Fourth Sunday of Lent ~ March 31, 2019

First reading:
No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan. (Jos. 5:12b)

Psalm:
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. (Ps. 34)

Second reading:
All this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18)

Gospel:
“Now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (Lk. 15:32)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
God does not coerce us into anything. Rather, He gives us the freedom and the means to live like adults, taking responsibility for our choices and the direction our lives take. As our loving Father, He desires that our home be made with Him but understands when we choose to pursue our own passions and desires, which lead us away from Him. We have to learn our own lessons if conversion is to be tangible and real. We cannot return to God simply because we are told to or because we are expected to. We have to come to God freely, and when we do, God is there with loving, open arms ready to welcome us back home. We can celebrate because we were dead and have found life again!

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Liturgical Publications Inc.


Events:

  • AA Meetings:
    • Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
    • Thursdays, noon, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
  • Food Pantries:
    • Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food Truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (April 2)
    • Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
    • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (April 1)
  • Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
  • Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
  • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
  • Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
  • Stations of the Cross: Thursdays, 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross, and Fridays, 3:30 p.m., St. James
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation: Fridays, 4:00 p.m., St. James, and 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
  • Days of Abstinence: Fridays of Lent, those over the age of 14 should abstain from eating meat
  • Forty Days for Life: From March 6 through April 14, Ithaca
  • Marion Icon Prayer Service: 2:00 p.m., March 31, St. Patrick’s church, Seneca Falls
  • Sharing our Blessings Weekend: April 6 and 7 promoting CMA
  • Coffee Hour: April 7, after 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
  • Pancake Breakfast: April 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Immaculate Conception parish hall
  • Cemetery Spring Cleanup: April 13, Holy Cross and St. James cemeteries
  • Chrism Mass: April 16, 7:00 p.m., Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
  • Blue Sunday: April 28, day of prayer for victims of child abuse
  • Diocesan Social Ministry Conference: 10:30 a.m., May 2, Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua.

Catholic Relief Services Collection:
This weekend there is a second collection to help support the work of six U.S. Catholic agencies (Catholic Relief Services; Catholic Migration and Refugee Services; U.S. Bishops’ Justice, Peace and Human Development Ministry; and the Holy Father’s Relief Fund) who carry out the Church’s global social ministry on our behalf, caring for refugees and victims of famine, war, and natural disasters. These agencies annually touch the lives of more than 100 million brothers and sisters all over the world.

Food Pantry Campaign:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry for the Town of Ulysses continues to successfully help many families who are experiencing economic hardships and are struggling to provide food for their families. It also supports the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s backpack program for Trumansburg Central School District students and maintains an emergency phone hotline for residents who are in need of immediate food assistance. The pantry’s main fundraising campaign kicked off with the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser event on March 17. If you wish to contribute to the Trumansburg Food Pantry at any time, please send your contribution to the Trumansburg Food Pantry, Box 162, Trumansburg, N.Y. 14886 or make a donation to the United Way and indicate that it is for the Trumansburg Food Pantry. On another note, the pantry is in need of a new coordinator to carry on the work of our parishioner, Anne Haus, who will be retiring this year after many years of doing amazing work for the panty. She is greatly appreciated by the community for the many gifts and talents she has shared so generously. If you need more information about the Food Pantry, it has a presence on both Instagram and Facebook. Search for Trumansburg Food Pantry and join in the pantry’s ongoing mission. Thank you!

Pancake Breakfast:
The family based and youth ministry programs of Immaculate Conception and the family based religious education program of the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, are joining together to raise money to help rebuild the San Juan Bautista Catholic church in the Dominican Republic. The breakfast will be held on Sunday, April 7, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Immaculate Conception church parish hall. The cost is $6 per person, $5 for senior citizens, and $20 max per family. Children 3 and under are free.

Annual Chrism Mass:
Bishop Salvatore R. Matano will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Tuesday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. During the Chrism Mass, the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick will be blessed, and the Oil of Chrism will be consecrated. At the conclusion of the Mass, parishioners may obtain the oils and bring them back to their parish churches. Please let Fr. Bernard know if you intend to attend this year’s Chrism Mass.

2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
It was reported on March 26 that 106 parish households have pledged $30,072 to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). We reached and surpassed the given goal of $29,979! This is exceptional and good news. A “thank you” to all who have made this possible. Be aware that our parish will receive back 50% of what is contributed now that we have exceeded our goal. Those wishing to make a pledge to the CMA can still do so. The CMA provides funding for important ministries, services, and programs that support our parish and strengthen our whole church. The diocesan “Sharing our Blessings Weekend” to promote the Catholic Ministries Appeal is next weekend, April 6–7.

Cemetery Spring Cleanup:
Spring cleanup day for our parish cemeteries (Holy Cross and St. James) will be April 13. Please have all previous seasons’ decorations/flowers removed and disposed of off site by April 12. Anything left will be removed, as the cemetery manager deems appropriate.

Marian Icon:
The icon of Our Lady, Help of Persecuted Christians, is on tour and will be at St. Patrick’s church in Seneca Falls on Sunday, March 31. All are welcome to a prayer service at 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s. This event is being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 222.

Annual Diocesan Social Ministry Conference:
This year’s conference is entitled “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love” and is an opportunity to learn about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recent pastoral letter on the sin of racism and how to promote this teaching in your parish. The conference is open to pastors, parish staff, and parishioners, especially parish council members, religious education teachers, youth group leaders, and social ministry committee members. The conference will be held on May 2, beginning with Mass at 10:30 a.m. at the Notre Dame Retreat House, 5151 Foster Road, Canandaigua. There will be workshops on Catholic social teaching issues and their connection to racism and social division, including farmworker rights, pro-life issues, and care for creation. The registration fee is $20 (including lunch) and is due April 26. For more information, or to register, contact [email protected] or phone 607-734 9784.

Scholarship for High School Seniors:
The Dyke, Brown, and Lange Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a college-bound senior (university, college, business, or vocational school) who has been actively involved in their school and community, displayed excellent citizenship and sensitivity to the needs, concerns, and feelings of others, and who has a positive outlook on life and the future. Applications for the scholarship may be obtained at the Trumansburg High School Guidance Office or through the following link: https://fpcu.info/our-community/memorial-scholarship/. Please return the application by April 15, marked Attention Scholarship Trustees, to the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, P.O. Box 597, Trumansburg, N.Y. 14886.

Blue Sunday:
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since 1983 the number of abused children has grown from half a million to over 6 million along with 1,600+ children dying annually as a result of their abuse. These numbers do not include missing or children exploited through trafficking. Additional resources including videos and fact sheets, are available online at www.bluesunday.org. Blue Sunday is a national faith-based movement to pray for victims of child abuse and for those who rescue them on the last Sunday of April, April 28.

Rice Bowl Collection:
Parishioners participating in the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Lenten Rice Bowl program may bring their full CRS Rice Bowl to Mass, or count the amount in the bowl and write a check to Mary, Mother of Mercy, with a memo “Rice Bowl” and deposit the check in the weekend collection. You can also give online at crsricebowl.org/give. One can still participate in this Lenten program. Rice bowls are available in the foyers of the churches.

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.

Support Group:
Many people who have suddenly lost a family member, friend, classmate or colleague find that sharing openly with fellow survivors about what they have lived through can help with the healing process. The Seneca County Suicide Prevention Coalition hosts twice-monthly support groups which meet in Waterloo and Ovid for convenience of the entire community. These groups are held on the first- and third- Monday of every month; and provide people who are survivors of loss or survivors of suicide the opportunity to talk in an open and inclusive environment, free of judgment or stigma. The Waterloo Public Library plays host on the first Monday of every month and the Ovid session takes place on the third Monday at the Ovid Federated Church. Both sessions run from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. For more information see www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicidePrevention or contact Mary Joslyn at [email protected].

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.

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).


Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

March 30 (fifth weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

April 6 (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula


Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

March 31 (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Tim O’Boyle

April 7 (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng


Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information not available at this time)

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© 2024 The Parish of Mary Mother of Mercy
3660 Orchard St., P.O. Box 403, Interlaken, NY 14847
607-294-0064

St. James the Apostle, 17 Whig St, Trumansburg, NY
Holy Cross, 7231 Main Street, Ovid, N.Y.
St. Francis Solanus, 3660 Orchard St., Interlaken, N.Y.
Diocese of Rochester
www.dor.org

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