THIS WEEK S LITURGIES ALL THINGS CONSIDERED FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. ST. MARY MAGDALEN Page 1 BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN

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1 ST. MARY MAGDALEN Page 1 BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN ALL THINGS CONSIDERED CANDLEMAS DAY Monday is February 2 and the Feast of the Presentation. It marks the 40 th day since Christmas and celebrates the day the Lord Jesus was first brought to the temple in Jerusalem in thanksgiving for His birth. In the Gospel used for the feast, Jesus is called a light to nations. Over a thousand years ago, the Church celebrated the feast by blessing all the candles that would be used over the next year. So on this feast, families brought candles that would be used in their homes to be blessed, along with those which would be used in church. As a result, the English call the feast Candle-Mass day. The Liturgy on Monday will include the blessing of the candles and small procession to celebrate the coming of Christ, the Light of the world! BLESSING OF THROATS If Monday is Candlemas Day, then the next day (Tuesday) Feb 3, is the memorial of St. Blaise. St. Blaise was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia who was tortured and martyred in 316. According to tradition, while Blaise was jailed, his prayer saved a young boy from choking to death. In the Eastern Church, they placed newly blessed candles around the throat of the faithful and prayed to the Lord that, through the intercession of St. Blaise, the one being blessed would be freed from all ailments of the throat. Since the 12 th century, Roman Catholics have followed that same practice of blessing throats on the memorial of St. Blaise. We will do this as the final blessing at the 9 am Liturgy. MANY THANKS My thank you notes were sent almost a month ago, but it always happens that I forget someone who gave me something for Christmas or my birthday. Sometimes I lose the tag or the gift isn t tagged; so I want to give a general thanks to all you who were so kind to me. I want to thank those who contributed to the special fund. I used it to buy a new set of tires (I had 70,000 miles on the last set) and the rest will go toward a new well out at my cottage! I am grateful to all of you who gave me some of your homemade specialties, a bottle of wine or a card with cash\check. Your kindness is appreciated! MEN S BREAKFAST Over the last several years we have had a Men s Breakfast on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. From 7:30 until 9 am, men gather in the rectory basement to share a meal followed by a sharing of thoughts and reflections on the readings of Sunday s Liturgy. Often I find myself re-writing part or even all of my homily based on the insights of the men gathered around the table. The next Men s Breakfast is Saturday, February 7. Join us in the rectory basement at 7:30! Fr. Dave Howell THIS WEEK S LITURGIES Feb. 2, Monday The Presentation of the Lord Mal 3:1-4/Heb 2:14-18/Lk 2: :00 am +Leonard & Martha Heuring Blessing of Candles Feb. 3, Tuesday Heb 12:1-4/Mk 5: :00 am +Gerald Kenney Blessing of Throats Feb. 4, Wednesday Heb 12:4-7, 11-15/Mk 6:1-6 7:00 pm +Marianne Dluzniewski Feb. 5, Thursday Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr Heb 12:18-19, 21-24/Mk 6:7-13 9:00 am +James Hurlbert Feb. 6, Friday Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Heb 13:1-8/Mk 6: :00 am Janet Husseli Feb. 7, Saturday Heb 13:15-17, 20-21/Mk 6:30-34 Feb. 8, Sunday Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mk 1: :30 pm Vigil +Keith Dunn & Jan Jandasek 9:00 am +Jeanne Olson 11:00 am St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners Blue Mass FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Job 7: 1-4, 6-7 The Book of Job is a long parable which grapples with why bad things happen to good people. This question was especially crucial to people of that time because they didn t believe in life after death, and therefore one received reward or punishment in this life. Job has lost his children, his property, and his health, and he lives at the city dump. In this passage, he gives an understandably pessimistic evaluation of life. 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19, Paul s enemies frequently criticized him for the least little thing. At a time when most teachers received compensation from those they instructed, Paul was criticized because he refused financial support from the community. Because of this, they discredited him as not being a legitimate apostle. Today we hear his response. Mark 1: This passage has four basic parts: 1.) a particular healing, 2.) the effect of Jesus reputation, 3.) Jesus withdrawal, and 4.) his statement of the purpose and wider scope of his ministry. For that is what I came out to do. Reflect: Name a time this past week when you shared the Good News with a coworker or neighbor.

2 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Page 2 FEBRUARY 1, 2015 STEWARDSHIP REPORT Week of 1/25/2015 Approximately 1,449 people participated Env/Cash $16,210 EFT $ Securing Our Future $ 6,815 TOTAL $23,025 Children s Collection $87.61 Thank You for your Gifts Please pray for all the sick who have been commended to our prayer, that they will respond to God s healing will, especially: Michele Sixbery, Bob Sixbery, Cathy Hazen, Michael Jakubiec, Nancy Sharpy, Dolores Prom, Christine, Kathleen Sheere, Craig Nelson, Betty Gehan, Mary Serio, Jay Finn, Kip Church, Barry Shiek, Eileen Chvala, Jean Schultz, Becky Duneske, Anne Zaragoza, Ellen Andary, Virginia Darga, Jack Matta, Michael Murphy, Patty Nouhan, Robert Laginess, Norma Pellerito, Doug & Linda Lambert, Joyce Egerer, Jeanne and Eugene Buel, Tom Stadtmiller, Janet Husseli, Gwen Maes, Ron Abramovich, Dorothy Keefe, Betty Carb, Caroline Bilicki, Vic Howe, Tom McSweeney, Heather Bierlein, Linda Heppler, Tom Zremski, Andrew Doyle, Dave Zapfe, Donna Miller, Fred Preiss, Addison Donehue, Marylyn Trader, Donald Gehring, Jameson Timberlake, Michelle Schmid, Ben Hemker, Cheryl Gautherat, Steve Reichardt, Mark Matras, MaryAnna, David Martin, Hogan McCuan, Sherri Kunkel, Herb Langer. Please remember in your prayers: Sr. Joyce and family in the death of her sister, Patricia Duron; Joe Lubig and family in the death of his mother, Irene. THE WEEK AHEAD Monday, February 2 6:00 pm Magdalen s Kitchen 7:00 pm School for Discipleship 7:30 pm K of C Business Meeting Tuesday, February 3 10:30 am Advanced Meditation 7:00 pm Troop 385 Wednesday, February 4 9:45 am MOMS 12:30 pm Knitters 4:30 & 6:30 Religious Formation 7:30 pm Worship Meeting Thursday, February 5 5:30 pm Religious Formation 7:00 pm Baptism Instruction 7:00 pm School for Discipleship 7:30 pm Music Ministry Friday, February 6 1:00 pm Pain s Sake Support Group 6:30 pm 8 Great Dates 7:00 pm Divorced & Separated Saturday, February 7 4:00 pm Pre-School Open House 4:30 pm Baptism Presentation Sunday, February 8 8:30 am Pre-School Open House 9:00 am Scout Sunday 9:00 am RCIA Dismissal 9:30-1:00 Pancake Breakfast 9:45-3:45 Blood Drive 10:15 am Ichthus 11:00 am Blue Mass 5:30 pm 9th Grade Religious Formation 7:00 pm Youth Group Meeting Livingston County Catholic Charities celebrates 30 years at our Annual Salute to the Stars and Celebrity Dance Competition in addition to honoring our community stars. There will be one overall winning dance team that night based on the judges scores, and a community-favorite award will be given to the team with the most votes, both online and at the event. Online voting will open March 1 st. It will be held March 21 st, at the Johnson Center at Cleary College, with Mass celebrated prior at St. Joseph, in Howell. Tickets $60/person or $440/table of 8. To sponsor the event or purchase tickets, contact Julie Amman at

3 ST. MARY MAGDALEN Page 3 BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN Religious Formation News from Mary at mmahar@parishmail.com and Karen at sect2@saintmarymagdalen.org Change of time for 9 th grade Confirmation class TODAY, Sunday, February 1, (Including Catholic School students): We meet at 11 for Liturgy (look for our reserved section) and then our Confirmation super bowl class begins immediately after Liturgy in the gym! Blue Mass: Next Sunday we will have our Mass for all first responders at our 11:00 Liturgy. It will be followed by a free pancake breakfast from our K of C for all those who serve as first responders. Please ask those you know who serve to come for a blessing, and be sure to come support and pray alongside of them. Every year a friend represents our son Jimmy who serves in another state. Keep all first responders in your prayers as they serve. Catechists/aides are asked to get your registration form to Karen or Mary for Souper Saturday, Feb. 14 at St. Patrick Church beginning at 8am. There is no cost to you for this morning of training and it is a great way to learn more about our faith we are sharing! Special this year is a class on ways to work in your class: Catechesis for the Child with Special Needs; Successful Strategies for Instruction and Behavior Management. We need you! If you ever felt called to inquire into the ministry of catechist or assistant, we are ready to sit down and talk with you! Even if you do not feel the classroom is the best place to use your talents, our Formation Team is in need of new members as well. Please take time to pray about helping in formation! Just a reminder about snow days: Since it is January, it is a good time to remind you of our snow policy. If Brighton area schools are cancelled due to bad weather, our Faith Formation classes will also be cancelled. In case Religious Formation is cancelled during the school day, we will notify each family by . (We are no longer using the automated phone calling system.) If you have a change of or phone number let Karen in the office know ASAP. JWJ is July 27-31! We want to start planning for our Vacation Bible School. Here at St MM we call it Journey with Jesus or JWJ for short. If you are interested in being a part of the planning committee (it takes a lot of helping hands!) or want to get on our helper list, please me! Meetings will start soon. Youth News from Margaret at yminister1@gmail.com and Stasia at stasiaeisenhut@gmail.com It is Super Bowl Sunday and that means it's SOUPer Bowl Sunday! Time for our annual collection of change (and paper monies) in pots and pans after each liturgy. The money collected will help those in need locally and across the world. Mark your calendar for February 14 th for the Warming the Hearts of Others Dance, 50+, teens and inbetweens. Invite your elderly neighbors, grandparents or the people you sit near during Mass. In conjunction, we are conducting a blanket drive for the homeless in Detroit. Put on your dancing shoes, your best dress and grab those gently used blankets that will be handing out on Saturday Feb. 21 st when we will go downtown and work with The Ark Association to hand them out. Next Sunday we will welcome Karen Robak Gates, from the Ark Association. She is an extraordinary woman who I had the honor of working next to last Saturday serving the homeless. I invite you to come and listen. Check out the St. Mary Magdalen Facebook page to see how she serves. It was cold and a bit windy last Saturday as we worked. Upon our arrival, there were already others out there shoveling the side walk and waiting for Karen to arrive. All set and ready to serve, we stood there eager to scoop the hot food into styrofoam containers and hand them to someone who was hungry. I looked up to hand out my first meal and I was taken back. I looked at the person in front of me and was faced with a smile, a thank you and a God bless wish. I smiled back and had to look down as I was overcome with emotion. We were right on the street in the cold with them. For one hour we were together sharing in the bitterness of a Michigan winter day. My eyes met the eyes of others who were hungry for more than just food. We are divided by our circumstances, distance and economical places in society, yet for one hour we were united. These people waited in line for things we take for granted. They were not bitter or angry, but waited in line and laughed with one another, picked on each other like siblings, prayed together over the food like family around a table, and accepted us into their world for a short minute. They came for more than we had to offer. They came to be with one another in community. We all crave to be accepted for who we are, to be included as family and cared for by others. Reflect on the people in your life, at school, at work or even your family at home. Is there someone your are seeing right through because they are different or odd? Stop and look them in the eye, smile at them and just say Hi. You never know what seeing someone might do for them. EDGE Thank you to Jeannie Herrell and Jill Joyce who orchestrated the Souper Bowl Sunday collection this year. All monies collected will be donated to help those in need. Thank you. We are planning an EDGE Night Out on February 23 rd to Rollerama/Zapzone in Brighton. Make sure to mark your calendar.

4 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Page 4 FEBRUARY 1, 2015 Adult Education and Formation Faith and Service - From Sr. Joyce pastmin1@saintmarymagdalen.org CHARITY & JUSTICE CORNER Lenten Faith Sharing Groups: Sign up Now! If you would like to join a small group of 8-10 people to get to know people better and to share your faith during the 6 weeks of Lent, please sign up at the Gathering Space. The meetings will begin the week of February 15. Group Leaders are still needed. Would you like to host a group in your home? Please let Sr. Joyce know so that more people can have a chance to participate. Warm the Hearts of Others Teen/ 50+ Valentine s Day Dance Also invited anyone teenage and older Saturday, February 14, :30 p.m. St. Mary Magdalen Dressy, but no spike heels. Cost: A Donated item to The Blanket Drive: Warm the Hearts of Others The Blanket Drive accepts blankets and anything to keep a homeless person warm. Especially needed are men s items. (Our High School Youth Group will assist in distributing these items at a designated park in Detroit, Saturday, February 21.) ***A basket will be in the Gathering Space the weekend of February for an opportunity for Parishioners who don t attend the dance to contribute. Lenten Soup & Bread Suppers The Fridays during Lent we will have our Lenten fare before we walk the Stations of the Cross. These are open to everyone. There is a sign-up sheet so we know about how many will be coming. We ask for volunteers to prepare a meatless soup for the evening. An Alms Basket will be at the meals with the money going to Magdalen s Kitchen. Livingston YAM Special Event Livingston YAM and St. Pat s presents Faith Finances with Tom Zordani on Friday, February 6, 2015, from 7-9 p.m. at McCann Hall, St. Patrick in Brighton. Do you believe that God has a plan for you and your finances? Come join us for a special evening to explore this important topic! No matter your age or stage of life, YOU can benefit from an evening with this unique speaker. Please visit at: faithfinances.net. For more information, contact Shannon at livingstonyam@gmail.com. KIDS AGAINST HUNGER PACKING EVENT!! Ready, Set, Pack!!! That s right. We have scheduled our next packing event for Kids Against Hunger. Saturday, February 14th at St. Mary Magdalen. We will run two shifts on that day. Set-up is 8:00 a.m. = 8 volunteers Shift 1: 9-11 = 150 volunteers Shift 2: 11-1 = 150 volunteers Sign up sheets are available in the gathering area. Ages 5 and up are welcome. Children 5 years to 10 years will need to be paired with an adult at the packing station. Please plan on arriving 15 minutes before your scheduled time for instruction and prep. Blue Mass On February 8, 2015, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, we ll impart a special blessing on all those who serve in a first responder emergency type position in our area. All police, fire, and EMS people are asked to join us at Mass (in uniform if possible, but not necessary) and be our guests at the pancake breakfast that the K of C is preparing on that day. We know there are many of you in the area and look forward to having you join us at this special Mass in your honor. WALK FOR WARMTH 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the Hartland Education Support Services Bldg. Join us for a fundraiser walk-a-thon to provide support for the people of Livingston County that are experiencing a heat emergency during the year, but especially during the cold winter months. Unable to walk? Please consider donating to the St. Mary Magdalen Team under fundraisers on the website:

5 ST. MARY MAGDALEN Page 5 BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN Sun. Feb. 1 Mon. Feb. 2 Tue. Feb. 3 Wed. Feb. 4 Thur. Feb. 5 Fri. Feb. 6 Sat. Feb. 7 MINISTERS OF PRAYER Nancy Nychypor Shirley Brake, Jeanette Moran, Joyce Gonda Theresa Wolterman, Gail Bell, Barb & Joe Kowal Lillian & Richard Rumptz, Colleen Atwood, Betty & Don Gehan Josie Doucette, Jim Hynes, Michael Provenzano, Angela Grech Marilyn & Dan VanTiem, Mary Bidinger Katie Panczak, Alexis Wilhelm Upcoming Marriage Enrichment Calendar These are marriage enrichment events for the next several months. You can find a full listing for the year, as well as a short description of each program and a web link, by clicking on the Year of Marriage logo on the St. Mary Magdalen website. FROM PRESCHOOL...Kathie Anderer, Director We are having an Open House for the 2015/2016 school year. The dates for the Open House are Saturday, Feb. 7 (4-6 p.m.) and Sunday, Feb. 8 (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). Our preschool provides morning sessions for 3 and 4 year olds. Classes are taught by dedicated and highly qualified professionals who understand the importance of a faithforming education program. Please accept this invitation. We would love to have you join us next year. Coming soon Pizza and Parenting a course on parenting children 0-10 year olds. This course is based on Christian principles and is designed for parents and caregivers with or without a Christian faith. The course is for every type of parenting situation, including parenting on your own, step-parenting, and parenting as a couple. Whatever your situation, the practical tools you learn can help you to improve and strengthen your family life. The class runs for five weeks, starting Thursday, February 19 through Thursday, March 19, It runs from 6:15-8:30 p.m. each night and includes pizza, babysitting, course instruction and class booklet for the full five weeks. Cost is $30 per person or $50 per couple. Coordinator is Dr. Elyce Cron. Registration is limited to 30 participants. Forms and info are available in the gathering area. Join us on this journey! St. John s (Howell) K of C presents it s annual Polish Feast on Friday, Feb. 13, 4-7:00 p.m. Call Larry Beres, for more info. Eat in or carry out ( ) orders available for your enjoyment. Human Sex Trafficking presentation In Plain Sight is being hosted at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church on Feb. 5, at 7:00 p.m. This is an issue not to be ignored here in Livingston County. It s not always another family s child who becomes a victim. Joan Brown, brown.wc.j@charter.net for info. Marriage Conference February 7, at St. Patrick, Brighton: This year s theme is Marriage...Faith and Finances. Join us for a day of marriage strengthening and enrichment! Enjoy a date with your beloved in an atmosphere of love, laughter and the inspired Word of God. Listen to engaging speakers, including Tom Zordani of Faith Finances and Randy and Therese Cirner, Christian Marriage Counselors. Celebrate Mass with Bishop Boyea. Visit for info or to register. We Care 2 February 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Patrick, Brighton. This program debuted at St. Mary Magdalen last fall and was well received by those who attended. It is a version of the We Care communication class that is offered to engaged couples, but specifically adapted to couples who are already married. This four-hour course could be just for you if you need to refresh your communication skills. Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend March in Lansing. Looking for the perfect weekend dedicated to bringing a husband and wife closer together? A WWME weekend is exactly what you are looking for. At a Worldwide Marriage Encounter, (the original and continually updated marriage enrichment program), you get away from the distractions of everyday life and focus on each other. Instead of simply listening to lectures about how to improve your marriage, you will actually be improving your marriage! ASHLEY S FRIENDS, WHERE NO CHILD GRIEVES ALONE Children and Youth between ages 5 and 18 who have experienced the death of a loved one, and the adults who care for them, are invited. January 26th through March 23rd session, is already in progress, but it is not too late if you missed first meeting. Sessions run from 6 to 8 p.m. with dinner at 6. Call to register.

6 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Page 6 FEBRUARY 1, 2015 BRIGHTON CATHOLIC VOLLEYBALL Calling all girls in grades 4-8! St. Patrick and St. Mary Magdalen Parishes are forming teams to participate in a spring volleyball league, which will run from mid- March through mid-may. Practices will be held on Wednesdays, and games will be played on Friday nights against Howell, Hartland, South Lyon and Huron Valley teams. Parent volunteer coaches are needed. All coaches must have Virtus training. Registration deadline is February 16, PJ O Leary: paddyoleary@sbcglobal.net for a registration form. Questions? Call Anne Grose, or PJ O Leary, ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE Mon. 2/2 9:30 am Open Walk 6-8:00 pm Brighton Boys Basketball 8:30 pm Men s Basketball Tues. 2/3 8:30 am Zumba 9:30 am Open Walk 7:00 pm Troop 385 Wed. 2/4 9:30 am Open Walk 6:00 pm Hartland Baseball Thurs. 2/5 8:30 am Zumba 9:30 am Open Walk 8:30 pm Men s Basketball Fri. 2/6 9:30 am Open Walk Sat. 2/7 7:30 am Insanity Boot Camp 10:00-12 Special Olympics Sun. 2/8 9:45-3:45 Blood Drive 7:00 pm Youth Group Blood Drive - Sunday, February 8th! 9:45-3:45 in the Gym In conjunction with this blood drive, we will also have a Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive for anyone age in memory of one of our parishioners, Dennis Denhard. For thousands of critically ill blood cancer patients, there is a cure. Just 10 minutes and a cheek swab is all it takes!