First Reading:
In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. (Ex. 20:11)
Psalm:
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life. (Ps. 19)
Second Reading:
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Cor. 1:25)
Gospel:
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Jn. 2:19)
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.
©LPi
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
With our world in such constant turmoil and conflict, it makes such good sense to return to the simple directives given in the Ten Commandments. God’s unassuming guidelines provide the perfect recipe for ordering our relationships with God, others, and even ourselves. But yet, we are so quick to glance beyond them and even remove them from public view because we foolishly believe we can create something better. Arrogance runs far deeper in the members of our society than we can ever imagine. Lent is a perfect time to call ourselves back to our foundations and the basic relationships that comprise our lives. It is also a time to remember that Jesus is the true sign of God’s presence. Everything he says and does, including his suffering and death, is a sign of the God who sent him. The anger we witness when Jesus exhorts those in the temple to stop making his Father’s house a marketplace can equally be seen in his anger and frustration over humanity’s constant mission to turn God’s creation into a secular world. We have a lot of work to do for sure.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food truck: Every other Tuesday (March 16), 4:00 p.m., South Seneca high school parking lot
- Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.,
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Every other Monday (March 15) 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:15–6:00 p.m., Methodist church
- Family Hope Center: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00–4:00 p.m., Holy Cross
- AA Meetings:
- Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
- Thursdays, Noon, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
- Fr. Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy’s Sunday Mass can be viewed at our parish website: marymotherofmercy.com
2020/2021 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The active phase of our parish CMA campaign continues. Thank you to everyone who has responded with a gift or pledge. If you have not yet responded, please prayerfully consider a gift. The CMA provides funding for important programs, services and ministries that strengthen our whole Church. Every gift to the CMA helps those in need, supports the mission of the Church and comes back to help our parish. Pledge envelopes are available in the foyer of the Church. Please help us reach our parish given goal of $29,979.
A Family Lenten Practice:
A great help to parents and families is “The Family Zone” newsletter. It offers a listing of activities and opportunities for further learning one’s faith. The newsletter can easily be shared to encourage the promotion of parents as primary catechist. The newsletter is easy to follow, offers several topics in various formats, it is fun and most of all it is educational. The newsletter is for all in the family, young and elderly. Try it out.
Lenten Reminders:
- The season of Lent runs from Ash Wednesday (February 17) until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 1)
- “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).
Season of Lent—Fridays:
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 14 and continues to oblige throughout ones entire life.
The Word Among Us:
The season of Lent begins on February 17. Booklets containing daily meditations and daily Mass Sacred Scripture readings for February 17–April 4, 2021 are available in the foyers of the church. Please take one for yourself and your family and please bring a booklet to one who is homebound. A free will offering may be offered for the booklet.
Offertory Collection:
During this time of the pandemic, offertory collections cannot be taken up. When parishioners attend Mass, please place your offertory in the new collection stand at the entrances of the church. The new stand replaces the baskets at the entrances and offers security to your offering.
Rice Bowls:
Drought has become a big problem across El Salvador, making it difficult for farmers to produce enough crops to support their families, and sadly, El Salvador has lost 75% of its rich land because of the large number of trees that have been cut down and harmful agricultural practices, making it one of the most food-insecure countries in the hemisphere. New farming techniques and a new generation of young farmers are making a difference. Thanks to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) school program, Raíces Ahuachapán, young farmers learned how to grow vegetables at home—knowledge that was extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the days of the confinement, nearly 1,200 families started home vegetable gardens to grow nutritious foods like onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. They can eat what they harvest or sell the produce for additional income. CRS Rice Bowl alms help this happen. Please continue to donate to your rice bowl throughout Lent. They are available in the foyers of the churches. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.
Notre Dame Retreat House – Lenten Desert Days:
Notre Dame Retreat House is offering one more retreat date on March 10. Attendance is limited to 15 people, so registration is required. For specifics on the retreat, please visit: notredameretreat.org. For other inquiries, please contact 585–394–5700 or [email protected]
40 Days For Life—A Lenten Opportunity:
Through Palm Sunday, March 28, there will be fasting, prayer and peaceful public witness across the street from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca Street, Ithaca. Your public presence offers a sign of hope and a resource of life-affirming options to women facing a crisis pregnancy. Visit 40daysforlife.com/ithaca for more information.
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: https://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 problems, please email Eileen at [email protected].
The Bishop’s Reminder:
Due to the prevalence of the Coronavirus, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice. Those who are at a higher risk of COVID-19 and those concerned for their health are urged not to come to church for Mass. Those who feel in any way sick should not enter any parish building or church.
Year of St. Joseph:
On December 8, 2020, His Holiness, Pope Francis, declared a Year of St. Joseph, until December 8, 2021. This announcement comes on the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s December 8, 1870 proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Pope Francis made this declaration to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal. During this period, the faithful will have the opportunity to obtain, with the help of St. Joseph, comfort and relief from the serious human and social tribulations that besiege the contemporary world today.
Churches Will Be Closed on Weekdays:
Due to the recent rise of COVID-19 cases, our parish churches of Holy Cross, Ovid and St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg will be open only for the weekend Masses. St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken, the Church and Parish Office, will remain open.
COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program:
This program is designed to provide up to three months of rent relief to eligible households who have experienced a loss of income related to the public health crisis. To learn more or apply, visit ithacanhs.org/rentalassistance or phone 607–277–4500. Assistance is available to renters in four counties including Seneca, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins.
~Please take time this week to pray the rosary for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. ~
Prayer Intentions:
Since we presently cannot have the prayer request books in our churches, do know that the prayer requests of fellow parishioners are still being listed on the parish website (see PRAYERS in top bar). If you would like to add a request, please email the parish at [email protected] or phone the parish office at 607–294–0064 and it will be added to the list.
Prayers from the Sisters of St. Joseph:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry for the Diocese of Rochester. They have informed our parish that Sisters Anne Marie Burns and Dolores Bachman will be praying for our parish and parishioners throughout 2021. Let us keep in our prayers the two sisters praying for us and for all the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester.
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes:
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.” For more information phone 315 789 0708, text: 315-945-1019, or e-mail [email protected].
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.
