THE SUMMER HOLY DAY This Thursday is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother. This holy day of obligation celebrates a very ancient belief of the Church that Mary, after her death, was taken to heaven.

When we die, our bodies (or our ashes) are buried until the last day when Christ will raise our mortal bodies to make them like His. (We say that week after week in the Creed.)

The feast of the Assumption celebrates our belief that the body of Mary, along with her spirit, was taken up (assumed) in eternal glory.

It celebrates "Mary’s Easter"! It is also an important reminder that all who follow Mary’s example of faith will share fully in the resurrection.

The Liturgies celebrating "Mary’s Easter" will be at 9 am & 7 pm.

WHERE DID SHE GO? I resisted the temptation to fashion paper footprints and have them lead from the base of the statue of Mary Magdalen right out the door…. (That I am afraid was only one of the possibilities that crossed my mind!)

For those of you who are wondering, we sent her on vacation….

She left this past week to spend a few days with the artist\sculptor for her promised make over. He called to explain he had not been able to get her earlier and asked if he could still do what he had promised.

So Mary Magdalen has gone to that "great health spa for statues". We expect her back in a couple weeks "looking better than ever…"

Ministers of the Word: Gretchen

Buslepp, Mary Ellen Magon

Ministers of the Eucharist:

Ken Anderer, Joan Monforton, Casey Clabby,

Pat Spindler, Christine Reid, Ted Eisenhut, Pat Shiek

Ministers of Server: Clare Eagle, Susan Eagle,

Teddy Eisenhut

Ministers of Hospitality: Larry Herzinger, Kathie

Anderer, Julie Anderer, Bill Spindler, Shari Moore, Jan Geiger

II. Gregory Luck & Kelly Warden

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Jerry Neaton, Genevieve Rupp, George Rutton, Robert, Dennis Seefelt, Don Schommer, Pat Cote, Tom Clark, Abigail Line, Margaret Wenzel, Bridget, Alec Schalhamer, Eileen, Nancy, Cheryl Franks, Scott Delplace, Marie Seagel, Laura, Pat Fuller, Jessica, Ninfa Aragona, Nancy Sharpy, Judy LaGrow, Becky Wilson, Kyle Happley, Bob Stecewicz, Mike Beauchamp, George Sierant, Bradley Stevens, Ruth, Marcella, Ashley Horning, Alexandria Nelson, Jessica Wolfe, Debbie, Ginther, Ralph Bennett, Robert Grace, Don Camden, Evelyn, Bill, Craig Livingston, Colette Bertrand, Laura Drittler, Sophie Martin, June Bennett, Ethan Montague, Matt Even, Jimmy Sexton, Mary Lou Colgin, Mary Beth, Bishop Povish, and Donovan.

Elijah recognized the voice of God not in the strong and heavy wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire, but in a tiny whispering sound. May we find enough quiet in our clamorous world to hear His voice and discern what He is calling us to do and be.

Some of the projects we’ll be doing include: Sprucing up parks and area recreation facilities. Making minor home improvement projects at senior citizen’s homes. Holding a school supply drive at area stores. Assisting area non-profit organizations with various projects and facility improvements. Beautification and clean up projects at area schools. Working with residents in area nursing homes. Holding food and supply drives for area food banks and other assistance organizations. Assisting with beautification projects in our downtown. Various other community-service projects

For more information, or to help on the Day of Caring, call the Livingston County United Way at 810-494-3000 or e-mail jclum@lcunitedway.org.

10:00 a.m. Parents of Twins (AFR/Rm. 4)

Youth Group Trip to Cedar Point

7:00 p.m. Haunted House Meeting

"I ntroduction to the Bible" will be held Thursday evenings, 6:30—8:00 p.m. in the rectory basement meeting room. The 6 consecutive Thursdays are: September 5, 12, 19, 26, October 3, & 10^th.

Both will have child care. Fee is $12 to cover books. Register early so I can order enough materials.

The Book of Wisdom is the current Bible book being studied. To have wisdom is to know God and God’s ways. In this book we first go from the then known Jewish understanding that the good are rewarded and those who turn away from God suffer. Wisdom observes that all have abundance and all suffer. God’s Justice is not reward and punish as we know it; but instead, it is when things are in right order as God has planned. All will die, but what happens after death? This is where we are in the study. Read Wisdom yourself and you will know.

Sister Joyce

I have more thank you’s for the Bug Safari workers! Thank you to Tom Zuyus, Sandi Phillips and Kate Gladding who took wonderful pictures of all our little ones on safari! Tom has supplied us with action shots of all the kids for many years now! Thank you to our leaders, Sue Frank, Rosanna Hamilton, Julie Hargenrader, Patti McRae, Laura DeRosier, Kris Weber, Heidi Ditri, and Callie Graves for organizing our little ones from session to session. A special thanks to Aaron Pressel who put a bite on the bugs by teaching first aid to our little ones for bug emergencies!

Registration: Members of the Formation Team will start calling reminders to those families who have not yet registered for the Fall Formation classes. Registration can be made on Wednesdays in August from 9:30am-4pm in the office. If you need an evening appointment, please call me at 229-8624. We have classes that are filled, so you may not get your first choice.

HELP! I am in need of catechists, aides and substitutes for the fall classes. Last year we had 700 in our RE classes so we expanded by adding another session for the fall and not all our catechists can return this year. Please help fill the empty teaching spots! Call me at 229-8624.

Formation Team members mark your calendar for our first meeting Monday, August 19 at 7:30pm!

Catechists/Aides mark your calendars for 6:30 Tuesday, August 27 for our first meeting!

Some of the projects we’ll be doing include: Spruce up parks and area recreation facilities, make minor home improvement projects at senior citizen’s homes, hold school supply drive at area stores, assist area non-profit organizations with various projects and facility improvements, beautification and clean up projects at area schools, Work with residents in area nursing homes, hold food and supply drives for area food bank and other assistance organizations, assist with beautification projects in our downtown and various other community-service projects

For more information, or to help on the Day of Caring, call the Livingston County United Way at 810-494-3000 or e-mail jclum@lcunitedway.org.

The youth will be selling St. Mary Magdalen sweatshirts again for the parish picnic and for back to schooll shopping. They are a great deal at just $25 for adult sizes and $15 for kids. You can purchase a hooded one or a zipped collar one. We will be out in the gathering area for the next few weekends.

Monday August 12 at 7pm, we will be holding our first haunted house meeting. We will begin to brainstorm ideas and divide up haunted rooms. If you are interested in helping us with this great and awesome project, please come and join us.

Our annual car wash is Saturday, August 24, at Walters Appliance on Grand River. Sign up sheets are in the gathering area. Please bring sponges to wash with and towels to dry the cars with.

Margaret Callaghan

LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO SERVE? On behalf of the people of Appalachia working their way out of poverty, we invite you to volunteer with the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky.

Opportunities are available for:

Summer camp counselors: 18 years of age + (3-9 week stay)

Church groups: 18 years + (week-long stay)

Individuals: Short-term 18 years + (3 week minimum stay)

Long-term 21 years + (9 months — 1 year)

There are over 25 programs serving the needs of children, teens, elderly, housing, job readiness, crisis intervention and much more! For additional information contact www.chrisapp.org or call 1-800-755-5322

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

St. George Pre-Kindergarten

Now is the time to register your 3, 4 and early 5 yr olds for St. George Pre-K! There are a few remaining openings for the 2002-2003 school year

I am happy to introduce the formation of the Wellness Ministry Team. Befrienders, Samaritans and the Health Ministry have joined as one body to serve the Body of Christ. We are excited about this collaboration! For more information, call me at 810-229-8624.

Sr. Maryetta

RESPITE CARE

The Wellness Ministry Team. (The Befrienders, Samaritans and Health Ministry,) would like to invite you to a Respite Care Meeting. Respite refers to an interval of rest or relief for a caregiver or care receiver. Darlene Fraley from Livingston County Catholic Social Services will present information regarding respite care. All are welcome to attend this meeting on Monday, August 19, 10-11:30 a.m. here at St. Mary Magdalen. For additional information, call Sr. Maryetta at 229-8624.

This year we are hosting R.E.A.C.H. at the end of October at St. Mary Magdalen. Start looking for volunteer sheets, the second weekend of September, in the gathering area. Following will be volunteer sheets for food.

Fund Development/Public Relations helping to conduct fundraising activities and assisting with outreach to community and churches sharing that ministry. Pregnancy Helpline is a Christian non-profit Crisis Pregnancy Center supporting LIFE of the unborn child. Young women and girls are assisted with free services of pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, maternity clothing, baby clothing and equipment. Post abortion counseling and teen-age abstinence programs for middle and high-school students are also offered. Call Pregnancy Helpline at 810-632-5656.

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.

For the second time, St. Mary Magdalen will be entering a float in the Festival of Lights Parade, that is held in Howell every November. A float was built two years ago by a large group of our parishioners, and our float won 1^st place in the parade (our 1^st place plaque is hanging in the gathering space). To do this again, we need carpenters, electricians, engineers, costume workers, and anyone who likes to have a good time and meet fellow parishioners. NO experience needed. We will also be collecting Christmas lights and other materials, more info on that will be coming. Although we’ve already held our first organizational meeting, it’s not too late to sign up. For more info, contact Barb Colley, 810-225-0052, or Bob Barclay, 810-227-6245.

Livingston County Catholic Council on Aging

Annual Liturgy and Picnic

Wednesday, August 14^th

11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.

Holy Spirit Park & Pavilion in Hamburg

Bring a folding chair and a dish to share.

Meat and drinks provided.

Mt. Thapor Monastery in Ortinville, MI, St. Mary’s Monastery in Rock Island, IL, New Melleray Trappist Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa, St. Procopius Benedictine Abbey Is Lisle, IL, St. Benedict’s Abbey in Benet Lake, WI, and the famous Gethsemani Trappist Abbey in Trappist, KY, will be hosting "Live-in Experience" vocational retreats soon. Work and pray with the monks and nuns. There is no cost, but space is limited. Dates include Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Sept. 26-30, and Oct. 4-6. Other dates are available. Call toll free 1-800-221-1807 for more information.

WE C.A.R.E. (Communication and relationship enhancement program) is a marriage prep program sponsored by the Diocese of Lansing that teaches communication skills, resolving conflict effectively, solving problems as a team, keeping friendship and intimacy a part of your relationship, and developing skills to enhance understanding and maintain commitment. Two three-hour classes are scheduled throughout the year. Classes are held at St. Patrick’s in Brighton and Livingston County Catholic Social Services in Howell. Call 517-545-5944 for more info.

St. Francis Retreat Center is hosting a Retrouvaille weekend for couples whose marriages are in difficulty on August 23-25, 2002. Retrouvaille is helping couples put the pieces back together and rebuild loving relationships. Call 517-669-6631 for more information.

The Beginning Experience of Lansing will offer a spiritual weekend for widowed, divorced and separated persons October 4, 5, 6, 2002 in Jackson at the St. Joseph Center. The weekend is gently guided by a trained team of peers. Call Mary Jo at 810-229-0040 for more information.

The Women’s Resource Center in Brighton is offering a 6-week support group for women who have experienced the death of a loved one. They will meet Tues. from 2 to 3:30 PM starting Aug. 13. Cost is $5 per session or $30 for the series. Call (810) 227-9960 by Aug. 9 to register.

Wednesday August 14^th, Maximilian Kolbe. Franciscan martyred missionary. He was born near Lodz, Poland, and baptized Raymond. Joining the Conventual Franciscans, and took the name Maximilian. He founded the Militia of Mary Immaculate in Rome to advance Marian devotion. He was ordained in 1918 and returned to Poland. In 1941 Maximilian was arrested by the Gestapo when the Germans invaded Poland and was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. On August 14, 1941, he took the place of a married prisoner, who had a family, in a retaliatory punishment in the camp. Ten prisoners were being executed because one prisoner had escaped. Maximilian volunteered to die in the place of the married prisoner. After long and terrible sufferings, which he faced with such equanimity and concern for his fellow victims, Kolbe was given an injection of carbolic acid by SS guards to end his tortures. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Tuesday, August 15^th, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The belief that Mary’s body was assumed into heaven is one of the oldest traditions of the Catholic Church. Mary’s assumption into heaven has been formally celebrated in all Christian countries from the beginning of the Middle Ages up to the Reformation and is consistent with the faith of the Church from the beginning. The belief has become interwoven with legend, the most famous of which comes from an interpolated passage (that is, added by an unknown author) in the sermons of St. John Damascene. It tells of a request to the bishop of Jerusalem at the Council of Chalcedon (451) by the East Roman Emperor Marcian (died 457) to have the relics of Mary brought to Constantinople. The bishop is said to have answered, "Mary died in the presence of the apostles; but her tomb, when opened later on the request of St. Thomas, was found empty, and thus the apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven." Since the Church understands death to be a consequence of the first sin and believes that Mary was conceived without original sin, some theologians have wondered if Mary died or simply was assumed into heaven without dying. Pope Pius XII declared this belief Catholic dogma in 1950.

1-800-MASS TIMES -There is a nationwide ministry available to traveling Catholics providing free information on the location of the nearest church and times of Masses on weekends and holy days. Call 1-800-627-7846.