“We do not want a Church that moves with the world.
We want a Church that will move the world.” ~G. K. Chesterton
A Note from Our Parish:
Dear Parishioners,
Fr. Bernard is still away. Please fine this weekend’s bulletin here.
Note that this Sunday is Pentecost. All are invited to wear red, and Holy Cross will be hosting a potluck brunch after the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
Take care,
Susan Guydosh
Secretary
P.S.
- This weekend’s bulletin is available here.
- Parish households, make every effort to get to Mass on Sunday or the Saturday Vigil Mass. It is what Catholics do to grow and sustain their knowledge of God and God’s way and to celebrate God’s presence and union with them.
- 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
Pentecost Sunday ~ May 28, 2023
I hope you’ll acknowledge with me a simple fact: it’s not normal to have tongues of fire “part and come to rest” on people. It is actually pretty strange. Yet that is precisely what we celebrate in this feast of Pentecost. How can this mean something to us in our daily lives?
Jews had a tradition that heaven is a temple made of bricks of fire. So, through the apostles, the heavenly temple is coming to earth. But this fire looks like tongues, not bricks. That means that heavenly speech will be crucial to building a dwelling place for God on earth among men and women. So, it’s no surprise when the apostles begin to speak in a miraculous way that is understood by all language groups. They are speaking of what God has done in and through Jesus: bringing heaven to earth and uniting all peoples to God and to each other.
How often our speech divides: gossip, slander, insults, and so on. How strange and rare it is when people speak in ways that truly unite instead of divide. Imagine how powerful it would be if you and I began to speak at home, at work, and in our community in a way that made people hear heavenly speech. Imagine if you spoke of the mighty deeds of God in a way that everyone could understand. That’s precisely what the Holy Spirit descends upon us to do. Ask Him to come as a tongue of fire to you once again, and He will. Then speak!
~Father John Muir
©LPi
The Family Zone
Equipping the Domestic Church ~ ISSUE 113/5.28.23
Blessings on the Feast of Pentecost! Today is the day we mark the appearance of the Holy Spirit to the apostles, and the beginning of the Church! Happy Birthday! Observe the day by enjoying cupcakes together or prepare an international meal to represent the many cultural groups that were gathered together in the first reading you will hear at Mass this weekend. The Gospel for Pentecost ends with a focus on forgiveness, so in this edition of the Family Zone, we talk about forgiveness and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Live the Eucharist:
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
Great healing comes through the Eucharist, when we receive the Body of Christ. This is why we recite these important words from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 8:5-13. The words we say prior to going forward for communion are from the words of the centurion in this passage. The centurion asks Jesus to cure his serving boy who is sick at home. Jesus is ready to go to the centurion’s home upon hearing his request, but the centurion refuses Jesus’s offer. “”Sir,” the centurion said in reply, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof.” As we say these words, we ask for forgiveness for the ways in which we have sinned and drawn ourselves away from God. God is always waiting for us to return, just like the Prodigal Son!
Read and Discuss as a Family: 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.
Within the second reading on Trinity Sunday (6/4) , we will hear the words: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” Where have we heard that phrase before? What do we say in return when we hear that phrase? See if you kids can recognize that phrase and then share what it means. If we have the grace of Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with us, what does that look like in our lives? Have you seen God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, at work in your lives this week? What is the image of the Trinity you imagine when you are praying?
Write: Who am I? Use your Bible (you can find one online if you don’t have a hard copy) to find out who needed forgiveness or gave forgiveness in these passages:
- I ate among the pigs because I was desperate for food after going out on my own and squandering my money. (Luke 15)
- My father gave me a beautiful coat and my brothers were jealous. They sold me to slave traders! After many years, they came to my new home and I forgave them! (Genesis 45)
- I denied my friend Jesus three times the night he was tried and crucified. Jesus forgave me. (Luke 22)
Create and Play: Talk about the power of forgiveness and letting go of bitterness with this object lesson from Meaningfulmama.com. This character building object lesson about forgiveness takes a fun science experience and relates it to the risks of choosing not to forgive.
The Spirit is often portrayed as the wind. Follow this link to a series of wind science experiments to celebrate Pentecost, the arrival of the Spirit promised to Jesus’s apostles. There you will learn about renewable and non-renewable energy. Make an anemometer to measure wind speed, a wind vane to work out which way the wind is blowing, pinwheel, storm in a jar and lots more!
Pray: The Examen is a prayer introduced by St. Ignatius hundreds of years ago. Through the Examen, you see God’s presence at work in your day, consider your own failings and become witnesses to the way God expresses love to you and your family through those you encounter. Spend some time with this prayer for children and teens when you download a daily examen from the Diocese of San Jose on the Family Zone page.
Inspired by the Saints: Saint Philip Neri’s feast day is May 26. In 1551, he began his priestly ministry in Rome where, with an outgoing personality and good sense of humor, he was a popular priest for hearing confessions. He was noted for founding the Congregation of the Oratory, a community of Catholic priests and lay brothers. Often in group meetings he would end them early by saying: “Well, … when shall we begin to do good?”
Spending the days helping people, especially the poor, at night Philip would go out in the streets to pray, sometimes to churches, but most often into the catacombs of St. Sebastiano. During one of these times of prayer he felt a globe of light enter his mouth and sink into his heart causing it to become enlarged. St. Philip Neri once said: “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.” This is especially true when it is overflowing with divine love. He is the patron saint of Rome, of humor, and of joy!
Share a Story: Jesus in Space: A True Story That’s out of This World by Cecilia Cicone is a new release by Pauline Kids. This story is about astronaut Tom Jones and his experience on the space shuttle Endeavor. As we learn about Tom’s adventure in preparing to go to space, we also hear about his reliance on his faith, his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and even enjoy a personal note from Tom about staying close to God as you follow your dreams. This is a great story for kids who love all things space and it helps to bridge the gap for those who don’t believe science and faith can coexist!
Wonder: We know that God is a merciful and loving God.
- Does God always know when I do something wrong?
- How come human beings make mistakes so easily?
- What mistakes do I keep making over and over? How can I stop that?
- When I make mistakes and say sorry, do I feel sorry? What does it feel like to be sorry for something?
As Pentecost leads us into the end of the Easter season and the start of ordinary time, consider ways your family can more fully participate in the church’s liturgical seasons. 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, including a YouTube video about going to confession and suggestions for how to honor Memorial Day by helping today’s veterans. All this and more are available for you on this week’s Zone web page.
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 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.
“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)
Go here to find out more about what our diocese is doing to participate in this important movement.
Will you join us?
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.
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.
The parish depends on the support and generosity of its members in order to fulfill its mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. The easiest way to contribute to the parish is by using WeShare Online Giving. There are many benefits to you and the parish by using this service. Thank you for whatever you can give in support of the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy.
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. During Lent Father will also be available for Reconciliation on:
- March 27, at 6:30 p.m., in St. James the Apostle church in Trumansburg and
- March 28, at 6:30 p.m., in Holy Cross church in Ovid.
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 May 27, 2023–June 4, 2023
| Saturday, May 27 | St. Francis, 4:00 p.m. |
Parishioners and benefactors |
| Sunday, May 28 | St. James, 9:00 a.m. |
Rogelio Vargas from Carol Ann Kuklo |
| Holy Cross, 10:30 a.m. | Special intention | |
| Monday, May 29 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Memorial Day, No Mass |
| Tuesday, May 30 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Bro. Carmine Funaro, OFM Cap. from Jim and Jane Doolittle |
| Wednesday, May 31 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Thursday, June 1 | St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Friday, June 2 |
St. Francis, 8:30 a.m. | Special intention |
| Saturday, June 3 | St. Francis, 4:00 p.m. |
Parishioners and benefactors |
| Sunday, June 4 |
St. James, 9:00 a.m. | William Wright from Eileen Heptig |
| 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 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.
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
