Phone: 810-229-8624 Fax: 810-229-6471 Preschool: 810-229-0010 Website: www.saintmarymagdalen.org Monday Thursday... 8:30am 8:30pm Friday... 8:30am 4:30pm Saturday 4:30pm Sunday 9 & 11am Weekday Liturgies: Mon., Thurs., Fri. 9am Wed. 7pm Sacrament of Penance: Saturday 11am 12noon Infant Baptism: Call Erin Wolfe. Sacrament of Matrimony: Please contact the office at least nine months prior to wedding date.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED ADVENT Saturday, at the stroke of 4 pm the Church year came to an end and the new Liturgical Year of 2019 began. The most notable aspect of the change is we begin reading the Gospel of Luke throughout the year, on most Sundays. The color of vestments will change to purple and we will count off the 4 weeks of Advent by lighting four candles on the Advent Wreath: a circle of evergreens, symbolizing God, the eternal, who lives forever. The four candles lit are two purple, then the pink and finally the last purple. Advent, from its start until well into the 20 th century, was - like Lent - a time of fasting and prayer in preparation to celebrate Jesus birth. Lighting the pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent (called Gaudete or Joyful Sunday) was the indication that the season was almost over and the time of feasting would soon begin. For many, Advent is the forgotten season. But I truly hope that despite all the commercial aspects of these days and the hustle and hassle of getting things ready, you and I will find some time to prepare ourselves for Christ and the promise His birth in time and space can bring. Please take advantage of the Little Blue Book and take a little extra time for reflection and prayer, so while we are getting ready for Christmas, we can also get ready for Christ! Happy Advent!! OUR NATIONAL HOLY DAY Next Saturday, December 8, is our national feast day, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate the beginnings of Mary s life, an important part of the whole wondrous unfolding of God s plan to give to us the gift of our Savior, Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary. We will celebrate this feast of the Blessed Mother with Liturgies at 7 pm on Friday evening and 9:30 am Saturday morning. Please come and join in praying for our nation! THE 25 TH ANNIVERSARY TEAM I would like to acknowledge and thank the folks who planned and prepared all the events of our anniversary year! The team members were: Sr. Maryetta, Anita Grapentien, Dennis & Sandy Howe, Sr. Joyce, Margee Faber, Maria Milligan, Skip & Michelle Dorrington, Betty Socia, Cheryl Wayne, Lauren Trapp, Danielle Flynn, Lori Sproull, Mary Lanigan, Maria Kottke, Jackie Rabold, Jessie Ridgway, Beatrice Kovacs and Diane Kubus. Yvonne Prise, Margaret Callaghan, Erin Wolfe & our Knights of Columbus were also an immense help! Thank you! Fr. Dave Howell SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Baruch 5:1-9 The setting for today s reading is the time when Jews were captives in Babylon. The author writes of a bright future when they will return with joy to their homeland. In this passage, Jerusalem is pictured as a mother who puts on her finest clothes and goes to a high hill to see the wonderful sight of her children coming home. Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 Of all the communities Paul founded, the one at Philippi was especially dear to him. Wherever he was, they sent him moral and financial support to carry on his work. Now confined in a prison cell, Paul writes to them like a proud parent. Luke 3:1-6 John the Baptist always appears on the second and third Sundays of Advent. In Luke, John is the last of the great prophets who preceded and foretold of the Messiah s coming. John is cast as the central figure in the conclusion of what has gone before. Luke reminds us over and over that the entire world is included in God s plan of salvation. Reflect: How will I prepare the way for the Lord in my life? Lee Barker Syndy Bisoski Marilyn Bitterle Caitlin Bohlen Taylor Brake Larry Buslepp Nancy Carr Michael Columbus Cienna Ditri Dottie Ecker Rosemary Gamble Julie Glasgow David Grinnell Bob Guidos Michael Harrah Jill Hibbeln Elaine Kay PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK Dorothy Koprowicz Herb Langer Gwen Maes Jean Mayer Hogan McCuan Bob Monforton Diane Morrison Wilma Murphy Anne O Hara Stan Osdras Nathan Ostrowski Richard Rumpz Dave Scharf Margie Sharpy Ron Sherman Paul Sultana Emma Thompson Marylyn Trader Karen Turner Michelle Turner Ed Walblay Eddi Waterson Geraldine White Jennifer Yanick Tom Zremski Abbey Andrea Annabelle Brenda David Jeannette Diane Important Note About our Prayer List The names of the sick will run in this column for 6 weeks, at which time they will be removed. To add a name, re-list a name, or remove a name, please call the parish office at 810-229-8624. Many people have recuperated so we appreciate updates, in order to be current.
ST. MARY MAGDALEN PASTORAL STAFF Pastor Fr. David F. Howell pastor1@saintmarymagdalen.org Deacon H. David Scharf deacon1@saintmarymagdalen.org Deacon James Chevalier deacon2@saintmarymagdalen.org Deacon Gary Prise deacon3@saintmarymagdalen.org Deacon Devon Wolfe deacon4@saintmarymagdalen.org Formation - Evang. Adults Sr. Joyce Hoile, OSF pastmin1@saintmarymagdalen.org Pastoral Minister Sr. Maryetta Churches. OP pastmin2@saintmarymagdalen.org Youth Minister Margaret Callaghan yminister1@gmail.com Dir. Rel. Formation Roxanne Hundsrucker dre1@saintmarymagdalen.org R.C.I.A. & Infant Baptism Erin Wolfe baptisms@saintmarymagdalen.org Liturgist/IT Specialist Diane Kubus liturgist@saintmarymagdalen.org Pastoral Musician Steven H. Schulte steve@colleengleason.com Director of Preschool Amanda Faiola preschool1@saintmarymagdalen.org Bookkeeper Jeri Gawlowski bookkeeper@saintmarymagdalen.org Rel. Form. Admin Asst. Karen MacDonald sect2@saintmarymagdalen.org Administrative Asst. Gayle Zawisa sect3@saintmarymagdalen.org Administrative Asst. Sandi Phillips sect4@saintmarymagdalen.org Administrative Asst. Megan Tierney sect5@saintmarymagdalen.org Facilities & Maintenance Dan Tuthill maint1@saintmarymagdalen.org Please remember in your prayers: Ed and Ellyn Dominiak in the death of their son-in-law, Chris Lander. Mary Hornberger and family in the death of her father, Stanley Riske. Donna Price and family in the death of her father, Bill Gamble. Lisa Pierzynski and family in the death of her mother, Janet Blanchard. BRIGHTON, MI THIS WEEK S LITURGIES December 3, Monday, St. Francis Xavier, Priest Is 2:1-5/Mt 8:5-11 9:00 am +Gerry Bennett 7:00 pm Evening Prayer December 4, Tuesday Is 11:1-10/Lk 10:21-24 9:00 am +Barbara Hemmi December 5, Wednesday Is 25:6-10a/Mt 15:29-37 7:00 pm +Richard Tuzinsky December 6, Thursday Is 26:1-6/Mt 7:21, 24-27 9:00 am +Anna Howell December 7, Friday, Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Is 29:17-24/Mt 9:27-31 7:00 pm +Keith Dunn & Jan Jandasek December 8, Saturday, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gn 3:9-15, 20/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38 9:30 am +Ronald Pakizer December 9, The Second Sunday of Advent Bar 5:1-9/Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/Lk 3:1-6 4:30 pm Vigil +Four Gomez Brothers 9:00 am St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners 11:00 am +Barb Hemmi Father Dave s Retirement As we move closer to June 2019, and Father Dave prepares for his retirement, arrangements are being made for a special retirement dinner at Crystal Gardens, May 16. Tickets will be available after January 1, 2019. We have also planned receptions following all the Liturgies the weekend of June 22 & 23. Father Dave hopes to spend some of his retirement traveling. We realize many will want to wish Father well and perhaps give him a gift. A suggestion would be a monetary gift to put toward his travels. For this purpose, special envelopes, with notecards, will be made available in the gathering area, at the Welcome Desk. WELLNESS QUOTE Sunday. Take it slow and give your soul a chance to catch up with your body.
RELIGIOUS FORMATION NEWS Roxanne Hundsrucker First Sunday of Advent Today is the First Sunday of Advent! Are you ready for this holy season? In the second reading today from a letter from Paul to the Thessalonians, Paul shares with us that the Lord may increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. He goes on to earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. During this season of hustle and bustle, it is up to us, the Faithful, to love those around us and strengthen our hearts. We are all called to holiness and within that call, we must please the Lord as he is kind and merciful, therefore we must be kind and merciful of others as disciples of Christ. So when you are cut off or stuck in the long line while shopping, stop and think of kindness and being merciful. As Catholics, we light the Advent wreath, we bless our Christmas tree, and set up our Nativity. Many will omit the crèche until Christmas morning. We have so many great Advent traditions to embrace, all of which are aimed to slow us down and to be watchful. The Liturgical Year Today is the first day of the Liturgical Calendar. The religious formation children have been learning about the liturgical seasons, the colors of the liturgical season and the lectionary cycle of readings that fall into the 3-year liturgical cycle. This year we are in Cycle C where the Gospel readings will be mostly of Luke. In Luke s writings he speaks in first person. Luke speaks of Jesus as our Compassionate Savior. Luke s account contains over half of the verses of Mark s account. Luke s account is very common to Matthew s as well. YOUTH NEWS Margaret Callaghan What a great reason to celebrate not only the season of Advent, but reflecting on the 25 years of being a parish, is overwhelming. I have been here and involved in Youth Ministry for 23 of the 25 years. The families I have witnessed grow, then grow again, is amazing. Many of you in turn have witnessed my own family grow. We have supported each other through the tough times and celebrated in the joyous times. If you have a story to share of your experience at St. MM, please email to our 25th Anniversary Story Editor at maskip25@gmail.com. Our YG Christmas celebration is so big we have to schedule an overnight! We will start Thursday, December 20 and end Friday morning the 21st. The cost is $10 for a shared sit-down meal, a snack to pass for later in the night and a $10 valued gender-neutral gift for our White Elephant exchange. It s not necessary, but an RSVP would be helpful. You can do so at yminister1@gmail.com Before our overnight, we have planned a Youth Ministry open house on December 15 and 16. After each liturgy that weekend, come and visit us in the youth room. Check out our space, learn about upcoming events, meet our active youth leaders and members. We are excited to share not only our space and experience but also our personal faith journey. We hope to see you, parents and high school students alike. Thank you for the socks you have so generously donated for the needy in Flint. This weekend we welcome Mary Stevenson who runs the Warming Center at the Catholic Social Service s building. She will join us to share about what she provides for the needy and how your socks will be appreciated. EDGE In December we meet once, on Monday Dec. 10. We will celebrate Christmas EDGE style! Bring a wrapped like-new or $10 gender-neutral gift to give. It will be a fun and festive time! HOLY LAND RELIGIOUS ARTICLES ON SALE DEC. 8 AND 9 Alfred & Grace Salsa, natives of Bethlehem in the Holy land will be with us after all the masses with their beautiful religious artifacts made by the Christian community in Bethlehem. Please stop by their display in the gathering area. You will find many religious items for your home or as gifts for loved ones.
OF FAITH AND SERVICE Sr. Joyce Hoile, OSF Good Advent to you! Please pray and consider who you will invite to come to Advent/Christmas Mass with you this year. God s love and grace reaches everyone. How will we invite others to Eucharist? Prayer for the Return of Non-Practicing Catholics O Good Shepherd, you never cease to seek out the lost, to call home the stray, to comfort the frightened, and to bind up the wounded. I ask you to bring (mention names) back to the practice of the Faith, and to remove all obstacles that prevent them from receiving your abundant mercy, which flows sacramentally through the heart of your holy Church. Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, their Guardian Angel(s), their Patron Saint(s) and the ever-prayerful St. Monica, may you pardon their sins and unshackle them from whatever hinders their freedom to come Home. For you, O Good Shepherd, loved us to the end and offered yourself to the Father for the salvation of all. Amen. Jesus we trust in you! Cards, Cookies, Conversation We will begin with a prayer at the Advent Wreath then Sister Joyce will host a leisurely evening for you to take time to begin your Christmas cards. Enjoy conversation of any topic you choose and share in cookies, coffee or cocoa. It is a time to stop and settle to begin this annual task. We will meet Wednesdays during the 4:30 pm Religious Education classes on December 5, 12, and 19. Anyone can come at any time. There is no need to pre-register. 50+ Seniors Gathering Wednesday, December 12, 11 am 2 pm in the Community Room Please RSVP to Sr. Joyce for the lunch count. Agenda: 1.) Continue discussion of the Book, Aging Starts in Your Mind 2.) Free Lunch 3.) Bingo Invite a Friend! See you there! CHARITY & JUSTICE The Advent Giving Tree will be set up in the Gathering Space until December 17. If you would like to help those who are less fortunate, please take a tag from the tree and place your donation with the tag firmly attached back under the tree no later than December 17. No gifts should be wrapped, or in the case of gift cards, be placed in a holiday or Christmas card. With your generous support, we can bring a little joy to people s lives this holy season. Let s see if we can fulfill all their wishes! If you have any questions please contact Jeanne Penneau at jepenneau5@gmail.com or 920.840.0092. The NEW Life Center in Flint will be wrapping Christmas gifts again this December for families in their neighborhood. Everyone is welcome to help on Tuesday, December 4. A carpool will leave St. Mary Magdalen s parking lot at 9:00 am. We will wrap from 10 am to 2 pm. If you come, please bring your own scissors, marked with your name, and a brown bag lunch. The NEW Life Center is located at 3401 Lawndale Ave. in Flint. There is a signup sheet on the Charity and Justice table in the gathering space. Traveling Together for the Good of All: Public transportation is a social justice issue. It allows seniors to age in place, provides those without cars with rides to jobs and health care, serves people with disabilities, improves the environment, reduces congestion and generally improves the quality of life for all of us. Locally, LETS buses provide dial-a-ride transportation to those who need it or want alternatives to driving. A major study is underway to consider ways to improve and expand this service, and possibly add options like commuter services, express buses to the airport and a network of bike/walking trails. Parishioners are asked to take a short survey to prioritize a dozen transportation improvements that are being considered. To learn more about the planning project and take the survey, go to LETS site https:// www.livgov.com/lets and click on link to plan and then link to survey. THANK YOU Our Fall St. Vincent de Paul clothing drive was a huge success thanks to all of you who donated. St Vincent de Paul helps over 30,000 people a year and thanks to your generosity the people who need assistance with utilities, food, clothing, housing and many other things, such as finding employment, will be helped.
THE WEEK AHEAD Monday, December 3 9:45 am Yoga 5:30 pm Alpha Core 6:00 pm Magdalen s Kitchen 7:30 pm K of C Business Meeting Tuesday, December 4 10:00 am ALPHA 6:00 pm Boy Scouts 6:45 pm RCIA Retreat 7:00 pm Michigan Bible School 7:00 pm Boy Scouts Committee Meeting Wednesday, December 5 9:00 am Jesus Lifestyle 9:15 am MOMS 1:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 4:30/6:30 pm Religious Formation 4:30 pm Cards, Cookies & Conversation 7:30 pm Worship Thursday, December 6 5:30 pm Religious Formation 6:30 pm ALPHA 7:00 pm Baptism Class 7:30 pm Music Ministry Friday, December 7 No 9 am Liturgy (7 pm) 9:45 am Yoga 1:00 pm Pain Sake 7:00 pm Feast of Immaculate Conception Liturgy Saturday, December 8 7:30 am Men s Breakfast 9:30 am Feast of Immaculate Conception Liturgy 10:00 am RCIA Rehearsal Sunday, December 9 10:10 am New Parishioner Meeting 11:00 am RCIA 12:00 pm First Eucharist Parent & Candidate Session 2:00 pm Preschool Christmas Program 5:30 pm 9th Grade Confirmation Session 7:00 pm Youth Group Holy Land Artifacts for Sale after all Liturgies ST. MARY MAGDALEN 25TH ANNIVERSARY ORNAMENTS The Moms Group will be selling special 25th Anniversary Ornaments after the Masses through December 23rd. Ornaments are $10 each. Contact Erin Wolfe at 810-229-8624 ext. 176 with any questions. STEWARDSHIP REPORT WEEK OF 11/18/2018 Approximately 1,733 people participated Env/Cash $14,510 EFT/Online $ 5,871 TOTAL $20,381 Children s Collection $86.44 Week of 11/25/2018 Approximately 1,449 people participated Env/Cash $20,299 EFT/Online $21,740 TOTAL $42.039 Children s Collection $61.25 Christmas Nativity We will be doing a Nativity re-enactment during the Christmas Gospel at the 6:15 Christmas Eve Mass. There will be 6-8 actors and about 8 angels for the multitude. There are no speaking parts, as the deacon will read the Gospel. Rehearsals will be on Wednesday evenings, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, 6:00-6:30 pm. There will be a Dress Rehearsal on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 6:00 pm until about 7:15 pm. Children in grades K 8 are welcome to participate. Any parents who would like to help with crowd control are also welcome! The sign-up sheet can be found in the Gathering Area by the Religious Formation bulletin board. Please call Erin Wolfe at 810-923-8494 with any questions. MINISTERS OF PRAYER Sun. Dec. 2 Dennis Wagener Mon. Dec. 3 Joyce Muchler, Ted Eisenhut Tues. Dec. 4 Bob & Dawn Gustitus, Mary Ann Hargrave Wed. Dec. 5 Diane Olsem Thurs. Dec. 6 Matt Kroll Fri. Dec. 7 Volunteer Sat. Dec. 8 Judy Brown GUEST SPEAKER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 1 PM St. Mary Magdalen For Pain Sake group is hosting a guest speaker who is a Physical Therapist and Balance Teacher. Please consider coming and learning more! Friday, Dec. 7, 1-3 pm.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE Mon. Dec. 3 8:30 pm Senior Men s Basketball Tue. Dec. 4 6:00 pm Boy Scouts Wed. Dec. 5 4:30 pm Religious Formation Thu. Dec. 6 4:00 pm St. Patrick s 5:30 pm Religious Formation Fri. Dec. 7 - Sat. Dec. 8 Sun. Dec. 9 9:30 am Blood Drive 5:30 pm 9th Gr. Confirmation 7:00 pm Youth Group 2201 South Old U.S. 23 Highway Brighton, Michigan 48114 Phone: 810-229-8624 Fax: 810-229-6471 Preschool: 810-229-0010 Website: www.saintmarymagdalen.org OFFICE HOURS Monday Thursday... 8:30am 8:30pm Friday... 8:30am 4:30pm SACRAMENTAL INFORMATION Weekend Liturgies: Saturday: 4:30pm Sunday: 9 & 11am Weekday Liturgies: Mon., Thurs., Fri. 9am, Wed. 7pm Sacrament of Penance: Saturday: 11:30am 12noon Infant Baptism: Contact Erin Wolfe. Sacrament of Matrimony: Please contact the office 9 months prior.