Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Robert, Marianne Quada, Dennis Seefelt, Abigail Line, Don Schommer, Pat Cote, Tom Clark, Bridget, Margaret & David Wenzel, Alec Schalhamer, Eileen, Jan Jandasek, Nancy, Kathleen, Bill Slack, Cheryl Franks, Kim Hahn, Betty Prise, Scott Delplace, Marie Seagel, Laura, Pat Fuller, Jessica, Ninfa Aragona, Nancy Sharpy, Karen Zapalski, Judy LaGrow, Becky Wilson, Kyle Happley, Bob Stecewicz, Mike Beauchamp, George Sierant, Bradley Stevens, Ruth, Marcella, Paul Domsic, Ashley Horning, Alexandria Nelson, Jessica Wolfe, Debbie, Ginther, Ralph Bennett, Shannon McKay, Joseph Hommel, Sr., Robert Grace, Don Camden, Evelyn, Bill, Craig Livingston, Joyce, Bill Kottke, Colette Bertrand, Laura Drittler, Sophie Martin, June Bennett, Ethan Montague, Matt Even, Jimmy Sexton, Mary Lou Colgin, Mary Beth, Bishop Povish, and Donovan.

On Wednesday, July 24 we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick during the 7pm Liturgy. All who have serious or chronic illness are especially invited.

Good stewards in a parish are like the yeast in today’s Gospel. Their selfless gifts of time and talent help the parish grow and thrive, and their example inspires others to become good stewards, too.

Saturday, July 27 Carol McGrath

Thursday, August 14^th

11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Holy Spirit Park & Pavilion in Hamburg

Please bring a folding chair and a dish to share

*Handicapped Accessible

*Convenient Parking

*Covered Shelter

*Restrooms nearby

Our Bug Safari begins next week! Registrations are still in the Gathering area — please register today! We are joining with St. John the Baptist Parish, and we need to know how many children will be attending! Confirmation candidates’ needing service hours - this is the perfect opportunity to help! Call the office to sign up.

Confirmation candidates please note: Confirmation is Saturday, November 30, 2002 at the 4:30pm Liturgy. The Confirmation retreat for all those to be Confirmed in November is a weekend retreat from September 13 through the 15^th. We will be going to Bethany House in DeWitt, the new YOUTH retreat center for the Diocese of Lansing! Details will be mailed out soon.

Registrations for the Fall Formation classes can be made on Wednesdays in July from 9:30am-4pm in the office. If you need an evening appointment, please call me at 229-8624.

We just got back from our camping trip in the UP. My family canoed down the Two Hearted River (I stayed at the campground and relaxed and read a book!), we swam, hiked, made s’mores, sat around the campfire every night, visited lighthouses and relaxed (as much as we could leaving our college-bound daughter home for the first time so she could work!) One of the best things about vacation was being together and watching sunsets over Lake Superior. It was beautiful!

In order to make this year’s picnic a success, we are looking to you for some assistance. If you work for a generous employer or know someone that would be in a position to donate monies or picnic supplies, please fill out the donation form in back of church or call Pat Christie at (810) 229-7557 (home) or (586) 873-0265 (cell). If you are interested in volunteering your time on one of the various sub-committees, please sign-up on the sheets provided in the gathering area.

We have returned from our trip to Kentucky, and are looking forward to sharing many inspiring and heartfelt stories with you.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the youth and our youth program here, there is a meeting scheduled for Monday, July 29, at 7:30pm. I am looking to create an adult team of volunteers to help in all aspects of the youth program. Perhaps you are not good in dealing with teens on a personal level. However, you may be helpful with food for special events, or chaperoning trips. Perhaps scrap-booking is your specialty. Putting pictures on poster boards and helping to show off our accomplishments would be a great way to become involved. Creating flyers for special events would be an area you could help with.

Monday, August 12, we are planning to spend the day at Cedar Point. Adult chaperones and drivers are needed. This is intended for all students entering the 10^th grade through 12^th grade.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer and involved, plan to attend the July 29 meeting mentioned above.

Margaret Callaghan

Taking God to School Retreat, Is it hard sometimes to live out your faith in school? Bethany House is hosting a retreat for high school youth on how to be a Catholic every day in high school August 16-18. For registration information, please call 517-668-3747 or visit us online.

There is a critical need for blood during the summer months. Please consider donating. The next blood drive is Friday August 9th from 1pm-7pm in the Social Hall. We also need volunteers to work. Please sign up in the gathering area.

Monday, July 22^nd, St. Mary Magdalen. A devoted follower of Jesus during his earthly ministry, a model of penitence. Mary is believed to have come from Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias. She is identified in Scriptures as the woman who anointed Christ’s feet at the house of Simon. It is also believed she had seven devils cast out of her by Christ. Mary Magdalen ministered to Christ and the Apostles in Galilee and was at the Crucifixion. She discovered the empty tomb with the other holy women on Easter morning and was the first person to encounter the Risen Christ. Mary Magdalen is traditionally reported to have accompanied St. John to Ephesus. The Greek Church records that Mary Magdalen’s relics were enshrined in Constantinople in 886. The tradition placing her in France states that she was a hermitess at La Sainte-Baume. At her death she was transported to Aix and buried there. In 745 her relics were moved to Vezela because of a Saracen invasion. In 1279 her relics were found once again at Sainte-Baume and were placed in a sarcophagus in 1600, donated by Pope Clement VIII.

Tuesday, July 23^rd, St Bridgid of Sweden. Wife and foundress of the Most Holy Trinity (Bridgettines), also called Bridget, Birgitta, or Brigitta. She was born in 1303 the daughter of the governor of Upland, Sweden and his second wife. Her mother died when she was twelve, and the child was raised by an aunt. She was married at fourteen to a Swedish prince. They had eight children, one of whom was St. Catherine of Sweden, and they lived happily together for twenty-eight years. In 1335 Bridgid became a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of France. Bridgid made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Olaf in Norway and then went to Compostela in Spain with her husband. He became ill on the journey but recovered as St. Denis had assured her in a vision. Ulf, her husband died in 1344 at the Cistercian monastery and Bridgid remained there for four years, receiving many spiritual graces in visions and revelations In founding the monastery of Wadstena, Sweden, and the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, Brigid established the intellectual center of the nation in that era.

Thursday, July 25^th, St. James, Apostle. James the brother of John, is called "the Greater" because he followed Christ before the other apostle of the same name. He became a very prominent leader among the Nazarenes in Jerusalem with St. Peter, presiding over the Council of Jerusalem, which took the fateful decision to permit Paul’s mission among the Gentiles. James wielded even greater influence after

the departure of Peter from the city to elude the murderous intentions of King Herod Agrippa I. While the event was not mentioned specifically in the New Testament, James was the first bishop of Jerusalem, as reported by Clement of Alexandria and recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea. According to Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, James was put to death by the Sanhedrin about 62 A.D.; James was supposedly hurled from a tower in the Great Temple of Jerusalem and then beaten to death. A number of apocryphal writings are attributed to James.

Friday, July 26^th, St.’s Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joachim the name given to Mary’s father. No details of his life are extant. He has been venerated in the Eastern Church since the early days and in the West since the sixteenth century. The apocryphal Protoevangelium of St. James states that Joachim was born in Nazareth and married St. Anne while still young. When mocked for being childless he fasted for forty days in the desert until an angel announced that he and Anne would have a child. He is reported to have died after witnessing the presentation of Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem. Anne the mother of Mary is also called Ann, Anna, and Hannah (the Hebrew word for grace). Many legends have developed about Anne, but little is known about her life. Veneration of Anne has been constant throughout the history of the Church, particularly in Constantinople. There she was included in the calendar, one of the oldest documents of Christendom.

HOST FAMILIES are needed to host international teens from over 30 countries for the 2002/2003-fall semester or academic school year. The students speak English, are covered by medical insurance, have spending money for their personal expenses, and hope to arrive in AUGUST for enrollment in their new high school. Families are able to review student applications and select the student they feel will bet match their family and provide a bed, meals, and a caring environment. For more information please phone ERDT/SHARE Michigan office at 1-800-711-3738

There is a need for qualified interpreters for liturgical services in the Genesee Region. Please contact Rose Smith, at the Catholic Deaf Ministry office at 517-342-2500 for more information.

Many people in our community can't afford basic personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste, soap, brushes and facial tissues. Starting in mid-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 any items you are willing to purchase for these people in need.

Travel-sized Items are also greatly appreciated by the Brown Evangelical Mission in Detroit, which we support with our food donations. Look for a large clear barrel for any donations you may have of small shampoo, etc. that you don’t need. Thank you so much!

A group of approximately twenty will be going on the journey. Spiritual director is Fr. George Beaune, C.S.B. If interested in joining the group, please call Monique or Joe at 227-4664. Seventeen have already signed up. Only a few spots remain at the low promised rate.

The CARE Program on August 16 - 17, 2002 emphasizes constructive arguing techniques that allow couples to adjust their communication styles and achieve more positive and intimate communication, in a Christian setting. Other key topics include: Expectations, Commitment, Values, and Beliefs. Mark Robinson will be the facilitator at Livingston County Catholic Social Services, 2020 E. Grand River, #103, Howell, MI. Any questions or concerns please contact Livingston Catholic Social Services (517) 545-5944.

An information meeting for people, who are considering adoption will be held at 7:00 PM., Tuesday, August 13, 2002, at Adoption Associates, Inc. 26105 Orchard Lake Rd., Suite 301, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. Information will be shared on building families through both Domestic (US) and international (China, Russia, Guatemala, Moldova, Ukraine, Poland) adoption. We are the only agency in Lower Michigan that is accredited to work with Russia. Come meet some of our staff! Please R.S.V.P. to 248-474-0990.

Sponsor of the Week

Lil’Chef Restaurant

A self-help group for people who are widowed, separated, or divorced, males/females. There is no fees or dues. Call message machine at (517) 336-4100 or Betty Seckinger at (517) 339-4604.

When: 7:30 p.m., Mondays (weekly)

Who Two groups: Newly Separated and Moving Beyond

7:30 p.m. Thursday

Divorce Care Series

Where: St. John Catholic Student Parish

327 MAC Avenue, East Lansing

Lower Level, Room 12 (library)