Our Vision Statement: ‘With the heart and mind of Christ, we transform the world.’ | | |
Reflection from our Pastor
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
My Friend
In yesterday’s homily, we heard, “The Holy Spirit guides each of us in what we need to learn, if we are open.” This applies to everyone, not only to those of us who seem to be on the path; it applies to all of us who are off the path, even if we don’t know it.”
In this story, My Friend, we may find that the extent of God’s love for each of us humans in our divided culture may confound our own thinking.
My Friend
Malik, son of Dinar, was much upset about the profligate behavior of a youth who lived next door to him. For a long time he took no action, hoping that someone else would intervene. But when the youth’s behavior became intolerable Malik went to him and insisted that he change his ways.
The youth calmly replied that he was a protégé of the sultan and so nobody could prevent him from living the way he wanted.
Said Malik, “I shall personally complain to the sultan.” Said the youth, “That will be useless, because the sultan will never change his mind about me.”
“I shall then denounce you to Allah,” said Malik. “Allah,” said the youth, “is far too forgiving to condemn me.” Malik went away defeated. But after a while the youth’s reputation became so bad that there was a public outcry about it. Malik decided it was his duty to attempt to reprimand him. As he was walking to the youth’s house, however, he heard a voice say to him, “do not touch my friend. He is under my protection.” Malik was thrown into confusion by this and, when he was in the presence of the youth, he did not know what to say.
Said the young man, “What have you come for now?” Said Malik, “I came to reprimand you. But on my way here a voice told me not to touch you, for you are under his protection.”
The profligate seemed stunned. “Did he call me his friend?” he asked. But by then Malik had already left his house. Years later Malik met this man in Mecca. He had been so touched by the words of the voice that he had given up his possessions and became a wondering beggar. “I have come here in search of my Friend,” he said to Malik, and died.
De Mello’s commentary to this is, “God, the friend of a sinner! A statement so dangerous as it is effective. I tried it on myself once. I said, “God is far too forgiving to condemn me.” And I suddenly heard the Good News – for it the first time in my life.”
The Song of the Bird. Anthony de Mello, 1982.
| | |
Weekly Morning and Evening
Peace Prayer
Join us in a prayer for peace in the world and within ourselves. 20 minutes every Monday and Tuesday via Zoom. (Families invited!)
Monday Morning Peace Prayer
At 9:30 am on this Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 844 1669 8343, Passcode: 557026
Tuesday Evening Peace Prayer
At 7:00 pm on this Zoom Link < New Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 881 2656 0118 Passcode: 295075
May Mary, Mother of the World, who abhors all violence, pray for us. Rev. Jane
| |
301 Faith Partners August Get-Together
The August 14 meeting will be held at New Belgium brewery, located at 500 Linden St. in Fort Collins 80524. Join up between 3:30 PM - whenever. We’re usually done by 5:30 PM. No RSVP.
We are not exclusive! Bring your partner!
| | |
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
The recording of the readings and homily for July 27th, 2025 has been uploaded here.
Associate Pastor Jane Reina presided and delivered the homily.
| | |
Social Justice Reflection
By Rosanna Bateman
For today’s social justice reflection, my goal is to give hope and say thank you. The woman in the picture you’re viewing is Dorothea Macina; although she now goes by Dot and has the last name Grimm. The man is Gary Grimm. They are my parents, and they met in graduate school in the mid-1960s, both studying mathematics.
In their department, there was one professor who didn’t think women belonged in the study of mathematics, and in her final year, my mom had to take a class with him. Three women started that class, but only my mom finished. It wasn’t easy. The professor never called on her, pretended to never remember her name, and made sure she knew he didn’t approve of her presence in his classroom. But she persisted and successfully finished that class.
When it came time for her oral exams to complete her degree, her panel consisted of 3 professors, and this particular professor was one of them. Each professor gave advance warning of what topics they would be questioning her on, and he specified real analysis. She studied hard, prepared thoroughly. But at her exam, there were no questions on real analysis. He had set her up for failure. The panel voted 2 to 3 to pass her, but without that third vote, she failed and could not receive her diploma. She was crushed. She ran to the only woman’s room to cry, and since all her classmates were men, no one could go in to comfort her.
She was given another chance, and this time, that professor was not on her panel. She prepared hard, again, and when she went in for her exam, the questions were ridiculously easy, an acknowledgment that those professors believed she should have passed the first time. The vote to pass her was unanimous, and her degree was conferred.
My mom’s struggle was not at all unique. In the 1960s, there were so many places women weren’t welcome and so many limits on women’s rights. They could not open a line of credit, serve on a jury, or be admitted to an Ivy League school. They could be fired for gaining weight, for getting pregnant, or even for turning 32 (heaven forbid!).
But all of these things eventually changed. People complained, fought, demonstrated, didn’t give up. Not just my mom but also my dad. Not only women but the men who believed in them. Not just my family but your family. You! You did it! My generation thanks you. I was born in the 60s, and I’ve never had to think about these limitations. Thanks to you.
That’s not to say the fight for gender equality is over. Roe vs Wade was overturned. The ERA has never been passed. Women still earn less than men for the same work. They are limited in their participation in the Roman Catholic church. And of course, beyond gender, there are all the other struggles we find ourselves facing – the attack on diversity initiatives, the war on immigration, the dismantling of the federal government. But, there’s hope. Hope that ordinary people will complain, will fight, will demonstrate, and will succeed. Change is not impossible. You’ve already done it, and we can do it again.
| | |
Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times.
+Jane Kommrusch, spouse of Richard Kommrusch, member
+ Jeff Klein, son of Debbie Klein
+Mary Powers and Katie Richards, members healing from long COVID
+Milo Pasquale Cushman -- brother of Liz Urban, member
+Hope Kunze, granddaughter of Mother Rosean
+ Valerie Dorr, mother of Deana Andrist, TLC
+Cindy Cloyd, member
+Sandra Life, member
+Julie Lucas, daughter of Bruce and Carol Yeazell
+The Grant and Cloyd families, for healing
+Carolyn Sue Cecil and family, friends of Mary
of Magdala
+ Mary Lou and David Devlin, members
+Rachel, Ryan, & Chloe Honeybourne, family of Julia Morrow, friend of Mary of Magdala
+ Sharyl Hoepfinger, for prayers of healing
+ Jenny Witzke, for prayers of support
+Pastor Rick Reiten, Pastor at Trinity Lutheran
| | |
~~~~~~~~~~~
A blessed and peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the friends and families.
+Donna Lusby, friend of Ralph, Anne, Debbie, Mark, Dori, and Tom, members
+Lois Hug, mother of MaryAnne Heyman, member
+Richard Life, member of Mary of Magdala
+Donald Sherlock, brother-in-law of Dori Healy
+Joseph Grant, nephew of David and Cindy Cloyd
+Dennis Healy, Tom Healy's brother and Dori's brother-in-law
+Barbara Lange, grandmother of Gray La Fond
+Leonard Urban, husband of member Liz Urban
+Tess Peters, friend of Mary Lou Devlin, member
+Kelly Cahill, friend of Ruth Alexander
+Pauline Devlin, David Devlin's mother
+James Lyons, brother-in-law of Mary Lyons, member
+Carole Lyons, sister-in-law of Mary Lyons, member
+Jessica Melton, family friend of Jane Reina
+Jim Carroll, husband of member Dori Carroll
| | Please send prayer requests to marymagdalafc@gmail.com. Prayers will be listed for one month unless requested for longer. Prayers for the repose of souls will be listed for six months unless requested for a longer time. | | |
Wednesday - Weekday Mass
July 30, 11:00 am
- Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
- No Zoom available
- Mother Rosean presiding
Sunday Mass -
August 3, 12:30 pm
- In person and Zoom available
- Mother Rosean Amaral presiding
| | |
Wednesday - Weekday Mass
August 6, 11:00 am
- Weekday Mass in the Fireside room
- No Zoom available
- Mother Rosean presiding
Sunday Mass -
August 10, 12:30 pm
- In person and Zoom available
- Mother Rosean Amaral presiding
| |
|
Did you miss an article or announcement?
Past e-bulletins are posted on our website here. Below are links to some key articles:
-
ECC News from the House of Laity - May - here
-
Spring News from the Office of Presiding Bishop - here.
-
Read the recent ECC statement on immigration here.
-
Ongoing Giving Opportunities in Fellowship hall; see list here.
-
Dedicating Altar Flowers? Contact Joan Stepleton at JoanStepleton@gmail.com or 864-650-2816. A $25 dollar donation is kindly requested.
| | |
Mary of Magdala Parish Community
Members: Need to view, update information or download a copy of the member directory? Just click here.
-->If you are in need of a picture for the directory, contact David Cloyd via this email. Put 'Need Picture for the Directory' in the subject line and include your name and telephone number in your email <--
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MARY OF MAGDALA
If you would like to contribute to Mary of Magdala,
click here to schedule a single or recurring Sunday offertory.
All are invited and ALL are welcome to join our parish community. Here is the webpage with more information on membership
| | |
Our Vision – ‘Our guiding Light’
Weaving a tapestry of love, hope and justice for the world.
| |  | |
The 301 Faith Partners--Mary of Magdala, Trinity Lutheran, St Paul's Episcopal --have a Vision, Mission and Values statement that guides our relationships, interactions, and shared projects and ministries.
Read about our Mission, Core Values and Covenant here.
| | | |
The ECC Regional Website - View here.
| | |
Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal
Click here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin.
| | | | |
