First Reading:
“I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” (1 Sm. 1:27-28)
Psalm:
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord. (Ps. 84)
Second Reading:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. And so we are. (1 Jn. 3:1)
Gospel:
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Lk. 2:46)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Our families can bring out the best and the worst in us. This is true of our families of origin, the current family of which we are a part, the family of our church, our society, and the like. In all of our family experiences, what stands out as our most challenging memory? Everything human can be found on the pages of family life. But there is also a Divine story to be discovered as well. When life gets difficult and perplexing, today’s Feast of the Holy Family stands to remind us that it is not just by human effort that we tread treacherous waters. We have to remember and learn from the Divine effort too. We need this perspective if our love lessons are going to be learned completely and well. We are all works in progress and we all come from homes that are broken by imperfection. In whatever life brings us and in whatever family we find ourselves, may the promptings we feel toward faith and hope lead us to greater love.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
©LPi
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food truck: Next date TBD, 4:00 p.m., South Seneca high school parking lot
- Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.,
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Every other Monday (January 10) 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:15–6:00 p.m., Methodist church
- Family Hope Center: Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., and Thursdays 4:00–6:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- Fr. Bernard is available: Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Confirmation program: Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
On-line Giving:
The WeShare online giving provides the opportunity for donors to pledge to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA).
Parish 2022 Calendars:
The parish 2022 calendars are available in the foyers of the churches. Please note one error. The time of the Saturday Vigil Mass is recorded as 5:00 p.m. Our parish Saturday Vigil Mass is 4:00 p.m.
Financial Support for the Parish:
There are several ways to financially support the parish:
- Boxes of Offertory Envelopes: For those who continue to use offertory envelopes and for those who requested them, check the church for the box with your name on it.
- Writing a check: If you support the parish with a check, there is no need to use boxes of offertory envelopes.
- On-line Giving – WeShare Program: Confer with the weekly bulletin announcement, Donating to Your Parish.
Boxes of Offertory Envelopes:
Boxed offertory envelopes for 2022 are available in the foyers of the churches for parishioners who presently use the boxed envelopes or who have recently requested them. Parishioners wishing to have boxed offertory envelopes, please notify the Parish Office and a box of envelopes will be made available for pick-up.
Saturday, January 1, 2022:
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is celebrated on January 1. This year, because the feast day falls on a Saturday, it is not a holy day of obligation. January 1 is also the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord, that is, the 8th day of Christmas. There will be one Mass on January 1. It will be the regularly scheduled 4:00 p.m Vigil Mass at St. Francis Solanus.
Sunday, January 2, 2022:
On this day, this year, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The Masses on that day will be the regular 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle and 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross.
2022 Food Pantry Volunteers Needed:
Every two months the churches of Trumansburg and Jacksonville take turns providing volunteers for the Trumansburg Food Pantry located in the Trumansburg United Methodist church. January is one of our months this year for Mary Mother of Mercy/St. James to provide volunteers (we will do this again in December 2022). Please consider helping by signing up on the list provided in the foyer, which also has a chart providing more details about each task. We especially need younger people to help carry boxes and bags up and down stairs. The dates are January 10 and 24. Don’t forget to leave your phone number if you would like a reminder call. Start out your new year by following Jesus’s example of caring for those in need. “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25: 40). Thank you.
2021-2022 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The CMA Office has mailed a follow-up letter to all who have not yet made a pledge to this year’s Appeal. The message is from Bishop Matano and contains an Advent Season theme. This Advent mailing will include a buck slip with information about year-end giving and gifts through retirement funds. Our given parish goal is $28,086. As of December 1, seventy parish households have pledged $17, 130. This is 60.99 % of our given goal. If you have not yet responded, please prayerfully consider a gift. The CMA provides funding for important programs, services and ministries that strengthen our whole Church. Please do what you are able and make a pledge as soon as possible.
A Story -The Power of God’s Mercy:
Available is a newly published book titled: Alessandro Serenelli by Charles D. Engel. It is about the man who killed St. Maria Goretti and his extraordinary conversion. It can be purchased through Amazon, Our Sunday Visitor, or EWTN.
Local Respect Life Events:
The annual Ithaca March For Life will take place Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 10:00–11:00 a.m. across the street from Planned Parenthood at 620 W. Seneca St, Ithaca. We hope the following week that leads to the National MFL on January 21, the Anniversary of Row v. Wade, in Washington D.C., will encourage families and faith communities to educate and promote life affirming choices for the protection of the most vulnerable, the unborn.
Help for Homeowners from Catholic Charities:
Homeowners in New York State who were financially affected by COVID-19 and who are behind on their mortgage or other housing payments/fees (property taxes, water, sewer, lot fee etc.) may be eligible for help from the New York State Homeowner Assistance Fund (NY HAF). Contact Catholic Charities Elmira office at 607–734–9784 or visit www.cs-cc.org for more information. NYS HAF application window is only open from January 3–February 3, 2022.
Living Wage and Workers Rights:
The Church has been teaching about the importance of a living wage since the 1890s, and it is still a pressing issue today. The Tompkins County Workers’ Center is one of the recipients of this year’s Catholic Campaign for Human Development in the Diocese of Rochester, and they are partnering with parishes in Tompkins County to advocate for workers’ rights. To learn more, please attend our Zoom info session on January 17, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting ID is 270 486 9117. Email April Michael with questions at amichael3@luc.edu.
Donating to Your Parish:
Online giving by WeShare is safe, simple and convenient. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Visit the parish website’s giving page: https://marymotherofmercy.com/giving.
- Follow the directions under the “Donate Online” section.
- Set up your donation or payment.
That’s it! Your account will be created and you can put away your checkbook. If you experience any problems, please email Eileen at Eileen.heptig@dor.org.
Synod on Synodality:
https://www.dor.org/synod is the website for all information on the diocesan phase of preparing for the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that will take place in Rome in October 2023. The Diocesan phase of the Synod will conclude on March 31, 2022. The website has a short introductory video by Bishop Matano among other items of interest regarding the Synod.
40 Days For Life Prayer Vigil:
The prayer vigil continues at the vigil site, 620 W. Seneca St. Ithaca. Pray with others, especially on Thursdays and Fridays. For more info contact Carolann Darling at 607–351–6668.
Family Hope Center:
The Family Hope Center has two locations: one in Geneva and a satellite location in Ovid in the Holy Cross Church Rectory. Family Hope Center fights for life by valuing life above all else. It means offering support through free pregnancy tests, a limited ultrasound referral, parenting and life skills classes, bible studies, material aid such as diapers and clothing, and through our forgiven and set free post abortion study. It means looking at our clients and saying, “I see your life; I value your life. I see and value your children’s lives. You are important and loved.” Women come to the Family Hope Center to be valued. To learn more visit familyhopecentergeneva.org, call 315–789–0708, or email familyhopecenter@outlook.com.
Please take time this week to pray the rosary for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mass Intention Requests:
Parishioners requesting a Mass intention for a particular date and time can do so by completing the “Mass Intentions Request Form” located in the foyers of the churches. Mass intentions may also be requested by phoning the parish office.
Prayer Intentions:
Please feel free to add your prayer requests in the books available for that purpose in each church. The prayer requests of fellow parishioners are listed on the parish website (see PRAYERS in top bar). You may also add a request by emailing the parish at immmercy@dor.org or phoning the parish office at 607–294–0064 and it will be added to the list.
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.
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes:
The Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes is located at 551 Exchange St. in Geneva with an office in Ovid at 7231 Main St. “If you regret your abortion, you are not alone. Let us help you learn to forgive yourself.” For more information phone 315 789 0708, text: 315-945-1019, or e-mail familyhopecenter@outlook.com.
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.
Prayers from the Sisters of St. Joseph:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry for the Diocese of Rochester. They have informed our parish that Sisters Anne Marie Burns and Dolores Bachman will be praying for our parish and parishioners throughout 2021. Let us keep in our prayers the two sisters praying for us and for all the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester.
World Day of Peace ~ January 1
“Let us pray for peace, and let us bring it about, starting in our own homes.” ~Pope Francis