First reading:
You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! (Ez. 37:13)
Psalm:
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. (Ps. 130)
Second reading:
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Rom. 8:10)
Gospel:
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” (Jn. 11:25)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We face death every day. Whether it comes with the actual death of someone we love (or someone we don’t even know), a failed relationship, the loss of a job, a broken dream, or pondering our own mortality, death is always around us. What does death say to us? What we believe about our death experiences is going to say volumes about how we live our lives. Jesus comes to us today just as he did many years ago to people who were struggling with loss and death and wondering what to do. He calls us out of our tombs, where we have been closed up in fear and despair, and shouts, “Come out!” Jesus leads us out of death and gives us hope. There is always hope. There is always transformation. Although we may not always see where the road of life is taking us or see God’s presence with us on our journey, we will be brought to a new place and be given new life. Walk with God and listen to Him call you. Tomorrow, there awaits another surprise.
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
Events:
NOTE: All regularly scheduled public Masses and parish social and educational events are suspended until further notice.
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (March 31)
- Interlaken Reformed church: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Fridays
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:15-6:00 p.m., every other Monday (March 30)
- Bishop’s Sunday Mass: 11:00 a.m., live-stream from Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Sacrament of Reconciliation: 10:00 a.m. to noon, 2:00–4:00 p.m., and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on April 1 at St. Francis Solanus.
- Food Pantry Donations: April 12, St. James
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends: April 17–19 and November 20–22,
During the season of Lent, the Church urges all the faithful to reflect a spirit of prayer, penance (conversion), and charity.
No Mass but Churches are Open:
While scheduled Masses are suspended, New York State officials, through the New York State Catholic Conference, report that, “churches can remain open for personal prayer but not congregant services.” Our parish churches will be open as follows: St. James the Apostle and Holy Cross will be open during the day; St. Francis Solanus church is always open, night and day. See the diocese’s Covid-19 website for current information on the bishop’s response to this crisis.
Scheduled Mass Intentions:
During this time of suspended public Masses, when a Mass intention has been scheduled for a particular day and time, that Mass intention will be remembered in the private Mass offered on the day scheduled. From your home, join in reflecting on the readings of that day at that time. The Mass readings for each day are linked from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website and are also available through the Magnificat magazine and The Word Among Us booklets (see below).
Virtual Mass in Difficult Times:
Bishop Salvatore R. Matano will offer the following Masses and ceremonies from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. These services will be live-streamed by the Catholic Courier website (www.catholiccourier.com) or linked through the Diocesan website (www.dor.org)
- Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, 11:15 a.m.
- Tuesday, April 7, Solemn Mass of Chrism, 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, April 9, Thursday of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday), 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, April 10, Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday, April 11, The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday, April 12, Sunday of the Resurrection (Easter Sunday), 11:15 a.m.
Additionally, please note that the Pope is televising his morning Mass for people who cannot get to church. The Catholic Courier website also lists a number of local churches offering live-streaming Masses. Keep the faith!
During Lent:
- Abstinence from meat on Fridays during Lent has been suspended. The faithful of the Diocese of Rochester are granted a dispensation from the law of abstinence from meat on the Fridays of Lent for this year in an effort to assist people who may have difficulties in shopping for food or other reasons that would make this practice difficult at this time. Fridays of Lent remain days of penance and prayer, which unite us ever closer to Jesus Christ.
- Stations of the Cross previously scheduled for Thursdays at Holy Cross, along with a soup supper, and Fridays at St. James, along with Benediction, are cancelled.
- Copies of the Word Among Us, which provide five minutes with the word of God during Lent, are still available in the foyers of the church. The booklets contain the daily Mass Lenten Sacred Scripture readings and also a Lenten daily meditation section to guide you in your daily Lenten prayer time. Please be sure each family has a copy of the Word Among Us.
- The Catholicism classes, presently scheduled for Wednesdays at St. Francis are postponed at this time.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be offered, with a confessional screen (no face to face confessions), every Friday at St. Francis church in Interlaken from 6:30–7:00 p.m. While the bishop has canceled the diocesan day of penance and mercy on April 1, Fr. Bernard will still be available for hearing confessions that day from 10:00 a.m. until noon, 2:00–4:00 p.m., and 6:00–8:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus. You may also phone the parish office (607 294–0064) to make a personal appointment to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Online Donors:
The opportunity to donate to the Easter flower fund, the 2020 CRS Operation Rice Bowl, and Easter is now available for a limited time (until April 15) on the parish’s online giving page. Please visit that page through the giving tab on our website.
2019-2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Thank you to everyone who has responded with a pledge to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). On March 19, one hundred and eight parish families had pledged $23,046, which is 76.87% of the parish goal of $29,979. What is primary is our parishioners’ participation. The CMA provides funding for important programs, services and ministries that strengthen our whole Church. If you have not made a pledge, please do so as soon as possible. If we do not reach our given goal, the parish is billed to make up the difference.
Prayer for Priests:
A priest, whether an active or retired diocesan priest or an order priest serving in the diocese, is assigned a day to be the beneficiary of prayers. In the foyer of each of our churches you will find the calendar for the year showing each priest’s day of prayer. On a priest’s day they will be prayed for through the Prayer for Priests Calendar Ministry. The ministry appreciates additional prayers from parishioners for all our priests of the Rochester Diocese. For further information on this ministry, please visit the website: http://www.mprp-roc.org/cal.htm.
Job Opportunity:
The Trumansburg United Methodist church is looking for someone to fill their administrative coordinator position. It would require ten hours a week and the hourly wage is $15. The hours are negotiable. Currently the office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon through 3:00 p.m.
Online Access to Prayers and Readings:
Magnificat magazine is a monthly subscription booklet (with both English and Spanish editions) that has the prayers and readings for all the Masses of the month, plus morning and evening prayer, brief writings by/about the saints, and more. Since a lot of people have their usual Masses canceled due to the virus, Magnificat is temporarily offering free online access so that anyone with a computer or smartphone can have those texts for each day at home. To access the English version: www.magnificat.com/free; for the Spanish version: www.magnificat.com/gratis.
Marriage Enrichment:
If you’re ready for more in your marriage consider attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next planned weekends will be on April 17–19 and Nov 20–22 of this year in Canandaigua. “One weekend can change everything.” Go to wwme.org.
Knights of Columbus Insurance:
The Knights of Columbus is seeking a field agent for a career opportunity representing their insurance program in the Western New York area. The Knights offer a complete benefits package with this full-time position. In order to qualify one must be eligible for membership in the Knights of Columbus. For more information, please contact, John Hoolick, general agent at 570-654-3390 or [email protected].
Problem Gambling Awareness:
The month of March is “Problem Gambling Month.” Responsible gambling for entertainment purposes is very different than problem gambling, which often causes medical, financial, social, and emotional hardships. Help is available for those who are dealing with this addiction. Start taking action towards recovery by calling the United Way of Seneca County office at 315–539–1135.
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 Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, during 2020. In gratitude, let us pray for Sr. Anne Burns and all the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Employment Opportunity:
Could you use a little extra income? The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people to collect important information for the 2020 census in their own communities. These are temporary, part-time, or full-time positions with flexible hours. The hourly wages are $17 an hour for an enumerator/lister and $18.50 for a census field supervisor. Mileage is reimbursed at $0.58 per mile. No experience or educational requirement is necessary. If you are interested or have questions go to https://2020census.gov/en/jobs. This is your chance to be a part of history!
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.
