, Jimmy Sexton, Mel Oja, Mary Beth, Mary Lou Colgin, Joey Boyd, Merrick, Linda Nagle, Bishop Povish, Joanna Bloese, Ellen Colombo, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, and Donovan.

Please remember in your prayers Linda Gury and family in the death of Jessie Turowski, Linda’s mother.

COMMUNITY CONCERT TODAY at 7:00pm begins the parish mission at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor with Vince Ambrosetti, a composer and artist. He is dedicated to ministry through music. His compositions will fill your heart and lift your spirits.

Call St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 734-769-2550 for

When Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, He opened the door for a life-changing relationship with Him. Scripture says her testimony drew many others to Him as well. We, too, must be ready to respond whenever and wherever the Lord speaks to us and be prepared for it to change our lives!

RCIA Hospitality is looking for bakers or non-bakers to donate cookies and fruit breads for the reception after the Easter Vigil service on March 30. Just a couple dozen cookies or a loaf of bread will offer a warm welcome to the newest members of our St. Mary Magdalen family. Thank you in advance for helping us out. There is a sign up sheet in the gathering area or call Sandy Oliver at 810-266-4849.

There are many ways for you and your family to make this Lent more prayerful. Evening prayer on Monday at 7 gives you the opportunity to experience prayer in a different way, using your senses. Come Monday evening and see what I mean. In our classes, the children are attending the Stations of the Cross to learn about Jesus’ journey to His death. Friday evenings at 7 you are invited to reflect on His journey as we pray the stations together.

On Wed, March 6 the 4:30 session children will be helping with a special 5 pm Liturgy (there will be no 7 pm Liturgy that evening) and on Thursday, March 7 the R.E. children will be helping with the ministries at a special 7 pm Liturgy (there will be no 9 am Liturgy that day). Parents are encouraged to attend.

Please continue to pray for all our parish family members who are on their journey towards the sacraments, especially the First Penance candidates who will be celebrating the gift of God’s forgiveness on March 14 and 16.

Thanks, Mary

Spring Retreat, March 22-24, Pine Hills Retreat Center in Hamburg. Our theme will be God in nature. Cost for the weekend is only $20. Permission slips are now available at the meetings or by calling me. If any parent is interested in spending some time with us, call me and we can talk. It would be worth your time

Any youth who may be interested in acting out our Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, call me at 227-7937 for a schedule of practices. Pray about your involvement during the season of Lent.

We meet every Sunday from 7-9. During the season of Lent, we will meet every Friday at 7:00 pm for the Stations of the Cross and an hour reflection afterward ending at 9pm, a great way to spend the season of Lent, devoting time to God.

M.U.D (6, 7 and 8 graders)

Our first MUD Retreat was a great success! During the morning we learned about the light we have inside of us that is given from God, the afternoon was spent with Phil Leonard who talked about us being salt of the earth. It was a great day spent with the Lord. We extend a special thanks to Sue Wagener, Kyle Wilson and Mary Mahar who spent their day with us.

Margaret Callaghan

March 12^th is the Retirees’ St. Patrick’s Day Lunch. We will be playing a little Irish music as we share some helpful hints over our sack lunches. Join us for green dessert and coffee at 12:15 p.m. in the Adult Formation Room.

Prayer Quilts: The first of our prayer quilts were put out recently for you to help tie. With each tie we ask you to say a prayer for the recipient. Please join us in this special way of remembering and praying for those injured or sick in our community.

Winter weather has always been challenging in Michigan–just a reminder–Adult Programs here (i.e. MOMS, Scripture and Stitches, Scripture Study, etc.) are cancelled when Brighton area schools are cancelled.

Water For Body & Soul — Unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise, we challenge you to drink EIGHT 8oz. glasses of water a day. We also wish you the gift of "living water" for your soul! May Jesus refresh and renew us all as we journey toward Holy Saturday!

Safety Helmet Sales — this non-profit sale will begin at the Easter Egg Hunt on Holy Saturday! Make sure yours are in good repair and still fit correctly. Orders will be taken during the first three weeks in April. Details to follow!

LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY HOSPICE is once again seeking community members to attend our volunteer training. Volunteers are the strength and heart of this program. They help to keep health care cost effective and extend the services of physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers and clergy who make up the hospice team. We see to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and family members. Training will be on Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 9:00am-Noon in the Cafeteria Conference Room, and one Wednesday, April 3, from 8:30-11am in Community Room 1 at McPherson Hospital, Howell. Call Sue-Anne at 517-540-9125 to register.

Understanding Islam presented by Fr. Thomas Baima will be offered Friday, 3/15, 9-11:30 or Saturday, 3/16 9-11:30am at St. Agnes, Fowlerville. Call 517-342-2509 for information.

Sponsor of the Week

Pregnancy Helpline

FRIENDS: A support group for divorced and separated meets every 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of the month at 7:30pm at St. Thomas Parish Center in Ann Arbor. Topics of discussion: the five stages of grieving, helping children cope, legal issues, and spirituality. Call Virginia Mikola (734) 994-9194 for more information.