“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:
August 5, 2022
Dear Parish households,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The three Sacred Scripture readings this weekend reflect the joy of being the New People of God. The Jewish people, from their beginnings, have the distinct title of being “The People of God.” However, Jesus established a new people which he frequently referred to as a “Kingdom” – the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of the New People of God has other names like the “Church” or the “Household of God.” Like the Jewish people, the members of the New People of God possess a strong identity of belonging to one another. Through their faith and trust in Jesus and the celebration of their faith in the Sacrament of Baptism they are reborn into the Kingdom of God. They are the adopted children of God through Jesus, the Son of God their brother. The members of the Kingdom joyfully look forward to their heavenly homeland with Jesus and all their brothers and sisters who have gone before them. Those on earth and those in heaven form one Kingdom, one Church, one Household, one People of God.
In the gospel this Sunday (Luke 12:32-48), Jesus addresses those who will be chosen leaders in his kingdom. Jesus tells the leaders they are God’s own agents; they are loved by him, and they will suffer the more if they fail to correspond to the graces accorded them for their role. He reminds them they are the servants, slaves, and stewards of his people. Indirectly Jesus’s instruction to the leaders alerts his people to be aware of the leaders’ role and to count on it.
With love for you all,
Fr. Bernard, OFM Cap.
P.S.
- Keep holy the Sabbath Day – the third commandment of God.
- Mark your calendars to attend the Parish Feast Day Celebration Picnic, Sunday, September 11, 2022, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at St. Fidelis Friary, Interlaken.
- Keep holy the Sabbath Day – the third commandment of God.
- This weekend’s bulletin is available here.
- Thank you for visiting the parish web site where there are many helpful links here and on our weekly bulletin page. We are also increasing our activity on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Visiting and “liking” the parish’s posts on these social media platforms helps us to engage and reach new parishioners.
Gospel Meditation—Encourage Deeper Understanding of Scripture
August 7, 2022 ~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that, “Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe, to know what he ought to desire, and to know what he ought to do.” Everyone is called to work toward their salvation, which is ultimately union with God. Those who take this call seriously must embark upon a journey inward to the deepest recesses of their soul. In the adventure and wonder of that journey, we work out the details of our union with our Beloved. We cling to what we need to believe, remain firm in what we truly desire, and are guided by what we know we have to do. Once we know that our goal is to be one with our Creator, life becomes an exciting expedition to pursue that end. We make necessary preparations, follow the map, and remain on course.
Whenever we really want something, we put our entire selves into achieving it. Being fully invested in our labor, we willingly work extra hours, devote an abundance of energy and effort, and remain vigilant for beneficial opportunities that may come our way. We certainly do not passively sit by doing nothing! Such an attitude leads to laziness and the accomplishment of little. Worse yet, some look to others to do the work for them, hoping to reap the benefits of another’s efforts. Conscientiousness and diligence are the only means to success.
For the one who eagerly awaits the day when they can be fully with God, life becomes a joyous adventure indeed! Alert, ready, focused, convicted, and willing to be a servant they constantly watch and prepare themselves for meeting the Lord. Loving the journey and being in love with their Creator, their lives become joyful witnesses of love and service. They are secure in their hope, confident in their faith, and perfect in their love. Never looking for recognition or gratitude, they stand as gentle inspirations of what the Holy Spirit can do in the hearts of those who believe. Because we do not know what tomorrow will bring, we stand ready to be used as God wills and run eagerly toward Him when He comes. How much do we desire to experience the joy of salvation?
©LPi
Welcome to the summer editions of the Family Zone, which will provide you with a bit of faith, a bit of fun, a whole lot of FAMILY!! This edition of the Family Zone focuses on equipping the domestic church. Below are just some of the items available in this latest issue of the Family Zone. Go visit the Family Zone web page to see so much more including links to this Sunday’s readings. Please share with parents and grandparents in your parish.
August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption: On the Feast of the Assumption, we celebrate a reward that God gave to Mary that no other human being has received. When Mary’s earthly life ended, she was taken up to heaven, body, and soul to join Jesus.
Mary, as our spiritual mother, is such an inspiration to us as parents. She continues to guide us and intercede on our behalf, to her son. Do you ever wonder about Mary’s struggle as a parent? Did she experience the day-to-day frustration that we might be feeling at this point of summer vacation? What do you think Mary was going through when Jesus disappeared, at age 12, when the family was walking home from their time in Jerusalem? Go watch a video from CatholicLink, which gives us pause to reflect a bit on our Catholic parenting. It can be challenging and it can be exhausting, but it is such a beautiful gift God has given us! We hope you enjoy the video and it gives you a moment to pause and breathe. Mary, Mother of God, pray for all who parent!
Learn some Catholic Trivia You May Not Know: Here is some trivia about the Hail Mary prayer:
- The prayer can be traced back, as a devotion, to at least the 12th century, but its words come from the Annunciation scriptures in the Gospel of Luke.
- The Hail Mary makes up the most repeated part of the Rosary.
- When the prayer was first created, it was much shorter: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace.”
- The Ave Maria composition attributed to the composer Franz Schubert is the Hail Mary in Latin.
- In 1922, Notre Dame football players said a Hail Mary prayer before making a 6-yard, 4th and goal touchdown. It worked and they did it again successfully. They began to call it the Hail Mary Play and from then on, miracle plays in football have often been called a Hail Mary play or pass!
Live the Eucharist: Living the Eucharist should lead us to charitable acts, but that doesn’t just mean giving our time or treasure to those in need. It also means acting charitably with others. This week, live the Eucharist by being charitable with your words and actions. Speak with kindness and patience, think about your responses before you react, and offer a listening ear. The Spiritual Works of Mercy lead us to speak and act more charitably in many different situations. Go to this week’s Family Zone to learn more about the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Be Creative: Jesus performed his first great miracle right in front of his mother! Imagine her pride and amazement! Read the scripture of The Wedding at Cana in John’s Gospel (John 2:1-11) and draw, paint or make a collage of what you imagine in your head. Be sure to think about the expressions on people’s faces! If it is hard for you to draw people, you might want to consider dramatizing the Gospel with some of the dialogue that is already provided!
Pray: The other day on social media there was a heartbreaking post about a little girl in the community whose pet was hit by a car. The little one was so distraught, she could not sleep for several nights. The mother was desperate to find some solace for the little girl. In those family moments, creating a ritual and a connection to God can be very helpful in helping little ones process their loss. The Family Zone has a prayer for when a pet dies, and here is a prayer for a lost pet:
Prayer for a Lost Pet
St. Felix of Nola, Patron Saint of Lost Animals,
St. Francis and St. Anthony,
please come promptly to the aid of this
precious pet,
and those who love him/her so,
and enable him/her to find his/her
way back home,
having suffered no ill effects
from his/her separation
from his/her family.
Thank you sweet Jesus
for your mercy on this family
and their dearly
loved pet,
and for restoring him/her to them.
It is in your name we pray,
Amen.
Quiet: You can use sports equipment to share some quiet time with your kid and lower his or her stress!
- Roll a tennis ball on their back. Roll a tennis ball on your child’s back to give a gentle massage when they are most in need of a calming touch. Focus on the shoulders, neck, and lower back as these are typical places where the body holds tension.
- Roll a golf ball under your feet. Rolling a golf ball under your child’s feet can not only improve circulation, but there are pressure points on the bottom of the feet that relieve stress and relax the muscles of the feet and legs.
Wonder: This summer we are wondering about God’s Creation! The picture is of a native plant to our area called Butterflyweed. You can grow it to attract butterflies and it is also a beneficial plant to honeybees!!
Let’s WONDER about Butterflies! Have you seen a butterfly this summer? How far can butterflies fly? How many different types of butterflies are there? What do butterflies do in the winter? Here are some fun butterfly facts:
- Butterflies can be as small as 1/8 of an inch and as big as a foot!
- Monarch butterflies journey from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico
- Adult butterflies can carry 50 times their own body weight!!!
What do you wonder about butterflies? They are a beautiful, delicate and incredible part of God’s creation! Learn more about butterflies in this issue of the Family Zone.
Go visit the Family Zone web page where you will find more about the above and other items of interest for you and your family. Follow the link to the fun game of 7Up as well as a list of low-contact water games. Try the recipe for fruit and yogurt bark which you can share with your dog. There is a great piece of art showing St. Francis with numerous animals. Can you identify them all? All this and more, including links to Sundays’ readings.
The Family Zone, produced by the Diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, 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 formators 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.
Experience the Joy of the Eucharist
Join us at Mass on Sunday and experience the unique gift of Jesus in Word and Eucharist. Come and be one of the People of God, united in community and love, together witnessing the joy of the Eucharist, a most extraordinary event during ordinary times. We saved you a seat!
“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!”
With the Coronavirus restrictions in New York State lifted, our parish’s church buildings can now be filled to full capacity. People who have not been vaccinated are asked to continue to wear masks. The reception of Holy Communion will be under one form: the Sacred Host. The exchange of the sign of peace (which is always optional) is will be done without shaking hands and all holy water fonts are to remain empty.
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 Holy Cross, St. Francis, and St. James!
Our Parish
Welcome to the web page for the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy. This parish has three churches:
- Holy Cross in Ovid, New York;
- St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken, New York; and
- St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg, New York.
The pastor is Fr. Bernard Maloney, OFM Cap. The parish office is located at the Parish Center: 3660 Orchard St., Interlaken, New York.
To join the parish community or to celebrate the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, or marriage, please phone the parish office (607 294–0064) or email: [email protected] to make arrangements.
Father Bernard is available for confessions at St. Francis church in Interlaken every Friday from 6:30–7:30 p.m. (social distancing will be respected). You may also phone the parish office (607 294–0064) to make an appointment to receive the sacrament of reconciliation with a priest.
Also in residence at St. Fidelis Friary in Interlaken and part of our faith community:
- Fr. Richard Crawley, OFM Cap., chaplain at Cayuga Correctional Facility, Moravia, N.Y.
The title Mother of Mercy is thought to have been first given to Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Odo (d.942), Abbot of Cluny. It is a fitting title of Our Lady both because she brought forth for us Jesus, the Christ, the visible manifestation of the mercy of the invisible God, and because she is the spiritual mother of the faithful, full of grace and mercy. In recognizing Mary as a mother of mercy, it is easy to approach her in prayer with confidence and joy. Please join us in faith and in prayer at any of our three churches which are open each day for private devotions.
Mass Intentions at St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg, Holy Cross in Ovid, and St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken for the week of August 6– August 14, 2022:
| Saturday, August 6 | St. Francis, 4:00 p.m. | Parishioners and benefactors |
| Sunday, August 7 | St. James, 9:00 a.m. |
Francis and Agnes Sarsfield from Roy and Doreen Doty |
| Holy Cross, 10:30 a.m. | Special intention | |
| Monday, August 8 | St. James, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Tuesday, August 9 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Wednesday, August 10 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Thursday, August 11 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Friday, August 12 |
St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Saturday, August 13 | St. Francis, 4:00 p.m. |
Parishioners and benefactors |
| Sunday, August 14 |
St. James, 9:00 a.m. | Joan Hogan from Rita Demarest |
| Holy Cross, 10:30 a.m. | Ida Bromka from the Bromka family |
Those wishing to have someone remembered at a Mass on a particular day and time and place may phone the parish office (607-294-0064) expressing their request. You may also print out the Mass Intentions Request form, fill it out, and mail it to the parish office. All of the Mass intentions presently scheduled can be seen on the parish calendar.
Sanctuary Lamp Intentions:
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.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
Amen
