First reading:
The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. (Gn. 3:1-6a)
Psalm:
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. (Ps. 51)
Second reading:
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of one, the many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:19)
Gospel:
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Mt. 4:1)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We desperately need the season of Lent. Have you ever found yourself running in all directions, tired, frustrated, and frazzled and yearning for the moment when you can stop, find some time for reflection and prayer, and get your head straight? Life pulls us in all directions. On top of that, the presence of sin in our lives gives us blurry vision and makes us forget who we really are. We can easily lose touch with God. Lent gives us the opportunity to return to simpler times and clear away some of life’s clutter. We can change up our routines a bit and realize that Jesus is the one who can set us right with God and restore what was originally meant to be. Our task is to avoid the temptations that can weigh us down, distract us, and distort our vision. Are you aware of what things in your life do this to you? Over the next few weeks, you have an opportunity to avoid them.
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (March 3)
- 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 2)
- Trumansburg Robotics: 5:00–8:00 p.m. on Mondays and 3:00–6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, St. James
- Family Hope Center: 12:00–4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Holy Cross rectory
- Ash Wednesday: February 26
- 40 Days for Life: now through 7:00 p.m., April 5, Ithaca
- Stations of the Cross:
- 6:00 p.m., Thursdays of Lent, Holy Cross church, followed by a communal soup supper.
- 3:00 p.m., Fridays of Lent, St. James, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
- Fr. Bernard Is Available: 6:30 p.m., Fridays at St. Francis
- Sweet Sunday Social: After 9:00 a.m. Mass, March 1, St. James
- Second Greatest Story Presentation: 9:15 a.m.–10:45 a.m., February 27 through April 9, Seneca Falls Community Center
- Confirmation Candidates Classes: 4:00 p.m., Sundays at St. James, will resume today, March 1
- Catholicism Classes: 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays at St. Francis, beginning March 4
- Food Pantry Donations: March 8, St. James
- Religious Education Monthly Gathering: after 9:00 a.m. Mass, March 15, St. James
- Gaelic and Garlic Festival: from noon until 4:00 p.m., March 15, Lansing’s All Saints Catholic church
- Empty Bowls Event: from noon until 2 p.m., March 15, Atlas Bowl in Trumansburg
- Day of Prayer on Blessed Mother: 9:30 a.m.–noon, March 24, Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua
- Diocesan Day of Penance and Mercy: April 1
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend: April 17–19
During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the faithful to reflect a spirit of prayer, penance (conversion), and charity.
Catholicism Classes:
During Wednesdays of Lent, beginning on March 4, come and join in the Catholicism classes at St. Francis Solanus church in Interlaken. You have your choice of times to participate as the same class is held at 9:00 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m.
Food Donations at St. James:
Next Sunday, March 8, and every second Sunday of the month, please bring non-perishable food items to St. James church. You may place the item(s) in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monetary gifts are also welcome. Checks should be made out to Mary, Mother of Mercy, with food pantry in the memo line. Your contributions will go directly to the Trumansburg Food Pantry. Thank you to all who contribute!
Food Pantry Volunteers Needed:
Every two months the churches of Trumansburg and Jacksonville take turns providing volunteers for the Trumansburg Food Pantry located in the Trumansburg United Methodist church. February and March are the months for Mary Mother of Mercy/St. James to provide volunteers this year. Please consider helping by signing up on the list provided in the foyer. There are various times and tasks available from which you can choose and the dates are March 2, 16, and 30. Don’t forget to leave your phone number if you would like a reminder call. Thank you.
Rice Bowl:
Through Catholic Relief Services (CRS), our parish provides Rice Bowl boxes for people to use during Lent. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl in the foyer of the church and, throughout Lent, add in your pocket change or other money. This is an easy way for a family to give to those in need around the world and 25% of what is collected stays in our local community.
Empty Bowls Event:
The fifth annual Empty Bowls event will be held on Sunday, March 15, from noon until 2 p.m. at the Atlas Bowl in Trumansburg. Tickets cost $25 and may be purchased ahead of time at Atlas Bowl or at the door the day of the event. Each ticket allows you to choose a beautiful original handcrafted ceramic bowl, which you can then fill with delicious soup crafted by many of our best local restaurants. There will also be bread baked by Wide Awake Bakery. Cookies provided by local churches will round out the meal. At the event T-shirts will be available for purchase as will raffle tickets, the latter sold for $2 each or 6 for $10. There will also be a silent auction and bowling is free during the event. All proceeds from Empty Bowls will benefit the Trumansburg Food Pantry. If you can’t attend Empty Bowls, a donation can be made to the Trumansburg Food Pantry, Box 162, Trumansburg, NY, 14886 or through the United Way designating Trumansburg Food Pantry as the recipient. Additional information can be found on Facebook.
Cookies Needed:
Each church in our community is asked to provide four-dozen cookies for the Empty Bowls event (see above). The cookies need to be delivered to Atlas Bowl before noon on Sunday, March 15. A sign up sheet will be available in the foyer. Thank you!
2019–2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Parishioners who have not yet made a pledge to this year’s Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) are asked to please do so soon. As of February 21, 2020, 102 households in our parish have made a commitment to contribute $22,421 to the CMA, nearly 75% of our goal of $29,979. Pledge envelopes may be obtained in the foyer of each church. It isn’t how much you give that is important, but that all members of the parish contribute.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
The parish has several home bound parishioners. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, in their appointment by the bishop, can and are invited to bring Holy Communion to the home bound. Please phone the parish office to volunteer. Thank you.
Prayerful, Peaceful, and Present:
During Lent consider participating in a special prayer opportunity by being present as the hands and feet of Christ—praying and offering life-affirming options for women facing an unplanned pregnancy. “40 Days for Life” begins at 7:00 a.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 26, and continues through 7:00 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 5, at the “prayer chapel” across the street from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca St. in Ithaca. Visit www.40daysforlife.com/Ithaca to select your weekly hour(s) of prayer and invite a friend or prayer group to join you! “40 Days for Life” is a proven global, peaceful, and prayerful outreach offering hope and nonjudgmental caring options for women in crisis pregnancies. For more information contact campaign leader MaryAnne Tissot of Good Shepherd Catholic Community, 315-246-7479.
Blessed Mother and the Feast of the Annunciation:
Join Notre Dame Retreat House’s day of prayer on Tuesday, March 24: “Blessed Mother and the Feast of the Annunciation,” presented by Rev. William Leone, pastor of St. Jerome Parish in East Rochester. Fr. Bill, who has been a priest since 1974, is a retired military chaplain and a veteran of the Army. The conference runs from 9:30 a.m. until noon followed by lunch, free time, confessions, and ends with Mass at 2:00pm. There is a $25.00 fee. The Notre Dame Retreat House is located at 5151 Foster Rd., Canandaigua, N.Y. Please register by calling 585-394-5700 or email [email protected].
Time of Divine Mercy:
The Second Greatest Story Ever Told is a multi-episode DVD journey with a best-selling author and popular speaker, Fr. Michael Gaitley of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. Fr. Gaitley weaves a tapestry of wonder and beauty from the threads of the dramatic history of Poland, the transformative message of St. Faustina Kowalska, the prophetic apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, the powerful witness of St. Maximillian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of Pope Saint John Paul II. This event is being presented by the Catholic Study Society as a Lenten study of Divine Mercy every Thursday morning, February 27 through April 9, from 9:15 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., at the Seneca Falls Community Center on Water Street. Sessions will include prayer, episodes from the DVD, an instruction and question period, and refreshments. Those coming are encouraged to attend each session, but this is not mandatory. A downloadable program guidebook is available for free or a hardcover book is available for approximately $9.00. For either one contact [email protected] or call 315-568-5286. There is no admission fee and all are welcome.
Gaelic and Garlic Festival:
Lansing’s All Saints Catholic church will host an Irish and Italian festival at All Saints Church on Sunday, March 15, from noon until 4:00 p.m. There will be $15 Italian plates and $5 kids’ meals served until 3:00 p.m. There is also a $45 family-rate option, which includes two adult plates and plates for kids 12 and under. Bakers are invited to compete in a contest for the best Italian or Irish dessert. Watch local Irish step dancers, hear Italian music, participate in face painting, and enjoy great beverages. Come join the fun at All Saints, across from Lansing Middle School! More details will be posted at netcatholic.org.
Building a Brighter Future Scholarships:
The Department of Catholic Schools is pleased to announce the launch of the “Building a Brighter Future Scholarship” program for the 2020–2021 school year. This will provide 100 full-tuition scholarships to families who meet the eligibility requirements, as determined by income using the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch guidelines. Awarded families are eligible to attend any diocesan Catholic school for the 2020–2021 school year, tuition-free, and the school will receive funding to offset the cost of education for these students. Apply today! Contact [email protected].
Marriage Enrichment:
If you’re ready for more in your marriage consider attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend. The encounter weekends this year are April 17–19 and again November 20–22. “One weekend can change everything.” For more information go to wwme.org.
Stations of the Cross:
Stations of the Cross will be available on Thursdays of Lent at 6:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church followed by a communal soup supper. They will also be available on Fridays of Lent at 3:00 p.m. at St. James the Apostle followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Day of Penance:
There will be a diocesan day of penance and mercy held throughout the diocese on Wednesday, April 1. On that day priests will be available at all the parishes for confession. In our parish, confessions will be heard after the 8:30 a.m. Mass; from 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.; and 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., all at St. Francis Solanus church in Interlaken.
Your 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. In reference to this law the Easter season is considered from the First Sunday of Lent until Trinity Sunday” (this year June 7). This is church law #920.
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!
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.
Catholics Invite Catholics:
“Come to Mass in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s day.” A way to remind people of a way to be faithful to the third commandment: Keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Snow Days:
A reminder that if during the week a “snow day” for the local schools has been declared there will be no morning Mass or communion service that day.
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.
Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken
February 29, at 5:00 p.m. (FIRST weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula
March 7, at 5:00 p.m. (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Millie Messmer and Cathy DelSignore (for Lee and Mary Davidson), Robin Hamula
Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
March 1, at 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng
March 8, at 9:00 a.m. (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski
Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid
Not available at this time