July 16, 2017 ~ Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

First Reading:
My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (Is. 55: 11b)

Psalm:
The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest. (Ps. 65)

Second Reading:
Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. (Rom. 8: 18)

Gospel:
“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” (Mt. 13: 22-23)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We are reminded today that the seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest. What kind of soil do we have? God’s word needs to take root in our lives so that we can remain faithful not only when life is easy but when it gets challenging and difficult. Anxiety, worldly cares and concerns, personal challenges, experiences of loss and death, and even fear and disappointment can prevent us from trusting God’s promise. We can even find ourselves doubting God’s fidelity and lose touch with his presence. Our soil can easily become rocky, hard, and unyielding. Open your eyes and ears today and let all that is around you lead you to God’s presence. Then, do all in your power to cultivate and nurture a life that is eager to receive him and fertile for growing the seeds of God’s kingdom.

Words to Inspire the Faithful:
“I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love.” ~St. Kateri Tekakwitha

©Liturgical Publications Inc.

Upcoming Events:

• AA Meetings: St. Francis 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. (July 25 and August 11). 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. (July 17 and July 31).
• Fill the Bus: Beginning July 1 and ending the weekend of August 12 both Holy Cross and St. Francis Solanus churches will be collecting school supplies for Seneca County students
• Francis Solanus feast day is July 16: After the 8:15 a.m. Mass a breakfast will be served in the Annex
• Catholic Charities’ Open House: Tuesday, July 18, between 2:00 and 4:30 p.m., at 324 West Buffalo Street in Ithaca. At 5:00 p.m. Bishop Matano will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at Immaculate Conception church.
• Finance Council Meeting: July 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Parish Center
• Feast Day of St. James the Apostle is on July 25: There will be a 7:00 p.m. Mass (therefore no 9:00 a.m. Mass that day) followed by an ice cream social.
• Mass for Barbara Mearse: The Mass for a Deceased Person will be celebrated on Thursday, July 27, at 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle.
• Summer Religious Education Program: running from August 7–11
• Parish celebration: the second Sunday of September (this year September 10) will be the day we annually celebrate our parish.
• Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., Beatification: November 18 in Detroit, MI.

Cemeteries:
The cemetery committees of St. James the Apostle and Holy Cross are looking to increase their membership. There is a need for more people to become familiar with the cemeteries and their operation. It is an opportune time for new members because the Diocese of Rochester has initiated a wonderful new program for cemeteries. The more people we have that know the program the better off will be our parish cemeteries. Please phone the parish office to volunteer for membership on the committee.

Year of the Eucharist:
The following is taken from Bishop Matano’s pastoral letter announcing a “Year of the Eucharist” in celebration of the 150 (Sesquicentennial) anniversary of the diocese. “…Pope Francis instructs us: ‘The Eucharist is Jesus Himself who gives Himself entirely to us. Nourishing ourselves of Him and abiding in Him through Eucharistic Communion, if we do so with faith, transforms our life, transforms it into a gift to God and to our brothers and sisters. Nourishing ourselves of that Bread of Life means entering into harmony with the heart of Christ, assimilating His choices, His thoughts, His behaviors. It means entering into a dynamism of love and becoming people of peace, people of forgiveness, of reconciliation, of sharing in solidarity. The very things that Jesus did.’ (Pope Francis, Angelus Message, August 16, 2015).” The full pastoral letter is available on the diocesan website.

Feast Day of St. Francis Solanus:
This Sunday is the feast day of St. Francis Solanus. All are invited to a breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon, etc.) after the 8:15 a.m. Mass. A free will offering will be accepted. Thank you to Kevin Barr, Charlotte Huyler, and Jennifer and Shane Sharp for preparing this event.

Feast Day of St. James the Apostle:
July 25 is the feast day of St. James the Apostle. This year it falls on a Tuesday. There will be a 7:00 p.m. Mass (therefore no 9:00 a.m. Mass that day) followed by an ice cream social. Rita Demerest, Laurenda Denmark, Gerri Todi, and Barbara Willers are preparing this event. Bring the children. All are invited. A free will offering will be accepted.

Young People:
Pope Francis has requested worldwide feedback concerning issues that will be addressed at the October 2018 Synod of Bishops on “Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment.” To prepare for next year’s Synod, Pope Francis has written a “Letter to Young People” (ages 16–29). The letter is available through a link on the Diocese of Rochester homepage website www.dor.org. The letter is also available in the foyer of our churches. In response to the Holy Father’s request, the diocese invites the young to respond to an online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/r/TXNSXP5. Please encourage young people to take time to answer the questionnaire. One does not need to answer all the questions, just answer as many as possible based on one’s experiences. It is not a lengthy questionnaire.

Summer Religious Education:
The Word Committee announces that they are planning for the first summer religious education program this year running from August 7–11. A signup sheet will soon be online. Please save the dates and be on the lookout for the sign up link. If you have any questions you may contact Andy Morpurgo at [email protected],or any of the religious education teachers.

Mass for Barbara Mearse:
Barbara Mearse, a faithful parishioner, died on June 28, 2017. There was no funeral Mass at the time of her death due to circumstances. Instead the Mass for a Deceased Person will be celebrated for her on Thursday, July 27, at 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle.

2016-2017 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA):
A donation was made to our parish to offset the majority of the CMA bill, which amounted to $1,064. The one who made the donation wishes to remain anonymous. However, a public thank you is offered for the generous gift which is much appreciated.

Branches Lakeside Day Retreats:
Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Center, Inc. invites you for a day of rest and renewal at our Seneca Lake property. Our 2017 summer retreat schedule is: “Amazing Grace” facilitated by Fr. Brendan P. Buckley, OFM, Capuchin on Friday, July 28; “Sin and Mercy” facilitated by Ann Kern on Saturday, August 5; and “Most Holy Rosary” facilitated by Donna Wieand on Tuesday, August 15. Each retreats runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a donation is $30 (which includes light breakfast, snacks, drinks, and lunch). For more information visit branchescenter.org or contact Donna Wieand (716) 901-4313, email: [email protected].

Sunday Is a Holy Day of Obligation:
The following is the average attendance at our weekend Masses for the month of June: 76 at the 5:00 p.m. / 90 at the 8:15 a.m. / 112 at the 9:30 a.m. / 74 at the 11:00 a.m. Catholics invite Catholics “Come to Mass in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s day.”

Capuchin Franciscans Raffle:
Again thank you to all parishioners who purchased raffle tickets. Our parishioners contributed $1,500 toward the raffle. The drawing was held on June 30, and the winning tickets were: first prize of $3,500 to Jim Digilio, in Naples, FL.; second prize of $1,000 to Trinh Pham in Reisterstown, MD.; and the third prize of $500 to Linda Renner in Otisville, NY. A flyer is posted in the foyers of the churches announcing the winners and expressing gratitude for the help given to the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Mary (NY-NE).

Diocese of Rochester Missions:
The Diocesan office of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith sent a letter to the parish expressing a thank you for the collection taken up for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brazil and the Sisters of Mercy in Chile which amounted to $1,092.75. The diocesan director, Rev. Robert C. Bradler, authored the letter.

Fill the Bus School Supply Collection:
Beginning July 1 and ending the weekend of August 12 both Holy Cross and St. Francis Solanus Churches will be collecting school supplies for the Fill the Bus Collection for Seneca County students. We are in need of glue sticks; pencils; blue and black pens; rulers; thick and thin magic markers; crayons; one subject spiral notebooks; composition books; loose leaf paper; 1, 1 ½, and 2 inch binders; tab dividers; two pocket folders; and pencil cases. All supplies will be collected at the Fayette Fire Department on August 16 and then taken to the four school districts in the county. We will need volunteers to help sort and box the collected supplies on August 16. If you’re able donate an hour or more of your time to help, it would be greatly appreciated as always. Please contact Gerald Frank 869-5009 or email [email protected].

Catholic Charities Twentieth Anniversary:
Since opening its doors in Tompkins County in 1997, Catholic Charities has served thousands of low income and vulnerable people, thanks to the support of this community. Please stop by Catholic Charities’ Open House on Tuesday, July 18, between 2:00 and 4:30 p.m., at 324 West Buffalo Street in Ithaca, to learn more about Catholic Charities’ programs serving homeless women, families, immigrants, refugees and others in need. At 5:00 p.m. Bishop Matano will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at Immaculate Conception church that day. All are welcomed to attend.

Gardening Enthusiasts Needed:
St. James is in need of help with our Building and Grounds Committee and welcome all to join our group. The committee is especially interested in volunteers to help make the grounds beautiful. You don’t need to join the committee to help make the grounds lovely. Maybe you would enjoy taking a small area and designating it as your own to plant and garden as you wish. You could also get together with a few friends to plant your favorite flowers and bushes. If interested please contact Kathleen Rourke at [email protected] or Sandy Tielens at [email protected], co-chairs of the St. James Building and Grounds Committee. We look forward to hearing from you. We need you!

American Red Cross:
The Finger Lakes Chapter reaches from Steuben County up to the northern shores of Wayne County. They need many volunteers. Volunteers touch lives in the community every day and they are the heart and soul of the Red Cross. There are so many ways one can help. If you have any questions or if you would like further information please contact [email protected] or phone 607 936 2428.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester:
The sisters have a prayer ministry and throughout 2017, Sister Dolores Bachman and Sister Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish and parishioners. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as an expression of gratitude. Sisters of St. Joseph website: www.ssjrochester.org.

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.

Cancer Services Program (Cortland and Tompkins Counties):
This a program that provides free cancer screenings (breast, cervical, and colorectal) to women from ages 40–64 and 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, doctor’s offices, and hospitals. For more information call 1-866 442 2262.

Ministry Schedules for St. James

Schedule for July 15 and 16, 2017 (Third Sunday):

5:00 p.m. Mass
Lectors: Carol Kuklo and Barbara Willers
EM: Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore, Traci Bump

11:00 a.m. Mass
Lectors: Glenn Stamps and Nancy Olszewski
EM: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Tom and Beth Duff

Schedule for July 22 and 23, 2017 (Fourth Sunday):

5:00 p.m. Mass
Lectors: Paul Povinelli and Carol Kuklo
EM: Cathy DelSignore, Joan Hogan

11:00 a.m. Mass
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Beth Duff
EM: Mary Szymanski, Glenn Stamps

Schedule for July 29 and 30, 2017 (Fifth Sunday):

5:00 p.m. Mass
Lectors: Barbara Willers and Kathleen Rourke
EM: Traci Bump, Carol Kuklo, Robin Hamula

11:00 a.m. Mass
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
EM: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Mary Szymanski, Tom Duff

July 2017:

Ministry Schedules for St. Francis Solanus Church

Lector Schedule

 (forthcoming)

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

 (forthcoming)