Several of our families have moved away and every weekend I see new faces in the assembly. Some I am able to stop, others get by me. I realize more than a few of these new folks are "checking us out" to see if this is the community they want to join.

Actually, I am delighted that people do check out the different parishes before joining one. That way the community they do join becomes a place where they can also get involved.

So, to those of you who are visiting, I want to say welcome! We’re glad that you are interested; we hope that you will like the experience of joining us for Eucharist and we would love to have you come and grow with us!

JOINING A few years ago, our staff and Pastoral Council decided to change the process for joining our community for two very good reasons.

The first reason is that we want people to join us rather than just register. We take our Vision Statement seriously and we believe that this vision can only be realized if WE work together to make it happen. So, when people like what they find in our community and ask to join, we try to help them understand how we grew to be like this.

The second reason is obvious: if we are going to keep growing the way we have, we need new folks to join us in our commitment to the vision.

So, prospective new parishioners meet with our Welcomers who explain our "philosophy of parish" and answer questions. Afterward, the monthly New Parishioner meeting will offer a variety of ways for new folks to become involved. This meeting also gives the members of Pastoral Council, our staff and myself the opportunity to hear the hopes and expectations of our new parishioners.

It is different from the way other parishes register new parishioners but our purpose is to really help people JOIN rather than just register.

BEE GONE!! Last week, my younger niece went up to her room to read for a while. (It was an appropriate summer activity, strongly recommended by her uncle.) She called me to tell me that the ceiling had a water leak. I went home to check it out, because at that point, we had not had any appreciable amount of rain for some time.

The ceiling in the corner of her bedroom showed some discoloration and I heard a strange noise coming from the area. A gentle tap on the spot confirmed my suspicion: Kayla was sharing her bedroom with bees!

A quick call brought Leo, our maintenance man. He brought a piece of dry wall to reinforce the area and as he reached up to attach it to the ceiling, the bees broke through!

A little bug spray, some creative vacuuming and the bees were gone. The exterminator took care of the rest of the hive.

Another lesson in protecting my "little honey"!

Fr. Dave Howell

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Shirley Brake, Jaylee Doremire, Brad Heinitz, Jan Geiger, Kathy Rakoczy, Jean Killen, Steve Thuss, Joyce Fraser, Ethan Montague, Micah Zielinski, Dave Sharpy, Harold Stewart, Rosemary Duffy, Priscilla Davis, Tom Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Mary Johnson, Chuck Horka, Patti Conahan, Matt Even, Jimmy Sexton, Mel Oja, Elsie Whetter, Linda Lambert, John, Adam Weitzel, Mary Beth, Mary Lou Colgin, Yvette Lagimodiere, Joey Boyd, Merrick, Paul Duff, Kateri Sullivan-Golbiw, Ralph Helmer, Bev Zizka, Tyler Ward, Mike, Linda Nagle, Bishop Povish, Joanna Bloese, Ellen Colombo, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, and Donovan.

Today’s reading from Isaiah describes the Israelites bringing their offering to the Lord "in clean vessels." The gift of myself — my patient endurance and fidelity to the will of God — is as important as the monetary gift I offer.

Claudette Wilkinson

Monday, Aug. 27 John Bellanti

Tuesday, Aug. 28 Kathy Riccardi

Wednesday, Aug. 29 Pat Huhn

Thursday, Aug. 30 Timothy Parcella

Friday, Aug. 31 Jeanette Martin

Saturday, Sept.1 Marie Touchette

Chris Camden

Deb Babiarz

Sue Monroe

Pam Riffini

Kathleen Shipley

OUR EIGHTH ANNUAL PICNIC & ICE CREAM SOCIAL will be held Sunday, September 9, 2001. Starting with Liturgy at 11:00am on the parish grounds.

The picnic and fun will follow after the Liturgy. Sign up forms are in the gathering area if you are planning on attending. Don’t forget your chair and a dish to pass (hot dogs and ice cream will be provided).

VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PICNIC are needed on the following committees: Set-up (tents, platform etc.) Games for the children; Signs, Clean up & Take Down and Food set-up. Please consider helping on one of the above committees. Sign up sheets are in the gathering area.

Yours on the Journey, Marilyn

SENIOR PARISHIONERS APPRECIATION WEEK will be celebrated throughout the Diocese from September 17-21. This time is set aside to honor and recognize senior members of our parish communities. Elders in Livingston County are cordially invited to attend a Mass for this purpose at St. Mary, Pinckney, on Thursday, September 20, at 11:00am. Lunch and entertainment will follow the Mass. Donations will be accepted. Please make your reservation by September 13, by calling Betty Polaske at 810-227-5370. If you need transportation, arrangements can also be made at this time.

"It’s the most wonderful time of the year! They’re goin’ back!" I tease my family that this is my favorite commercial of all time! Really, this time is so busy for us parents, with all the registering for classes, visits to the schools and getting the kids into formation classes. Oh, that reminds me, we are missing a few children for our classes!

Registration News Please stop in and register this Sunday after all the Liturgies, and I will be in the office the evening of Wednesday, August 29 from 6:15 pm to -8:30 pm.

Help is still needed in all sessions, including Sunday mornings. Call me today and help fill the vacancies! I will have a sign up in the office showing which classes need help.

Parents and Catechists alike, mark your calendars for Wednesday, Sept. 19. Richard Strife will be here from the Diocese to talk to us about Attention Deficit Disorder and give us ways to help our children in the classroom setting. Reservations can be made by calling the Rel Ed office, 229-8624.

Religious Formation will begin the first week of October (we are training the Catechists/Aides) during the month of September!

We will be selling T-shirts for the parish picnic beginning this weekend and will sell them after all the Masses. I have seen the T-shirt design and I am sure you will want one for everyone in the family! All proceeds will go toward our NCYC trip.

This week many of our youth will be returning to school. The pressures of not only homework and tests but peer pressures will abound in many households and in many teens’ minds. Peer pressure takes place in many forms from getting a date to homecoming; to what should I wear today to drinking and smoking. I would like you to keep in mind this saying I came across when faced with decisions to make. It is simple and yet very powerful. "If you can’t take God with you, then don’t go"! That can apply to anything you choose to do. If you can’t take him with you proudly, then go somewhere you can.

September 15 we are scheduled at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen to serve lunch to those in need. I will also need parents to drive and help.

Margaret Callaghan

Do you enjoy sharing your faith with children (7-11 yrs. old) or youth (12-16 yrs. old)? Would you be available on a rotating basis (1-2 sessions per month) either on Monday evenings (7-8:15pm) or on Sundays? Would you be spiritually nurtured and renewed, working as a team with other catechists, according to your schedule, to enliven the faith and journey of children and youth seeking to learn about the Catholic faith and journey towards the Easter sacraments? Find out more, with no obligation in asking questions. Contact Anne Williams, RCIA Coordinator, or Dave or Judy Scharf, Assistant Coordinators, at 810-229-8624.

The RCIA Program has started a Sponsor Pool this year. We are in need of sponsors for the Catechumenate candidates. If you would like to join the Sponsor Pool or find out more information about this commitment please contact Ann Fraser at (517) 545-9279 or Deacon Dave (810) 229-8624.

The Catholic Men’s Movement will meet on Thurs., Sept. 6, starting with Mass at 7:30 pm., followed by talk and fellowship until 9:30 pm. The speaker will be Ken Cousino, owner of a local business and the father of a large family. He has been part of the Renewal in the Spirit since his student days. His talk will be about "Being a True Disciple". Location is Spiritus Sanctus Academy — Via Sacra off of Ave Maria Dr. in Ann Arbor Twp. For further information, please call 734-930-4524 or www. Catholic-men.org.

A presentation by Katy Perino, Spiritual Director, on Sept. 6, 7-9pm, at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in the Social Hall. Katy has been a spiritual director for eight years, and has worked in hospice ministry for fourteen years. This presentation is sponsored by Health Care & Social Ministry and BeFriender Ministry of St. Mary Magdalen Parish. There is a registration fee of $5.00. Make check payable to CSS of Lansing/SVH, send to Barb White, Program Director, Health Care & Social Ministry, 6545 Mercantile Way, Suite 1A, Lansing, MI. 48911. Call 517-394-4435 for more information.

BETHANY HOUSE, the Diocese of Lansing’s Youth Retreat Facility, will be holding an open house on Sunday, Sept. 9, 1-4:00 pm on the grounds of St. Francis Retreat Center, 703 East Main Street, DeWitt. Come tour the new facility and meet the staff. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call 517-669-8321.

Interested and enjoy contemporary Christian music? A new group is forming to play in coffee houses, churches, and other family type venues. We need vocalists, guitarists, bass player, keyboard player, percussions/drummer, and a sound person. For more information contact Alan at (248) 889-3344.

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 for more information.

Sponsor of the Week

Last Tangle in Brighton