National Eucharistic Revival: June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025
First Reading:
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. (1 Sm. 16:13)
Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. (Ps. 23)
Second Reading:
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph. 5:14)
Gospel:
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam”—which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. (Jn. 9:6-7)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
The blind man showed great bravery by speaking of Christ’s miracle in the face of the Pharisees’ disdain. But then, how could he ignore the truth, once he had seen it? It would be a form of blindness worse than the absence of physical sight. To deny Christ would be a blindness he chose for himself.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
©LPi
Upcoming Parish Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated Church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food Truck: First Tuesday of the month (April 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 (March 27) 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:15–6:00 p.m., Methodist church
- 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 for Reconciliation:
- Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- March 27, 6:30 p.m., St. James
- March 28, 6:30 p.m., Holy Cross
- Confirmation Class: Saturdays, 5:00 p.m., St. Francis
- Prayer for Healing and Harmony: St. James
- Every Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.
- Taizé Prayer: March 23, 4:00 p.m., St. James
- Spiritual Book Reading & Discussion: Wednesdays, 3:15 p.m., St. James
- Stations of the Cross & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays in Lent, 7:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Stations of the Cross & Soup Supper: Thursdays in March, 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- CRS Second Collection: March 11 & 12
- Eucharistic Ministers Meetings:
- March 18, 11:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
- March 25, 11:00 a.m., Holy Cross
Lenten Opportunities at Our Parish:
- Stations of the Cross & Soup Supper: Thursdays in March; 6:00 p.m.; Holy Cross Church, Ovid. If you wish to volunteer to bring soup, there is a sign-up sheet in the back of Holy Cross Church, or you may contact the parish office.
- Stations of the Cross & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Wednesdays in Lent; 7:00 p.m.; St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken
Annual Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Collection:
This week we take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection to reveal Christ’s love to our brothers and sisters in need. This collection helps six catholic agencies to provide relief and support for struggling communities and to work for peace and reconciliation among our marginalized brothers and sisters here and around the world. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection. Learn more about the collection at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
For any Eucharistic Ministers who were unable to attend the March 18 meeting to review the procedures for the distribution of Holy Communion, there is another opportunity on Saturday, March 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession):
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available for celebration every Friday at St. Francis Solanus Church beginning at 6:30 p.m. During the Season of Lent two other opportunities have been scheduled:
- Monday, March 27, 6:30 p.m. at St. James the Apostle
- Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 p.m. at Holy Cross.
Reception of the Blood of Christ:
In our parish, beginning on Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023, for those who wish, the distribution of the Blood of Christ at Mass will resume.
Souper Bowl Sunday —Thank You:
The numbers have been totaled, and our parish raised $807.00 dollars for our local food pantries! Our local food pantries in Interlaken, Ovid, and Trumansburg will each receive $269.00. Thank you for your financial support and your donations of nonperishable food items!
Annual Easter Egg Hunt at St. James the Apostle:
All are welcome to participate in the Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday after the 9:00 a.m. Mass! On the Sunday prior, April 2, parishioners are invited to help fill the eggs with candy at the Sweet Sunday Social after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. Both events promise to be fun. Join us!
Easter Triduum Schedule:
- Holy Thursday Mass: April 6, 7:00 p.m., St. James the Apostle
- Good Friday: April 7
- Passion of Our Lord, 3:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- Stations of the Cross, 7:00 p.m., St. James the Apostle
- Easter Vigil Mass: April 8, 8:00 p.m., St. Francis
- Easter Sunday Masses: April 9
- 9:00 a.m., St James the Apostle
- 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross
Lent – Daily Meditations and CRS Rice Bowls:
Booklets, The Word Among Us, are available in the foyers of the Church. The booklets contain a meditation for each day of lent. They are most useful for private and family gathering use.
Also available in the foyers are CRS rice bowls. The sacrifices we make to support the CRS Rice Bowl during Lent have the power to change lives by deepening our connection to our one human family. 75% of donations are used globally, and 25% stay local.
National Eucharistic Revival:
Sign-up for the weekly newsletter, “Heart of the Revival.” at eucharisticrevival.org. This newsletter contains weekly reflections, videos, and resources from trusted voices in every corner of the Church designed to help you deepen a living relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.
2022-2023 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The CMA report of March 1, 2023 reported that 95 parish households have contributed to the CMA. We thank those who have given generously and ask all who have not yet given to prayerfully consider doing so. The CMA helps our Church and our parish in so many ways. Please consider all the ways that God has blessed you and your family and think how the Church has brought goodness into your lives. Join our appeal and give back what you can so that we remain strong and able to do God’s great work. Thank you to everyone who has responded with a gift or pledge. The given parish goal is $31,000, and our parish households have pledged $26,505 which represents 85.5% of our parish goal. Let us continue to pray for the success of our efforts.
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 (March 23), 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 (March 23), 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].
Lecture at COLLIS Institute:
COLLIS Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at Cornell University will be hosting a public lecture in 230 Anabel Taylor Hall:
- March 22, 6:15 p.m., dinner and “The Eucharist, Physics, and Metaphysics: (Mis)understanding the Real Presence.”
For more information and to RSVP for the dinner on March 22, visit collisinstitute.org/publicevents.
Lenten Reminders:
- The season of Lent continues until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 6).
- “Alleluia” is not sung or said from the beginning of Lent until the Easter Vigil.
- During Lent the altar is not to be decorated with flowers.
- Musical instruments may be played only to give necessary support to the singing.
- The readings for the Lenten Masses have been chosen in relation to the themes of baptismal renewal and conversion.
- The Easter celebration is: Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Holy Saturday – the Easter Triduum (Three Days of Easter).
- During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the faithful to reflect a spirit of prayer, penance (conversion), and charity.
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.
