December 22nd 2019 Year A

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I pray that you have had an uplifting and spirit filled Advent. This season is an exciting and anticipating time for the coming of God’s Son, Jesus. We Christians turn on Christmas music and decorate our hearts and homes to welcome the Savior of the World. We call out, “Maranatha” or “Come, Lord Jesus!” So, what do you want Jesus to bring you this Christmas? For us Christians, we want Jesus to bring us the true peace and joy of Heaven. As we look around our country and the world, peace and joy are hard to find. The whole world is in turmoil and anxiety. Many feel unsure about their future. They do not know where their next meal might come from. Jesus is the solution for our world’s problem and the answer to our long-time prayer. I ask you to join me in raising our voices this Christmas to welcome the Savior of the world and ask him for a special blessing. Last year, before 10 pm Christmas Eve Mass, we had only 15 minutes for Christmas Caroling at 9:45 pm. This year and in the future, we will have 30 minutes of caroling together. We will also invite some of you who can speak other languages to sing a Christmas song in your native language. Please contact our Music Director, Emily Rushmore, for a rehearsal on Monday, December 23rd, from 5-6 pm. Let’s raise our voices together to welcome our Savior and rejoice in this magical season. Soon we will be saying goodbye to 2019 and usher in a New Year. I want to thank my staff and all of you for your sacrifices and generous donations of time, talents, and treasures to make St Mary Magdalen a true spiritual home for everyone. May the good Lord repay you abundantly for your kindness and generosity. I also invite anyone who has attended the church to register and join our faith community. You’re allowed to belong to more than one church. It would be my honor to be your “cottage church.” We don’t have to be your main church. We just want you to step in and make this church an important part of your spiritual life by taking a seat on our P.E.W.S (Parish life, Education, Worship, Social Concerns). On behalf of St. Mary Magdalen Church, I’d like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

ST. MARY MAGDALEN PARISH 1253 52ND ST SE, KENTWOOD, MICHIGAN

PARISH CONTACT INFORMATION Parish Office 616-455-9310 1253 52nd St. SE Kentwood, MI 49508 Fax 616-455-4139 Email address witness@stmmagdalen.org Website address www.stmmagdalen.org Facebook St. Mary Magdalen Parish

MASSES & SACRAMENT SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 pm Sunday 9 am, 11:00 am, & 5:00 pm Mon, Wed - Fri 8:00 a.m. Adoration 1st Friday of the month 8:30 am-6:30 pm Reconciliation Saturday 3:30-4:45 pm Or by appointment if necessary Baptism 1st Sunday of the month 12:00 pm Call Parish Office, prep necessary Wedding 6 months preparation Necessary. Call Parish Office Anointing 1st Saturday of the month 6:00pm Funeral Call Parish Office

Pastor Fr. Peter Vu, ext. 100 pvu@stmmagdalen.org

Coordinator of Faith Formation Molly Wisdom, ext. 103 mwisdom@stmmagdalen.org

Coordinator of Youth & Young Adults Allison Hawkins, ext. 104 ahawkins@stmmagdalen.org

Parish Secretary Laura Moore, ext. 107 lmoore@stmmagdalen.org

Administrative Assistant Michelle Mason, ext. 112 mmason@stmmagdalen.org

Business Manager Joseph Hakeem, ext. 102 jhakeem@stmmagdalen.org

Director of Music Emily Rushmore, ext. 105 erushmore@stmmagdalen.org

Coordinator of Christian Services/Volunteers Ruth Bush, ext. 106 rbush@stmmagdalen.org

Ministry of the Elderly, Homebound, & Grieving Sr. Agnes Mai Do, ext 117 mdo@stmmagdalen.org

Housekeeping/Maintenance Brenda Bush, ext 109 Housekeeping Tim Olexa, 455-9310 Maintenance

Pastoral Support & Councils Mike Wood Deacon Joseph Nguyen Sacristan & Liturgical Instructor Thomas Roos Pastoral Council Patricia Snyder Financial Council

Kyle Friar Dorothy Terpak Barbara Kuhn Mary Schauer Oliver David Jean Linda Papa Jeremiah Herrmann Diane Asplund Camden Keeley Roberta Hagen Rob Dordan Max Witgen Orcelle LaLonde-Fordham Paul Toohey Matt Potter Potter Family Ruth Borek John Chirco Robert Church Kathy Fraher Dorothy Nelsen Norma Reese Pam McDaniel Robert Bowman Judy McCaffrey Trudy Swing Sue Reynolds Tim & Deb Pelletier Michelle Rhoades Tayman & Bryson Sowers Ed Thomas Tom & June Gabourie Carole Hojnacki Henry Hartwell & Family Richard Jennings Ed Jacobs Ray Kulczyk Jim Andrea Jack Harrington Irene Crump Marie Reynolds

Attention all Ushers, Alter Servers, Eucharistic

Ministers, and Lectors We are still in need of your help with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, & New Year’s Day Masses. Please look at the sign up sheets and sign up where you can help. As always we appreciate all you do, thank you.

St Mary Magdalen Staff

Saturday, December 21, 2019 5:00 pm †Marshall Soderburg by MaryAnne Soderburg †Agnes & Peter by Mr & Mrs Jacques Nguyen †Mary Anna by Mr & Mrs Jacques Nguyen †Eugenie Elizabeth by Mr & Mrs Jacques Nguyen †Dakota Scholl by the Shefferley Family †Benson Rich by the Rich Family †Kathy Lundgren by the Rich Family Sunday, December 22, 2019 9:00 am Prayers for Family Healing †Deceased Members of the Fabian & Chatlosh Families by Bob & Arlene Chatlosh 11:00 am †Terry Harvey by Luu Harvey 5:00 pm Visitors of St Mary Magdalen Monday, December 23, 2019 8:00 am The Church & Diocese of Grand Rapids Tuesday, December 24, 2019 4:00 pm †Jim & Donna Callaghan by Kevin & Janice Callaghan & Family †Colleen Antiel by the Antiel Girls Gerald & Scott Antiel by the Antiel Girls †William Henderson by his Family 10:00 pm †Hershal & Ellie McKenzie by the Moore Family †Laurance & Bonnie Robinson by the Moore Family Wednesday, December 25, 2019 9:00 am Betty Morin by Michele Robinett Francis Rososky by Michele Robinett 11:00 am Our Parish Community Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:00 am The Deceased in Need of Prayer Friday, December 27, 2019 8:00 am †Brian Singleton by St Mary Magdalen Parish Saturday, December 28, 2019 5:00 pm †Agnes & Peter by Mr & Mrs Jacques Nguyen †Mary Anna by Mr & Mrs Jacques Nguyen †Eugenie Elizabeth by Mr & Mrs Jacques Nguyen †Henry & Tillie Gorkowski by their Family †Stanley & Clara Jankowski by their Family Sunday, December 29, 2019 9:00 am †Anthony Moore by Tony & Laura Moore 11:00 am †Karen McConnell by Don & Michele Robinett †Terry Harvey by Luu Harvey 5:00 pm †All Souls in Purgatory

Please Pray for Our Military Josh Lemke, Alex Beauchamp, Gage Dionne,

Thomas Church , Egan Simmons, Lindsey Garrett , Paul Beauchamp, John Beauchamp, Steve Jacobs, Sean Branagan, Scott Stockreef,

Jon Fraher, Daniel Yonker, Carl Simmons

Lectors for the Weekend of December 28th & 29th

5 pm- Mike Bush Jeanine Bryant

9 am- Mark O’Gorman Chris Maday 11 am- Laurie Emelander Elizabeth LoPiparo 5 pm- Luisa Or tiz Deanna McGowan

Scripture Readings for the Week of December 22, 2019 Sunday Fourth Sunday of Advent Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24 Monday Saint John of Kanty, Priest Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 & 14; Lk 1:57-66 Tuesday 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29; Lk 1:67-79 Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 Wednesday Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6; Heb 1:1:6; Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5, 9-14 Thursday Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17; Mt 10:17-22 Friday Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a and 2-8 Saturday Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1 Jn 1:5—2:2; Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18 Sunday Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23

December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

As St. Paul says to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Countless thanks go out to all volunteers who stepped forward in faith to assist this capital campaign effort to address the initiatives of our diocese. Thanks too for all the prayerfully discerned gifts that will make it happen. To date, we have $61,057 in pledges and gifts. May God bless our faith family!

ST. MARY MAGDALEN PARISH 1253 52ND ST SE, KENTWOOD, MICHIGAN

Pray for:

David J. Bridge

St. John Vianney College Seminary

2115 Summit Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55105

BISHOP DAVID J. WALKOWIAK ASKS US TO

PRAY FOR OUR SEMINARIANS

Heavenly Father, We give you thanks and praise for your son, Jesus Christ. Send your Holy Spirit to inspire holy, faithful men to minister as priests. Lord, we pray for your grace to encourage and support our seminarians as they endeavor to become priests. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Will someone you love be unable to join us at church this Christmas?

Heart of the Nation will celebrate Christmas Mass on TV

and online. TV Christmas Mass will be on WOOD TV channel 8 at

4:30 am. Online Christmas Mass will be throughout the day at

www.HeartoftheNation.org

For those who can attend church, TV or online liturgy does not fulfill the Christmas Mass obligation

Touched by Mercy, a Day for those Affected by Suicide will be held at the

Franciscan Life Process Center, Lowell Campus, 11650 Downes St. NE Lowell, MI 49331 on

Saturday, February 8, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Join Sister Colleen Ann Nagle, FSE, MA and Father Ron Hutchinson, MA for a special

day of reflection, sharing and prayer for those who have been affected by the suicide of a

loved one. Please go to touchedbymercy2020.eventbrite.com to

register.

December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

Christian Services

Rehearsal schedule for the week of Christmas

Sunday, December 22 After 6pm Mass- Mizero Family rehearsal.

Monday, December 23 6:00-7:00 pm Saturday Ensemble 7:00-8:00 pm Handbells 7:45-9:00 pm Adult Choir

Tuesday, December 24 3:30 pm Children’s Choir meets in room 2. *If you are in the pageant, please meet us after rehearsal in the church to sing our preludes.*

8:45 pm Adult Choir to meet in room 2. *Caroling begins promptly at 9:30pm.*

Fr. Peter to sing prelude after adult choir

The Mizero family will sing last preludes

Mass begins at 10pm.

Wednesday, December 25 8:00 am Saturday Ensemble meet in church to rehearse for 9am Mass. *Preludes begins at 8:45 am* 10:15 am Morning Ensemble meets in Room 2. *Prelude begins at 10:45 am*

Thursday, December 26 No rehearsals

Saturday, December 28 4:00 pm Saturday ensemble meets in Church

Sunday, December 29 8:15 am Morning ensemble meets in Room 2. 10:15 am Adult Choir meets in Room 2.

Important post-Christmas rehearsal information There will be no adult choir rehearsal January 2. Rehearsals will resume January 9. Handbells will break until mid-February. Exact date to come. There will be no Children’s Choir January 1 or January 8. Rehearsals will resume January 15. Saturday and Morning Ensembles will continue their rehearsals before Mass as usual.

Thank you to everyone who took a tag from the Giving Tree this year. We were able to make this Christmas season a little brighter for a lot of people. The following is a little recap of how many full shopping carts were donated:

Nursing Home/Spectrum Continuing Care – 2 shopping carts Homeless Vet – 1 ½ shopping carts Pregnancy Crisis Aid – 3 shopping carts Catholic Charities of West Michigan – 3 shopping carts Kentwood Public School Needs – ½ shopping cart Jail Ministries – 1 shopping cart Families from St Mary Magdalen and Kentwood Public Schools – 31 families

You are such a giving parish, thank you again. +++

Want a couple of unique Christmas gift ideas? How about tickets to our annual Wines & Steins event on January 25 at St Mary Magdalen. Or the Catholic Charities annual Soup’s On For All event on January 27 that takes place downtown at the B.O.B.?

+++ Don’t forget our chili cook-off on January 11th. We hope to have a dozen different types of chilies competing again this year. We are also in need of judges so you don’t need to know how to cook it, you just need to enjoy eating it.

+++ Two weeks after the chili cook-off is our Annual Wines & Steins Event where you can sample wines, craft beers and hard ciders while enjoying some tasty food. Tickets are $30 and will be available in the church office and in the back of church starting in early January.

+++ Help will be needed on Monday, December 23 at 2 p.m. to decorate the church for Christmas. This is a big job and we need many hands to help out. You don’t need to have any previous experience, just show up and we will put you to work. It is a wonderful way to spend time with some of the people in our Parish.

+++ There are a number of dishes in the Ministers room from funerals and Advent Night. If you’re missing a bowl or pan, please stop by to see if your dish is there.

ST. MARY MAGDALEN PARISH 1253 52ND ST SE, KENTWOOD, MICHIGAN

Faith Formation Youth Ministries

Hello Everyone, The Fourth Sunday of Advent is here already. The past few weeks has been about preparation and now we are almost ready to celebrate the birth of the Savior; we have taken the time to anticipate how we will encounter Christ throughout the coming year; and we live in the expectation of the fullness of eternal life with the Father.

This week as we light the final candle on the Advent Wreath, let us faithfully remember that God so loved the

world that he sent his only begotten son.

Let us remember that the tie that binds us to one another is love and God is the ultimate model

of what love is meant to be.

Let us look into the faces of those we love and take the time to see them as they are seen through God’s eyes,

beautiful, loving, and gifted.

Let us remember that love is a gift to be given and accepted and when love is given without restraint,

the heart knows no limits.

Let us embrace the memory of those who have gone before us knowing that the love shaped our lives,

giving us strength.

Then on Christmas day, let us celebrate the birth of the Savior with joy and wonder!

Because this will also be our Christmas Bulletin, I am

taking the time to remember how blest I am to live a life centered on faith, family & friends. I wish you a Merry

Christmas, and offer this prayer to all of you;

May your days be filled with the knowledge that you are loved.

May you walk in this world with the confidence that God is with you.

May you find it in your heart to be truly kind to others. May you know comfort and joy in the world around you.

May you bask in the warm rays of hope.

God’s Blessings to all of you, Molly Wisdom

Faith Formation Holiday Schedule *Wednesday, December 25th-NO CLASS. *Wednesday, January 1st-NO CLASS. *Wednesday, January 8th-CLASSES RESUME.

Hello everyone, We are getting closer and closer to Christmas! I can’t believe that it’s only a few days away already. Hopefully we’ll have that beautiful winter snow from the beginning of December to make it a white Christmas. Even if it’s cold outside, I think that the snowfall on the trees makes the holiday season that much more magical. Regardless of the weather, we’re getting closer and closer to the day itself. I love it that our first reading closes with “Emmanuel” and that the Gospel reinforces Jesus as the fulfillment of the word. It means “God with us,” and I don’t think that just applies to Jesus having been in literal, physical space. To be “with” someone is to be in a relationship, and the fact that this is the name we use reinforces the idea that God is centered on relationships. He exists not just in our relationships with Him but also in our relationships with one another. So, when we center our relationships around Him, we are able to build strong, lasting connections in love and friendship. On a practical note, in service to this idea, the young adult group will be hosting a Christmas/New Year’s party on the 29th. All young adults in the parish, especially those visiting from college, are encouraged to join us for dinner, music, games, and fellowship. We’ll be meeting in the BAC at 6:15. It’s going to be a wonderful evening, and I sincerely hope that all young adults can come and join us in faith. For all of us, though, let’s use the week to foster our relationships with one another, recognizing that God is with us in our individual relationships and in our community. Peace, Allison

If you were not able to attend the meeting regarding the Mission Trip to Memphis, TN, please contact Allison in the parish office to get the required information for the trip.

Thank you! ~+~+~+~+~

We will be sending out the Breitenstein Scholarship instructions and details to all high school seniors very soon.

Please keep an eye on your mailbox for this information! ~+~+~+~+~

The Young Adult Group is hosting a Christmas/New Year’s Celebration! All Young Adults are welcome to join us for dinner and fellowship. We especially encourage all current college students to join us on Sunday, December 29th, in the BAC. We look forward to celebrating with you!

~+~+~+~+~

Our next Young Adult Group meeting is Friday, January 10th, at 7pm.

~+~+~+~+~

Our next Youth Fellowship night will be January 12th at 6:15 pm.

4th Sunday of Advent

9:00 am Anniversary Mass w/ CLW 10:00 am Coffee & Donuts 11:00 am Mass w/ CLW 12:00 pm Coffee & Donuts 5:00 pm Mass

8:00: am Mass 2:00 pm Decorate Church 6:00 pm Saturday Ensemble Rehearsal

7:00 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7:45 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal

Christmas Eve Office Closed

3:30 pm Children’s Christmas Program 4:00 pm Children’s Mass 9:30 pm Caroling 10:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass

Christmas Office Closed

9:00 am Mass 11:00 am Mass

NO 5 pm Mass

3:30 pm Confession 4:15 pm Ensemble Practice 5:00 pm Mass

8:00 am Mass

Sunday, 22nd Monday, 23rd Tuesday, 24th Wednesday, 25th Thursday, 26th Friday, 27th Saturday, 28th

Financial News

Financial Reflections

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faltered Scrooge… “Business!' cried the Ghost,… "Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all, my business. The deals of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

– Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Office Closed

8:00 am Mass

Total contributions for the Retirement for Religious collection totaled $1,430. Thank you for your generosity!

December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A