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Christian Services & Outreach

St. James has spoken very bluntly: faith without works is rather dead. It is, therefore, not just a matter of being credible and authentic that we Catholics practice what we preach. If we cease to live our faith, we no longer have faith. If we cease to shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the lonely, protect the powerless and wage peace, we no longer live with God and in God. And if we no longer live with God and in God, we have no life. Having faith in God, therefore, necessarily demands the living out of our baptismal promises. We have to lead and guide God’s people. We have to serve God’s people. And we have to speak to the truth of God. Our faith finds its credibility, authenticity and existence only in witnessing God’s love to the world. Hence any meditation, study, reflection, effort and activity that brings God’s justice to the world, we call it Christian Service and Outreach. Current Christian Services & Outreach Ministries:

Beyond JustFAITH  This team of graduates of the JustFaith Course coordinate social justice programs within our parish.  They currently organize and expedite the monthly Second Harvest Gleaners  Mobile Food Pantry the fourth Saturday of each month to needy community families. They have previously worked with refugee resettlement and tutoring programs. Volunteers are welocme to assist in each project and you need not be a graduate of JustFaith to participate. Please call Vince Desmond in the Parish Office at 455-9310 for more information. Back to Top

Blood Drives Donate and/or assist with the parish-wide blood drives held twice a year (March & October) in the Breitenstein Activity Center. Help is needed to pre-register donors, promote the drives, perform setup and assist in cleanup. This is a excellent family participation project! Service – only two Sundays a year. Contact Vince Desmond in the Parish Office  at 455-9310 for more information. Back to Top

Health Ministry Medical and non-medical members of the parish work together to provide health-related services to the community. Active membership includes monthly meetings and participation in year-round health related functions. Activities include maintaining an inventory of free home medical equipment for parishioner use, monthly blood pressure and blood sugar checks in the Family Center, an annual Riverside Memorial Sevice and an annual flu-shot clinic. There are also occasional  CPR and AED classes offered for certification. This team is open to anyone interested in promoting good health. Volunteer opportunities exist for both core team and selected events. Contact: Rose Rumball (evenings) at 554-7721 for more information. Back to Top

Boy Scouts St. Mary Magdalen sponsors local Boy Scout Troop 275. Prospective scouts and their families need not be parish members to participate.  Troop 275 meets each Tuesday evening in the Breitenstein Activity Center at 7:00 p.m.  Contact Scoutmaster Kevin Meyers at 532-8266 for more information. Back to Top

Christmas Giving Tree Welcome holiday helpers! During the Christmas season, St. Mary Magdalen opens its heart  by taking the opportunity to be Santa's elves for needy families and organizations in our community.  Family names come from John Knox Food Pantry, St. Andrew Cathedral  Parish and our own parish.  Others served include a homeless Veterans organization, Help Crisis Pregnancy Aid, a nursing home and the diocesan Prison & Jail Ministry. Families provide gift wishes which are placed on tags on the Giving Tree and parishioners choose a tag and fulfill the wish.  Volunteers are needed to help organize the project, purchase fill-in gifts and deliver gifts to families.  To volunteer or for more information call Vince Desmond in the Parish Office at 45-9310.  Back to Top

Caring & Sharing Several months throughout the year a special collection of items may take place for needy community service organizations.  Among them have been the Western Michigan Ronald McDonald House, John Knox Food Pantry, the Heartside Community Outreach Clothing Center and Mel Trotter Ministries. Parishioners are asked to donate from a specific list of needs and all goods are donated directly to the organization.  Watch the bulletin for details.  For more information call Vince Desmond in the Parish office at 455-9310.  Back to Top

Holiday Food Baskets Help sort, package, and deliver food baskets prior to the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Holidays. Volunteers help sort  food contributions, package them into familiy-size baskets and deliver them one week prior to the holiday.  Baskets recipients include  families from our parish, ,  John knox Food Pantry clients and the surrounding neighborhood. Contact Vince Desmond in the Parish Office  at 455-9310 for information or to volunteer.  Back to Top

Middle School High School mission and service projects Contact the Parish Office (455-9310) for information and ask for the current contact person for this ministry. Back to Top

Gleaners Food Truck (monthly) The Beyond JustFAITH team, along with dozens of parish volunteers, organize and expedite this monthly food distribution to needy families in our neighborhood and community.  In cooperation with Second Harvest Gleaners, several thousand pounds of perishable food on a Mobile Food Pantry truck is distributed on the fourth Saturday of the month. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help sort, pack, and distribute the food and/or assist familes to carry their food to their vehicles.  This is a excellent opportunity for scout troops, Confirmation candidates and National Honor Society students to obtain service credit hours and participate in a rewarding project. The time commitment is one Saturday per month for approximately two hours from 8:30-10:30 in the morning.  Call Vince Desmond in the Parish Office to volunteer or for more information. Back to Top

Twinning Parish / Haiti: Haiti: For over 10 years our parish has "twinned" with St Agnes parish in Dubois, Haiti, through the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas (PTPA).  Programs include an annual medcial mission that serves over three hundred patients over three days of clininc and a quarterly disbursement.  The funding supports two medical dispensaries with medicines, medical supplies and salary support for two nurses.  It also covers school reconstruction, catechetical formation programs, supplemental salary compesation for schoolteachers. A St. Mary Magdalen parishioner has generously donated separate funding to sponsor a food program to feed 250 schoolchildren weekly. For more information contact Vince Desmond at the Parish Office at 455-9310. Back to Top

Stewardship Council     Stewardship is our response to the question, 'What return shall I make to the Lord for all that He has given me?"  It is based on the the spritual principles of the Old testament and the treachings of Jesus.  It is a way of life.  It is a way of thanking God for all His blessings by returning to him a portion of the time, talent and treasure allotted us. Time is being with God in prayer and worship, sharing our love with family and volunteering ourselves to Church activities.  Talent acknowledges that God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well and we have the responsibility to develop those talents for the good of others.  Treasure is intentional, plannned and proportionate giving in response to all God has given us. The Stewardship Council meets monthly with a focus on raising awareness of the stewardship lifestyle as a Gospel based cornerstone of Christian living. For more information contact Vince Desmond in the Parish Office  at 455-9310. Back to Top

Annual Mission Dinner Fundraiser  The annual parish Festival serves as the focal point of this event to raise funds for the Benevolent Fund for our parish global mission in Haiti.  It takes place on the Saturday evening of Festival and includes a dinner, silent auction and live entertainment following the 5:00 p.m. outdoor Mass.  Volunteers are neeeded to help gather donations and prizes, organize the auction as well as general help with the Festival.  For more information call Vince Desmond in the Parish Ofice at 455-9310. Back to Top