Fifth Sunday of Easter ~ April 29, 2018

Year of the Eucharist June 18, 2017–June 3, 2018

First reading:
The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers. (Acts 9:31)

Psalm:
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people. (Ps. 22)

Second reading:
Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (1 Jn. 3:18)

Gospel:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.” (Jn. 15:1-2)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
“Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” Real love, especially unconditional love, cannot exist apart from action. We are called to bear much fruit and become Jesus’s disciples. We live in a world that is suffering so badly. By our actions and the way we organize our lives, we can model the Gospel values that many no longer see as important. We can be healers who put mercy into action. We can choose to unconditionally respect human life and challenge those who do not. We can live nonviolent lives, resist the lust for power, and avoid greed in all its forms. It is difficult to live the Gospel message of love. We will often be met with rejection. We need to allow God to prune away everything that makes it difficult to love. Then we have to take the risk and call others to a higher standard, no matter the price.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
“I think that if any good thing shall go forward, something must be adventured.” ~St. Thomas More

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. (May 1 and May 15). 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. (May 14 and May 28)
• Book Discussion: Becoming a Person of Mercy by Max Oliva S.J. at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesdays at St. James the Apostle
• Small-group Retreat: “33 Days to Morning Glory,” through May 29, from 6:50–8:30 p.m., in the Holy Cross parish house
• Faith Formation Class: April 29, beginning with the 9:00 a.m. Mass in St. James the Apostle
• Civilian Response to Active Shooter Course: at the First Baptist Church in Trumansburg on April 30 at 6:30 p.m.
• Preparing Your Legacy: May 1, 7:00–9:00 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena parish hall
• First Communion: May 6 at the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James the Apostle
• Renewing Wedding Vows: May 6, at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart cathedral with Bishop Matano
• Ascension Thursday: May 10 is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and is a holy day of obligation.
• STEPS Sustainability Forum: May 15, in the South Seneca Elementary School cafeteria from 6:15 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
• Liturgical Minister Invitation: “Transforming Prayer: The Heart of Ministry” at Notre Dame Retreat Center, on May 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• Pentecost Brunch: May 20 after the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross church parish house. Please bring a dish to pass.
• Priesthood Vocation: For Catholic men, ages 17–35, who have expressed interest in the priesthood, “24 Hours with the Lord,” will take place June 1–2

First Holy Communion:
On May 6, Nicholas Haynes, Isla Landon, Auggie Mullins, and Jordan Staples will celebrate, for the first time, the reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion at the 9:00 a.m. Mass. We praise their parents and teachers for preparing them for this most sacred event.

Catholic Home Missions Appeal:
Support the Catholic Home Missions appeal today! Right now, over forty percent of dioceses in the United States are considered home mission territory because they are unable to fund the essential pastoral work needed in their communities. Your support funds programs, such as religious education, seminary formation, and lay ministry training, to build vibrant faith communities right here in the United States. Please be generous. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/home-missions.

Second Collections:
Beginning this weekend the second collection will be taken up following the first collection. An announcement of the second collection will take place at the end of the general intercessions (prayer of the faithful).

Rice Bowl:
Parishioners who participated in the Lenten Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl project are asked to return the rice bowls to the church as soon as possible. Thank you.

Food Pantry Volunteers Needed:
Trumansburg Food Pantry relies on help from our parish during the months of April and May (April 30 and May 14 and 28). There is a sign-up sheet in the vestibule of St. James church. Please consider helping during this limited time when the food pantry relies on our parish for volunteers.

Church Cleaners for St. Francis Solanus:
A request is going out for willing and able volunteers to help clean the church. A sign-up sheet has been placed in the foyer of the church together with a job description. Please help.

Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events:
Civilians who find themselves in an active shooter event must be prepared to take immediate action to save their own lives before law enforcement arrives. A nationally recognized course is being offered to civilians to equip people with response strategies to save lives and mitigate the effects of these horrific incidences. The course, sponsored by the Trumansburg Area Churches (TAC), will be given at the First Baptist Church in Trumansburg on Monday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. and will be led by Lt. Schell of the Seneca County sheriff’s office. This course is generally completed in approximately three hours. Everyone is invited.

Flowers for the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Each weekend of May families and parishioners are invited to honor Mary by bringing flowers to be placed at the statue of Mary during the beginning of Mass. There is a sign-up sheet in each of the churches for weekly sign-ups. Flowers can be from your garden or purchased. Please consider honoring Mary in this special way.

Mass Schedule for Ascension Thursday:
May 10 is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and is a holy day of obligation. The times and places of the Masses on that day are: 9:00 a.m. at Holy Cross in Ovid, 12:15 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken, and 7:00 p.m. at St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg.

Pentecost Brunch:
There will be a dish to pass brunch on Sunday, May 20, after the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross church parish house. There will be a sign-up sheet in the ramp entrance. You can bring your dish to pass items to the parish house before Mass that day. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Sinkiewicz at 869 2285.

Personal Care Products Collection:
During the month of May we are asking all parishioners for donations of personal care items for the clients of our local food pantries. While many personal care items are donated to the food pantries throughout the year, during the month of May additional attention is being paid to these items as being needed on a constant basis. These items are apparently not covered by SNAP/Food Stamps. We also thank all the parishioners who put personal care items in their food donation bags. Personal care products that are needed include soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body soap or washes, shaving soap, razors, and deodorants. This special collection will be held only during the month of May, ending on May 27.

Priesthood Vocations:
Join a gathering of young adult Catholic men ages 17–35, who have expressed interest in the priesthood and have been encouraged by their pastor, parish, family, and friends to pursue the call to the ordained priesthood. The event: “24 Hours With The Lord” will take place June 1–2. For more information contact: Fr. Peter Van Lieshout at [email protected] or phone 315 462 2961.

Advancing the Kingdom of God:
On Pentecost Sunday weekend, May 19 and 20, Tony Magliano, an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist, will give a brief address after the final prayer of the Mass. His theme will highlight the prophetic baptismal call given to every Christian to transform society’s structures of sin, which oppress the poor and vulnerable, into structures of justice, love, and peace.

Preparing Your Legacy:
Are you prepared for the future? Who will make your health decisions if you can’t? Have you protected your estate from excess taxes? Have you considered what legacy you’ll leave to support the causes you care about? Join Catholic Charities for an evening of important and timely information presented by Kim Rothman, estate-planning attorney from Miler Mayer LLP on Tuesday, May 1, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Parish hall, (309 Siena Drive, Ithaca). It’s not too soon, or too late, to think about how to support the future of your family and your community.

Invitation for All Parish Ministers:
Parish staffs—those involved in faith formation, music, and other aspects of ministry (liturgical ministers) are invited for a time of nourishment, refreshment, and renewal at Notre Dame Retreat Center, 5151 Foster Rd. Canandaigua on Wednesday, May 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The theme of the day is “Transforming Prayer: The Heart of Ministry.” For more information and to register by May 4, please contact Betsy McDermott 585-328-3228, extension 1287. The cost varies from $40 for one parish minister to $25 for four or more parish ministers.

Food Pantry Opportunity:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry is looking for a volunteer evening site manager. The evening distribution runs from 5:15–6:00 p.m. The site manager should plan to be at the Trumansburg United Methodist Church (TUMC) from approximately 4:50–6:15 p.m. every other Monday evening. Duties include putting out the cold products; assigning the volunteers their places; answering volunteer questions; greeting clients; restocking foods; assisting volunteers in teardown/putting food away; making sure signs are brought in from the outside; breaking down/recycling the empty boxes off site; and making sure chairs and tables are put away, and all doors to the church are locked. If you haven’t been involved with the Food Pantry, training will be provided. Thank you for considering this important volunteer role in our community. If you are interested in this position, please contact Anne Haus at: [email protected], or 607-387-5384.

STEPS in Seneca County:
Seneca Towns Engaging People for Solutions (STEPS) is a neighborhood health improvement initiative of the S2AY Rural Health Network funded by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation. The residents of the four South Seneca towns of Covert, Lodi, Ovid, and Romulus determine STEPS’s focused projects. Everyone is welcome to join in to encourage that every individual in our community reach high levels of social, economic, and personal health. A STEPS sustainability forum, “Exploring Community Well-being Now and for Our Future,” to which all are invited, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, at the South Seneca Elementary School cafeteria in Interlaken, from 6:15 p.m.–8:30 p.m. The topics will include: “Where We Are,” “Assets and Vulnerabilities,” “Farms and Gardens,” “Lakes and Wildlife,” “Village,” “Towns,” and “Citizen Role.” Supper and childcare is provided. Supper is 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. with childcare beginning at 6:00 p.m. Register today at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Seneca County events page or phone 607 403 0069.

Easter Duty:
“All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. The precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at some other time during the year.” (Church Law #920) In reference to this law the Easter season is considered from the First Sunday of Lent until Trinity Sunday (this year May 27).

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.

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.

The Seneca County Transportation Corps:
This organization provides rides for residents of Seneca County to medical and dental appointments and other health-related destinations. If you need a ride phone 315–333–2179 or email [email protected].

Cancer Services Program:
The program is available for residents of Cortland and Tompkins Counties. It provides free cancer screenings (breast, cervical, and colorectal) to women from ages 40–64 and for men ages 50–64, who are uninsured or have health insurance that does not cover these screenings, and who meet income eligibility requirements. These services are provided in local health centers, doctors’ offices, and hospitals. For further information: 607-758-5523 or 1-866-442-2262

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle

April 29, 9:00 a.m. (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Mark Scibilia-Carver, Cathy DelSignore

May 6, 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Tim Davis (for Lynne Stager) and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Patty Messmer, Mark Scibilia-Carver, Joan Hogan

Ministry schedule for Holy Cross

April 2018: