First reading:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. (Is. 7:14)
Psalm:
Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory. (Ps. 24)
Second reading:
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith. (Rom. 1:5a)
Gospel:
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.” (Mt. 1:20b-21a)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Have you ever asked God for a sign? What were you hoping to see? Signs validate our experience and give us assurance and direction. We tend to equate God’s signs with miraculous or marvelous events. We even sometimes look for small gestures as signs that God is confirming a particular experience or choice we are making. Being overly preoccupied with receiving these kinds of signs from God can often signal a lack of faith. Is there anything that can convince us that God is real and with us on our journey? Yes. God’s sign has already been given: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel. Emmanuel, God with us, is God’s most perfect sign and the only one we need. Our incarnate God is all we need to set us straight and validate our experience. Only Jesus can direct us to the Father, to our self, one another, and our world. When our lives are conformed to His, nothing else is needed.
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. (December 24)
- Interlaken Reformed church: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Fridays
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m., every other Monday (January 6) [NOTE: no T’burg food pantry 12/30, check Ovid?]
- Confirmation Candidates Classes: 4:00 p.m., Sundays, St. James
- Family Hope Center: 12:00–4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Holy Cross rectory
- Catholicism Classes: will resume on Wednesday, March 4, St. Francis
- Choir Rehearsal: 6:30 p.m., Thursdays, St. Francis
- Fr. Bernard is Available: 6:30 p.m., Fridays, St. Francis
- Trumansburg Robotics: 5:00–8:00 p.m. on Mondays and 3:00–6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, St. James
- Decorate St. Francis and Holy Cross churches: After Mass on December 21 and 22
- Stand Out for Life Prayer Vigil: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., December 28, 620 W. Seneca Street, Ithaca
- Daily Mass Schedule Changes: 8:30 a.m. beginning January 2, St. Francis
- Sweet Sunday Social: After Mass, January 5, St. James
- Food Pantry Donations: January 12, St. James
Funeral:
Jeanne R. Quinn died on December 9, 2019, at the age of eighty-nine. Her funeral was at Holy Cross church, Ovid, on December 13.
Parish Christmas Mass Schedule:
Christmas is on a Wednesday this year. Our schedule of Masses for the holiday begins on Christmas Eve with Mass at 4:30 p.m. at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg, and an 8:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross, Ovid. There will be no morning Mass on December 24 and 26. On Christmas Day, December 25, there will be one Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken. We hope to see you at one of these Masses celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Decorating for Christmas:
This Saturday, December 21, everyone is invited to stay after evening Mass to help decorate St. Francis church for Christmas and the Christmas season (which ends Sunday, January 12, 2020). It will not take too long and it is always a joyous and happy event. Help is also needed after the 10:30 mass this Sunday for decorating Holy Cross for Christmas. We will start right after the Mass concludes. Any time you can give to help at either church would be greatly appreciated.
Hat, Scarf, and Mitten Tree:
The annual hat, scarf, and mitten tree has been set up in the foyer at St. James church. Please consider making a donation of new items, for all ages. These much needed winter items will be taken to Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga Counties for distribution before Christmas.
Fr. Eugene:
Fr. Eugene O’Hara, OFM Cap., pastor of St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg from 1996 through 2006, transferred from St. Fidelis Friary, Interlaken, to St. Clare Friary (an assisted care facility) on December 9. His new address is: 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, New York 10703-2226.
November Attendance and Collections:
On an average in the month of November there were 56 people at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, 105 at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, and 80 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, also on Sunday. The average Mass collections during the month were: $803 at the Saturday evening Mass at St. Francis, and, on Sundays, $966 at the 9:00 a. m. Mass at St. James and $807 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross. Parishioners participating through the WeShare online giving contributed $2,576. “Thank you all for your attendance and offerings.”
Catholicism Class:
The adult faith formation program by Bishop Robert Barron called “Catholicism” will resume on Wednesday, March 4, and will continue throughout the Season of Lent on Wednesdays at St. Francis.
Changes in the Daily Mass Schedule:
Our parish presently has daily morning Mass on Tuesday through Friday, in different places and without a consistent time. To provide an equal opportunity for all parishioners and to eliminate the confusion regarding the place and time, beginning January 2, 2020, the daily Mass (Tuesday through Friday) will be centrally located at St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The communion service will continue on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. at St. James. Please spread the word. Thank you.
2019-2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Thank you to everyone who has responded with a gift or pledge to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). As of December 10, 2019, seventy-nine parish families have pledged $16,131, which is 53.81% of our parish goal of $29,979. What is primary is our parishioners’ participation. What is secondary is what is pledged. The CMA provides funding for important programs, services, and ministries that strengthen our whole Church.
Ring Those Bells:
The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring the bell near the red bucket at the Shur-Save, now through Christmas, any time between 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Most shifts are an hour in length; though feel free to stay longer. It is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors while helping those in need. The money raised will mainly be used in our local community. If you are interested in bell ringing, please call Judy at 387-6488. Thank you!
Family Hope Center:
The Family Hope Center out of Geneva will be using the rectory at Holy Cross, Ovid, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 noon through 4:00 p.m. The Family Hope Center offers hope to families by providing pregnancy and parenting education, support for relationships, and needed baby supplies. The Center emphasizes, with compassion and grace, the value of each family member and desires to empower the community, including those looking at a pregnancy decision, to make life-affirming choices through a transformational encounter with Jesus. Through their free and confidential support services, the center’s staff can assist people with exploring options, or just listen if you need to talk with someone as you move forward in life’s journey.
Stand Out for Life
The next monthly “Stand Out for Life” takes place this Saturday, December 28, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, from 9:00 am to 10:30 a.m. across the street from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca Street, Ithaca. This will be a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness for the protection of unborn children and their mothers and fathers. More information, contact Carolann 607-351-6668.
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.
Habitat House for Sale:
There is a Habitat for Humanity home available for sale in Trumansburg. The home has three bedrooms and one bath and is located at 19 Salo Drive on .36 acres. Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties provides an affordable home ownership opportunity by offering a “hand up, not a hand out” and evaluate applications based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. The total gross household income should be at least $28,000. Other details about partnering with Habituate in owning your own home are available on their website: https://tchabitat.com/homeownership. Applications for the Salo Drive home will be accepted until November 30. If interested in the home call 607-844-3529 or email Liz Warner at [email protected]. We want to help you purchase your own home!
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 and Sr. Dolores Bachman and Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish throughout 2019. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as well.
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
December 21, at 5:00 p.m. (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary and Lee Davidson
Wednesday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day at 9:30 a.m.
Lector: Barbara Willers
December 28, at 5:00 p.m. (fifth weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula, Cathy DelSignore
Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
December 22, at 9:00 a.m. (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan (for Beth Duff) and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager (for Tom Duff), Mary Szymanski (for Tim O’Boyle), Beth Koeng
December 24, Christmas Eve, 4:30 p.m. Children’s Mass:
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Carol Kuklo
EMs: Robin Hamula, Eileen Heptig, Anne Haus
Altar Servers: Ben Hamula, Alex Hamula, Deborah Short
Sacristan: Carol Kuklo
December 29, at 9:00 a.m. (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Tim O’Boyle, Mary Szymanski
Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid
Not available at this time