ADVENT: THE SEASON OF PRAYERFUL WATCHING

The Season of Advent was added to the Church calendar in the sixth century, as a mini-Lent to prepare us for the coming of Christmas through prayer, fasting and works of charity. Although the penitential character diminished over the years, Advent was still a season of penitential practices until the liturgical reforms of 1969.

Changes to the Lectionary and the liturgical calendar have transformed Advent into a season of prayer-ful watching. At the start of the season, we await the second advent or coming of Christ, the King of the Ages. Only when He does not return in glory do we then turn our attention to His birth, the first coming of the Lord.

The Sacrament of Penance is an important part of our preparation for the coming of Christ. By cele-brating the reconciliation Christ gained for us, we open our hearts and lives more fully to His love. During Ad-vent there will be eight communal celebrations within the county and several times for the individual celebra-tion of the Sacrament of Penance. (Please consult the back page for additional times.)

DECEMBER 2015

Volume XXII Issue 12

A newsletter of

ST. MARY MAGDALEN PARISH

C H R I S T M A S : A C E L E B R AT I O N O F J OY

The original liturgical celebrations of the birth of Christ began in the Holy Land with customs which eventually spread to the rest of the Church. Three special Liturgies proclaimed the good news. The first was celebrated in Bethlehem during the night. Afterwards the participants walked by torch light to Mt. Zion near Jerusalem for a second Mass around dawn, called the Mass of the Shepherds. Later in the day, a third Liturgy - the Mass of the Word Made Flesh - was celebrated in the Church of the Tomb of Christ. For 1700 years, these three separate Liturgies marked the birth of Christ.

In 1969, the liturgical reforms added a fourth celebration: the Vigil Mass. We will have two Vigil Liturgies on Christmas Eve, the first will be at 4 pm and the second at 6:15 pm, At these two Liturgies the children will act out the Gospel Story as it is proclaimed. These Liturgies are very popular, especially for families with younger children. The Mid-Night Mass, which will begin at 10 pm, is the primary Liturgy of Christmas and is especially beautiful. Imitating the Christmas Liturgy of the fifth century, it begins in semi-darkness. Three readings from the Old Testament remind us of how the promise of a Savior guided God's people and prepared us to hear the Good News of Jesus' birth. The morning Mass of the Shepherds (10 am) is much simpler, also very beautiful.

COMMUNAL CELEBRATIONS

of the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

Dec 1 (Tues - 7 pm) St. Augustine Dec 9 (Wed - 7 pm) St Mary in Pinckney Dec 10 (Thurs - 7pm ) St. Joseph in Howell Dec 14 (Mon - 7 pm) Holy Spirit, Hamburg Dec 16 (Wed - 7:30 pm) St. John, in Hartland Dec 19 (Sat - 9 am) St. Patrick in Brighton Dec 21 (Mon. - 7:30 pm) St. Mary Magdalen

Liturgies of Christmas Eve: 4 pm + 6:15 pm + 10 pm + Christmas morning: 10 am

from the FINANCE COUNCIL

July 2015- June 2016

For Month Ending September 30, 2015

Actual Actual Fiscal Annual Fiscal INCOME Sep 30 Year to Date Budget Church 104,027 319,814 1,486,350 Capital Campaign 19,716 71,711 175,000 Religious Ed/Preschool 14,591 28,819 109,000 TOTAL INCOME 138,334 420,343 1,770,350

EXPENSES Church 66,021 183,513 881,400 Building Mortgage 41,801 125,404 501,700 Religious Ed/Preschool 32,606 63,660 387,250

TOTAL EXPENSES 140,429 372,577 1,770,350

INCOME/(LOSS) (2,095) 47,766

REMAINING BALANCE 11/1/15 - Building Mortgage - $3,377,451

July 2015 - June 2016

Projected Budget for 2015-2016

Actual Fiscal Annual Fiscal INCOME Month Year Church 123,856 1,486,350 Capital Campaign 14,583 175,000 Religious Ed/Preschool 9,083 109,000 TOTAL INCOME 47,522 1,770,350

EXPENSES Church 73,450 881,400 Building Mortgage 41,801 501,700 Religious Ed/Preschool 32,271 387,250

TOTAL EXPENSES 147,522 1,770,350

INCOME/(LOSS) - -

Emily Wolfe Eileen Denhard Ralph Hazen Lauren Trapp

John Robison Greg Milosek Douglas Fekete Clarence Kroll

Rob Cooney Peter Kelly Jodi Williamsen Mike Rhoads

Tim Mulcaster Debbie Dehanke, Secretary Sr. Maryetta Churches Fr. David F. Howell

The Members of the Pastoral Council

Cary Schmidt E Loniewski Edward Loniewski Dominic DiCicco

Marsha McBride Bob Henderson Holly Moltane David Williamsen

Debra Barker Dianne Hardy Matt Uphoff Jim Panning

Bookkeeper, Dave Wisniewski Fr. David F. Howell

The Members of the Finance Council

Don Powell Eileen Denhard John Finn Katie Panczak

Kristin Turner James Chevalier Mary Kay Edoff David Rychlick

Dianne Hardy Diane Agius Elaine Tripi Eric Silvestri

Mary Ellen Wassenberg Mary Beth Potrykus Father David Howell

The Members of the Time & Talent Council

RELIGIOUS FORMATION from Mary Mahar

CONFIRMATION We congratulate 53 youth of our parish who took the final step of their Sacrament of

Initiation and were confirmed! These youth and their parents worked very hard on their journey towards this Sacrament. They attended classes, worked hard fulfilling their service hours, attended retreat and learned that together they can scale any obstacle. They prayerfully made their decision to be confirmed and accept the seal of the Holy Spirit. I would also like to thank the Confirmation team for all their hard work with our youth, led by our coordinator, Elizabeth Milatz. Please pray the Spirit continues to grow in our youth and guides them in all that they do. Those confirmed are:

Nolan Anderer Adriana Anderson Justin Baravik Alec Bayoneto Kameryn Bell Dylan Bilicki Anthony Bosio Sarah Brannigan Jacqueline Burant Jack Callaghan Jack Chevalier

Matthew Clark Sebastian Cowgill Katherine Day Sarah Day Matthew Decker Krystian Dembowski Alexis Doyle Chloe Drallos Makenna Eddy Allison Falk Gina Ferrazza

Claudia Gehan Madison Gradowski Anna Grattan Emily Grattan Rebecca Habarth Rebecca Heaman Nathanael Heppler Julia Herrell Cody Kalota Sean Keiffer Erin Knickerbocker

Andrew Kussmaul Delaney Mack Taylor Malkowski Brett McKenzie Mia McMullen Noah Miller Michael Operti Jared Osborne Emily Pierzynski Lauren Pytlak Natalie Pytlak

Lorraine Riffle Grace Schiefelbein Hannah Slattery Parker Speers Thomas Stadler Krystalyn Terski Isabella Van Buren Kelly Wagner

ADVENT HANDOUTS After Liturgy, our hospitality teams will be offering not only color handouts for our youngest to help them remember what Mass was all about, but for the season of Advent they will have a family handout as well. These handouts will have the background to the weekly readings, faith sharing ideas and ways to get more involved to help live the readings each week! There are prayers for you to use as you light your Advent wreath at home as well as other information

about this wonderful season! December Dates to Remember: During Advent, all of our Wednesday/Thursday classes will gather in Church for prayer and to light the Advent wreath at the beginning of class - all are welcome to join us! We will start right in church and dismiss into the classes after the lighting.

2 2nd Grade Parent Penance Activities 4:30/6:30 3 2nd Grade Parent Penance Activities 5:30 9/10 2nd Grade First Penance 21 Regional Penance Service here 7:30 Dec. 20-Jan. 2 Christmas break. Classes resume Sunday, Jan. 3!

from MAGDALEN’S PRESCHOOL Kathie Anderer, director Christmas Blessings from Magdalen’s Preschool…

“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Behind us now are the Halloween parties, School Picture day, our first field trip of the year to Spicers Orchard, and our Thanks-giving Celebration. We now get into the Advent and Christmas Season. We start off our Season of Christmas with our Christ-mas Program on Sunday, December 6th. The children always look so cute in their outfits. No matter how much we practice, it is always a BIG and WONDERFUL surprise with what we end up with. No one is ever disappointed, that is for sure.

We have Red Week the week of December 7 and our Christmas Parties on December 16 and December 17. We will be on Christmas Break starting December 21 and going through January 3. The Preschool Staff hopes that everyone has a won-derful holiday and everyone is blessed with joy, happiness, and many wonderful memories with family and friends. When we return we will have the long cold days of winter to get through. February will be a short month but very busy with Valentines and our Big Event of the year… VIP night. We invite the children to bring one special guest to “Night School” and we have some wonderful memories to keep when the evening is over. Before you know it… we will be into Lent and Easter.

COUNCIL COMMENDATIONS

The Pastoral Council would like to commend the Youth Group for providing the HAUNTED BARN this year. Every year, they create a wonderful and creative barn that the children and their parents enjoy. Scary, spooky, mysterious and frightening are words that describe the masterpiece. Thanks to the youth group, the leaders and all who worked on the HAUNTED BARN!

OF FAITH AND SERVICE from Sr. Joyce Hoile, OSF

School for Discipleship: Winter Offerings We are always learning something new, whether it is reading, taking a class or living every day with purpose. In order to grow in our faith, in our service and in our relationship with God, we offer you the following six-week classes:

Registration is online: SchoolforDiscipleship OR fill out a brochure at the Adult Formation table in the gathering area.

LAUDATO SI FOLLOW UP RETREAT DAY

The Retreat Day will be Saturday, January 9. It will begin with Morning Prayer at 9 and end by 3:00. Lunch will be provided. This day is for all who have participated in the Laudato Si study groups or for anyone who has inde-pendently read the Encyclical and would like to attend. You may read the Encyclical online. The day will focus on the material and statistics behind and under the Encycli-cal and will not be a repeat of the group’s discussion questions. The Retreat Day will involve new information, time in both the morning and afternoon to have private contemplation regarding what is being presented, and discussion follows the contemplation periods. This is not intended to “come out with a project”, but to help the participants move through their personal paradigm transformation to a new way of looking at the earth and the universe. A sign up sheet will be at the C & J table in the gathering place. We need to know numbers for set up and lunch.

CATHOLICS RETURNING HOME

Christmas is a great time to return to the Catholic prac-tice of weekly attendance. If you or someone is hesitant about what to do or have issues or questions about Cath-olic beliefs and practices, please contact Sr. Joyce who will help you discover the wisdom of Catholicism. What a precious Christmas gift to give the Lord and yourself at this time.

Bible Study: The Gospel of Luke Sr. Joyce will facilitate a study and sharing on the Gospel of Luke which begins our Liturgical Church year. Tuesday morn-ings 10 – 11:30 am beginning December 15. Please bring your Bible.

THANKS AND PRAISE from Sr. Maryetta Churches On November 14, 53 10th graders were confirmed at our Par-ish. We give thanks and praise for all those who assisted them on their journey of faith. May they continue to grow in their faith and become the men and women God has called them to be!

We also give thanks and praise for all those who worked on Sister Joyce’s apartment and all those who assisted with what needed to be done while she was recuperating! You all did an amazing job and we are truly grateful!

ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT

Saturday Dec. 5 7:00 pm

YOU are invited to this Evening of Reflection and Friendship

to prepare for the Advent Season and the coming of Christ.

All are Welcome: women, men, teens, fam-il ies and friends. Come and be inspired by the messages of the Gospel. Hostess instructions and reservation forms can be found in the gathering area on the Community Life table, on our website: www.saintmarymagdalen.org AND IN THIS NEWSLETTER!! Seating is limited. Res-ervations are important. Please turn in your form before Thanksgiving.

The History of Prophecy in Israel: Father Dave Howell Mondays, 7 pm January 4, 11, 18, 25 and February 1 & 8

This course will help you grasp the importance of the message of the ancient prophets in Hebrew Scripture and their value for today.

World Religions Part II Mr. Derek Day Thursdays, 7 pm January 7, 14, 21, 28 and February 4 & 11 Even if you have not attended Part I, you can still take this course.

This class speaks on the Easter Religions of the World and how they compare with Catholicism.

NEW TO OUR PARISH OCTOBER—NOVEMBER

ADVENT ... A TIME OF CHANGE ON THE JOURNEY from Diane Kubus

Advent is the season in which we reread and relive the experience of ancient Israel as it longed for the Messiah. By attuning our lives to the Scriptures that anticipate and describe the first coming of Christ, we personally enter into the expectancy and deepen our longing for his coming again. Christ, who was born into our world, also comes to us in countless ways, and will come to us again in the fullness of his glory. Over the four weeks of Advent we prepare for these three comings of Christ in our lives. It is a time of expectant longing

and joyful anticipation. We wait and hope. Advent is also an opportunity to explore the darkness of our world and our lives. By reflecting on the shadows and pains within our life experience and that of others, we open our lives to watch and stand ready for the workings of God. The gradually increasing light of the season, represents the emerging light of Christ. He is the One who shines on those in darkness, is the light for the nations, the bright star that shines in the night, the dawning light of salva-tion. In this season of watchful longing, we might ask ourselves, "What are our deepest yearnings?" It is the time to move from longing to hope. By coming to understand more deeply what God has already done for us, we are able to deepen our hope for the certain coming of Christ to us every moment of every day in our lives. The Advent pray-er of the early Church, "Come, Lord Jesus!" is still answered in new and surprising ways. On Dec. 6, the Second Sunday of Advent, at the 11 am Liturgy we, the Community of God’s people will wel-come with great joy and love 7 adults and 9 children/teens into the Church. They are on the journey of faith pre-paring to receive the Easter Sacraments. Together we will enter into this new church year with joyful anticipation and a deepening longing for our God to touch our lives in so many ways, to nourish us, guide us, and transform us on our Journey of Faith! "Come, Lord Jesus!"

We wish you a very Blessed Christmas and New Year

From the Staff † St. Mary Magdalen

Michelle & Tom Schmid Mackenzie & Ian Byron Betty & Ron Socia Brighton Kathy & Steve Becker South Lyon Holly & Greg Glowacki Aubrey Brighton Toni Pellillo & Mike Niemczyk Fenton

Andrea & Jim Kubus Cameron Brighton Kelly & Bruce Morland Becky & Matt Brighton Danielle & Eric Black Danica Northville Alice & Paul St. Pierre Brighton Kristin & Brian VanSingel Brighton

Nicole & David Hawks Jonathan & Emma Howell Patty & Joe Mitchell Delaney Brighton Liz & Tom Nugent Brighton Alysa & Dave Konye Nick, Mitchell & Kirsten Howell Andrea Hanley & Greg Rentz Brighton

Carolyn & Paul Maliszewski Courtney, Andrew & Jacob Brighton Dan Cummings Brighton Sarah & Mike Gatza Isabelle, Raegan & Joseph Milford Nikki & Ryan Neuland Kiptyn Brighton Renee & Chuck Shinska South Lyon

Fr. Dave Howell Sr. Maryetta Churches Sr. Joyce Hoile Dave Scharf Jim Chevalier Gary Prise Devon Wolfe

Mary Mahar Margaret Callaghan Diane Kubus Steve Schulte Dave Wisniewski Kathie Anderer

Diane Whiton Karen MacDonald Debbie Dehanke Sandi Phillips Dan Tuthill Mark Wolfe Kathleen Gehring

YOUTH NEWS from Margaret Callaghan

The fall has proved to be busy, yet a wonderful couple of months. As we move forward, I anticipate nothing less! Advent is upon us which means everyone will soon be busy getting ready for all things Christmas! Shopping for gifts, getting the house ready for visitors and preparing for big meals to be served with love. As we count down the days to December 25th and per-haps get lost in the thrill of it all, I hope and pray that we all stop for a moment. Stop and remember what all the fuss is truly about. That we remember our suffering neighbor and offer help. That we stop and thank God for the blessings we have been given. I pray that we stop during the four weeks of Advent and contemplate the things and gifts that really matter like love, friendships, family, forgiveness and helping others. What really matters to you and your family? Make special time together during advent and talk about how you can make these a priority. I am collecting a $50 deposit for our Winter Weekend Getaway scheduled for January 29-31. We will go back to the same cabin we have been going to for years now. Check it out at edgetteslodge.com It’s a beautiful cabin in the woods large enough for 30 people! The total cost is $100 which covers lodging and food only. The cost for skiing at Caberfae and all things needed is additional money. I would like the deposit by December 13th. Our Sunday evening meetings from 7-9 are open to any high school student who is interested in meeting other Catholic high school students. If you are looking for a place where you can be yourself, talk about God in your life, get re-energized for the week, and make lasting friendships then plan to join us! If you are new and you’d rather not come alone, bring a friend and they don’t have to be Catholic. Anyone is welcome! I have a standing invitation for anyone interested in helping with youth group snack. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this minor, but very important part of our weekly gatherings, I would appreciate the help. Contact Margaret Calla-ghan at yminister1@gmail.com. A few facts about youth if this helps….we have been gathering just over 40 teens every week. They will eat anything from nachos and cheese to hotdogs and chips. Other options would be macaroni and cheese, lasagna, of course pizza; root beer floats, cake and ice cream. What’s your specialty? Share your talents with us!! Keep an eye on the bulletin and an ear open at youth group Sunday evenings for details about a Youth Group Christmas celebration to take place this month as details have not been talked about.

EDGE NEWS EDGE is our middle school youth ministry program. We gather 6-8th grade students twice a month on

Monday’s 7-8:30 to talk about middle school issues like peer pressure, gossip; we talk about God in their lives and share faith stories with one another. Our meetings are high energy and fun, planned with middle school students in mind. We have a great group of students this year and we are having fun getting to know everyone! We are only meeting once in December since everyone has the two week break for Christmas. Our meeting on Monday December 14th will be a fun and festive gathering. We will have a gift exchange so bring a new $10 wrapped, gender neutral gift to play our game. This is a great meeting and everyone has fun time!! Looking ahead, our two meetings for January are scheduled for Monday the 11th and the 25th in the youth room from 7-8:30.

LIVINGSTON YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY Events & Connections for those 18-39

MONTHLY MASS & DINNER Sunday, November 29

5pm Mass St. Joseph Howell 6:30pm Dinner at Aubree's Pizzeria, 4433 E. Grand River, Howell

i.d.916 Livingston

December Disciples' Night with

Fr. John Riccardo Thursday, December 3, 2015

An Advent Reflection with Fr. John Riccardo: Mary's Role as the First and Most Perfect Disciple

6:30pm Mass at St. Joseph, Howell followed by Dinner

7:40pm Livestream Talk in the Emmaus Room Please RSVP by Monday, November 30

th via facebook, email or text

Questions on all Young Adult Ministry events can be directed to Shannon (810)588-7665 or info@livingstonyam.com

Dear brothers and sisters,

I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a wit-

ness to mercy. It is journey that begins with a spiritual conversion. For this reason, I have

decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It

shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord's words:

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)”

This Holy Year will begin on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8, 2015)

and will end on the Sunday dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

(Nov 20, 2016) – and living face of the Father’s mercy.

+ Pope Francis Given in Rome on Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Physical or Corporal Works of Mercy:

To care for the hungry and thirsty

To clothe the needy

To visit the sick

To visit the imprisoned

To bury the dead and console the grieving

To welcome the stranger

the purpose of these works is to

create a better life for others,

a better environment, a better world.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

To encourage the doubtful

To share the Good News

To encourage repentance

To bear wrongs patiently;

To forgive offences willingly;

To comfort those who struggle

the purpose of these works is to c

reate better people

A Prayer for the Year of Mercy

Gracious God, your Son called us to be merciful, just as you are merciful. Deepen with us a desire to live as

your dear children filled with kindness and compassion. May we truly come to know the blessing of your

mercy by sharing that gift with all in need of mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

CHARITY & JUSTICE from Ken Kuna

Charity is the response to an immediate need; Justice seeks structural change. Repeatedly groups we meet ask first for prayer for their work. Please include the work of the staff and volunteers at the New Life Center, Center for Hope, and for the people of Flint in your daily prayers. Sr. Carol Weber, from the New Life Center, will be speaking at week-end Liturgies on November 21/22. You will have a better understanding of her mission. Please consider volunteering and supporting her efforts. More information on how you can help will be coming soon. HOPE in a Box is a project recently introduced on behalf of the Center for Hope. Each month feature items, on a shopping list format, are provided to help support the needs of the clients served by the Center for Hope. Your response has been excellent. Please continue to help fill the blue boxes in the Gathering Space. We will be help-ing recently released inmates through the Center for Hope by providing backpacks to parolees who have no family connections in Flint. Special thanks to our K of C for providing financial support to purchase backpacks and to Cosco for donating clothing items. Donations of gloves, hats, and personal hygiene products are needed for this project.

The Advent Giving Tree will soon be up and full of tags requesting items for several charities. Please consider taking a tag to help the clients of the various organizations and agencies represented.

Lastly, a retreat to continue dialog on the pope’s encyclical Laudato Si’ (on care for our common home) will be offered on Saturday, January 9, 2016, from 9 am to 3 pm. All are invited, sign-up sheets will be at the Charity & Justice table in the Gathering Space soon.

Your continued support is appreciated by all you touch through your love and generosity.

THE DEACONS BENCH from Dave Scharf

I found the following interesting especially with the Christmas season approaching. 1 Corinthians 13, Christmas Version If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on those I love the most, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband (wife). Love is kind, though har-ried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, and golf clubs will rust. But the gift of love will endure. Maybe this applies to all every day.

THE OTHER BENCH from Jim Chevalier

While the Church helps all of us in this world, she also receives much from the world. Her goal is the coming of God’s king-dom and the salvation of the whole human race. Every good that the people of God can discuss with the family comes from the fact that the Church is the universal sacrament of salvation, revealing God’s love for us all. The Word of God through whom all things were made, was himself made flesh so that as perfect man he might save all people and bring all things into unity. The Lord is the final end of human history, the point toward which civilization is moving, and the joy of all hearts, and the attainment of our goal. He it is whom the Father raised from the dead, lifted up on the cross, and appointed Him judge of the living and the dead. In his Holy Spirit we are making our way toward the goal of human history, a goal in complete harmo-ny with the loving plan of God, to make all things one in Christ. And as we know, God is the beginning and the end. God really does love all of us.

SERVANT OF MANY from Gary Prise

It’s November 15th, 3am, this article is due, there is a high wind warning, will the power go out. I need volunteers for a num-ber of Charity Justice efforts, I need Scrip volunteers, I am still short one volunteer for Magdalen’s Kitchen, a staff member approached me with another need related to Christmas. I woke up at 2:30 am, lay in bed for a half hour and cannot fall asleep. I get up; turn on the TV, first the weather channel then the national news. What a mistake, there is no good news: a good chance the power will go out, police are accused of using excessive force and there appears to be video to support the accusation, a plane crashes and takes out residential housing, a man threatens to kill minorities on a college campus, politi-cians are stabbing each other in the back and are avoiding the real issues facing people. Gee, I was worried when I initially woke up, now it’s 3:30 am and the anxiety is only increasing. Why do I worry? Can it be because I think I’m in control of eve-ryone and everything? I can do only what I can do, I can control only one person, me! God, where are you? Do I need to shout it out; can you not see my issues, my concerns, and my fears? Lord, please send help, I turn my anxiety over to you. Help me to increase my trust in you, help me to surrender to your will. P.S. did I say SEND HELP!

OF FAITH, HOPE & LOVE from Devon Wolfe

As the liturgical year of 2015 ends, so does the Year for Marriage. But that doesn't mean that we're ending our work to make marriages better in our parish. For the past year, we have had a Year for Marriage Working Group that has planned events and information related to the Year for Marriage. We have decided to continue this group as a marriage ministry team that will continue to plan and coordinate events and programs related to marriage. If you are interested joining this ministry team to help us to strengthen marriages in our community, I encourage you to contact me at deacon4@saintmarymagdalen.org.

We are also very excited about a program that we will be offering in Lent called the Couple Prayer Series. Hundreds of cou-ples have participated in this program in other parishes and the feedback on the program is outstanding! You will be hearing more about it in the coming months, but if you'd like to mark your calendars, it will be held for six Monday evenings starting February 15 from 7:30 to 9:00, immediately after our Lenten Evening Prayer liturgy. Childcare will be available for each ses-sion. You can learn more about the series at www.coupleprayer.com. May the wondrous love that became flesh in our Lord Jesus grow in the hearts of each of you and your families this Christmas and in the coming year!

SAINT MARY MAGDALEN PARISH

2201 South Old US 23 Highway Brighton, Michigan 48114-7609

(810) 229 - 8624

PASTOR Fr. David F. Howell pastor1@saintmarymagdalen.org

PASTORAL MINISTER Sr. Maryetta Churches, O.P. pastmin2@saintmarymagdalen.org

FORMATION & EVANGELIZA-

TION- ADULTS Sr. Joyce Hoile, O.S.F. pastmin1@saintmarymagdalen.org

EDUCATION & FORMATION-

YOUTH Mary Mahar, Director mmahar@parishmail.com Karen MacDonald, Adm. Assistant sect2@saintmarymagdalen.org

RCIA AND LITURGY Diane Kubus rcia@saintmarymagdalen.org liturgist@saintmarymagdalen.org

DEACONS H. David Scharf deacon1@saintmarymagdalen.org James Chevalier deacon2@saintmarymagdalen.org Gary Prise deacon3@saintmarymagdalen.org Devon Wolfe deacon4@saintmarymagdalen.org

MAGDALEN’S PRESCHOOL Kathie Anderer, Director preschool1@saintmarymagdalen.org

YOUTH MINISTRY Margaret Callaghan yminister1@gmail.com

PASTORAL MUSICIAN Steven H. Schulte steve@colleengleason.com

SECRETARIES Diane Whiton sect5@saintmarymagdalen.org Debbie Dehanke sect3@saintmarymagdalen.org Sandi Phillips sect4@saintmarymagdalen.org

BOOKKEEPER Dave Wisniewski bookkeeper@saintmarymagdalen.org

MAINTENANCE Dan Tuthill maint1@saintmarymagdalen.org Mark Wolf Kathleen Gehring

THE PASTORAL STAFF

MARKING THE CALENDAR

The FEAST of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - Tuesday (DEC 8) Our national holy day honors

Mary, who was especially graced from the first moment of life to be the Mother of the Savior. Liturgies for this holy day will be at 9 am and 7pm.

CELEBRATING the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Communal Celebrations

Dec 1 (Tues - 7 pm) St. Augustine Dec 9 (Wed - 7 pm) St Mary in Pinckney Dec 10 (Thurs - 7pm ) St. Joseph in Howell Dec 14 (Mon - 7 pm) Holy Spirit, Hamburg Dec 16 (Wed - 7:30 pm) St. John, in Hartland Dec 19 (Sat - 9 am) St. Patrick in Brighton Dec 21 (Mon. - 7:30 pm) St. Mary Magdalen

CHRISTMAS LITURGIES

++ 4 pm - Vigil Mass ++ 6:15 - The Vigil Mass ++ (Children act out the Gospel at these Liturgies)

++ 10 pm - The Mid-Night Liturgy ++

++ 10 am - The Mass of the Shepherds ++

NEW YEAR’S DAY Friday, Jan. 1 is the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God and a holy day of obligation. There

will be two Liturgies for the beginning of the new year: 5 pm New Year's Eve and 10 am on New Year's Day.

THE EPIPHANY - Sunday, January 3 This Feast celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Savior of the

world. By the light of a star, magi, the first Gentiles, found Christ. This Feast celebrates our hope that we will be led by the Light of Christ as well. Adoration: After the 11 am Liturgy, the Eucharist will be exposed on the altar until 4 pm, when we will end with Evening Prayer. Everyone, especially our Ministers of Prayer and Eu-charistic Ministers are encouraged to spend time in prayer.