THE FEAST OF THE MAGDALEN Next weekend, we celebrate our parish feast day. The feast of Mary Magdalen will take precedence over the Fifteenth Sunday of the Church Year.

The feast gives us the opportunity to reflect again on the role of the patron saint we chose for this community. It also gives us the opportunity to reflect on how we might imitate this woman of faith.

ANOTHER FIRST Last Sunday was another first in my life as a priest. Over the last 23 years, I have blessed countless religious articles, homes, offices, pets, cars and trucks, fields and foods of every variety. I have even blessed the operating rooms for a public hospital.

But last Sunday, I blessed my first pub! One of our parishioners, John (& Arlene) Callaghan, opened an Irish pub in Plymouth (Sean Callaghan’s). The four owners, John and his son and their two partners, are all Catholic, so in good Irish fashion the pub was blessed and a crucifix hung.

Along the way, we have had several home blessings, usually in a single neighborhood. Everyone involved goes from house to house and then we have ended with a potluck at the last home. There have been as few as four and as many as 13. I mention this, just in case others may be interested. Both the deacon and I would be more than willing to lead a "serial blessing".

If you would be interested in helping to set one up for your neighborhood, give either Dave or myself a call!

Fr. Dave Howell

Please remember in your prayers Jan Artman and family in the death of James Demeniuk, Jan’s father.

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Tom Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Mary Johnson, Chuck Horka, Patti Conahan, Matt Even, Bill Janke, Kathy Riccardi, Sharon Micallef, Jim Colgin, Marcella, David Girouard, Charlotte Sullivan, Jim Brake, Jimmy Sexton, Dolores & Donald Schommer, Mel Oja, John Colombo, Elsie Whetter,Linda Lambert, John,Lanore Chisholm,Adam Weitzel, Mary Beth, Mary Lou Colgin, Jason Summers, Yvette Lagimodiere, Joey Boyd, Bill Hare, Merrick, Diana Jox, Paul Duff, Carol, Kateri Sullivan-Golbiw,Ralph Helmer, Bev Zizka, Lane Combs, Tyler Ward, Mike, Linda Nagle, Bishop Povish, John Pepa, Joanna Bloese, Cornelius Smits, Ellen Colombo, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, Jeanette Wood, and Donovan.

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.

The good Samaritan was also a good steward, giving his time and his treasure to meet his neighbor’s need. At the end of this familiar story, Jesus urges his hearers — and us — to go and do the same!

WE C.A.R.E. Communication and Relationship Enhancement Program (a marriage preparation program) sponsored by the Diocese of Lansing Family Ministry, Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Services will be held at various times throughout the year at St. Pat’s and Livingston County Catholic Social Services in Howell. Call 517-545-5944 for more information.

It is time for you to help those less fortunate than yourself. Drivers are needed to deliver food to St. Anne’s and the Brown Evangelical Mission in Detroit. The food can be delivered anytime after the 11:00 am Mass on Sundays. A sign up sheet is in the gathering area for August, September, and October. You may also call Jan Denzer at (810) 229-7852.

Summer Collection: Many people in our community can't afford basic personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste, soap, brushes and facial tissues. During the month of July we will be collecting these types of items in the Gathering Area. They will be donated to the Salvation Army of Livingston County. Laundry baskets labeled for the "Summer Collection" will be available for items you are willing to purchase for these people in need. Thank you!

"Our Lady at the Fair" apostolate: is in need of volunteers to host the booth and exhibit at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July 18-21. The booth’s purpose is to bring Jesus and Mary to the market place and create more public awareness of their power and promises. The volunteers host the booth and give out rosaries, tapes, medals and other sacramentals free of charge. Last year, "Mary" exhibit distributed over 3000 rosaries, 500 scapulars and many other religious articles. The volunteers commented that the spiritual benefits of volunteering were amazing. To sign up call Mario at (734) 930-3745 or for further inform call Dr. Walter Niemann at (734) 481-0291.

Attention Parents! The week of August 6-10 we are having Journey with Jesus here in the Social Hall! Make sure you sign up now! Forms are in the gathering area.

I should be getting back to work this week (well at least part of it) but it is tough camping and then coming back to reality. Our family (including our dog) finds it so relaxing to get away together to hike and see the beauty of the countryside. I will let you know next week if this is the case this year!

I am ready to meet with anyone who would like more information about helping in the program! If you haven’t yet, call me and I will get back to you this week!

If you have not yet registered for Religious Education classes for this fall, please stop in the office and do so. We are only putting a limited amount of students in each class so you may already need to give us your second choice!

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am! Make and take the time to be with your family as much as you can and relax together!

Thank you to everyone who donated their bottle returns last weekend, and to those of you who helped make this fundraiser successful. I appreciate your support!

This weekend our Young Neighbors In Action teams leave for Chicago to participate in the weeklong work camp. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travel and positive experiences.

Last week our leadership team spent the day together on retreat to plan this upcoming year. It was a wonderful day and we were very productive. It is going to be a great year with a lot of new things going on.

Thank you to the adult chaperones that spent the day with the teens at Cedar Point this past Tuesday. All had a fun day. Thank you.

Wednesday July 25, I am holding a meeting for anyone interested in helping with planning events. Students are encouraged to attend also. Bring your planner, the meeting starts at 7:30pm.

Margaret Callaghan

The Scripture and Stitches group will continue to meet on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Each week we focus on a different Celtic saint and a quilt design adapted from the Book of Kells.

The group is also looking for willing hands to help complete the Habitat for Humanity quilt, which is in Room #4. If you are a quilter and have a couple of free hours, please stop in. For more information on this project, contact Jeanette Martin at 229-5197.

Our Grief Support Group will also continue to meet in the summer on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in Room #4. For more information about this group, please call Sr. Maryetta at 229-8624.

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

Stephanie St. Clair, Jim Kronk

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Pat Spindler, Tom St. Clair, Judy Kronk,

Ministry of Server:

Jenna Chabot, Ryan Burt, Todd Holden

Ministry of Hospitality:

Chabot Family, Neitzke Family, Holden

Family, Borgeson Family

Minister of the Word:

Bill Turowski, Jamie Colgin, Rhonda

Barclay

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Mary Ellen Magon, Jan & Rob Carpenter,

Tammy Ritter, Jeff & Marianne Quada,

Ministry of Server:

Andrew Wolterman, Melinda Wolterman,

Emily Ritter

Ministry of Hospitality:

May & Amanda Dreckmann, Kathleen

LaTarte,, Youth Group

Donuts: John & Karen MacDonald

Minister of the Word:

Sue Hlavaty, Mary Ann Hargrave, Jan

Baldinger

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Deb Romanelli, Maureen & Steve Crowell,

Bridget Crowell, Joe & Rosanne Carron,

Jocelyn Denzer, Jan Denzer, Al & Donna Rushak

Ministry of Server:

Luke, Zach, & John-Paul Carron

Ministry of Hospitality:

Elizabeth & Jennifer Slack, Pete &

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OWOSSO is sponsoring a 12 day Caribbean Cruise which sets sail October 1, 2001 aboard the Brand New Summit Ship, and visits Key West, Cozumel, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Aruba and Grand Cayman. Life onboard includes daily Mass & rosary, shore excursions, shows, exquisite cuisine, airfare to and from Metro airport and much more. Cost is $2349.00 per person. Call Nancy (517) 725-5215 for more information.

Parent(s) needed to adopt orphaned Asian born infants and toddlers. You are cordially invited to attend a free information meeting to be held locally in Schaumburg, IL (8/1/01) and Southfield, MI (8/2/01). For further information, please call: Lisa or Joanie — (800) 513-1910.

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