National Eucharistic Revival: June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025
First Reading:
They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. (Is. 2:4)
Psalm:
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. (Ps. 122)
Second Reading:
It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. (Rom. 13:11-12)
Gospel:
“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Mt. 24:42)
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.
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Whether it is the surgeon performing an operation or the pilot directing a flight, one expects them to be alert. When we entrust our lives to someone, we presume that they will attend to them with the utmost care and vigilance. If we have this expectation of others, why would we not have it of ourselves? Our lives are precious vessels on an eternal journey. We can only stay afloat and on the course because of God’s love and mercy. It is easy to get distracted, lazy, preoccupied, and tired. Apathy can wreak havoc on the most dedicated of souls. God’s word transforms all that it touches, even a lukewarm heart. Let us seek God’s grace this Advent season so that we can walk more fully in His light. Then, finding ourselves more attentive, focused, alert, and watchful, we will be eager and well prepared to meet our Lord when He comes. Why would we not want to be ready, awake, and watchful for the One we have waited for so long?
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful: 
©LPi
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated Church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food Truck: First Tuesday of the month (December 6), 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 (December 5) 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: Fridays, 6:30–7:30 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Confirmation program: Saturdays, 5:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Catholic University of America second collection: November 26/27
- Cemetery Advisory Committee: November 29, 11:00 a.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Prayer for Healing and Harmony: James Pine Room
- Every Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 8 & 22, 7:30 p.m.
- Taizé Prayer: December 8 & 22, 4:00 p.m., St. James
- Spiritual Book Reading & Discussion: Wednesdays, 3:15 p.m., St. James Pine Room
- Sweet Sundays at St. James: December 4, 10:00 a.m., St. James the Apostle
- Religious Education: November 12, 5:00 p.m., St. Francis
Parish Funerals:
- Ana Maria Zavala died on October 30 at the age of 66. A Funeral Mass was held at St. James the Apostle Church on November 4.
- Frances Marie Harris died on November 4 at the age of 80. A Prayer Service was at Covert Funeral Home on November 11.
- Irene F. English died on November 7 at the age of 90. A Funeral Mass was held at St. James the Apostle Church on November 12.
Second Collection: Be The Light For Education:
Catholic University is a community of students, faculty, and staff who are committed to keeping everyone safe and upholding the highest standards of education. Under the guidance of its new president, Peter K. Kilpatrick, Ph.D., through its 12 schools, 32 research facilities, and more than 250 academic programs, the University community works tirelessly on behalf of its 5,700 undergraduate and graduate students to help educate them to serve the Church and nation as the Catholic leaders of tomorrow. When you contribute via the National Collection, you help the University maintain its legacy built upon 130 years of education in the Catholic intellectual tradition. You are the light for faith-based higher education.
Cemeteries:
The Parish Cemetery Advisory Committee will meet this Tuesday, November 29, at 11:00 a.m. at the Parish Center.
Season of Advent – Daily Prayer:
The booklet titled, The Word Among Us, is available in the foyer of the church. The booklet contains daily meditations for the Advent Season. Please take one for your home and for daily prayer.
2023 Parish Calendars:
Parish Calendars for next year (2023) have been placed in the foyers of the churches. Parishioners are welcome to take one for their home. The calendar theme is Feasts And Saints.
Angel Tree Tags:
The Angel Trees are up at both St. Francis and Holy Cross Churches for the Seneca County Community Christmas Project! If you take a child’s tag, the gifts must be returned no later than Sunday, December 11th. All presents will be picked up Monday morning, December 12th. Please do not wrap the gifts – parents need to see what has been given for their children. You need to include the tag information where it can easily be seen. Also wrapping paper, ribbon or bows would be appreciated. If you would like to participate and would prefer not to take a tag from the tree, gift cards from Walmart would be appreciated and would be going to families from our local communities. Distribution for gifts will be Wednesday, December 14th. If you have any questions, please contact Gerry Frank at 607-869-5009 or email [email protected].
Update: 2022-2023 Catholic Ministries Appeal CMA):
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 given parish goal is $31,000. It was reported on November 10 that 63 parish households have pledged $14,375 which represents 46.37% of our parish goal. Let us continue to pray for the success of our efforts.
Communion Under Both Species:
Parishioners have been asking about receiving Holy Communion under both species – the Body and the Blood of Christ. The Chancery Office of the Diocese of Rochester has been contacted regarding this issue. No directive has been given, so for the time Holy Communion will be distributed under one species, the Body of Christ.
Day of Reflection:
Join us at Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua, on December 6, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Praying the Heart of the Liturgy will be presented by Fr. Robert Kennedy. As we continue to emerge from the pandemic and engage in a period of Eucharistic Revival, it is timely and appropriate to reflect on the dimensions of prayerful liturgical participation and how the liturgy shapes the spiritual life of the faithful. There is a $25.00 Fee. Please call 585-394-5700 or email [email protected] to register.
Catholic Relief Services:
Please check out the beautiful handmade, fair trade goods offered by SERRV, a non-profit partner of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Access SERRV via this special CRS web page: serrv.org?a=CRSRChap to view and order on-line fair-trade jewelry, clothing, home goods, and other items created by artisans and farmers in developing countries around the world. 20% of your purchases through this site are donated to CRS to support global hunger relief and development programs. This on-line fair trade initiative is sponsored by the local CRS Chapter in the Diocese of Rochester—a network of parishioners from across the diocese focused on global social ministry/advocacy. For more information on the local CRS Chapter in the Diocese, please contact [email protected], the CRS coordinator for the Diocese.
St. Bernard’s School of Theology & Ministry:
The school is holding its 48th Annual Otto A. Shults Lecture Series on December 8 at 7:00 p.m. (in-person or online via Zoom). The presenter will be Sr. Gill Goulding, C.J., Ph.D., who will address the topic of The Mystery of God at Work in the Voice of the People of God: The Spiritual Theology Underpinning the Synodal Process. This event is free. Further details and RSVP available at: www.bit.ly/Shults22.
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]
Trumansburg Area Christmas Bureau:
For over 70 years, the Christmas Bureau has helped families by providing clothes and toys for children and food for their families for the holidays by anonymously connecting neighbors who can help with neighbors in need. Families requesting assistance must live in the Trumansburg School District and have children ages 18 or younger. To apply or to be a child sponsor, email [email protected] or phone 607–387–3428. For more info, visit: trumansburgareachristmasbureau.org.
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, 7:30–8:30 p.m. (Dec. 8 & 22)
- Read and Reflect: every Wednesday, 3:15–4:15 p.m. (Hope Against Darkness by Richard Rohr)
- Taizé prayer: 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 4:00–5:00 p.m. (Dec. 8 & 22)
Any questions? Phone Sr. Anne at 607-209-4206 or email [email protected].
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. To learn more visit familyhopecentergeneva.org, call 315–789–0708, 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 of Rochester have a prayer ministry for the Diocese of Rochester. Sister Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish and parishioners throughout 2022. We thank the Sisters for their thoughtfulness and kindness toward us. In our appreciation, please keep the Sisters of St. Joseph, especially Sr. Anne Marie, 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.
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.
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.
