Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ February 4, 2024

National Eucharistic Revival: June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025

Parish Eucharistic Revival: June 11, 2023–June 2024

First Reading:
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. (Jb. 7:4)

Psalm:
Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted. (Ps. 147)
Or:
Alleluia.

Second Reading:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! (1 Cor. 9:16)

Gospel:
He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons. (Mk 1:34)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Jesus went from town to town, synagogue to synagogue, following the need. He follows it still, to this very day. Your life is the town he is visiting, your heart the synagogue where he preaches. Remember that for this purpose he has come.
@LPi

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

Events:

• Food Pantries:
  • Ovid Federated Church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
  • Food Truck: First Tuesday of the month (Feb. 6), 4:00–6:00 p.m., South Seneca High School
  • Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
  • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Every other Monday (February 5) 3:30–6:00 p.m., Methodist church
  • Lodi’s Community Pantry, Saturdays, 12:30–2:00 p.m., Lodi Rod & Gun Club, 9382 Lodi Center Rd.
• Family Hope Center: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Holy Cross
• Fr. Bernard’s availability on Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus Church, will resume in March.
• Recitation of the Rosary: Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 a.m., St. Francis Solanus
• 2023–2024 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA): Pledges are being accepted. Parish goal is $31,000.
• Adult Inquiry & Confirmation Preparation classes: Saturdays, 5:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
• Prayer for Healing and Harmony: St. James
  • Wednesdays, 2:00 p.m.;
  • February 8 & 22, 7:00 p.m.
• Book Study: Wednesdays, 3:15 p.m., St. James
• Cemetery Collection: February 3/4
• Sweet Sunday: February 4, 10:00 a.m., St. James
• Catholic Courier Collection: February 10/11
• Food Pantry Collection: February 10/11
• Trivia Get Together: February 18, 1:00 p.m., St. James
• Encounter Night—Eucharistic Holy Hour: March 7, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus

Encounter Night (Monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour):
There will be no “Encounter Night” on February 1^st. The next monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour will be on March 7^th at St. Francis Solanus Church.

The Pastor Will Be Away:
Fr. Bernard is away until March 5. Frs. Brendan Buckley and Regis Armstrong will be covering the Mass schedule.

There will be no 8:30 a.m. Mass on Mondays at St. Francis Solanus during this time. Instead, there will be a communion service at St. James the Apostle at 9:00 a.m. lead by Kathleen Rourke.

Also, the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions) will not be scheduled on Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus during the month of February.

Parish Cemeteries Second Collection—This Weekend:
This weekend there is a second collection to benefit the Mary, Mother of Mercy parish cemeteries. The cemeteries do not generate regular income and do not have a fully funded Permanent Maintenance Fund. Please give what you are able as this collection helps to defray costly maintenance expenses. Donations may also be made online using WeShare Online Giving. Thank you.

Sweet Sunday:
Next Sunday, and the first Sunday of every month, parishioners are invited to a social time following the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg.

“SouperBowl” Sunday—February 11:
Our parish is participating in SouperBowl Sunday, a national ecclesiastical event. It draws attention to those experiencing the need for food in our communities. All food items and funds you donate will go to the local food pantries located in Interlaken, Lodi, Ovid, and Trumansburg.

Non-perishable food items or personal care items may be brought to our churches any time that you are able to do so. Next weekend, a basket will be in the back of the churches for monetary donations. Checks may be made out to Mary, Mother of Mercy with the notation “Food Pantry” in the memo line. Donations may also be made online through WeShare Online Giving. Thank you.

The Catholic Courier—Please Support the Parish:
The Diocese of Rochester requires all parishes to financially support the publication of The Catholic Courier. The annual bill for our parish is over $4,900.00, and we are prayerfully asking our parishioners to help defray this cost.

Next weekend, baskets will be placed in the back of the church for your donation. The offertory envelope boxes have a recommended donation of $11.00, and you can also donate online through WeShare. Whatever help you can give will be appreciated greatly. Thank you.

February 14 – Ash Wednesday:
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Season of Lent. On this day the Church invites us to receive a cross of ashes on our foreheads as a sign that during the Season of Lent we will make sincere efforts to reflect and pray toward transforming our way of thinking and acting to be like Jesus in his way of thinking and acting. This is called repentance.

Reception of Ashes on Ash Wednesday:
On Ash Wednesday, February 14, ashes will be distributed:

• 8:30 a.m. Mass, St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
• 12:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service, Holy Cross, Ovid
• 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Lenten Daily Mediations:
Booklets, The Word Among Us, are available in the foyers of the Church. The booklets contain a meditation for each day of Lent. They are most useful for private and family gathering use. All are welcome to make a free will offering toward the cost of the booklets.

Trivia Event:
Our parish is holding a fun afternoon of trivia at St. James the Apostle! On February 18^th, beginning at 1:00 p.m., come work together with your fellow parishioners to answer multiple choice trivia questions. The team with the highest score is the winner. If able, bring a small appetizer to pass.

Confession Offerings while Pastor is Away:

• Immaculate Conception, Ithaca:
  • Saturdays, 2:00–3:30 p.m.
• Our Lady of Peace Parish, Geneva:
  • Our Lady of Peace Chapel: Monday–Friday, 11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m
  • Francis deSales Church: Saturdays, 3:30–4:15 p.m.

2023-2024 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA):
We thank those who have given generously to the Catholic Ministries Appeal and ask all who have not yet given to prayerfully consider doing so. Participation in the Appeal is primary. What is pledged is secondary. The CMA helps our Church and our parish in many ways. Our given parish goal is $31,000. On January 24, 2024, it was reported that eighty-seven parish households have pledged $23,665 which is 76.34% of goal.

Vocation Discernment Weekend:
The Capuchin Franciscans are holding a vocation discernment weekend, Come and See, February 16-18 in Jamaica Plain, MA. For information or questions contact Fr. Erik Lenhart, OFM Cap. at 857-615-3893

Notre Dame Retreat House:

• “Just As You Are:” Couples Retreat, February 16–18
• “Lenten Change Maker Series:” Four free evenings with a simple supper followed by a 1 hour inspirational talk on a Social Justice Issue (Immigration, Food Insecurity, Care for God’s Creation, Ethical Purchasing), February 22 & 29, March 4 & 18

For more details on and how to register, visit notredameretreat.org or phone 585–394–5700.

COLLIS Institute:

• A Knight of Malta at Weill Cornell: The Vocation of Medicine”: February 7, 6:30 p.m., 230 Anabel Taylor Hall or Zoom
• “Feeding the Hungry, Caring for Creation”: February 13, 7:30-8:45 p.m., Zoom

Visit collisinstitute.org/publicevents for more information and to register.

Consider Online Giving:
WeShare Online Giving is safe and secure, and there are benefits for both you and our parish.
Benefits to you:

• Gifts may be made by bank account, credit card, debit card, or Google Pay.
• Recurring donations allow you to support our parish if you are unable to attend Mass.
• Convenient way to donate to Holy Days, second collections, parish cemeteries, and CMA.

Benefits to our parish:

• Reduced volume of collections counted by volunteers from our parish
• Guaranteed stream of income helps Parish expense budgeting, and
• Reduced data entry for our part-time parish staff.

It’s simple to sign up. Visit marymotherofmercy.com/giving.

Donating to Your Parish:
Online giving by WeShare is safe, simple and convenient. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Visit the parish website’s giving page: marymotherofmercy.com/giving
2. Follow the directions under the “Donate Online” section.
3. 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 problem, please e-mail Eileen at eileen.heptig@dor.org.

Prayer Vigil for Peace:
All are welcome to gather to pray for peace on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:00–2:00 p.m. and on Thursdays 8:30–10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Trumansburg.

Programs at St. James:
Sister Anne Alderman, SSJ facilitates three reoccurring programs in the Pine Room at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg.

• Prayer for Healing and Harmony: On the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., and every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., Sr. Anne leads a time of silent prayer providing an opportunity for personal reflection and healing. The session closes with a time to share any reflections that came to you.
• Every Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., all are invited to participate in a book study. The current book is Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittiston.

If you have questions, contact Sister Anne at 607-209-4206 or email a.alder1980@gmail.com.

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.

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.

Let Us Pray: Please remember in your prayers those members of our parish who are in the hospital, sick at home, in a nursing home, or who have requested our prayers (see the list on the parish’s PRAYERS page). We also ask you to pray for those who have died. May the Lord bring comfort to their family and friends during this difficult time and may they find hope in the Resurrection.