National Eucharistic Revival:
June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025
National Eucharistic Congress:
July 17–July 21, 2024
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Parish Schedule:
Week of July 7, 2024
Week of July 14, 2024
Sunday, July 14:
Cemetery Collection
Mass: 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
Mass: 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross
Monday, July 15:
Communion service: 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
Tuesday, July 16:
Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Wednesday, July 17:
Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Prayer for Healing/Harmony: 2:00 p.m., St. James
Book Study: 3:15 p.m., St. James the Apostle
Thursday, July 18:
Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Friday, July 19:
Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Taizé Prayer: 1:00 p.m. St. James
Father Bernard is available, no appointment necessary: 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
Saturday, July 20:
Mass: 4:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
Children’s Liturgy of the Word: 4:00 p.m. Mass
Sunday, July 21:
Mass: 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
Mass: 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross
Community Outreach
Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated Church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food Truck: August 6, 4:00-6:00 p.m., South Seneca High School
- Interlaken Reformed Church: Fridays, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: July 15, 3:30–6:00 p.m., Methodist Church
- Lodi’s Community Pantry: Saturdays, 12:30– 2:00 p.m., Lodi Rod & Gun Club
Family Hope Center: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Holy Cross
Alcoholics Anonymous: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
Events
Children’s Liturgy of the Word:
The Roman Catholic Church has provided an option for children when they attend Mass. After the opening prayer, children are dismissed with their adult leaders to the Annex to hear and reflect on the readings in age-appropriate formats. As time permits, children engage in activities reinforcing the message of the readings such as singing songs, coloring, or acting out a skit. Children will return to their families during the offertory procession. All children are invited to participate in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturdays July 20 and August 17 at St. Francis Solanus Church.
Cemetery Collection This Weekend:
This weekend there is a second collection to benefit the Mary, Mother of Mercy parish cemeteries. The cemeteries do not generate regular income and do not have a fully funded Permanent Maintenance Fund. Please give what you are able as this collection helps to defray costly maintenance expenses. Donations may also be made online using WeShare Online Giving. Please note that the monetary donation to the cemetery can be specified either for St. James the Apostle or the Holy Cross cemetery. When the monetary donation is not specified, your donation is divided between the two cemeteries. Thank you for your help.
Ice Cream Social—Sunday, July 28:
Our parish has three churches. The feast days of the churches are St. Francis Solanus, July 16, St. James the Apostle, July 25, and Holy Cross, September 14. In celebration of our churches feast days there will be an Ice Cream Social on Sunday, July 28 at the St. Fidelis Friary Boat House from 1:00–4:00 p.m. Come and enjoy hot dogs, ice cream sundaes, games, and fishing off the dock (bring your gear).
St. Francis Solanus Feast Day:
In the United States, July 16 is the feast day of St. Francis Solanus, the patron saint of one of Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish churches in Interlaken, NY. St. Francis Solanus was born March 10, 1549 in Montilla, Spain and died on July 14, 1610 in Lima, Peru, South America. He was a very successful Franciscan missionary and is called the “Apostle of the Tucuman”, that is today northwestern Argentina and Paraguay.
Parish Census—Volunteers Needed:
The Diocesan offices of Stewardship and Information Technology have notified our parish that our parish census will take place in the months of June/July/August. The census objective is to gather accurate and up-to-date contact and household information for all registered and unregistered Catholics in the parish. The Offices of Stewardship and Information Technology will guide the parish in conducting the census. Currently, we ask for parishioner help to volunteer to help with this activity. Volunteers, please phone the parish office.
2023-2024 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Our parish received a check dated June 21, 2024, for $632 from the Appeal. The amount reflects 50% of pledges more than our parish goal. The summary, the parish goal was $31,000; as of June 7, 2024, our parishioners contributed $32,264; we were $1,264 over goal, 50% of over goal was returned to the parish. “Thank you” to all the parish households that made this happen. In a letter to the parish dated June 3, 2024, Bishop Salvatore Matano express his sincere gratitude for exceeding the parish assigned goal in supporting the mission of the Diocese. Bishop Matano prays that Our Lord will continue to bless our parish family.
Priesthood Vocation Awareness:
A series of nine short videos has been produced by the Catholic Courier. These profile the current ministries and the vocational journeys of several of the priests of our diocese. They have all been uploaded to YouTube, and links are available at catholiccourier.com/priestlife/.
Programs at St. James:
Sister Anne Alderman, SSJ facilitates these three reoccurring programs in the Pine Room at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg. If you have questions about any of these programs, contact Sister Anne at 607–209–4206 or email a.alder1980@gmail.com.
- Prayer for Healing and Harmony: On the 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., Sr. Anne leads a time of silent prayer. This provides an opportunity for personal reflection and healing. The session closes with a time to share any reflections that came to you. You do not need to attend every session.
- The Taizé Prayer is facilitated on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 1:00 p.m.. Taizé Prayer was developed by an ecumenical community of monks in Taizé, France. It consists of readings and prayers interspersed with quiet, repetitive songs—a good way to quiet your soul and psyche after a busy day.
- Every Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., all are invited to participate in a book study. The current book is Selected Writings by Joyce Rupp (selected with an introduction by Michael Leach).
Be a Friend to Our Neighbors in Need:
Catholic Charities in Ithaca is seeking volunteers to commit to one 3-hour shift per week, Tuesday through Friday, to wait on customers and help sort donations at their free clothing closet. To sign up, contact Andrea.Gaul@dor.org or 607-272-5062.
Eucharist Congress:
The signature event of the National Eucharistic Revival is the National Eucharist Congress that will take place July 17-24 at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. For information and registration go to: hello@eucharisticcongress.org.
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage:
Four pilgrimages will begin this month beginning from four different parts of the country and conclude in Indianapolis, Indiana for the beginning of the National Eucharist Congress, July 17th. The four routes will cover more than 6,000 miles and pass through nearly 70 dioceses. For more information about this historical event go to: hello@eucharisticcongress.org
Victims Assistance:
Victims of sexual abuse should always report to the civil authorities. To receive help and guidance from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator: Deborah Housel 525-328-3228, ext. 1555 or by email to victimsassistance@dor.org.
Mass Intention Requests:
Those wishing to have someone remembered at a Mass 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. There are several reasons why a person may ask a priest to offer a Mass for another individual: in thanksgiving; for the intentions of another person (such as on a birthday); or, as is most common, for the repose of the soul and in memory of someone who has died.
Sanctuary Lamp:
In Catholic Churches, a candle is always lit to indicate that the Blessed Sacrament is present in the church. This candle is called the “sanctuary lamp.” Every week the candle or oil is renewed. In many churches, people donate to the church for the sanctuary lamp be lit for the week for the intention of the donor. This has been the custom at Holy Cross Church, Ovid and is now extended to St. James the Apostle and St. Francis Solanus Churches. In making the donation simply put on the envelope, “donation for the sanctuary lamp” and specify the week and, if so desired, your intention.
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.
Private Prayer:
• St. Francis Solanus Church in Interlaken is open at all times.
• St. James the Apostle Church in Trumansburg is open most days from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information on many of these and other events please visit the bulletin page.
Also, check our web page on ways to help support our local senior community.
First Holy Communion:
Last Sunday, June 9, 2024, Harrison Reynolds received his First Holy Communion at Holy Cross Church. We welcome him to the table of the Lord.
Confirmation: Congratulations to Charlotte Masters, Jordan Staples, Michelle Tingue, Zachary Tingue, and Sofiya Wright for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Tuesday, May 7, at Immaculate Conception Church, Ithaca. With the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, these candidates have completed their full initiation into our Church. Welcome!
Holy Cross at Easter: Below is a photo of the Holy Cross musicians who helped to make our Holy Week a blessed one during the Triduum liturgies in our parish and who enhance the liturgies at Holy Cross each Sunday. The photo to the right is the Holy Cross sanctuary decorated for Easter.
Easter Egg Hunt at St. James: Happy kids with their collected eggs in front of the statue of the Blessed Mother at St. James.
Easter Vigil Mass with the Bishop:
Training for the Eucharistic Revival presentations: These parishioners have volunteered to lead discussions based on a series of 7 videos called “Jesus and the Eucharist” provided by the National Eucharistic Revival. Stay tuned for more details and the schedule!
Trivia!: A fun afternoon of trivia was held in the St. James Pine Room on February 18. The team scores were close throughout the contest as our parishioners answered multiple choice trivia questions.
Sweet Sunday at St. James in February 2024: People enjoyed Sweet Sunday treats and conversations in the St. James pine room.
Family Projects at St. Francis: Kids having fun doing a project at the parish’s monthly family faith formation gathering.
Christmas Eve Mass: How lovely to have children from the parish participating in the Christmas Eve procession at St. James. Wishing you all a blessed Christmas season!
Angel Tree Tags: Our parish volunteers, along with volunteers from the Seneca County Community Christmas Project, picked up gifts donated to children in our community. It was uplifting to witness their hard work and to see the generosity of our parish.
Sweet Sunday in November: Another great time in the Pine Room at St. James as we gathered for coffee, pastries, and convivial conversations. I hope you will join us next time, December 3.
Crop Walk 2023 in Trumansburg: Team Mary, Mother of Mercy had a lot of fun raising money at the CROP Walk in Trumansburg!
Blessing of Animals: Three dogs, one cat, three kittens, and a hamster attended the Oct. 4, 2023, blessing of animals. It was a joyous way to celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.
Sweet Sunday in October: Another successful sweet Sunday at St. James this morning following Mass.
Catechetical Sunday: This past Sunday, 9/17, was Catechetical Sunday. After families learned about the Good Shepherd from Father Bernard, kids had fun creating their own flock of sheep. It’s not too late to join our program! Contact the parish office if you’d like to sign up.
Parish Picnic 2023:
Everyone had a great time at the parish picnic on September 10, 2023, at the St. Fidelis Friary. Fr. Bernard Maloney, pastor of the three churches in the parish, opened the gathering in a prayer of thanksgiving. The rain held out and the many parishioners who attended enjoyed a delicious meal and convivial conversations. Everyone in the parish is grateful for our Parish Council Fellowship Committee and the large number of volunteers that stepped up to help.
Rite of Reception into the Catholic Church:
Cheryl Sue Hine celebrated the Rite of Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church and the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, August 27, during the 9:00 a.m. Mass. She chose St. Teresa of Avila as her confirmation saint name. Our parish happily welcomes Cheryl into the congregation.
Sweet Sunday in August: Everyone had a relaxing time enjoying coffee, sweet pastries, and conversation after Sunday Mass. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible.
Ice Cream and Games: The ice cream social and game night held at St. Francis on Aug. 2 was well attended. Thank you to the parish fellowship committee for organizing and running this fun and sweet event!
Eucharistic Procession: The parish held a Eucharistic Procession on Sunday—the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. It was a beautiful demonstration of faith made public to all. All present enjoyed Fr. Bernard’s homemade cavatini in the annex afterwards. 
New Parish Council: The new parish council met on June 8 to thank the people completing their terms and to welcome new members. During this first meeting of the parish council, the various committees met in separate groups to discuss their plans for 2023–2024.
Game Night at Holy Cross:
Some serious fun was had at our parish Game Night on June 7. If you missed out, don’t worry! There’s another opportunity to join in on July 5 at 6:30 pm when St. James the Apostle hosts the fun!
Widows’ Brunch:
On June 1 the parish offered a delightful brunch in the St. Francis annex to honor our widows. A wonderful group of women came together to enjoy fantastic food. Thank you to Meg and Terry for their work in organizing this successful event!
Pentecost Brunch at Holy Cross:
After Mass on Pentecost Sunday there was an enjoyable gathering for brunch in the Holy Cross rectory. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who made this event possible.
First Communion and Sweet Sunday:
We welcomed Emma and Sally to the table of the Lord on May 7, during the Sunday morning Mass at St. James. May God bless them and may the love of Jesus be with them always. “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’.” John 6: 35
There was a celebratory Sweet Sunday reception after Mass.
Blessed Mother’s Garden:
Feel free to come over anytime and enjoy the quiet of the BVM and her garden at St. James. The daffodils, Easter’s trumpets, are in full bloom.
Here is a link to St. Augustine’s prayer to Mary, Mother of Mercy.
Walk with Christ:
The parish’s religious education class worked on a banner with the message, “Walk with Christ.” Keep an eye out for it in the vestibule of your church!
Easter Egg Hunt at St. James 2023
Soup at Holy Cross:
Some of our parishioners enjoying a soup supper following Stations of the Cross at Holy Cross Church, Ovid. There’s one more opportunity to attend this event next Thursday, March 30th, at 6:00 pm at Holy Cross.
Sweet Sunday at St. James in March 2023:
Christmas Social:
The Christmas Social that was held on Sunday, December 18th, 2022, was delightful. The large variety of cookies and pastries were delicious and everyone did a great job making decorations for the Christmas trees in the church.
Thank you to all who contributed desserts and to the committee who arranged this event.
Parish Picnic 2022:
Our parish picnic at the Friary was a joyous event! A huge thank you to our Fellowship Committee and volunteers for putting this event together and to all who were able to bring food to share. This parish is blessed to have such dedicated members.
Br. Francisco with Gerry and Grace
Brother Francisco has completed his pastoral year at Mary, Mother of Mercy. On his last Sunday in our parish there was a social after Mass at St. James so people could express their gratitude for his service to our parish.
Brother Francisco, we will miss your positive attitude and vibrant energy. We wish you well for what comes next. God bless you!
Volunteer Appreciation Week:
During the week of June 26th, the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, celebrated a week of dinners at the St. Fidelis Friary in appreciation of our parish volunteers who give of their time and energy for the benefit of our parish. The weather was lovely, the food was delicious, and the view across the lake was amazing. Thank you to all who do so much to keep our three churches running smoothly. Whether it’s through the liturgy or behind the scenes, your help is greatly appreciated!
Food, Faith, and Fun on Cayuga Lake:
The Food, Faith, and Fun event for young adults on June 5, 2022, was a delight. The parish is grateful for Meg and Charlie Mullins who prepared an excellent meal. Brother Francisco provided an array of entertaining games that kept guests laughing until sunset. Thank you to all who organized this event. Everyone had a great time!
Welcome to the table of the Lord!
Congratulations to Elise on celebrating her first communion at St. James on May 15, 2022. Blessings to her and all who made this day possible.
Easter Egg Hunt: Through snow flurries and sun, the kids had fun!
Thanks to Andy Morpugo for making this happen.
Our Churches Decorated for Easter
St. James the Apostle
St. Francis Solanus
Holy Cross church
St. James Church Decorated for Christmas
Helping to End Hunger, CROP Walk 2021:
Thank you to all who walked or supported the annual Trumansburg Tom Lange Memorial CROP Hunger Walk, sponsored by the Trumansburg Area Churches (TAC), which took place on Sunday, October 10, 2021, and was hosted by St. James the Apostle church. The initials CROP stand for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty and their goal is “ending hunger one step at a time.”
Blessing of Animals:
At St. Francis Solanus church in Interlaken, Fr. Bernard, with Brother Francisco’s assistance, blessed a number of pets as part of the celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis had a love for all of God’s creation and it is a tradition to bless animals in his honor.
First Communion 2021:
Working on pew banners for their First Holy Communion on May 2
Father Bernard Maloney with Grace Guydosh and Porter Landon following their first communion
Susan and Grace Guydosh
Porter Landon and his family
Religious Education:
The parish’s religious education kids are doing their monthly activities from home this year. This past month they learned about St. Margaret of Scotland whose feast day was November 16. In addition to her charity and prayerfulness St. Margaret was known for her literacy and love for reading scripture. The kids made and decorated origami bookmarks to honor her and here are some of their finished products.
The Blessing of Animals:
October 4 was the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Liturgically, it is not celebrated because Sunday liturgies take precedent. However, in keeping with the spirit of Francis’s Day and as an expression of his love for all creation, the blessing of animals took place at the St. Francis Solanus church in Interlaken. Two canine companions, Daisy and Luke, and Little Bits the hamster attended the event and received a blessing from Father Bernard.
Each church in our parish put on their own St. Patrick’s day celebration. Our thanks to the parish’s fellowship committee for arranging these events. ☘️
Fr. Bernard enjoying the food at one of the socials.
Parishioners enjoying the St. Patrick’s day social at St. Francis Solanus church.
Parishioners and their pastor enjoying the Holy Cross’s social in honor of St. Patrick.
Enjoying a good time in honor of St. Patrick at St. James the Apostle.
A lovely St. Valentine’s Day social was held at Holy Cross church in
People enjoying the St. Patrick’s day social at Holy Cross church.
February, 2020 💕 Thank you to the parish’s fellowship committee for arranging this event!
A thank you to everyone who helped decorate our churches for Christmas, especially the children who made ornaments for the trees at St. James the Apostle.
After enjoying a wonderful spread of food, Father Bernard led the kids on a tour of the sanctuary and sacristy so they could learn more about the Eucharist. This was part of the monthly gathering in November for families involved in religious education.
Parishioners enjoying chili as part of the ministry fair at St. Francisn October 26 and 27 all three churches had ministry fairs where paParishioners could sign up for different ministries while enjoying food. Thank you to the worship and fellowship committees for planning these events!
All Saints’ Day is around the corner! After learning about this holy day, families at the monthly religious education gathering prayed for the deceased while lighting votives. The kids also played a trivia game. We have some very bright young people in our parish!!
Blessing of Pets:
October 4, was the feast day of St. Francis. Blessing of animals took place at St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
September 15 was Catechetical Sunday and a great group of families came to St. James as we kicked off the new school year with pizza and an activity. Check out the finished projects hanging in the Pine Room at St. James.
We are pleased to have nine students this year but we always have room for more. If you’d still like to sign up, call the church office or email the religious education coordinator, Susan Guydosh, at susan.guydosh@dor.org. The next meeting is after the 9 a.m. Mass on October 20.
On September 8, the parish celebrated the 50th anniversary of Father Bernard Maloney’s ordination. Father Bernard said Mass at the St. Fidelis Friary amongst parishioners, friends, family, and the Capuchin Franciscans. Thank you, Father Bernard, for the energy, time, and commitment you have selflessly shared with us. We are blessed to have you lead our parish.
The ice cream social at St. James on July 25, 2019, was a delight! Thank you to our fellowship committee for arranging this event; our parish is blessed to have so many dedicated volunteers!!
Parishioners enjoyed sensational sangria, Lucas wines, and an array of snacks while celebrating the feast day of Saint Francis Solanus on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Thank you to Norm, Scott, and all volunteers for your hard work!
