“We do not want a Church that moves with the world.
We want a Church that will move the world.” ~G. K. Chesterton
A Letter from Our Pastor:
Dear Parish households,
The disciples rejoiced, alleluia.
- When they saw the risen Lord, Alleluia.
This weekend when we gather with God and parishioners to celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter, through the proclaiming of Sacred Scripture, (Luke 24:35-48), we will listen to witnesses speak of their experience of Jesus risen from the dead. They will tell of how Jesus came a stood in their midst, how they were startled and terrified thinking they were seeing a ghost. It is only after Jesus asked them to touch him and see the wounds in his hands, feet, and side, the result of his crucifixion, and to be given food to eat, that their terror was converted to amazement and joy. There are other gospel passages that record people telling of their encounter with the Jesus risen from the dead. The goal of these gospel passages is to demonstrate Jesus did rise from the dead. Accepting that Jesus is risen from the dead cannot leave one indifferent toward Jesus. Jesus risen from the dead leads one with a desire to know his identity, his teachings by word, his teachings through the example of his life, and his healing of the ills of this world. Knowing Jesus risen from the dead leads one to be his follower, his disciple – a Christian.
As you know our parish is offering a study program, Jesus, and the Eucharist Study. It has already begun. However, parishioners can jump in at any time. Our parish offers four days, times, and places.
Sundays 10:00 a.m. St. James the Apostle
2:00 p.m. by Zoom
Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. Holy Cross
Thursdays 9:15 a.m. St. Francis Solanus
1:00 p.m. St. James the Apostle
Saturdays 9:00 a.m. St. Francis Solanus
Hopefully, one of these days and times can fit into your schedule. Please plan now to attend one of the opportunities. Contact the parish office for more information or to register: [email protected] or 607-294-0064.
With love for you all,
Fr. Bernard, OFM Cap.
P.S.
- I am available every Friday from 6:30–7:30 p.m. at the Parish Center. No appointment is required.
- The bulletin for this Sunday, April 14, is available on the bulletin page or by viewing it from this link: Bulletin for April 14 2024.
Gospel Meditation—Encourage Deeper Understanding of Scripture
Third Sunday of Easter ~ April 14, 2024
When I was a kid, a friend at my home parish told me, “If you get to Mass by the Gospel reading, it counts!” As a lifelong late-arriver, it’s something I have told myself many times, especially in my earlier years as a Catholic. If the “it counts” is justifiable on a pathetically minimal scale of liturgical legalism, then the Gospel reading today shows how insanely wrong-headed it is, and how helpful it is to re-think the Mass in its light.
The famous “Road to Emmaus” story recounts, on that first Sunday of the Resurrection, the basic two-fold structure of the Mass: Word, followed by Eucharist. Jesus spends a significant period of time with two dismayed disciples, as he connects a wide swath of the Hebrew scriptures with his own suffering, death, and resurrection. They would later report that this Liturgy of the Word touched their hearts with an inexplicable fire. This Word-induced flame alone is what leads the two disciples to discover Jesus’ presence in the “breaking of the bread.”
With this in mind, how can we possibly think that the Liturgy of the Word is unnecessary or incidental? The two disciples needed the Scriptures explained to them in order to experience Jesus alive in the eucharistic breaking of bread. Sure, we say, but they had the Risen Jesus. But that’s precisely the point: Jesus is risen and accompanies us in both parts of the Mass. Imagine how much our experience of Jesus in the Eucharist would deepen if we (preachers and listeners) took even more seriously that Jesus himself sets our hearts ablaze with his Word so that we know him in the Eucharist. That Word-induced fire counts, too!
~ Father John Muir
©LPi
Mass Class, First Reading Shift During the Easter Season: At Mass, in the Easter season, you may have noticed that the First Reading shifts from the Old Testament to the Acts of the Apostles, in the New Testament. These readings help us to focus on the work of the early Church after Jesus’s Resurrection. Here is a link to an article from the Catholic blog Busted Halo to help you learn more about the Easter season shift.
Share Your Faith: The Family Zone provides a link for the readings that you will hear at the Sunday Mass for the coming two weeks. This will give you a chance to prepare your heart and mind for full and active participation in Mass this weekend. Picture Jesus sitting next to you as you review the readings. What would you say to him about what you read?
Family Faith Conversation: Next Sunday, we will hear the Gospel of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The beauty of this Gospel is that it reminds us of how treasured and loved we are in God’s eyes. As a family, we are the face of God to one another. Have a family conversation about what makes each of you feel most loved. What can you do to show one another how deeply you care? Can you name a time that you have felt loved by God? Ask your children what they love most about your family and share some treasured memories and thoughts about your love and life with one another!
Connect to Our Church Calendar: April 21 is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We all share a common call to holiness. Some are called to the vocation of marriage, while others are called to the priesthood, to consecrated life in a religious community or even to committed single life. Through all of these vocations we are called to serve God in special ways. Below are some resources to better help you understand vocation and how you might encourage a response to God’s call in your children, as they grow. Pray with us, as we observe the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Here is a link for activities and free downloads for coloring activities and other ideas to help Catholic kids think about God’s call!
Prayer to Protect Our Clergy: In the name of Jesus, we confidently ask Divine protection for our bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan
and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.zAmen
Build Traditions: Where did you see God in your day? When the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, they did not recognize God in their midst. How about you? Do you see God at work? Do you help your kids recognize Jesus, risen, and working through your lives? Do you acknowledge Holy Spirit moments? Build a new tradition, during the Easter season, of ending your day by sharing where you saw God at work. As this process catches on, you might find it is some of the most meaningful prayer and conversation time you can have with your children as you discover together all the many ways God reaches out a hand to each of us and longs for us to be in communion with Him!
Sent Forth to Help Others, Spring Cleaning: Perhaps you know of a neighbor, family 
member, or friend who could use some help with spring clean-up inside or out! This is a great way for your family to serve together and learn valuable life skills in the process! You might even check with a local charitable organization such as a hospice, food cupboard or your own parish; these places generally have buildings and property to maintain and could use the extra hands! Share the joy of the Easter season!
The Family Zone is a newsletter for families to bring the faith alive at home and is brought to you by the Diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. It is an online newsletter designed to help you prepare for full and active participation in the liturgy as well as formation within your families. It is an interactive newsletter that “takes parents directly to online sites they can use, themselves, to be the primary instructors of their children’s faith.” To stay up to date with opportunities around the diocese, sign up for the Family Zone newsletter on their web page.
“Christ is Always with Us”
The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year movement to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.” (Mission Statement for the National Eucharistic Revival, The Secretariat of Evangelization & Catechesis USCCB)
The National Eucharistic Revival: June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025
Parish Eucharistic Revival: June 11, 2023–June 2024
Here is a link to the schedule for our parish’s discussions for the Jesus and the Eucharist Study sponsored by the National Eucharistic Revival organizers.
Go here to find out more about what our diocese is doing to participate in this important movement.
Will you join us?
“It is in knowing and in loving the Jesus of the Eucharist that you will have the means to understand life, to find security, to be a people with roots. It is Christ who sustains and supports us in the many trials, struggles, challenges, transitions and happenings of our human existence,” wrote our Bishop wrote in his pastoral letter on the Eucharist. “Join us in sharing the light of Christ!”
Those who cannot attend Mass in person are encouraged to check out the diocese’s list of Masses that are available online. Additionally, the diocese provides a variety of virtual events for “prayer, worship, and faith sharing.”
We look forward to seeing you Mass at any of our three churches: Holy Cross in Ovid, NY; St. Francis in Interlaken, NY; and St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg, NY!
Mass Intentions at St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg, Holy Cross in Ovid, and St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken for the week of April 13–21, 2024:
| Saturday, April 13 | St. Francis, 8:00 p.m. |
Parishioners and benefactors |
| Sunday, April 14 | St. James, 9:00 a.m. |
Deceased members of the Rourke family from Kathleen Rourke |
| Holy Cross, 10:30 a.m. | Anna Marie Cafolla from Gerry and Marilynn Frank | |
| Monday, April 15 | St. James, 9:00 a.m. | Communion service |
| Tuesday, April 16 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Wednesday, April 17 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Thursday, April 18 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Friday, April 19 |
St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Saturday, April 20 | St. Francis, 4:00 p.m. |
Parishioners and benefactors |
| Sunday, April 21 |
St. James, 9:00 a.m. | Bro. Paul Crawford, OFM. Cap from Rick and Barb Willers |
| Holy Cross, 10:30 a.m. | Special intention |
Mass intentions: Those wishing to have someone remembered at a Mass on a particular day and time and place may fill out a Mass Intentions Request form which is automatically submitted to the church office. You may also phone the parish office (607-294-0064) with your request or fill out one of the paper forms available in the foyer of each church and either mail it to the parish office or put it in the collection. All of the Mass intentions presently scheduled can be seen on the parish calendar.
Sanctuary Lamp Intention:
A donation may be made to the parish for a sanctuary lamp to be lit for your intention in any one of our three churches. Contact the parish office to make your request known.
Prayer to Mary, Mother of Mercy
Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.
Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever.
Amen.
~Saint Augustine of Hippo
