National Eucharistic Revival:
June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025
Parish Eucharistic Revival:
June 11, 2023–June 2024
Parish Schedule for the Week of March 17, 2024
Sunday, March 17:
Mass: 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
Mass: 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross
Monday, March 18:
Communion Service: 9:00 a.m., St. James
Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6:30 p.m., St. James
Tuesday, March 19:
Recitation of the Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6:30 p.m., Holy Cross
Wednesday, March 20:
Recitation of the Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Prayer for Healing and Harmony: 2:00 p.m., St. James
Book Study: 3:15 p.m., St. James
Thursday, March 21:
Recitation of the Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Stations of the Cross and soup supper: 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross
Friday, March 22:
Recitation of the Rosary: 8:00 a.m., St. Francis
Mass: 8:30 a.m., St. Francis
Stations of the Cross: 3:00 p.m., St. James
Father Bernard is available, no appointment is necessary: 6:30-7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
Saturday, March 23 Palm Sunday:
Mass: 4:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
Sunday, March 24 Palm Sunday:
Mass: 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
Easter Egg Hunt Preparation: 10:00 a.m., St. James
Mass: 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross
Community Outreach:
Food Pantries:
° Ovid Federated Church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
° Food Truck: April 2, 4:00-6:00 p.m., South Seneca High School
° Interlaken Reformed Church: Fridays, 3:00– 6:00 p.m.
° Trumansburg Food Pantry: March 18, 3:30–6:00 p.m., Methodist Church
° Lodi’s Community Pantry: Saturdays, 12:30– 2:00 p.m., Lodi Rod & Gun Club
Events:
St. Patrick’s Day:
This Sunday, March 17, is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. It is also the feast day of St. Patrick. However, St. Patrick’s feast day is not celebrated liturgically. Nevertheless, it is appropriate to wish everyone a “Happy St. Patrick’s Day.”
St. Joseph’s Feast Day:
Tuesday, March 19, is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a great day in honor of St. Jospeh.
Monday 8:30 a.m. Mass:
Regarding Mondays, from the last Monday in January until the first Monday of March 2024, there has been a Communion Service held at 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle Church, Trumansburg and the 8:30 a.m. Monday Mass at St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken was cancelled. This practice will continue.
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available for celebration every Friday at St. Francis Solanus Church beginning at 6:30 p.m. During the Season of Lent two other opportunities have been scheduled:
- March 18, 6:30 p.m., St. James the Apostle
- March 19, 6:30 p.m., Holy Cross
Stations of the Cross:
- Holy Cross: Thursdays in Lent, 6:00 p.m., followed by a soup supper
- James the Apostle: Fridays in Lent, 3:00 p.m.
Easter Vigil – Bishop Salvatore Matano:
We received the joyful news that our Bishop will be with us this Easter celebrating the Easter Vigil. The Easter Vigil (Saturday, March 30) will be celebrated at St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken beginning at 8:00 p.m. All are invited.
Holy Week Schedule:
- Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper, March 28, 7:00 p.m., St. James the Apostle
- Good Friday: The Passion of Our Lord, March 29, 3:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- Easter Vigil: March 30, 8:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Easter Sunday: March 31
- 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
- 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross
Washing of the Feet Ritual:
On March 28, this ritual will take place during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m. at St. James the Apostle Church. We need 12 adult parishioners to volunteer to participate in this rite. There are sign-up sheets in the foyers of the Church.
Funeral:
Our parishioner, Anna Marie Cafolla, died on March 5, 2024 at the age of 91. Her funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick’s Church, Seneca Falls, on March 11, 2024. Fr. Bernard was the celebrant.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt—Volunteers Needed:
All are welcome to participate in the Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday after the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James the Apostle! We need volunteers next Sunday, March 24, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James to help fill the eggs. Your help is appreciated greatly.
Baptism / Confirmation / Holy Communion:
At the Easter Vigil the Gebhardt family will be celebrating Sacraments. Liana Gebhardt will be celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion). Matthew Gebhardt will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation. Their two daughters, Poppy Holiday and Violet Jubilee, will be celebrating Baptism. This is a great day for Gebhardt’s and the Church.
Jesus and the Eucharist Study:
Several of our parishioners have trained to facilitate small group discussions based on a series of videos provided by the organizers of the Eucharistic Revival. The videos are inspiring, well designed, and rich in content. Each one explores a different topic relating to the Eucharist. Each facilitator will be offering seven sessions in which the group members will watch the videos and engage in a discussion. The schedule will be available soon.
Easter Duty:
(Church Law #920) All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. The precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at some other time during the year. In reference to this law the Easter season is considered from the First Sunday of Lent until Trinity Sunday (this year May 26).
Lenten Reminders:
The season of Lent runs until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (March 28).
- “Alleluia” is not sung or said from the beginning of Lent until the Easter Vigil.
- During Lent the altar is not to be decorated with flowers.
- The readings for the Lenten Masses have been chosen in relation to the themes of baptismal renewal and conversion.
- The Easter celebration is: Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Holy Saturday – the Easter Triduum (Three Days of Easter).
- During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the faithful to reflect a spirit of prayer, penance (conversion), and charity.
Notre Dame Retreat House:
- “Lenten Change Maker Series:” free evening with a simple supper followed by a talk on a Social Justice Issue; March 18
- “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God”: Solar Eclipse Retreat, April 5 and/or 6
For more details visit notredameretreat.org.
Programs at St. James:
Sister Anne Alderman SSJ facilitates three reoccurring programs in the Pine Room at St. James the Apostle church in Trumansburg.
- Prayer for Healing and Harmony is held every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. During this time Sr. Anne leads a time of silent prayer providing an opportunity for personal contemplation and healing. The session closes with a time to share any reflections that came to you. An evening version of Healing and Harmony is available on the second and fourth Thursday of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. The next dates for these sessions are March 14, April 11 and 25, May 9 and 23, and June 13 and 27. There is no evening session on March 28 due to it being Holy Thursday.
- Every Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. all are invited to participate in a book study. The current book is The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God through Prayer, Wisdom, and Silence by Henri J. M. Nouwen.
- Taizé Prayer will take place on the first and third Fridays of each month at 1:00 p.m. The next dates are March 15; April 5 and 19; and June 7 and 21. Taizé Prayer was developed by an ecumenical community of monks in Taizé, France. It consists of readings and prayers interspersed with quiet, repetitive songs in a room lit by candlelight. It is a good way to quiet your soul and psyche after a busy day.
All are welcomed to join any of these programs with a suggested donation of $5 which benefits the Sisters of St. Joseph. If you have questions, contact Sister Anne at 607-209-4206 or email [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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.
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.
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 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:
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. ☘️
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 [email protected]. 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!