Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ August 4, 2019

First reading:
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun… (Ecc. 2:22)

Psalm:
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Ps. 90)

Second reading:
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:3-4)

Gospel:
Then [Jesus] said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Lk. 12:15)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
How preoccupied and anxious are you over preserving and maintaining a particular standard of wealth? It is easy to develop an unhealthy relationship with our possessions and invest ourselves more in their protection and growth than in our relationship with God. Greed can overtake us, often without our immediate notice. Anxiety of heart can find us living more with sorrow and grief than with freedom and joy. We can never allow things to replace God, and we always have to keep our possessions and wealth in proper perspective. Once they begin to control us, we have a problem. Anxiety and worry can become our greatest sins. There is a joyful life to be discovered when we discover true faith!

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

© Liturgical Publications Inc.

Events:

• AA Meetings:
  • Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
  • Thursdays, noon, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
• Food Pantries:
  • Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (August 6)
  • Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
  • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (August 12)
• Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
• Missionary Cooperative Second Collection: August 3–4 at all three Masses
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: August 3 at 7:00 p.m. and August 4 at 3:00 p.m., Trumansburg High School auditorium
• Catholic Spirituality and Culture: August 5–9 at Merton Hall, Abbey of the Genesee
• Summer Retreat Day at Branches: August 9, Ann Kern, “The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux”
• Retreat Day at Branches: August 16, Lena Shipley, “Interior Castle: A Spiritual Journey Within”
• Celebration of Father Bernard’s Fiftieth Ordination Anniversary: September 8

Missionary Cooperative:
Deacon Kevin Carges of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith will join us this weekend, to share information about his charity “Eight 4 World Hope” that builds schools in impoverished rural communities of Jamaica. The majority of children who attend these schools live in conditions that are considered subhuman in America—broken down shacks with no running water or electricity. Often times the meal the children receive at the school is their only meal of the day. Together, through education, we can live the Gospel by lifting people out of the poverty they were born into. There will be a second collection today to help support Eight 4 World Hope. 

Sacrament of Confirmation Classes:
Confirmation classes for our high school students will resume in the fall. The program is a two-year course with a minimum of 25 class hours per year. Classes are held Sunday afternoons at Saint James the Apostle church. Students must be in the eighth grade to begin but older students are also welcome. If you are interested in having your student confirmed in our faith, please call the parish office (607-294-0064) to start the registration process as soon as possible so that study materials may be ordered for those who register.

Food Donations at St. James:
Next Sunday, and every second Sunday of the month, please bring non-perishable food items to St. James church. You may place the items in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monetary gifts are also welcome.

Weekend Collection Counters:
This September the parish will lose two collection counters at St. Francis Solanus church. Parishioners willing and able to give two hours monthly for this important parish task are asked to please notify Fr. Bernard or phone the parish office (607-294-0064) as soon as possible.

Mass Intention Requests:
Parishioners requesting a Mass intention for a particular date and time can do so by completing the newly formulated “Mass Intentions Request Form” located in the foyer of each of our churches. Mass intentions may also be requested by speaking with Fr. Bernard and/or phoning the parish office (607-294-0064).

Transportation Corps:
The Seneca County Transportation Corps provides rides for residents of Seneca County who need help getting to medical and dental appointments and other health-related destinations. If you need such assistance, please call 315-333-2179.

Fiftieth Ordination Anniversary Celebration:
We will celebrate, with the Capuchin Franciscans and Fr. Bernard’s family and friends, the fiftieth anniversary of Fr. Bernard’s ordination on Sunday, September 8, at St. Fidelis Friary, 7790 County Road 153 in Interlaken. It will be begin with Sunday Mass at noon, followed by appetizers, buffet dinner, and music by Backtalk. The caterers need an accurate number of people attending so we are asking you to let us know by August 25 if you plan to attend. You may either sign up on the sign-up sheets in the back of the church, respond by email to [email protected], or by calling the parish office, 607-294-0064. Please be sure to indicate the number of people attending and your name. If you have any questions see Phyllis Motill, Kathy Sinkiewicz (607-869-2285), Gerry Todi, Mary Szymanski, or Cathy Millspaugh. Regarding the Mass at noon, it will be a parish Sunday Mass. For those who will not be attending the anniversary Mass our regular Mass schedule will still be in effect: 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at St. Francis and, on Sunday, 9:00 a.m. at St. James and 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross.

Help is Needed for the Celebration:
We are looking for donations of baked goods for the anniversary celebration. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of each church and we need to know by August 25. We are hoping to get a variety of baked good, up to twenty donations from each church, to be on the dessert bar at the celebration. These can be homemade or store bought. There shouldn’t be more than four of the same item from each church. The desserts could be brought with you to the celebration or brought to the Friary on September 7 around noon when we will be setting up for the event.

School Supply Collection:
United Way of Seneca County runs a coordinated countywide effort to help local students through the 2019 “Fill the Bus” campaign which will run through August 14. The goal is to provide basic school supplies to students in need. Individuals, businesses, and organizations can collect supplies and both Holy Cross and Saint Francis Solanus churches are collection sites. On August 14 all donated items will be moved to the Fayette Fire Hall. Volunteers are needed on that day to help sort, organize, and deliver supplies to the area schools. Monetary donations are also welcome. Checks should be made to United Way of Seneca County.

Trumansburg Food Pantry:
Beginning January 1, 2020, there will be a need for a new volunteer coordinator for the Trumansburg Food Pantry. In the foyer of St. James the Apostle church there are flyers describing the role of the coordinator. Even though the position begins in January 2020, for planning purposes the need for someone is immediate.

Lakeside Retreats at Branches:
Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Center, Inc. invites you for a day of rest and renewal at our Seneca Lake property. On Friday, August 9, Ann Kern will facilitate “The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux.” “Interior Castle: A Spiritual Journey Within” will be facilitated by Lena Shipley on August 16. For more information visit: branchescenter.org, phone 716-901-4313, or email [email protected].

A Family Musical:
Please join the Encore Players for their summer musical production of Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This is a delightful, family friendly production will be performed on August 3 at 7:00 p.m. and August 4 at 3:00 p.m. The show will take place in the Trumansburg High School auditorium (which is air conditioned) at 100 Whig Street. Tickets are $14 and available at the door or through the web site: encoreplayers.org.

You Made a Difference:
This winter, during public policy weekend, our parish collected signatures in support of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act. Over 10,300 signatures were collected around the diocese. We’re happy to report that the New York State legislature finally passed legislation to give farmworkers basic labor rights, including the right to form a union and bargain collectively and to have one day of rest per week! We had been advocating for farmworkers to get paid overtime as well; the final bill establishes overtime for farmworkers after 60 hours of work a week. This is still not equal with other workers, but it is a step forward. Thank you for standing with our sisters and brothers whose work feeds us.

Notre Dame Retreat House:
Come join in one of Notre Dame Retreat House’s fall weekend retreats on the theme of “Our Spiritual Journey.” There are three women weekends, two men weekends, and one couple’s weekend being offered between September 13 through October 27. Please visit our website at notredameretreat.org, phone 585-394-5700, or email us at [email protected] for more details.

Support Group:
Many people who have suddenly lost a family member, friend, classmate, or colleague to suicide find that sharing openly with fellow survivors about what they have lived through can help with the healing process. The Sudden Loss/After Suicide Support Group meets monthly on the third Monday at the Ovid Federated Church, 7137 Main St., and on the first Monday at Waterloo Library, 31 E. Williams St., from 6:30–8:00 p.m. Visit online at: www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicidePrevention.

Help for Victims:
Victims of abuse should always report abuse to the civil authorities. To report a case of possible sexual abuse and to receive help and guidance from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, victims are encouraged to contact the victims’ assistance coordinator, Deborah A. Housel, by phone at (585) 328-3228, ext. 1555; toll-free at 1–800–388–7177, ext. 1555; or by email: [email protected].

Prayers from the Sisters of St. Joseph:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry and Sr. Dolores Bachman and Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish throughout 2019. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as well.

Support Group:
Many people who have suddenly lost a family member, friend, classmate or colleague find that sharing openly with fellow survivors about what they have lived through can help with the healing process. The Seneca County Suicide Prevention Coalition hosts twice-monthly support groups which meet in Waterloo and Ovid for convenience of the entire community. These groups are held on the first- and third- Monday of every month; and provide people who are survivors of loss or survivors of suicide the opportunity to talk in an open and inclusive environment, free of judgment or stigma. The Waterloo Public Library plays host on the first Monday of every month and the Ovid session takes place on the third Monday at the Ovid Federated Church. Both sessions run from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. For more information see www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicidePrevention or contact Mary Joslyn at [email protected].

Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes:
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes, located at 551 Exchange St. in Geneva, is offering a “Forgiven and Set Free” post abortive ten-week session beginning October 4 until December 13. There is no cost involved. “If you regret your abortion, you are not alone. Let us help you learn to forgive yourself. Pleased join us for this healing ministry program.” For more information phone 315 789 0708.

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.

Toiletries and Hygiene Products:
There is a basket in the vestibule of St. James church for donations of toiletries. The request comes from Catholic Charities which is in need of items like shampoo, toothpaste, diapers etc. The items will be transferred to the Catholic Charities office in Ithaca.

August 3, at 5:00 p.m. (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

August 10, at 5:00 p.m. (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Lee and Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

August 4, at 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng

August 11, at 9:00 a.m. (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Not available at this time