The Baptism of the Lord ~ January 13, 2019

First reading:
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Is. 40:5)

Psalm:
O bless the Lord, my soul. (Ps. 104)

Second reading:
He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Ti. 2:5b)

Gospel:
The Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk. 3:22)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
At the baptism of Jesus, a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Through Baptism, Jesus’s identity as God’s Son is revealed and understood. He knows very clearly who he is. Baptism does the same for us. It gives us our identity as daughters and sons of God. We have the wonderful opportunity, given to us as a gift, to share in the same intimate relationship Jesus has with God his Father. Being a daughter or son of God gives us a unique and focused mission to which we must be faithful. Our identity, as with Jesus, is rooted in God. This is a simple fact we all must accept. Through Baptism, we are given the power and ability to see the world as God sees and to think and act as God would think and act. This is a tall order but one that will lead us to truth and ultimately to happiness.

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. (Jan. 22)
  • Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
  • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (Jan. 21)
• 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
• Buildings and Grounds Committees: January 17 at various churches
• March for Life: January 18, Washington, D.C.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: January 18 through January 25
• Baptism: Liam Lane LaBrake, January 20, during 10:30 a.m. Mass, Holy Cross
• Finance Council: January 24, St. Francis
• Coffee Hour: February 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
• Souper Bowl of Caring: February 3
• Discernment Weekend: February 22–24, St. Michael’s Friary
• Catholic Women’s Conference: March 9, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., at Aquinas Institute

Wedding:
George Hade III and Bethanne Beckhorn were married on December 29, 2108, at St. James the Apostle church.

Buildings and Grounds Committees:
The committees will meet this Thursday, January 17, at each individual church. The Holy Cross committee will meet at 9:15 a.m., St. Francis Solanus will meet at 10:30 a.m., and St. James the Apostle will meet in the pine room at 1:00 p.m.

Finance Council:
Council members will meet with the pastor and business staff members on Thursday, January 24, at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex, Interlaken.

2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of December 31, 2018, stated that ninety-six parish households have pledged $23,472 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).

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
The annual week of prayer for Christian unity begins this Friday, January 18, and concludes next Friday, January 25. Let us join other Christian churches in our area as we remember the theme chosen for 2019: “Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Throughout 2019, join Christians everywhere in praying “that they may all be one,” joining our prayer with that of the Lord Jesus Christ. For this purpose, there are prayer cards in the foyers of the church. For more information go to: www.geii.org.

Educational Courses:
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry is offering courses for spring 2019 using their online zoom videoconferencing software. The courses this semester include:

• Canon Law and Ministerial Leadership, on Mondays from 6:00–9:00 p.m., from January 14–April 22;
• Unless You Become Like Children: Catholicism, Culture, and the Child, on Tuesdays from 7:00–9:30 p.m., weekly from January 15–April 30;
• Special Issues in Pastoral Care: Sudden Death, Suicide and Addiction, on Mondays from 6:00–9:30 p.m., from January 14– April 29; and
• The Problem of Suffering: Is it God’s Fault? on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:30 p.m., January 23 through May 1.

For more information contact Matthew Brown at [email protected] or phone 585 271 3657.

Vocations to Religious Life or Priesthood:
The Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Franciscans will hold a discernment weekend at St. Michael’s Friary, New York, on February 22–24, for men interested in religious life. If would like to participate, please contact Fr. Bernard at the parish office.

March for Life 2019:
Join the many thousands of people who will be marching because every human life is unique from day one, with inherent value. Buses from the diocese of Rochester to the March for Life event in Washington D.C. will leave on Thursday night, January 17, and return on Friday night, January 18. The march will follow a 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Catholic University of America, with Bishop Matano as the principal celebrant. People will then march with Bishop Matano and others from the diocese. Make your reservations today. You may also choose to pick one of two buses from the Southern Tier. One leaves from St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads and the other from Notre Dame High School, with two other pickups in Painted Post, NY and Mansfield PA. Seats are available for $65. Call Steve Spaulding at 607-739-9282 to reserve your seat.

Souper Bowl of Caring 2019:
February 3 is Super Bowl Sunday and it is also the date for the Souper Bowl of Caring in which our parish will be participating. The idea is to collect donations of non-perishable food items and cash that will go directly to the local food pantries in the three communities that make up our parish. Food items may be brought to any of the three churches on the weekends of January 26–27 and February 2–3. As part of their community service project this year, the second year Confirmation students will assist in taking up a collection for monetary donations after Mass has ended at Saint James the Apostle Church on February 3. Please consider being as generous as you possibly can as everything collected will be going directly to our local food pantries to help those who are in need.

Women’s Conference:
The bishop invites women to attend what has become an annual conference in the diocese, “a beautiful witness to the unity and charity so characteristic of women of faith and it provides a special opportunity to strengthen our faith in a very challenging and difficult time in the church.” The Rochester Catholic Women’s Conference will be held at the Aquinas Institute on Saturday, March 9, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. This year’s theme, “Full of Grace” will invite participants to reflect on Mary’s role in the Church, in history, and in an individual’s personal life. The speakers include Karlo Broussard and Sr. Anne Catherine Burleigh, OP. Registration is now open. Please visit the website at Rochestercwc.org/2019 for conference details and more information.

Prayers from the Sisters of St. Joseph:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry and Sr. Dolores Bachman and Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish throughout 2019. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as well.

Support Group:
Many people who have suddenly lost a family member, friend, classmate or colleague find that sharing openly with fellow survivors about what they have lived through can help with the healing process. The Seneca County Suicide Prevention Coalition hosts twice-monthly support groups which meet in Waterloo and Ovid for convenience of the entire community. These groups are held on the first- and third- Monday of every month; and provide people who are survivors of loss or survivors of suicide the opportunity to talk in an open and inclusive environment, free of judgment or stigma. The Waterloo Public Library plays host on the first Monday of every month and the Ovid session takes place on the third Monday at the Ovid Federated Church. Both sessions run from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. For more information see www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicidePrevention or contact Mary Joslyn at [email protected].

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.

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

January 12 (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Patty Messmer (for Lee Davidson), Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

January 19 (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

January 13 (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

January 20 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short