Weekly Update - October 8, 2025

Mary Magdalene Church

~Weekly Update~

Mary Magdalene Church is an inclusive church in the Catholic tradition where people from all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to the Lord’s table. We strive to live the values that Jesus taught, to honor and respect each individual and to share the joy of God’s unconditional love in our community and beyond.

Greetings!

Our Social Justice Ministry seeks to walk faithfully in Christ’s love by working toward a more just, inclusive, and equitable world. This is not work for a few. It is the call to ALL people, of every tradition and calling, who seek justice and love in this world.

We want to hear from you! What stirs your heart? Where do you feel God’s spirit is inviting us as a community to focus our care and energy? Your responses will help us shape our Justice Ministry priorities and guide how we serve together.

As Jesus reminds us, even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matt. 17:20). With the Spirit’s help – and with your participation - we can make a difference!

PLEASE - Take the time to make your voice heard and complete this brief online survey. Paper copies are also available at both church entrances and may be placed in the marked box at the back entrance of the church.

We greatly value your input. Every voice matters. Every response will be read, valued, and prayed over. Once reviewed we will come to the community with the results and with God’s grace, begin to develop specific, actionable plans that we, as a strong faith community, want to undertake.

With love,

Your Social Justice Team

Prayer Concerns

Joe and Linda

Patty

Emma

Wanda Moore

Sam and Bill

Terry Keister

Jessica

Rev. Denise Roberts

Andy Lay

Sandy Buchanan

Bob & Lorraine

Ted and Katie Button

Annie D.

Philip Benier

Baby Callan

Barb Amaring

Fran Hughes

Logan

Tom Keone

Mary Jane

Cathie

Melanie

Carrie

Margaret Hill

Mike Rogers

Meredith

Marcy

Annette

Sheila

Jean

Maria

Hank

Richard

Judy and Paul Clark

Lacey, Joe and Mary Jo

Brian

Sue Winstel

Joseph Melone

Jean Higgins

McKenna and Johanna

Howard

Jim Quinn

Gary

Chris Bierre

Suzanne Moro

Brian

Ron Stacy and Nancy

Tammy

Marty Martelli

Rebecca & Marilyn

Mary Tantillo

Jim Kelly

The family & friends of Ginny and Jerry Janas who lost their brother Brian

All victims of violence

Justin

Kayla

Lorien

All who struggle with mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and addiction

Do you have someone you

want us to pray for?

To add someone to the prayer list, contact:

Sue Gerber or Joann Corso

We will include your prayer request in our Prayers of the People for two weeks. If you'd like us to continue praying for the same need longer, please just send an email! We'll be happy to do so.

If you'd like to join our team of "pray-ers" and be notified where there are

prayer needs, please send an email to Sue Gerber.

Watch last Sunday's Mass on Facebook or YouTube here! Join us any day or time you like. And let us know you are watching by leaving comments in the FB chat!

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Online Mass Attendance

Facebook Views:35

YouTube Views: 114

Thank you for joining us!

If for some reason we are unable to stream live, our Mass will always be posted on YouTube the following Monday morning.

Pastoral Affirmation

We are delighted to announce the affirmation of Rev. Celie Katovitch as our new pastor! Rev. Celie will join us in mid-November as we begin our new chapter together. Welcome Rev. Celie!

Bring Your Gift to the Table

MMC Gala Fundraiser

Saturday, Nov 1, 2025

7-9 PM (Doors open at 6 PM)

75 Stutson Street, Rochester, NY 14612

Save the date for an evening of uplifting, musical entertainment, laughter, fun, good friends, celebration, and community. A time to celebrate who we are as Mary Magdalene Church!

Calling for donations of gift baskets, personal creations, crafts, artwork, and gift certificates for a silent auction and raffle.

Tickets are $40/pp and are now available for purchase on Eventbrite. Please note, Eventbrite charges a fee of $4.50 for each ticket. We will have tickets available after Mass beginning October 5th.

Some have asked if they can donate in honor of a loved one, to acknowledge a celebration, and support this fundraiser. The short answer is YES! These can be submitted via this attachment.

Please contact Bishop Denise revdenised@gmail.com, or Nina Mottern nmottern@gmail.com or Cheryl Zehner cherylez63@gmail.com for donations of items for our silent auction or raffle.

We will be looking for additional helpers as this date approaches. Watch this space for more information!!

We thank the Caring Music Group who is organizing this gala in collaboration with us as a benefit to Mary Magdalene Church!!

Let’s celebrate!

Art, Food, and Spirituality

We are back for more art, food and spirituality in community! Our next get-together will be Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:30PM in Fellowship Hall. Join us to make a beautiful and easy to make memory journal. It might make a great Christmas gift! You do not need any experience in art, just an open heart, a willingness to be with others for a little meditation and fun. All are welcome! Click here for the supply list and additional pcitures. Contact Joyce Martelli if you have any questions

Things to do at MMC!

SOCK-TOBER

During the month of October, our youth will be collecting socks! We need all kinds of warm socks for men, women and children and everyone in between.

Please place your socks in the basket in the sanctuary by the piano.

Mary Magdalene Reads

Richard Rohr's “The Tears of Things”.

We will discuss chapters 4 & 5 on October 14th. Has anything in the reading made you rethink things or made you question what you already know? Join us please! Dates of discussions: September 30, Oct 14, 28 and Nov.11. Questions: contact Joyce Martelli at jemmartelli@gmail.com . Join us here on Zoom (Meeting ID: 817 7424 1794 Passcode: 878733).

Annual Winter Coat Drive

A box will be located in the church’s entrance to collect gently used and new coats, hats, gloves/mittens for men, women, children in need in the Rochester area. These items will be distributed to the Open Door Mission, House of Mercy, Saint Joseph’s and other social agencies.

The collection will take place until December 1. Please contact Dory Deisenroth at 585-750-2557 with any questions or concerns.

We Want to Get to Know You!

If you are new to our community we'd like to get to know you! Send us your name and favorite thing (food, activity, anything!) and Kathy Mrzywka will make you a personalized name tag! Click here to request a name tag.

GriefShare Support Group

Come join us at Mary Magdalene Church as we begin our thirteen-week grief share support group. You will learn valuable information about dealing with changes in your life and renewing your hope for the future. Our program will begin on September 27th and end December 13th. We meet at 12 noon and generally finish by 2pm. We have a limited number of participant books available or you can order through griefshare.org/findagroup search for our group and register. The cost is $20 for the book and we have a $5 registration fee. If you have questions please contact Joyce at jmhaag03@gmail.com.

Young Church - Youth Ministry

Click here for our schedule. For further information or to have your young person participate, contact Pat Davidson. We are excited to begin!

Food for the Journey Massage Ministry Returns!

It's been a long, hot summer and a stressful year thus far. Time to remind and reintroduce the Massage Therapy Program here at Mary Magdalene Church. Parishioner Ginny Weisel is our resident massage therapist. Her office space is downstairs to the right. Check it out!!! This is available to anyone, church members or not! Fee is based on a sliding scale of $35-$65 for an hour massage. Please contact Ginny directly by text (585-329-8505) or email ginnyweisel1@gmail.com

Blessing Box - Fall/Winter Donation Suggestions

As we move into the cooler weather, we ask that you consider the following items for our Blessing Box: instant oatmeal, instant potatoes, rice, dried beans, fruit, cereal, nuts, nut butters, granola bars, crackers and pouches of tuna and chicken. Also, hats, gloves, socks, and hygiene products are welcome! Thank you for your generosity!

East Rochester Resource Center

We continue our ongoing collection of toothpaste for the East Rochester Resource Center. The basket is located in the hall outside of the sanctuary. Thank you for your generosity!

Lost & Found

Are you missing a pair of sunglasses, your favorite hat, a water bottle? Check out the bin in hallway under the welcome sign. We've got quite the collection of items found in the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall! Unclaimed items will eventually be donated.

Knit, Purl, Crochet & Pray Ministry

Please join us and put your needles and hooks to good use bringing comfort and prayers to those in need! Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is open to all parishioners who wish to participate at home. Feel free to borrow the book Knitting into the Mystery - A Guide to the Shawl-Knitting Mystery found in the shawl basket. We are need shawls of all sizes! Place your completed shawl in the basket by the altar or in Sue Gerber’s office.

Ministry Sign Up Sheets Available!

Want to become more involved on Sunday? Consider one of many opportunities such as serving as a lector or Eucharistic minister, reading the Prayers of the People, or hosting a coffee hour. Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board. If you have questions about any of these ministries, Rev. Lori or Sue would be happy to answer them. Thanks for your help!

Things to do in the community!

The offerings listed below are brought to us by members of our community who want you to know what is available! Contact information is always provided so that you can find out more. Please know these offerings do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Mary Magdalene Church.

Indigenous Peoples Day at Ganondagan

Join us for a powerful, all-day celebration honoring Indigenous Peoples Day. From sunrise ceremony to sunset closing, the day will be filled with vibrant cultural experiences—music, dancing, storytelling, craftmaking, guest speakers, Native vendors, and educational activities for all ages.For more information, click here.

Parents Helping Parents

5K Run/Walk and Fall Festival at Nazareth University on October 26th from 10-2PM. Click here to learn more and sign up!

Fairport Community Trunk or Treat

Free! Everyone is welcome! Sunday, October 26th 6-8PM at Fairport UCC - 26 E. Church St. Car sign ups wanted! Decorate your car and hand out candy. Email contactus.fairportucc@gmail.com to let us know you're coming. Please include your name, phone and vehicle type.

A Course in Miricales Meditative Retreat ***NEW DATE

Join us for a retreat inspired by the teachings and practices of, A Course In Miracles at the Notre Dame Retreat Center on November 14th and 15th. Click here for more information. Retreat limit 10 participants.

Grief Support Gathering

Join us and find support as you grieve. Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church St., Pittsford. Our group meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 11 am. Brunch is provided. RSVP here.

Grief Support Workshops

Join us and find community as you grieve. Two separate sessions held on Monday evenings starting on September 8th at 6 pm and Wednesdays starting on September 10th at Noon. Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church St., Pittsford. RSVP here.

A Course In Miracles Study Groups

Dory Deisenroth will be starting two new ACIM study groups for 2025 beginning the last week in January.

On Tuesdays, a group studying the text will meet via Zoom from 6pm EST to 7:30pm EST. On Thursdays, a group will be meeting to study the lessons via Zoom from 6pm to 7:30pm. Both classes will meet weekly for a year.

The text study group will start on January 28 and meet for one year. The lesson study group will start on January 30 and meet each Thursday for one year.

If interested or if you have questions regarding these offerings please contact Dory at deisdor@gmail.com

Healing Circle

The healing circle is open to everyone! We join together with others to offer healing through connection to the Holy Spirit/Jesus/God. This healing circle offers healing for anyone or any situation in need of healing. We will spend thirty minutes in prayer offering names of people and situations to God/Jesus/ Holy Spirit for healing....this is a time of reflection and communion!

We meet via Zoom the first Friday of every month. Contact Dory Deisenroth at deisdor@gmail.com for more information and the Zoom link.

Please email Dory if you have someone or some situation in need of healing that you would like us to pray for.

CALM Ministry

Dear Friends,

We are a church that takes care of each other. One of the ways that we do that is through our CALM Ministry. Our CALM Ministers want to remind you that we are here with a listening ear. We don’t counsel or try to fix anything. We love and we listen. If you would find some comfort in this, please reach out to us. You can ask one of us personally or through our email: calm.ministry.mm@gmail.com

Lori Cunliffe, Donna Ecker, Jim Bridges, Joyce Haag, Julie Knapp, Linda Beckford, Bishop Denise, and Deacon Betty

Bulletin Announcements

Do you have an announcement you would like to see included in our bulletin? Just email Sue Gerber by Tuesday at 5 pm to have your group's message or activity added to our Wednesday newsletter. sgerber.mmagdalene@gmail.com

Become a Registered Member of Mary Magdalene Church

Have you been worshiping with us regularly but haven’t yet registered as a member of our Mary Magdalene Church community? We warmly invite you to take this meaningful step.

Becoming a registered member is a way of saying, “This is my spiritual home.” It allows you to participate more fully in the life and leadership of our church – including the important responsibility of affirming and voting for our next pastor.

Registration forms are available at both entrances to the church, or you can fill one out anytime on our website under the “Join Us" tab.

If you have any questions or want to talk more about what membership means, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are so grateful for your presence in our community – and would love to officially welcome you as a member!

Ways to Give to MMC!

Thank you, as always, for your generosity! We have numerous ways you can choose to donate. You can use the button below to make a one-time donation, and you can contact our Office Administrator, Sue Gerber, to set up ongoing support.

If you are at least 73 years old and take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA each year, consider donating some of those funds as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to Mary Magdalene Church and enjoy some tax savings at the same time!

We also have an account with Can Kings! Your donation of cans and bottles can be made at any of the three Can King locations: 1276 Fairport Road, Fairport; 1183 Bay Road, Webster; or 505 East Main Street, Palmyra. Just let them know to put your donation down for Mary Magdalene Church! Please ask for a receipt, and if you're able please send the receipt to us, so we know to watch for your donation.

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