Saint Mary Magdalen THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 9, 2021 2201 SOUTH OLD U.S. 23 HIGHWAY OFFICE HOURS BRIGHTON, MICHIGANA 48114 Office Hours: Phone: 810R229R8624 • Fax: 810R229R6471 Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. Preschool:L 810R229R0010 8:30am R 4:30pm Website: www.saintmarymagdalen.org Wed. 1pm R 4:30pm Weekend Liturgies Saturday 4:30 pm (also Livestreamed) Sunday 9 & 11 am Weekday Liturgies: Mon., Tues., Wed. 9am Sacrament of Penance: Saturday 3R4pm Infant Bapsm: Contact Erin Wolfe [email protected] Sacrament of Matrimony: Please contact the office at least nine months prior to wedding date. ST. MARY MAGDALEN BRIGHTON, MI SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 9, 2021 FROM FR. RYAN Holy Hour Just a reminder that we continue to pray together every Wednesday evening from 7:00pm - 8:00pm before the Blessed Sacrament. Knights of Columbus !e Knights of Columbus held their pasty sale last weekend and sold out! Proceeds will go to help several organizations including Magdalen’s Kitchen, seminarians, veterans, and various charitable organizations. I am very impressed with our council of Knights and extend my sincere thanks for all their help, hard work, and generosity. Dispensaon You all should have received a letter from me inviting each of you back to Mass the weekend of May 22/23, as Bishop Boyea li1s the dispensation originally granted to the faithful last year at the beginning of the pandemic so as to 2atten the curve of infections in order to help hospitals cope with numbers. As we approach the days when the dispensation will be li1ed, I’ve noted some concerns expressed by some parishioners. Let me be clear - those who really and truly 5nd themselves at a higher risk of serious complications from Covid-19, such as those over 65 years of age, those who are pregnant, or those with underlying conditions that make them more susceptible to serious illness, would certainly fall within the category of being excused for a serious reason. As the number of those vaccinated continues to increase, the external precautions taken by institutions throughout the state will lessen, and individuals, who have the clearest sense of their own risk, will take greater responsibility for taking advantage of precautions as needed. By now you have all seen the parish plan for re-engagement and, for the time being, the 4:30pm vigil Mass will continue to be available for those seeking more stringent precautions. !e Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am Masses will increase to 100% capacity by the weekend of May 22–23. So there will be options for those at risk while at the same time making it possible for all of the faithful to attend Sunday Mass. Again, I understand the hesitancy of some of our brothers and sisters. However, daily cases continue to drop in our state and county, and Gov. Whitmer has released her plan to re-engage the state as vaccinations increase. All of this gives us freedom to again take up the obligation to attend the Sunday Eucharist. Indeed, as Bishop Boyea has written, “the duty to observe Sunday is in gratitude to God for creating us, for redeeming us, and for oAering us the means of holiness and sancti5cation for our 5nal journey home to heaven. !is is a sweet duty, an obligation which binds our hearts and souls to the Father. Pope Benedict XVI (May 29, 2005, Marisabella, Italy) noted the response of the Tunisian Christian, Emeritus, as to why he had de5ed the Imperial orders not to celebrate the Eucharist (around 304 AD): Sine dominico non possumus, ‘without Sunday we cannot live.’ Benedict added: ‘the Sunday precept is not, therefore, an externally imposed duty, a burden on our shoulders. On the contrary, taking part in the Celebration, being nourished by the Eucharistic Bread and experiencing the communion of their brothers and sisters in Christ is a need for Christians, it is a joy.’” While it is true that if we “deliberately fail in this obligation” to attend Mass on Sundays “we commit a grave sin” (CCC 2181), we are certainly excused for serious reasons, “for example, illness, the care of infants,” and parishioners can even be dispensed on an individual basis by their pastor (CCC 2181). Bishop Boyea will be gi1ing every family a blessed candle as we return to Mass the weekend of May 22–23. !e candle is designed to be lit for one hour a day for eight days as we all pray during the eight days from Pentecost to Trinity Sunday for those who have not yet returned to Mass or for those who cannot come to Mass because of illness, vulnerability, etc. Cary Schmidt and Jean Shebak will have more information on this next week. ST. MARY MAGDALEN BRIGHTON, MI SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 9, 2021 FROM FR. RYAN Upcoming Meengs I just wanted to share with you we have two rather large, upcoming meetings being held in our parish. On June 3 all the priests of the diocese will gather with Bishop Boyea and his staA from 10:00am to 6:00pm to discuss Realignment of Re- sources for Mission. I may be asking some of our various groups and committees such as the Knights of Columbus for help with this endeavor as details get worked out. On June 16 the Lay Ecclesial Ministers and Catechists of the diocese will gather for a similar meeting, discussing Realign- ment of Resources for Mission. Again, the details are being worked out. It is always a blessing to accommodate such events as well as a true act of charity on behalf of the parish and our staA. I am happy to host our Bishop, priests, and these types of meetings. Fr. Paul Erickson Fr. Paul Erickson was here last week to walk the property, meet some of the staA, and get a feel for the parish. He will be taking Sunday Masses periodically beginning Sunday May 16 at 9:00am and 11:00am so everyone can meet him and get acquainted with him as well. He and I had lunch together and he is now oRcially a lifetime member of Block Brewing’s Mug Club! He already loves it here! I have been having Mass with the staA since I arrived here on Wednesdays at 12:15pm in the daily Mass chapel. Fr. Paul will be here on a Wednesday to be determined to have Mass with the staA and then a cookout at the rectory. !is will be a great way to introduce himself in a prayerful and less formal environment. Be Loved and Stay Awesome! Fr. Ryan HOLY HOUR We have a holy hour in our worship space every Wednesday evening from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. !is began on April 7 and will continue for the foreseeable future. It is good to have some time to come together and pray as a community – to pray for our parish, for Fr. Shaun, for Bishop Boyea, for all those involved, and for whatever else might be on our hearts. !is is a simple holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. At 8:00pm either Fr. Ryan or one of the deacons will repose the Blessed Sacrament a1er a brief prayer and benediction. Please come and sit with the Lord! What is a Holy Hour? A Holy Hour is spending some time in silence with the Lord. Just as Mary, Martha's sister, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him, a Holy Hour is time set aside so that we too can sit with Jesus. Please join us as we pray for our parish and our world. See the Adult Formation page on our website to 5nd out more information about some ideas for how to spend that time. CURRENT PARISH GUIDELINES Indoor weekend Liturgy celebrated in the main worship space. Masks must be worn. No assisting liturgical ministers, socially distant seating, socially distant reception of Holy Communion. Indoor weekday Liturgy in the main worship space celebrated minimally (i.e., no singing, no assisting liturgical ministers, socially distant seating, socially distant reception of Holy Communion). Masks must be worn. Drive up reception of Holy Communion, at the main entrance under the portico, will be available Saturdays 5:45—6:15 pm and Sundays 12:15—12:45 pm. !e parish staA has normal work schedules. Gatherings and meetings are held online. Outdoor gatherings of 10 and no more than 50 people permitted with strict social distancing. If you have any condition that will compromise your immune system (or if you care for someone with such a condition) PLEASE STAY HOME! #ere is no obligation to attend Mass and there is no obligation to receive Holy Communion through May 16, 2021. ST. MARY MAGDALEN BRIGHTON, MI SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 9, 2021 NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS ASCENSION OF THE LORD Acts 1:1R11 Today’s passage takes us back to the PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF: beginning verses of the Acts of the Apostles and sets forth Marilyn Bitterle, Luke Bowman, Mandi Brusinski, Joe the themes that Luke is going to develop throughout this, Carney, Sr. Maryetta Churches, Kathy Clark, Keith the longest book of the New Testament. His major theme CraAey, John Davidson, Karoline DeRosia, Cienna Ditri, is the role of the Holy Spirit, who enables the apostles to Marie Edwards, Ron Fuller, Mary Lea Gehring, Judy be eAective witnesses to Jesus. !e Holy Spirit is Gentner, Sharon Hammang, Sr. Joyce Hoile, Kathy mentioned 57 times in the Acts of the Apostles. Jagusch, Mary Keating, Jan Keough, Maria Kottke, Susan Ephesians 4:1R13 !is passage from Ephesians was Kuhns, Herb Langer, Nancy Little, David Martin, Kristen chosen because of its reference to Jesus’ ascent to heaven, Marsh, Stella Paweski, Carolyn Phillips, Nolan Rexhaj, which is contrasted with his descent to the dead.