First Reading:
“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)
Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. (Ps. 23)
Or
Alleluia.
Second Reading:
For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. (1 Pt. 2:25)
Gospel:
“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” (Jn. 10:9)
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD. The English translation of Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We know the voice of our shepherd. We know he speaks a language of love, of patience, of long-suffering sacrifice. The voice of the thief will offer us freedom, but it is a freedom that ends in destruction. There is only one gate that leads to everlasting life.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
St. Catherine of Siena’s feast day is April 29.
©LPi
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated Church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food Truck: First Tuesday of the month (May 2), 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 (May 8) 3:30–6:30 p.m., Methodist church [Note: New times with no morning distribution]
- Family Hope Center: Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., and Thursdays 4:00–6:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- Fr. Bernard is available: Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Prayer for Healing and Harmony: St. James
- Every Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.
- Thursdays, May 11 & 25, 7:30 p.m.
- Taizé Prayer: May 4 & 18, 7:30 p.m., St. James
- Book Study: Wednesdays, 3:15 p.m., St. James
- Catholic Home Missions Appeal: April 29/30
- Game night: May 3, 6:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- First Communion: May 7, 9:00 a.m., St. James
- Sweet Sunday: May 7, 9:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
Sacrament of Confirmation
Our parishioners, Daniel and Erin Durling, celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on April 25 at St. Mary’s Church, Auburn. With the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Daniel and Erin will complete their full initiation into the Kingdom of God. The Sacraments of initiation are Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharistic. One of many benefits of being fully initiated into the Church is that they now can sponsor others, e.g., being a sponsor for Baptism and Confirmation.
Catholic Home Missions Appeal:
From North to South and East to West, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal Strengthens the Church at Home. Dioceses across the country will be participating in this year’s Catholic Home Missions Appeal on the weekend of April 29-30. This collection supports ministries in dioceses throughout the United States and its territories that require outside support to provide basic pastoral care due to population, geography, and economic challenges. Contributions fund basic parish support, Mass, access to the sacraments, religious education, and formation of priests and lay ministers. Your participation in your diocese’s collection is your chance to help strengthen the Church at home.
Game night!
Mary, Mother of Mercy is hosting a game night! A variety of games will be available. Snacks to share are welcome but not required. Children’s games will be offered as well. This event will take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month and will rotate between our three churches. The first game night will take place on May 3 at St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken.
Thank you:
Bishop Matano has written a letter to the parish expressing “Thanks” for exceeding our assigned goal in contributions and pledges for the 2022-2023 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). “Your commitment to supporting the mission of our Diocese, to love God above all things, and to serve our neighbors in need, for love of Him, is deeply encouraging. … I pray that the Lord will continue to bless your parish family.”
First Communion Sunday:
Emma Durling and Sally Rovitz will be celebrating their First Communion on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at the 9:00 a.m. Mass. We thank all who have helped prepare Emma and Sally for this day.
World Prayer for Vocations:
This Sunday is Good Shepard Sunday. Fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life is continuous. The Diocesan Vocations Awareness Team is honored to collaborate with the Catholic Courier on a new video series, “Called to Priesthood: Priestly Life and Ministry in the Diocese of Rochester,” created and produced by the Catholic Courier. The videos, along with other vocations links and resources, can all be found on the Courier’s website: catholiccourier.com/priestlife. New videos in the series will be shared on that page and on the Courier’s YouTube channel ahead of the 60th annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations on April 30.
National Day of Prayer
Rev. Dennis Christiansen welcomes all to The First Baptist Church of Trumansburg’s National Day of Prayer Worship Service at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 4th.
April—Child Abuse Prevention Month:
Today is the National Blue Sunday Day of Prayer. It is reported that over six million children are abused annually, and over 1,500 die annually because of abuse. Please join in creating an environment of awareness in our society. Sunday, April 30, is the National Blue Sunday Day of Prayer. Resources, including videos and fact sheets, are available online at www.bluesunday.org.
Parish Council Nominations:
Parishioners interested in being on the Parish Council can now nominate themselves or be nominated by other parishioners. The selection of new Parish Council members for a three -year term and the selection of three alternates for a one-year term will take place on Sunday, May 28. Newly selected members will attend the June 8 Parish Council meeting. The term of membership begins July 1.
There are no scheduled meetings in the summer. The Parish Council is a council to the pastor. It is not a governing body nor board. Parish Council members are assigned to one of the standing committees (Word, Worship, Witness and Fellowship). The Committees meet sometime before the scheduled meetings. The council usually meets every other month at the Parish Center, Interlaken. Beginning this last weekend of April, Parish Council nomination ballots will be available for the submission of nominees’ names. Parishioners, please consider being a Council member or nominating a parishioner. Thank you.
Statewide Eucharistic Congress:
A statewide Eucharistic Congress will take place in New York on October 20–22, 2023 at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville. The Eucharistic Congress is part of a national effort to reinvigorate devotion to the Eucharist on a national level, aiming to restore understanding and fidelity to the great mystery of Jesus really and truly present in the Eucharist, and to encourage all Catholics to make the Eucharist the source and summit of their faith.
The bishops of NYS have launched an easy-to-use website nyseucharisticcongress.org to provide comprehensive information and updates for the historic three-day event looking forward to welcoming upwards to 10,000 people. Posters regarding the event are in the foyer of the Church.
Donating to Your Parish:
Online giving by WeShare is safe, simple and convenient. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Visit the parish website’s giving page: marymotherofmercy.com/giving
- Follow the directions under the “Donate Online” section.
- 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 [email protected]
Opportunities for Prayer and Sharing – St. James Pine Room:
- Prayer for Healing & Harmony: every Wednesday, 2:00–3:00 p.m., and the 2nd & 4th Thursdays (May 11, and May 25), 7:30–8:30 p.m.
- Read and Reflect: every Wednesday, 3:15–4:15 p.m. (Hope Against Darkness by Richard Rohr)
- Taizé prayer: 2nd and 4th Thursdays (May 4 and 18, ), 4:00–5:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please phone Sr. Anne at 607-209-4206 or email her at [email protected].
Trumansburg Food Pantry News:
To better serve the community, the food pantry is going to new hours on Monday, May 8. The pantry will now be open from 3:30–6:30 p.m. (with no morning distribution) which extends the time customers can pick up groceries.
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 4). (Church Law #920)
Family Hope Center:
The Family Hope Center has two locations: one in Geneva and a satellite location in Ovid in the Holy Cross Church Rectory. Family Hope Center fights for life by valuing life above all else. It means offering support through free pregnancy tests, a limited ultrasound referral, parenting and life skills classes, bible studies, material aid such as diapers and clothing, and through our forgiven and set free post abortion study. It means looking at our clients and saying, “I see your life; I value your life. I see and value your children’s lives. You are important and loved.” Women come to the Family Hope Center to be valued. The Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes is located at 551 Exchange St. in Geneva with an office in Ovid at 7231 Main St. “If you regret your abortion, you are not alone. Let us help you learn to forgive yourself.” To learn more visit familyhopecentergeneva.org, call 315–789–0708, text: 315-945-1019, or email [email protected].
Please take time this week to pray the rosary for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and for world peace, especially in Ukraine.
Prayers for Our Parish:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry for the Diocese of Rochester. Sister Anne Marie Burns and Sister Dolores Bachman will be praying for our parish and parishioners throughout 2023. We thank the Sisters for their thoughtfulness and kindness toward us. In our appreciation, please keep the Sisters of St. Joseph, especially Sisters Anne Marie and Dolores, in your thoughts and prayers.
Mass Intention Requests:
Parishioners requesting a Mass intention for a particular date and time can do so by completing the “Mass Intentions Request Form” located in the foyers of the churches. Mass intentions may also be requested by phoning the parish office.
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 [email protected] 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
Thursday, May 4, 2023