Fourth Sunday of Lent ~ March 11, 2018

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

First reading:
Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers, send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place. (2 Chr. 36:15)

Psalm:
Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you! (Ps. 137)

Second reading:
God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Eph. 2:4–5)

Gospel:
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (Jn. 3:20–21)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
If we continue to journey through life without genuine self-knowledge, without knowing how our relationships ought to be ordered and what truth is, the path we walk will always be only dimly lit. In fact, when we make the wrong choices or find ourselves forgetting who we are, we can easily find ourselves in darkness. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” Jesus is the light that came into the darkness. It is not enough for us to simply believe that Jesus is the Christ but we must live our lives in witness to this truth. The choices we make and the priorities we establish are going to either speak of someone who really does not care, someone who is confused, or someone who is wholeheartedly convinced of God’s love. Which are you?

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

Upcoming Events:

• AA Meetings: St. Francis Solanus church, on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.
• Food Pantries: Ovid Federated Church on Mondays, 10:00 a.m. The food truck is available to everyone every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (March 6 and March 20). The 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. (March 19 and April 2)
• Book Discussion: Mother Teresa: No Greater Love at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesdays at St. James the Apostle
• Confirmation Candidates’ Program: Sunday, March 11 and 18
• Stations of the Cross with Soup Supper: Thursdays of Lent, 6:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church followed by a communal “Soup Supper.”
• Stations of the Cross with Benediction: Fridays of Lent, 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
• Lenten Day of Reflection: March 13 at Notre Dame Retreat House
• Patrick’s Day Social: after the March 17 evening Mass in the St. Francis Solanus church annex
• Holy Cross Cemetery Cleanup: all winter decorations should be removed by March 31
• Sacrament of Confirmation: April 5 at St. Mary’s Church, Waterloo
• Children’s Stations of the Cross: at 6:00 p.m. on March 15 at St. Francis Solanus followed by a pizza supper.
• Small-group Retreat: “33 Days to Morning Glory,” beginning April 24 through May 29, from 6:50–8:30 p.m., Holy Cross parish house
• Parish Dinner Dance: A “Spring Fling” on April 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion in Trumansburg.

Catholic Relief Services Collection:
This national collection will be taken up this weekend. Your donation helps provide humanitarian aid, resettling displaced individuals and families, and advocating on behalf of the vulnerable. Please visit www.usccb.org/catholic-relief to learn how you are making a difference.

Food Pantry Volunteers Needed:
Trumansburg Food Pantry relies on help from our parish during the months of April and May (April 2, 16, and 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.

Open for Forgiveness:
This Wednesday, March 14, is the diocesan day of penance. Parishes throughout the diocese will have a priest available for the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 12:30–7:30 p.m. Fr. Bernard will be available at the Parish Center, St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken, for you to receive this sacrament. “Experience God’s love in confession.” For more information regarding the day please consult http://forgiven.dor.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Social:
A social will take place this coming Saturday, March 17, the feast day of St. Patrick, after the 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Solanus Church annex. Irish coffee (spiked and unspiked) will be served with other delights. All are welcome.

Stations of the Cross:
• Thursdays of Lent, 6:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church followed by a communal “Soup Supper.”
• Fridays of Lent, beginning March 2, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Francis Solanus Church with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Parish Center.

Faith Formation Event:
Children participating in our parish faith formation program will gather at St. Francis Solanus Church for their rehearsed Stations of the Cross on March 15 at 6:00 p.m. Following the service, pizza will be served.

Holy Cross Cemetery:
Please have all winter decorations removed by March 31. Thank you.

Parish Dinner Dance:
Please make plans to attend the parish dinner dance, “Spring Fling,” scheduled for Saturday evening, April 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion in Trumansburg. Music will be provided by the Tarps. Cost: adults are $25.00 and children under the age of ten are free. The sale of tickets will begin the weekend of April 8.

January Mass Attendance:
The four weekends of January had the following average Mass attendance: 49 at the 5:00 p.m.; 110 at the 9:00 a.m.; and 72 at the 10:30 a.m.

Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday Schedule:
Please make plans now to celebrate the three days of Easter:

• March 29, Thursday of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday), 7:00 p.m. at St. James the Apostle;
• March 30, Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), 3:00 p.m. at Holy Cross; and
• March 31, Saturday, the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, 8:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus.

The Easter Sunday Masses on April 1, will be the regular Sunday schedule, namely: 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle and 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross.

2018 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
A report was issued on March 2 regarding our parish’s participation in the appeal. The given goal to the parish is, $30,549. What has been pledged by 132 parish households is $28,626 which represents 93.71% of our goal. If all our households made a pledge, we would have no difficulty in reaching our goal. Participation is primary, what is pledged is secondary. Pledge envelopes are available in the foyers of our churches. Everyone please help us reach our goal. Thanks to all who have made a pledge to this most needed appeal.

Year of the Eucharist:
The following is taken from Bishop Salvatore R. Matano’s pastoral letter announcing a “Year of the Eucharist” in celebration of the 150 (sesquicentennial) anniversary of the diocese. “As I wrote in the letter of promulgation for the Diocese of Rochester’s Policies for the Administration of the Sacraments, how difficult it would be to try to ‘go it alone’—to make sense of this life ‘on our own.’ But the Christ of the Eucharist has not left us orphans; He has called us by name. Our Lord has extended the invitation: ‘Come to me all you who find life burdensome, and I will refresh your souls!’ (Matthew 11:28). As a diocesan family, let us respond to Christ’s invitation and open our hearts to Him present in the gift eternal, the gift of life, the Most Holy Eucharist… United in faith and invoking the intercession of Mary, our Mothers, and St. John Fisher, parton of our diocese, I remain Devotedly yours in Christ, Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Rochester.” The complete letter from the bishop is available on the diocese web page.

Thank You:
The director of the South Seneca Ecumenical Food Pantry, Nancy Janniff, thanked the parish for the recent “souperbowl” donations of 220.5 pounds of food together with $438. “You are all a blessing to us and the communities.”

Sacrament of Confirmation:
Bishop Salvatore Matano will confirm eight of our young parishioners along with many other confirmation candidates on Thursday, April 5, at St. Mary’s Church, Waterloo. Let us keep those preparing for the celebration of this sacrament in our thoughts and prayers throughout this month.

Lenten Days of Abstinence:
Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence, i.e. meatless days. Abstinence prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of fourteen and continues to oblige throughout a person’s entire life. Those not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are encouraged
to join in this discipline to the extent that they are able.

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 Schedules for St. James the Apostle

March 18, 2018 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Barbara Willers and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom and Beth Duff, Debbie Short

Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018 (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff (for Tim Davis) and Lynne Stager
3 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Joan Hogan, Tim O’Boyle, Cathy DelSignore

Ministry schedule for Holy Cross

March 2018: