First Reading:
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp. (Lv. 13:46)
Psalm:
I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. (Ps. 32)
Second Reading:
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31)
Gospel:
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. (Mk. 1:42)
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD. The English translation of Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
©LPi
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Everybody has a place at the table, and nobody deserves to feel inferior, unworthy, unwanted, or marginalized. It is not part of God’s vision. Jesus came to heal, make things whole, set things right, and restore relationships. No one is to feel unwelcome or alienated from the community. Whether we like it or not, this message is at the core of the Gospel. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Perhaps this is why people kept coming from everywhere to listen to Jesus speak and to be in his presence. He made perfect sense. Most of us have no issue buying into this vision. We run into trouble, however, when we fall into the trap of privilege and power. We diverge from God’s vision when the powerful begin to control who is entitled to wholeness and inclusion, and greed becomes a driving force. Prejudice and entitlement have no place in the kingdom of God, and even the most needy and hurting among us are worthy of the compassion Jesus desires to offer. There are no easy solutions to the world’s dilemmas. But one thing is for certain, no one can be singled out, excluded or mistreated. Everyone matters.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food truck: Every other Tuesday (February 16), 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 (February 15) 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:15–6:00 p.m., Methodist church
- Family Hope Center: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00–4:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- AA Meetings:
- Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
- Thursdays, Noon, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
- Fr. Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus (Fr. Bernard will not be available the Fridays in February.)
- Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy’s Sunday Mass can be viewed at our parish website: marymotherofmercy.com
- Ash Wednesday Masses: February 17
- 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
- 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross, Ovid
Please Note:
Fr. Bernard will be away from January 27 to March 2, 2021. Fr. Richard Crawley, OFM Cap. and Fr. Roland Daigle, OFM Cap. will be covering the schedule of weekday and weekend Masses. They will also fill in whenever called upon. The Friday evening schedule for confessions/dialogue will be cancelled during that time.
Trumansburg Food Pantry Volunteers:
There is one more day, February 15, for our parish to provide volunteers for the Trumansburg Food Pantry. There is a list in the foyer showing times and tasks. We especially need younger people to carry boxes and bags up and down stairs. Whatever you can do is greatly appreciated. If you can’t volunteer but want to help, you are invited to send monetary donations directly to the Trumansburg Food Pantry at P.O. Box 162, Trumansburg, N.Y. 14886 or to place food donations in the box at the Shur Save.
The Word Among Us:
The season of Lent begins on February 17. Booklets containing daily meditations and daily Mass Sacred Scripture readings for February 17–April 4, 2021 are available in the foyers of the church. Please take one for yourself and your family and please bring a booklet to one who is homebound. A free will offering may be offered for the booklet.
Ash Wednesday – Distribution of Ashes:
This Wednesday, February 17, ashes will be distributed at a 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg and at a 6:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross, Ovid. There will be no 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Solanus on Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday – Vatican Directives:
The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship has modified the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday (February 17) during this time of the pandemic. It is as follows: the priest, after blessing the ashes and sprinkling them with holy water, addresses those present, reciting once the formula found in the Roman Missal: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The priest then cleanses his hands, puts on a face mask, and distributes ashes to those who come to him or, if appropriate, he goes to those who are standing in their places. He then sprinkles the ashes on each person’s head without saying anything. Therefore, this year there will be no marking the forehead with ashes.
Lenten Reminders:
- The season of Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (February 17) until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 1)
- “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.
- Musical instruments may be played only to give necessary support to the singing.
- 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).
Rice Bowls:
The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowls are available in the foyers of the church. During the season of Lent the bowls are provided for households to keep in mind the poor throughout the world and to make a sacrificial financial offering for the support of the needy of the world. For stories of hope and other CRS Rice Bowl videos go to crsricebowl.org/videos.
Fast and Abstinence:
Ash Wednesday is an obligatory day of fast and abstinence. Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence, i.e. meatless days.
Abstinence prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of 14 and continues to oblige throughout ones entire life.
Fasting requires that only one full meal be taken per day. Two other smaller meals may be taken during the day to maintain physical strength, but these two meals together should not equal a full meal in quantity. Fasting obliges all those who have reached the age of 18 and continues to oblige until age 59. Those not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able.
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 [email protected].
Public Policy Advocacy Weekend:
Please join in speaking up for the vulnerable today by signing our Diocesan Public Policy petition in support of Nourish NY, a program that provides food banks with state funding in order to purchase products from NYS farmers. Print, cut out, and mail the petition below directly to the governor or you can sign the petitions online at dor.org/petition.
Offertory Collection:
During this time of the pandemic, offertory collections cannot be taken up. When parishioners attend Mass, please place your offertory in the new collection stand at the entrances of the church. The new stand replaces the baskets at the entrances and offers security to your offering.
The Bishop’s Reminder:
Due to the prevalence of the Coronavirus, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice. Those who are at a higher risk of COVID-19 and those concerned for their health are urged not to come to church for Mass. Those who feel in any way sick should not enter any parish building or church.
Year of St. Joseph:
On December 8, 2020, His Holiness, Pope Francis, declared a Year of St. Joseph, until December 8, 2021. This announcement comes on the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s December 8, 1870 proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Pope Francis made this declaration to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal. During this period, the faithful will have the opportunity to obtain, with the help of St. Joseph, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that besiege the contemporary world today.
Snow Days:
A reminder that during the week, if a “snow day” has been declared for local schools, there will be no 8:30 a.m. morning Mass.
Churches Will Be Closed on Weekdays:
Due to the recent rise of COVID-19 cases, our parish churches of Holy Cross, Ovid and St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg will be open only for the weekend Masses. St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken, the Church and Parish Office, will remain open.
COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program:
This program is designed to provide up to three months of rent relief to eligible households who have experienced a loss of income related to the public health crisis. To learn more or apply, visit ithacanhs.org/rentalassistance or phone 607–277–4500. Assistance is available to renters in four counties including Seneca, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins.
~Please take time this week to pray the rosary for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. ~
Prayer Intentions:
Since we presently cannot have the prayer request books in our churches, do know that the prayer requests of fellow parishioners are still being listed on the parish website (see PRAYERS in top bar). If you would like to add a request, please email the parish at [email protected] or phone the parish office at 607–294–0064 and it will be added to the list.
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.
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 [email protected].
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.
