The St. Mary Magdalen MOMS (Ministry of Mothers Sharing) group will be starting a 6 to 8 week journal series on September 12 from 9:30 to 11:30. The group gets together for fellowship, laughter, and spiritual growth in a supportive and fun environment. Childcare is provided for a nominal fee. Snacks and coffee are always provided free of charge. On August 26 and Sept 9, MOMS will be in the gathering area after all the Masses with information and registration forms. If you are a Mom of any age or experience, please join the group and share yourself with the rest of us.

All seniors parishioners are invited to attend the Senior Mass and Picnic at Holy Spirit on Thursday, August 16, beginning at 11:00am. Sloppy Joes will be provided. Bring your lawn chair and a dish to pass and join us for a wonderful afternoon. For information, call Betty Polaske, 810-227-5370.

Sandra Oliver

Jessica & Laura Rector

Aideen, Desmond & Rose Quinn

Steve Trudeau

I was amazed again this year as we traveled on an iceberg to our Polar Expedition! Our dog sled leader was Peggy Weingartz! Along the way we saw Klondike Kid-Rachel Weingartz, and our polar leader-Jacqueline Cauley. A special thanks to our game leaders, Marilyn Myszkier, Laura DeRosier and Maggie Rife who melted outside with the iceberg! Thanks to Sr. Maryetta who cooled us off with Bible stories! More of our leaders were Kim Cauley, Diane Neitzke, Patti Mohrenweiser, Debbie Lijewski, Corrine Bielicki, Donna Campbell, Lisa Cermak, Rosanna Hamilton, Sue Hlavaty, Kim Keller, Susan Frank, and Colleen Jayne. Our Jr. sled dog leaders were Stephanie Anderson, JP,Zach & Luke Carron, Elisa Cauley, Shannon Cottrell, Meghan & Michele Hillman, Ben & Chris Hoisington, Kaitlyn & Sam Keiffer, Caitlyn Kolpacki, Colleen Mahar, Angela Manhart, Adam Neitzke, Lauren Putnam, Aaron & Stephanie Sochacki, Stephanie Terns, Meagan & Ryan Trudeau, Lauren Weingartz, Lauren Winship, Bridget Schaap, Emily Parsons, Jessica Rector, Philip Gubert, Robert Craig, Megan & Michael Zapalski, Kyle Cubr, Ryan Burt, Scott & Katie Osdras, Jillian Wilson, Tom Brown, RJ Happley, Marie Allen, Ryan Sutter, Josh Kehn, Sara Wagener, Katelyn Carr, Michele Visger, and Daniella Salinas.

Thanks! Mary

We will be gathering together tonight from 7-9pm in friendship to eat and to just be together. It has been awhile since our last meeting and we are looking forward to it.

Our Haunted House meeting went well. We have a theme picked out and scenes to begin putting together. Our next haunted house meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 21 at 7pm.

Beginning next weekend, we will be selling T-shirts for the parish picnic designed by Nick Christie who will be leaving us soon to further his education in Arizona, studying art. I have seen the T-shirt design and I am sure everyone in the family will want one!

Tuesday August 14, we will be joining St. John’s youth group at their church to participate in their regular meeting. If you are interested in joining us, please let me know.

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

There is a sign up sheet and directions in the gathering space regarding our pool party scheduled for August 18 at the Perkins home. Plan to join us to meet new faces and to gather together with friends.

Margaret Callaghan

COME ONE! COME ALL! To our EIGHTH ANNUAL PICNIC AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL.

Plan on attending the 11:00am outdoor Liturgy on September 9, 2001 and stay for the picnic and fun that follows. Sign up sheets are out now. Don’t miss it. It is our biggest social event of the year. Don’t forget your chair and a dish to pass. "Tube Steaks" (hot dogs) and ice cream will be provided.

Sign up sheets for assorted picnic committees are out in the gathering area. Please take a moment and add your name to the list of volunteers.

Watch for unveiling of the Youth Group Picnic T-Shirts–coming soon!

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

During the month of July we celebrated the sacrament of Baptism with Jacob Edward and Garrett Richard Avecilla, twin sons of Deanna and Orlando Avecilla; Gabriel John Gehan, son of John and Lee Gehan; Connor John Geran, son of Kyle and Renee Geran; Michelle Ann Marie, daughter of Jim and Sharon Marie; Theresa Ann Kehn, daughter of Ann and Rob Kehn; Michael Thomas George Roberts, son of Lynda and Michael Roberts; Bennett Martin Loniewski, son of Melissa and Ed Loniewski; and Brent James and Evan Dennis Duneske, twin sons of Mike and Kara Duneske;

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

SUBURBAN FAMILY CREDIT UNION is having an Open House on Friday, August 24, 2001, between 11:00am and 2:00pm. Refreshments will be available. Also available will be someone from AAA to answer questions about AAA group insurance discount. Children who open an account will receive a coloring book. Children’s savings accounts (ages 12 to 18) receive a dividend on any balance over $10. This is a good time to educate the youth for tomorrow.

Bishop Baraga Days will be held on Sept. 22 & 23 in Lansing. Bishop Baraga, first Bishop in the Upper Peninsula, is a candidate for Sainthood in the Catholic Church. The Congregation of Saints in Rome has accepted his position and he is a Servant of God. On Saturday, Sept. 22, there will be a slide presentation at 5:30pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary, followed by Czechoslovakian & Slovenian Dancers and a Slovenian Mass. A reception follows. Sunday, Sept. 23 at St. Mary’s Cathedral visit the Cathedral Museum at 2:00. See Native American Dancers at 3:00, followed by an English Mass at 4:00 and a banquet at 6:00. Banquet tickets are $20 per person.

JWJ 2001 would like to give special thanks to Dennis Tierney and Austin Inc who outdid themselves on our T-Shirts this year! Thanks also to Janet Pingston who made our bumper stickers, and to Miro Anderson — Anderson Studios who donated the camera for pictures of each of our travelers!

Rebecca-Okray Murphy

DIVORCE RECOVERY WORKSHOP, a program for divorced and separated persons of all ages will be held Sept. 12 thru Nov. 7, 2001 (Wednesday evenings) from 7-9pm. It will be held in the parish hall of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Ann Arbor. Call 734-994-9194

Retrouvaille (a French word meaning rediscovery) is helping couples put the pieces back together and rebuild loving relationships. If there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, Retrouvaille can help you. The next weekend is at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt on August 24-26, 2001. For more information, call 517-669-6631.