Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ December 23, 2018

First reading:
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD. (Mi. 5:3a)

Psalm:
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80)

Second reading:
By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)

Gospel:
“How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” (Lk. 1:43-44)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Life is often unfair. Sadly, life’s inequity usually occurs at our hands. The world’s systems—economic, political, and environmental—do not always serve the best interests of the people. We create situations that tip the scales by profiting a few and reducing the quality of life for many. We look at all of the injustices in our world, people being hurt and exploited, and wonder why God has abandoned us or why He won’t fix what is happening. God did fix it. He sent his Son into the world as our just ruler and the one who will bring peace. The problem is we still turn away and think that we can do better. The Son of Justice has come into the world. We can work for change and be the voice of justice. We can dream and do things differently. Blessed are you who believe that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Liturgical Publications Inc.


Events:

  • AA Meetings:
    • Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
    • Thursdays, noon, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
  • Food Pantries:
    • Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food Truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (Dec. 31)
    • Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.
    • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (Jan. 8)
  • Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
  • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
  • Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
  • Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
  • Breads Needed: In the St. James pine room after Mass on December 16
  • Remaining Choir Practice for Christmas: December 18, 7:00 p.m., Holy Cross
  • Holy Day of Obligation: Solemnity of Mary, the holy mother of God, is January 1, 2019
  • Coffee Hour: January 6, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
  • Family Religion Education Program: January 6 at 6:00 p.m., St. James

Christmas Masses:
Our Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy will have three Christmas Masses. There will be two on Christmas Eve:

4:30 p.m. at St. James the Apostle and

8:00 p.m. at Holy Cross.

There will be one Christmas day Mass:

9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus.

Please spread the word and plan now as to which Mass you will attend.

Christmas Offering:
It is the custom in the Church that parishioners make a special contribution to their parish at Christmas. Parishes have come to rely on this offering, as is the case in our parish, taken up as a collection during the Christmas Masses. Please consider making a special offering, your Christmas gift to the parish. Thank you for your kind consideration of this custom and request.

The Season of Advent and Reconciliation:
During the season of Advent, the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be celebrated in each church after each of the weekend Masses. The sacrament is also celebrated on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. in St. Francis Solanus church.

2018-2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA):
The 2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of December 4 stated that eighty-five parish households have pledged $22,362, nearly 75% toward our given parish goal of $29,979. Thank you. If you have not yet responded, please consider your financial participation. In the vestibule of the churches there are CMA pledge envelopes. CMA has produced an extraordinary video in connection with this year’s Appeal. It is posted to the diocesan website (www.dor.org) and the CMA page (www.dor/org/cma).

Church Calendars:
2019 church calendars are available in the church vestibules. Please take only one calendar per family.

Card Ministry:
Card Ministry is a working group of the parish’s Witness Committee. They are looking for parishioners who would be interested in writing and sending cards to our homebound or parish members in nursing home. As a member of this work group, you would send cards once a month to (currently) seventeen individuals. If you are interested please contact Marilynn Frank at [email protected].

Shur Save Donations:
At the Shur Save there is a box into which you can donate food for the food pantry to distribute. If you contribute, please check the expiration date first as they cannot use food items that are past the printed date. We can never have enough food to distribute but it needs to be safe too. Thank you for your consideration of this request and any possible donations you might be able to make.

You Are a Blessing:
Nancy Canniff, director of the South Seneca Ecumenical Food Pantry in Ovid, sent a card to our church family. In it she wrote: “Thank you for your support…throughout the year. You are a blessing to us and our community.”

Holy Day of Obligation on January 1:
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on January 1, 2019, is a holy day of obligation. Masses will be held on Monday, December 31, at 6:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 1, at 9:30 a.m. Both Masses will be at St. Francis Solanus church. There will be no communion service at St. James on Monday morning, December 31.

Sainthood for Benjamin Joseph Salmon:
The National Council of Pax Christi USA, at their annual meeting in August, unanimously supported the cause for sainthood of Ben Salmon, a native of Denver, CO, who was a conscientious objector in the first World War. Ben Salmon was explicit that his Roman Catholic faith and his understanding of the life and example of Jesus made it impossible for him to participate in warfare. Because of that, he served a lengthy imprisonment, solitary confinement, and ruined his health. Many people see Ben’s life, faith, and suffering as those of a saint and are actively working to petition the Catholic Church to formally recognize Ben Salmon as a saint. To learn more about Ben Salmon and to endorse the petition advocating his canonization, go to the website: www.bensalmon.org and scroll down to the yellow background that provides links to the sainthood page.

Notice:
Victims of sexual abuse should always report the abuse to the civil authorities. To receive help and guidance from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, please contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Debora Housel, 585 328 3228 ext. 1555 or by email to [email protected]. “You do not have to deal with this alone.”

Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester:
The sisters have a prayer ministry and throughout 2018 Sister Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish and parishioners. Such an act of love offers us the opportunity to keep Sr. Anne Marie and the Sisters of St. Joseph in our prayers.

Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes:
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes, located at 551 Exchange St. in Geneva, is offering a “Forgiven and Set Free” post abortive ten-week session beginning October 4 until December 13. There is no cost involved. “If you regret your abortion, you are not alone. Let us help you learn to forgive yourself. Pleased join us for this healing ministry program.” For more information phone 315 789 0708.

Cancer Services Program (CSP):
Cortland and Tompkins Counties offer free cancer screenings to those who are uninsured or have health insurance that does not cover these screenings. The screening services are provided in local health centers, doctors’ offices, and hospitals. For more information, contact CSP at 866 442 2262.

Toiletries and Hygiene Products:
There is a basket in the vestibule of St. James church for donations of toiletries. The request comes from Catholic Charities which is in need of items like shampoo, toothpaste, diapers etc. The items will be transferred to the Catholic Charities office in Ithaca.

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Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

December 22, 2018 (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry Messmer and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

Christmas Day:
Tuesday, December 25            9:30 a.m.
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Barbara Willers
EMs:

December 29 & 30 (fifth weekend):
Saturday, December 29            5:00 p.m.
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula,


Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

December 23  (fourth Sunday):
Lector 1: Barbara Willlers (for Beth Duff) and Tim Davis
EMs: Deborah Short (for Tom Duff), Joan Hogan, Mark Scibilia-Carver (for Tim O’Boyle)

Christmas Eve:
Monday, December 24            4:30 p.m. at Saint James, Children’s Mass
Lectors: Scott Hamula and Nancy Olszewski
EMs: Robin Hamula, Cathy DelSignore

Sunday, December 30  
Lectors: Nancy Olszewski (for Lynne Stager) and Barbara Willers
EMs: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Joan Hogan, Tom Duff (for Tim O’Boyle


Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Christmas Eve: Monday, December 24            8:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

12/2/18 12/9/18 12/16/18 12/23/18 12/30/18
Greeter in addition to Usher M. Maleski M. Maleski
Altar Ser 1 P. Schirmer G. Frank G. Frank G. Frank M. Humulock
Altar Ser 2
Lector 1 M. Humulock E. Moore K. Knapp N. Shumway P. Motill
Lector 2 T. Humulock J. Swanson L. Kurkchi J. Liedenfrost° M. Frank
Extraordinary Min 1 L.A. Fox D. Moore L.A. Fox S. Limoncelli F. Grasek
Extraordinary Min 2 F. Grasek D. Brandow° K. Sinkiewicz D. Moore T. Humulock
Extraordinary Min 3 D. Traphagen S. Limoncelli M. Frank P. Schirmer D. Brandow
2 Envelopes
Usher 1 (Lead) J. Taylor S. Brandow° J. Taylor M. Maleski T. Grasek
Usher 2 J. Swanson M. Maleski T. Humulock A. Reagan S. Brandow
Usher 3 T. Grasek
Usher 4
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© 2024 The Parish of Mary Mother of Mercy
3660 Orchard St., P.O. Box 403, Interlaken, NY 14847
607-294-0064

St. James the Apostle, 17 Whig St, Trumansburg, NY
Holy Cross, 7231 Main Street, Ovid, N.Y.
St. Francis Solanus, 3660 Orchard St., Interlaken, N.Y.
Diocese of Rochester
www.dor.org

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