It doesn’t really seem that long to me, but then last week as I attended graduation open houses, I began to realize how much time had passed. "Boys & girls" who were a part of our beginnings are now young women and men! Even one of the "original" youth leaders will be married this summer.

It amazes me to realize how much time has passed and how much things (and people) have changed. It is also a marvel to have some part of the growth and development of so many wonderful people!

HOW WELL DID WE PLAN? What the future holds is always a mystery, but out of curiosity I went back to look at the projections made six years ago when we began the process of deciding what kind of building we would construct.

Our original projections for our future growth have been reasonably close. By June 30, 1998, we had 632 families and 420 children in religious formation. By June 30, 1999, we had 738 families and 500 children in religious formation. By June 30, 2000, we had 742 families and 618 children in religious formation. We now have 886 families with 661 in religious formation.

With families leaving the parish and new ones coming between 1999 and 2000, we only added a few new families to the parish (although the numbers of youth in religious formation grew by 20%). As a result, our projections are lower than we had projected. In this past year, we added 154 new families. If this growth continues, by this time next year we should be close to, or over 1,000 families.

DSA REPORT: CONGRATULATIONS!! As of Monday, 279 of our 886 families joined me in making a pledge or gift to this year’s Diocesan Services Appeal. Our goal was $51,854, but together we contributed $58,565! Thanks

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST for this Fourth of July. With the holiday falling mid-week, it means a short celebration, but I hope yours will be safe and fun!

Fr. Dave Howell

The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio invites you to make a pilgrimage in the year 2001. We offer you a place of quiet prayer, Confessions, Mass, The Way of the Cross, Devotions to Our Lady with Benediction and Healing Prayer Service. The Franciscans Friars would host you. Call 419-396-7107 for more information.

1 Kgs 19:16b,19-21/Gal 5;1,13-18/Lk 9:51-62

9:00 am V Yvonne & Stanley Schultz

9:00 am V Tim McKeon

Resources for Persons with Disabilities — WKAR Radio Talking Book is a 24-hour news and information service provided for anyone who has difficulty reading conventional printed material. More than 220 volunteers keep print-challenged listeners in Mid-Michigan in touch and informed by providing verbatim readings from 14 daily newspapers, dozens of magazines, best-selling novels, children’s books, advertisements, community calendars and other printed materials. For more information or to volunteer, contact 517-353-9124.

Diocesan Assistance Program is a service provided by the Bishops’ Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs to assist you with substance/abuse referrals, speakers, and program resources. Call toll-free pager 517-340-2920.

Bob Green, Bill Frank

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Ministry of Server:

Beccie Govan, Robert Green, Pat Green

Ministry of Hospitality:

Margaret & Tom Callaghan, Kathy Petrocella, The Frank Family,

Jan Geiger

Donuts: Bob & Joanie Monforton

Ministers of the Word:

Dan Schifko, Donna Lorenz, Michele Sixbery

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Mike & Casey Clabby, Sandy Oliver,

Corrine Bielicki, Kristin Turner, Ted &

Ministry of Hospitality:

Keller Family, Ann & Rob Kehn, Woodside Family, Lisa &

Jennifer Schifko, Monte Family

Donuts: Mark & Sandy Dobek

Ministers of the Word:

David Sullivan, Anne Marie Conlisk, Dave Martin

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Joy Sullivan, Jack & Pam Hornsberger, Karen Hostnik, Mary Ann

Hargrave, Tony DiValentin, Karen Barker, Jan & Larry Baldinger, Marianne Quada

Ministry of Server:

Ministry of Hospitality:

Mary Ansbro, Putnam Family, Goettsche

Family, Lisa Klein, Katie Connor, Andrea Cappuccilli

Attention Parents! The week of August 6-10 we are having Journey with Jesus here in the Social Hall! What is JWJ you ask? Well it is our version of Vacation Bible School for our St. Mary Magdalen children and their friends! All are welcome to join in our artic blast as we go on a Polar Expedition to discover how cool Jesus’ love is! We need you to register your children to help make this week a success. Forms are on the bulletin board in the hall way or in the gathering area - just look for the polar bears guarding the registrations! If you register now you still have the opportunity to order t-shirts for your children!

Thank you to all who stopped by the Religious Formation table and to those who signed up to get more information about helping in the program! Catechists and aides are still needed for all sessions, especially every other Sunday in our Family Program. If you are a High School student needing service hours, helping in the program is a good way for you to share your faith with younger children! We also need help on Sundays during Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Call the office if you can help!

Thanks! Mary

Thank you to all the parents who helped with the summer picnic last Friday evening. Special thanks to the Magon family who opened their home to us with the use of the pool and bonfire pit. Thanks.

Next weekend is our 4th annual bottle and can drive. We will be accepting your empties back at the barn after the Masses and we will be going around to the neighborhoods. Money raised from this event will go toward the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) trip in December and some will go towards the Young Neighbors in Action (YNIA) Chicago trip. Thank you in advance for your support.

Thank you to all of you who came out to the Little Caesar's in Howell to support our fundraiser there. That money is being used for our YNIA trip.

Keep our teens in your prayers for a safe day this Tuesday. They will be traveling to Sandusky, Ohio to spend the day at Cedar point. They will be traveling by bus with St. John's in Hartland.

Margaret Callaghan

Our Habitat for Humanity Quilt is in need of quilters to help complete it as soon as possible. It will be raffled off to help raise money for Habitat — as they continue to build affordable housing in Livingston County. If you have a couple of hours to spend quilting, the quilt is in room #4. For more information on this project call Jeanette Martin or me at 229-5197.

Our first Picnic planning meeting for this year was held last Wednesday evening–if you missed the meeting but would still like to help out please call me at 229-8624. Our Annual Parish Picnic and Ice Cream Social will be Sunday, September 9^th. Mark your calendars now!

Our Grief Support group continues to meet on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. If you have lost someone close to you recently please feel free to join us in Room #4. For more information call Sr. Maryetta or me at 2299-8624.

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

During the month of June, we celebrated the sacrament of Baptism with Benjamin Thomas Hartley, son of Duane and Alicia Hartley; Megan Christine Black, daughter of Glen and Elana Black; Haleigh Lynn Mitter, daughter of John and Carrie Mitter ; and Elizabeth Mary Blanck, daughter of Kevin and Kelly Blanck.

We congratulate their parents and godparents and offer them our prayers and continued support as they accompany them on their journeys of faith.

Sponsor of the Month

Century 21