From The Director s Chair

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1 Check out the new youth & young adult web page: Ukrainian Catholic Youth and Young Adult News EVENTS AT A GLANCE Thurs, November 29 Interfaith Health care Presentation ~ Patch Adams 8pm-10pm $35 Sat, December 15 UCY/UCYA Exec Mtg Sat, December 15 Christmas Ornament making after Mtg Friday, Dec. 21 WYD 2008 Mtg Sat, December 22 UCY/UCYA Christmas Gathering at St Mike s Mon, December 24 Christmas Eve Tues, December 25 Christmas Day Sun, December 30 Caroling at Holy Family Nursing Home. Mon, December 31 New Years Eve Inside this issue: Youth Article 2 Puzzles & Comics 3 Light Reading 7 Upcoming Events 10 Saint s Corner 10 Contact Us! 10 Welcome Back! Volume 6, Issue 1 The season of St. Philip s Fast is now upon us, which means that the Nativity of our Lord is only a few short weeks away. On behalf of the UCY/UCYA executive and myself, I would like to wish you a blessed holiday season and all the best in the year Thank you also for making this year special! To recap the events of the past month, on Saturday, November 24 the new executive for the youth and young adults met for the first time. Nearly all of the members attended, so the meeting had to be moved to the boardroom upstairs to accommodate the amount of people present. This was also a very productive and positive meeting and, from now until June of 2008, we have tentatively planned one event a month in a different parish. Thank you to all of the members who attended and contributed so much to our first meeting. I feel very blessed to be associated with you all. Secondly, on Thursday, November 29 eight of our youth and young adults attended the reception and talk given by Patch Adams at the Victoria Inn on the topic The Art of Healing. The name Patch Adams should be familiar to many as he was portrayed on the silver screen by Robin Williams several years ago. Adams spoke about the importance of using laughter and the human spirit to help in the physical "If you don't want to change, don't pray." Joan Ohaanneson UCY/UCYA Winnipeg From The Director s Chair healing of an individual and was extremely entertaining and captivating throughout. A wonderful time was had by all. Moving on to upcoming events, as I had mentioned earlier, a number of events are being planned for the coming year. The first of these will take place following our next youth and young adult executive meeting on Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 pm which will be the preparing of Christmas cards for the Holy Family Nursing Home. Food will be provided. These cards will be delivered on Sunday, December 30 when the youth and young adults make their annual caroling trip to Holy Family. If you would like to help out at either of these events, please let me know. Also, we have confirmed a Christmas pot-luck and gift exchange for our youth and young adults on Saturday, December 22 at St. Michael s parish. All that we ask you to bring is a nonperishable food item and $5 gift to exchange and the executive members A Recently Spotted Bumper Sticker: How's my driving?.. Pray! December 2007 will provide the food and refreshments. This event is open to youth and young adults from all parishes. Please join us and meet your new executive! Two additional projects for Christmas which the youth and young adults are working on are the shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, which can be picked up and dropped off at any Safeway location, and filling a stable for a developing country through World Vision. Pledge forms were sent with all executive members. If anyone else would like to raise money for this cause, please contact the office. Finally, our training sessions for new youth directors have been set. These will take place on Sunday evenings from February 3 to March 9 and April 6 & 13, 2008 and are intended for anyone interested in working with youth or young adults in parish settings. If you would like more information or to register, please contact the office at That s all for now. Have a Blessed Christmas and I will see you in the New Year! Yours in Christ, Tamara Lisowski "There never was a person who did anything worth doing who did not receive more than he gave." Henry Ward Beecher

2 Page 2 Check out the new youth & young adult web page: What s Up with Jesus? Who is Jesus? He Is Jesus! Who Is He? IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE. IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION; IN PHYSICS, HE DISAPPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN; IN ECONOMICS, HE DISAPPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH TWO FISH & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD; IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS, IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END; IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE; THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM; SO. WHO IS HE? HE IS JESUS! JOIN ME AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM; HE IS WORTHY. THE HAND THAT WILL SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN. REMAIN IN GOD AND SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. AMEN IN GOD I'VE FOUND EVERYTHING! IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO REQUESTS & SUBMISSIONS ~ youth@archeparchy.ca The Greatest Man in History Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him.. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us! If you believe in God and in Jesus Christ His Son.. send this to everyone. If not just ignore it. If you ignore it, just remember that Jesus said: 'If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven May you be truly blessed!

3 Page 3 Christmas Song Quiz 1. Good King looked out, on the of. 2. We you a (3X), and a Happy New Year! 3., they told me,. 4. Deck the with boughs of. 5. I saw come sailing in on Christmas Day in the. 6. from the realms of glory, your flight o'er all the earth. 7. I heard the on Christmas Day, their old familiar play. 8. Oh, you better, you better not, you'd better not pout. 9. As with men of old, did the guiding behold the red. 11. the man. 12. Dashing through the in a onehorse 13. On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,. 14. City, busy, dressed in holiday style... Some Christmas humor Twas in the of when all the birds had fled. 16. Said the night to the little "Do you hear what I hear"? 17. O, O. 18. Sleigh bells, are you, In the, snow is 19. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, nipping at your. Fill in the blanks Solution: 1. Good King Wencelas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen. 2. We wish you a merry Christmas (3X), and a Happy New Year! 3. Come, they told me, pa rum pum pum pum. 4. Deck the halls with boughs of holly. 5. I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning. 6. Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth. 7. I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play. 8. Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, you'd better not pout. 9. As with gladness men of old, did the guiding star behold Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. 11. Frosty the snow man. 12. Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh. 13. On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree. 14. City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled. 16. Said the night wind to the little lamb "Do you hear what I hear"? 17. O night divine, O night divine. 18. Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, In the lane, snow is glistening 19. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc -

4 Page 4 Ukrainian Catholic Youth and Young Adult News What a Great Christmas Gift Giving Idea! A camp CD is available to purchase with all the old songs that you have grown to love over the years! This CD was produced by both Celeste Krochak & Keith Macpherson (Canadian Idol/St. Ignatius Parish) this will be sold as a fundraiser for the Park! Give back to the park for all the years of fun ~ listen to some great campfire songs and reminisce about the yester years! Here is a list of some of the songs on the CD that is being sold for $15: 1. I Don't Want To Go To Ukrainian Park 2. How I Love You 3. Singing In The Rain 4. The Princess Pat 5. Blind Man 6. Grace 7. I'm Gonna Sing Medley 8. Jesus Loves Me 9. Little Chicken 10. This Little Light Of Mine Ukrainian Frisbee for sale: $5 If you couldn t make it out for the weekend and would still like to have a copy of the CD, send me an or call me at my office ( ext 2)! These would make great gifts for Christmas for that hard to buy for person!

5 Volume 6, Issue 1 Page 5 "Thank you, Jesus" I hurried into the local department store to grab some last-minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever, and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again, I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And I wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy, about 5 years old, holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair, and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman; and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure I don't have enough money?" She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have enough money for it." The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere, that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit, I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said, "It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it." I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said, "No, Santa can't go where my sister is. I have to give the doll to my Mamma to take to her." I asked him where his sister was? He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, "She has gone to be with Jesus." "My Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be with her." My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, "I told my Daddy to tell Mama not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store." Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he had taken at the front of the store. He said, "I want my Mamma to take this with her so she don't ever forget me. I love my Mama so very much, and I wish she did not have to leave me. But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister." I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking, I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that money one more time". He grew excited and said, "Yes, I just know it has to be enough." So I slipped my money in with his, and we began to count it. Of course, it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, "Thank you, Jesus, for giving me enough money." Then the boy said, "I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Mama can take it with her to give to my sister. And He heard my prayer. I wanted to ask Him for enough to buy my Mamma a white rose, but I didn't ask Him; but He gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Mama. She loves white roses so very, very much." In a few minutes the aunt came back, and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl, and the Mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later, I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support; and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself; and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was, holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store. I left the funeral parlor in tears... my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. Anonymous, sent by Larry Whitcomb < whitcoml@ .msn.com > Christmas Eve Prayer In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit... Today is a day for celebrating gifts, and we celebrate it with gifts. But, Lord, help us to remember that no gift we receive this season can ever be as important as those gifts we already possess. We thank You for the gift of health, and we remember and pray for those who are sick. We thank You for the gifts of home and work, and we remember and pray for those who are homeless or unemployed. We thank You for the gift of plentiful food, here today and every day, and we remember and pray for those who are hungry. We thank You for the gift of family, those here with us today and those who are away, and for the love of good friends. We remember and pray for those who are alone. We thank You for the gifts of Your constant guidance and numerous blessings, and we remember and pray for those who do not know You. Most importantly, Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, whom You sent to us on this night so long ago. Help us to remember that it is for this reason alone we gather here to celebrate. Amen.

6 Page 6 UCY/UCY Christmas Dinner & Get Together Who: All youth & young adults (12-39) (& parents too) What: Dinner, Gift Exchange & Fellowship Where: St Michael s Parish hall, 400 Day St (Bingo entrance) When: Saturday, December 22, at 6pm What to Bring: a tin for the bin and a $5 wrapped gift for the gift exchange Register & Questions: by December 20 Dinner provided by the Youth & Young Adult Executive News from out & about! The Inspiring Message of 'Bella' There is an amazing film that is getting all kinds of buzz. Bella won the prestigious People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Many of the previous winners of this award including Life is Beautiful, American Beauty, Crouching Tiger, Hotel Rwanda, and Chariots of Fire, to name a few, have gone on to win Best Picture Academy Award. It also won the Grand Prize at the Heartland Film Festival last month, the largest family friendly film festival in the nation. Why should you care? Bella is a film that celebrates the importance of life, written, produced and directed by devout Christians trying to make a difference in Hollywood. Despite all of its awards and critical acclaim, however, Bella is a movie that mainstream Hollywood has turned its back on because it is not about sex or greed but instead delivers a moral message that all Christians should be proud of. It is a movie that is not only engaging and emotional, but it will change your life as it has to countless others who have left the theater inspired and uplifted in some cases, the film has literally saved lives... The other reason you should care is because Hollywood belongs to God and it is high time to start supporting clean projects that Our Lord would be proud of. If you have ever complained about the damage that so many Hollywood films have caused to our society, now is the time to act. Bella is an incredible gift to that end because, since it is not overtly religious, it has the power to preach the gospel in a subtle, loving way. Bella has garnered the support of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth & Young Adults!

7 Check out the new youth & young adult web page: Page 7 - On the Lighter Side - Christmas Present Ukrainian Catholic Youth and Young Adult News It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking over the cradle when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures. Immediately he turned and went outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus. So he walked up to the boy and said, "Well, where did you get Him, my fine friend?" The little boy replied, "I got him from the church." "And why did you take him?" The boy said, "Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus and I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas I would give him a ride around the block in it." After Christmas Thought A few days after Christmas, my six year son and I were talking. He asked, "Mom, is there a Santa Claus?" "Well, what do you think?" I asked him. He replied, "Well, my Playstation that I got and my gift from Santa were wrapped in the same kind of wrapping paper." He thought for a minute and said, "I'll tell you what... you and Dad can go on buying me presents and let's just forget we ever had this talk!" Christmas Story A little boy returned from Sunday school with a new perspective on the Christmas story. He had learned all about the Wise Men from the East who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. He was so excited he could hardly wait to tell his parents. As soon as he arrived home, he immediately began, "I learned all about the very first Christmas in Sunday school today! There wasn't a Santa Claus way back then, so these three skinny guys on camels had to deliver all the toys! And Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer with his nose so bright wasn't there yet, so they had to have this big spotlight in the sky to find their way around!" Pope John Paul II Speaks to Youth Week Forty-Eight Awesome is God... (Psalms 68:35) "What must I do? 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?' What must I do so that my life may have full value and meaning? The youth of each one of you, dear friends, is a treasure that is manifested precisely in these questions." --Pope John Paul II, Dilecti Amici Think About That Our youth is a time in which we ask a lot of important questions. For example, we ask, "Who will I be when I grow up? What will I do with my life? What is the meaning of life?" These are good questions and it is Christ alone who has the answers. We must always turn to Christ for the answers. Take Action Take out a piece of paper and pen. Write at the top of the paper, "My Questions." Carry the piece of paper with you all week. Each time you have a question about life, write that question down. At the end of the week, look over the questions you have written down and spend time in prayer with God, asking God to help you find the answers. Lord, you know me better than anyone. You know my questions. Help me to find the answers to my questions. Amen. Say A Prayer Did You Know? The Pope lives in the Vatican Palace, which is in its own city-state called the Vatican City State in the middle of Rome. Taken from...my Dear Young Friends: Pope John Paul II Speaks to Youth on Life, Love, and Courage My Dear Young Friends, a collection of fifty-two weekly reflections on living in the Spirit, invites young people to read and act on Pope John Paul II's inspiring addresses to young people gathered at annual World Youth Day celebrations. Please visit for more information from the publisher, Saint Mary's Press. FOUND ONLINE AT:

8 Volume 6, Issue 1 Page 8 WYD 2008 News Here are some notes/reminders/decisions from the last WYD 2008 meeting. 1. Next meeting - Friday, Dec. The Welcome Home Time: To be announced - JUST A SHORT BUSINESS MEETING 2. People must register individually for WYD. Go to the website wyd2008.org and follow the links. You won't be able to complete the process, but you can do more than half of the process. Our group number is You'll also need flight information. Here's what we know. We arrive in Australia at Brisbane on July 1 on NZ We arrive in Sydney on July 14 on QF We leave Australia on July 30 on NZ I don't have our flight that leaves Sydney on July 23. We are a part of the Ukrainian Eparchy for Days in the Diocese. 3. We need to really get on the ball for fundraising letters. ideas or rough drafts to Larysa as soon as possible. We'll finish the letter at the next meeting. Each person will send one letter. Upcoming Fundraisers and Dates: Peak of the Market Boxes (late Jan), Caroling (few days in Dec. and a few days in January), Bud Spud and Steak (May 10) Fr. Mike July 15-20, ~ From the Chancery Pantry ~ Mint Thins Ingredients: Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 20 min Makes: 3 doz. or 12 servings, three coated crackers each 1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract 1 sleeve RITZ Crackers (36 crackers) 1 peppermint candy cane (6 inch), crushed Directions: MICROWAVE chocolate in small microwaveable bowl as directed on package. Stir until completely melted. Blend in extract. DIP crackers in melted chocolate, completely coating crackers with chocolate. Carefully scrape off excess chocolate. Place on waxed paper-covered baking sheets; sprinkle with crushed candy. REFRIGERATE 30 min. or until chocolate is firm. Enjoy! Kraft Kitchens Tips Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookies Omit peppermint extract and candy cane. Spread each cracker with a thin layer of peanut butter before dipping into the melted chocolate.

9 Volume 6, Issue 1 Page 9 Memory Awakens Hope Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which Is Above,1986 "Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart s memory so that it can discern the star of hope. It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope." Fire of Advent Edward Hays, A Pilgrim s Almanac, p. 187 "Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time." Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man. Author Unknown There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions. -- Bill McKibben Author, Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case For a More Joyful Christmas Celebrating Christmas without Christ is like celebrating George Washington s birthday without mentioning the first president. James N. Watkins A St. Nicholas Note ~ Edward Hays, A Pilgrim s Almanac (adapted) "It is fitting that the feast of St. Nicholas comes at the beginning of Advent and the beginning of the shopper s season. As the patron saint of shoppers he proclaims, Keep it simple! Keep it simple enough to fit in a shoe or a stocking. "One gift that could fit in a shoe, or in a stocking hanging on the fireplace, is a note that speaks of one of our most precious gifts, the gift of time. Such a St. Nicholas note might read: The gift I give to you is half an hour of quality conversation each night right after the dishes are done. Or, The gift I give to you is one Saturday a month to be with you and do whatever you want to do. We can appreciate the value of such a gift if we keep in mind that according to a recent survey, the average married couple in America has only 30 minutes a week of communication outside of exchanges that take place at the dinner table, and between parent and child is only 14 minutes. As you can see, the possibilities are almost unlimited for these St. Nicholas shoe gifts. "Come, St. Nicholas, patron of shoppers and gift-seekers, and make Christmas this year fun, creative and love-filled." Thought for the Month! When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton

10 To change info, subscribe or unsubscribe contact: UCY/UCYA Winnipeg Tamara Lisowski 233 Scotia St Winnipeg, Manitoba R2V 1V7 Phone: Fax: New*** We re on the Web! UCY/UCYA Note: WYD 08 ~ < 210 days Upcoming Events! Monday, December 10th Young Adults in Action will meet on Monday December 10th, :00pm -Guest Speaker: Fr. Ihor Kolisnyk, CSsR Sunday, December 16 YAA Action Date: Sunday, Dec16th, 2007 Gift-wrapping Extravaganza 3pm at The Welcome Home (188 Euclid Ave) Saturday, December 15 Advisory Board meeting, 2pm Please have one member of each parish youth or young adult group attend this meeting! We would love to have you join us! After the meeting we will be putting together the ornaments for the Holy Family Nursing Home/Caroling. Sunday, December 30 Christmas Caroling at Holy Family Nursing Home and ornament distribution ~ meet at 3pm at the chancery or at 4:30pm at Holy Family Nursing Home on Main Street ODILIA Saturday, December 22 UCY/UCYA Christmas Gathering Who: All youth & young adults (12-39) (& parents too) What: Dinner, Gift Exchange & Fellowship Where: St Michael s Parish hall, 400 Day St (Bingo entrance) When: Saturday, December 22, at 6pm What to Bring: a tin for the bin and a $5 wrapped gift for the gift exchange Register & Questions: by December 20 Dinner provided by the Youth & Young Adult Executive Saint s Corner Also known as Adilia; Odile; Odilia; Othilia; Ottilia Memorial 13 December Profile Born blind to the family of Alsatian Lord Aldaric and Bereswinda who put her out because of her disability. Rather than having her killed, she was given to a peasant family. Taken in by a convent at age twelve, she gained her sight upon being touched by chrism during her baptism by Saint Erhard of Regensburg. Her brother wanted her back for use in an arranged marriage; when he heard of his son's machinations and Odilia's miraculous healing, her father was so angry that he struck and killed the brother. Odilia she fled back to the convent to escape the marriage, and her family gave up the idea. She joined the abbey, and eventually became abbess. Founded the Odilienberg monastery at Niedermunster. Born c.660 at Oberheim in the Vosges Mountains Died 13 December 720 at Niedermunster; buried in a chapel near the convent church on the Odilienberg Patronage Alsace, eye disease, eye problems Adam Memorial 24 December Profile First man. Lived in the Garden of Eden until expelled by God. Married to Eve. Father of Cain, Abel, Seth and other children. Old Testament Patriarch. Name Meaning man; red skin; red earth; clay; to be red Patronage gardeners, tailors If there are any questions regarding this information, please contact ~Tamara (Monday-Thursday, 11am-4pm)~ If you have any Upcoming Events for January that you would like posted, please send them to the UCY office by December 15 to be in the next edition. WYD 2008 ~ Australia For those interested in going to WYD 08, please Contact: Fr. Mike Smolinski, CSsR (204) &/or Sr. Darleane Pelechaty, SSMI (204)