Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ August 5, 2018

First reading:
“And in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.” (Ex. 16:12b)

Psalm:
The Lord gave them bread from heaven. (Ps. 78)

Second reading:
…and to put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. (Eph. 4:24)

Gospel:
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (Jn. 6:35)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
What can I do to accomplish the works of God? This is a question every Christian must ask. Ultimately, we are asked to be the light of Christ for others. This calls us to be compassionate, forgiving, nonviolent, generous, concerned for the poor, and welcoming to strangers. These are often contrary to what the world values. We are asked to simplify our lives and become less self-focused so that others can share in God’s creation. We need help in order to fulfill this tall order. The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, which we celebrate today, is the way we are nourished so that we can fulfill this mission.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

Upcoming Events:

• AA Meetings: St. Francis Solanus church, Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.
• Food Pantries: There is a food pantry at the Ovid Federated church on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. The food truck is available to everyone every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (August 7). A food pantry is at the Interlaken Reformed church on Fridays, 3:00–6:00 p.m. The Trumansburg food pantry is at the Methodist church every other Monday 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30–6:00 p.m. (August 6).
• Bernard is Available: Every Friday at 6:30 p.m. in St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken, and no appointment is needed.
• Sports and Faith Camp: August 7, from 6:30 p.m.­–8:00 p.m., at the St Francis and St Clair Ministry Center in Waterloo
• Lakeside Retreats: August 6 and August 15, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
• Summer Religious Education: August 13 through August 17 at the St. Fidelis Friary boathouse. Each day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and lasts until 3:30 p.m.
• The French Boys Choir Concert: at Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca on August 20, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
• Preventing Suicides: “Talk Saves Lives” on August 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Seneca Community Church in Romulus.
• Parish Picnic:September 9 at the St. Fidelis Friary, Interlaken
• Come and See Discernment Weekends: September 7–9 at the CYFM Retreat Center located in Garrison, N.Y., and November 16–18 at San Lorenzo Friary in Boston.
• Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life: from August 3 to September 28.

Second Collection this Weekend:
Every summer the parishes throughout the United States welcomes missionaries to speak on behalf of their mission and to ask for the parish’s prayers and financial support. This year the Catholic Migrant Ministry in the Diocese of Rochester has been assigned to our parish to speak on behalf of the Missionary Cooperation Plan. Fr. Jesus Flores, coordinator of diocesan migrant ministry, will preside and preach at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, August 4, and Deacon Marcelo DeRisio will preach on Sunday, August 5, at the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Masses.

Save Time and Donate Online:
Online giving is now available for parishioners with WeShare, an easy and convenient way to save time and support your parish. Donating is simple, safe, and completely secure.

With WeShare, you can set up a recurring weekly or monthly transaction using your checking, savings, or credit card account. You can decide how much to give to any collection and make changes any time, day or night. Plus, you can leave your checkbook at home on Sundays.

How to enroll in Online Giving:
Parishioners who have registered an email with the parish, please check your email for a message from [email protected] with the subject line: “Welcome to The Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy-Interlaken, NY on WeShare.” Your login information and temporary password are included in this email.
Or
Visit mayrmotherofmercy.weshareonline.org. You will register with WeShare as you make your first donation.

If you have any questions or concerns about the program or would like help setting up your account, please email our business manager, Eileen Heptig, at [email protected].

School Supply Collection:
United Way of Seneca County coordinates a countywide effort to help local students through its “Fill the Bus” campaign, which runs from July 1 through August 16 of this year. “Fill the Bus” provides the basic supplies that students attending elementary school need to start the year. Collected by individuals, businesses, and local organizations, they are distributed to the local school districts based on enrollment, with each school determining the best way to use the contributions. The churches in the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, are among the collection sites. Volunteers are needed on August 16 at the Fayette Fire Hall, 4200 State Route 414, in Seneca Falls to help sort, organize, and deliver supplies to the area schools. Monetary donations are also welcome and checks should be made out to the United Way of Seneca County.

Bishops’ Call for a Pro-Life Novena:
The U.S. bishops are asking all people of good will to join with them each Friday in a nationwide Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life, from August 3 to September 28. To participate in the Novena and call to prayer sign up at www.usccb.org/pray. By any measure, the Roe decision has been a heartbreaking failure, taken millions of innocent lives and demonstrably divided the country for decades. The bishops urge all to join in the Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life at this critical time. Additional Novena prayer and education materials are accessible at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/take-action-now/call-to-prayer/legal-protection-of-human-life.cfm.

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

Parish Picnic:
Sunday, September 9, is the parish picnic marking the celebration of our parish patronal feast: Mary, Mother of Mercy. The celebration will be held on the grounds of St. Fidelis Friary, Interlaken. Parishioners are asked to please mark their calendars and plan to be present.

Prayer Request Book:
A prayer intention book is now located in the foyer of the parish churches. If you have a particular intention to pray for, feel free to write the intention in the book. Our parishioners will keep these intentions in their prayers and also when we gather as a parish family.

Thank You:
The parish received a letter from Rev. Robert C. Bradler, diocesan director for the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, thanking our parishioners for the financial gift of $855 in support of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brazil and the Sisters of Mercy in Chile and their missionary efforts toward building up the Kingdom of God in those countries.

Discernment Weekends:
The Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Mary invite men to two “Come and See Discernment Weekends.” The first will be held on September 7–9 at the CYFM Retreat Center located in Garrison, N.Y., and a second will be held November 16–18 at San Lorenzo Friary in Boston. For further information go to www.capuchin.org/vocations, phone 603 836 4063, or email: [email protected].

Lakeside Retreats:
Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Center, located on Seneca Lake, is offering two retreats in August. The first is on “Contemplating Christ with Mary,” and is facilitated by Sr. Kathleen Murphy, OSF, on Monday, August 6, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The second, on Wednesday, August 15, discusses “The Day of Apparitions—God’s Dialogue with His People through His Mother” and is facilitated by Lena Shipley. It runs from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. For more information on either event visit branchescenter.org, phone 716- 901-4313, or email: [email protected].

Canonization:
Archbishop Oscar Romero will be canonized a saint at a Vatican ceremony on October 14, 2018. He murdered in 1980 for speaking out against military oppression and denunciations of government killings and kidnappings in El Salvador, Central America. On one occasion, Archbishop Romero gave a Congressional address in Washington, D.C. pleading with the United States to end the shipment of military arms to El Salvador. The military arms enhanced the misery El Salvadorian people were experiencing and it was delaying the work toward peace making.

Sudden Loss / After Suicide:
Seneca County Suicide Prevention Coalition sponsors a support group that meets from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at the Waterloo Library, Waterloo, and on the third Monday of the month at the Ovid Federated Church, Ovid. For more information: www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicideePrevention/ or phone 315 651 0043.

Preventing Suicides:
All are welcome to a presentation called “Talk Saves Lives” scheduled for August 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Seneca Community Church in Romulus. The “Talk Saves Lives” presentation contains the nuts and bolts for preventing suicides.

Faith, Hope, and Love:
Come, strengthen your roots to grow and bloom in your walk with Christ and others. Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua is offering several weekend retreats for men and women, and one weekend for couples this coming fall based on the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Join us for an enriching experience. For more information please visit notredameretreat.org or phone 585-394-5700.

Trip to Italy in 2019:
St. Catherine of Siena church in Ithaca is hosting a trip to Assisi, Siena, and Rome, Italy. A flier with full details will be available at the end of July at St. Catherine’s website: www.stcathofsiena.org. If interested in the trip please email Ann Marie at [email protected] to be put on the priority list to receive additional information as soon as it becomes available.

French Boys Choir Concert in Ithaca:
The French Boys Choir from Paris, France, will be performing in concert at Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca on Monday, August 20, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Free donation. Their concerts include music of the sixteenth century and the well-known Hallelujah from Handel, Ave Maria from Gounod, as well as various French musical pieces. This choir of sixteen boys, ranging in age from 10 to 18 years old, is conducted by François Olivier, who is also the Titular of the Choir Organ at the prestigious church St. Eustache at Paris (France).

Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester:
The sisters have a prayer ministry and throughout 2018 Sister Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish and parishioners. Such an act of love offers us the opportunity to keep Sr. Anne Marie and the Sisters of St. Joseph in our prayers.

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.

On August 6 the Diocese of Rochester celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle

August 5, 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Joan Hogan, Patty Messmer, Mark Scibilia-Carver

August 12, 9:00 a.m. (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Maria Connell
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church

5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturdays