November 28, 2021 ~ First Sunday of Advent / Year of St. Joseph

First Reading:
I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. (Jer. 33:15)

Psalm:
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. (Ps. 25)

Second Reading:
Strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. (1 Thes. 3:13)

Gospel:
Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. (Lk. 21:28)

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:
Any human success requires vigilance. Opportunities and powerful moments of encounter can easily be missed when we are not attentive. It is all too easy today to live distracted and preoccupied lives. There is so much vying for our attention that it can be hard to be selective and really focus. Caught up in this whirlwind of busyness and anxiety, we become tired and almost sleepwalk through life. Advent is a time to selectively focus. These beautiful four short weeks are a time to look backward and forward and be attentive to the human journey and God’s revelation. From the beginning of time, God has been seeking our attention. He constantly reminds us of the justice he desires to bring and the promise of his abiding unconditional love. Understanding and growing in these truths requires alertness so that we can be strengthened in our faith and prepared for whatever will come.
©LPi

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

©LPi


Events:

  • Food Pantries:
    • Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
    • Food truck: December 14, 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 (December 6) 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.–2:00 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: Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
  • Prayer for Healing and Harmony: Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m.
    • James Pine Room: December 1 & 15
    • Holy Cross Rectory: December 8 & 24
  • Religious Education: November 28, 10:00 a.m., St. James
  • Catholic University of America special collection: November 27 & 28
  • Advent gathering/holy hour: December 3, 7:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
  • Christmas Flower Offering second collection: December 4 & 5
  • Immaculate Conception Holy Day Masses: December 8
    • 9:00 a.m., St. James
    • 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross

Second Collections:
Second collections will be announced following the Prayer of the Faithful. The collection will be taken up immediately after the offertory procession when the celebrant has received the first collection offerings and the gifts of bread and wine.

On-line Giving:
The WeShare online giving provides the opportunity for donors to give to the parish Christmas Flower collection and pledge to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA).

The Catholic University of America Collection:
This collection will take place next weekend, the weekend of November 28. Catholic University seeks to:

  • Prepare the next generation to address complex social, economic, and scientific problems, and to offer beauty to a world seeking transcendent meaning.
  • Spearhead exploration, discovery, and invention in   our age. Commit ourselves to the education of the next generation of research pioneers.
  • Lead theological, philosophical, and moral inquiries into the most important issues of our time.

Catholic University is taking a bold step forward in its commitment to contribute to society her best citizens — the thinkers, explorers, innovators, artists, and faith leaders of tomorrow. By undertaking the most ambitious campaign in our history, the University will light the way as the leading national Catholic research university.

No Daily Mass—Communion Service:
This Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (November 29, 30, and December 1) there will be no Mass. The Capuchin Franciscans NY-NE are holding their Provincial Chapter of Content in West Hartford, CT. However, there will be a Communion Service at 8:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus on those days. Kathleen Rourke will be leading the Communion Service.

A Gathering:
Please mark your calendars for Friday, December 3, for a gathering at 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken to participate in a holy hour marking the beginning of the Advent Season. The holy hour will begin with Br. Francisco and a presentation on the Advent Season with the Blessed Virgin Mary as a role model during this season. The hour will conclude with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 6:30–7:30 p.m. and after the Holy Hour.

Christmas Flower Offering:
Next weekend, December 4 and 5, there will be a second collection. It is the annual Christmas Flower Offering collection. Your offerings help defray the cost of Christmas flowers and decorations.

Holy Day of Obligation:
The patronal feast day of the United States is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is December 8. This year it is a Wednesday. There will be two Masses on that day: St. James the Apostle at 9:00 a.m. and Holy Cross at 6:00 p.m. Please plan now to come to Mass on that day.

Angel Tree Tags:
This year the tags for the Angel Tree will need to be requested in advance. The tags would be for children up to age 12. While we cannot guarantee a specific gender or age for the child’s tag you might receive, all the children do come from families that have been or are having a difficult time and could use some outside support to help ensure a joyful Christmas for their children. If you would like to sponsor a child, or more than one child, please contact Gerald Frank at 607–869–5009 and leave a message or e-mail to [email protected]. All requests will receive a confirmation. All gifts for the children will be due no later than December 5. Additional information will be provided with the tags that you receive. Thank you in advance for your kindness to those you don’t know.

2021-2022 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Our given parish goal is $28,086. This is $2,000 less than in previous years. As of November 12, 2021, fifty parish households have made a pledge to the Appeal. 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. Last year our parish exceeded its given goal by $2,825 and the parish received a rebate of $1,413. Please do what you are able and make a pledge as soon as possible.

Year of St. Joseph:
Pope Francis announced a special year dedicated to St. Joseph. The year began on December 8, 2020 and will conclude this December 8, 2021. The year of St. Joseph marked the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. The hope of the year was that Christians would grow in the knowledge of St. Joseph’s virtues and imitate them. During the year our parish prayed the Litany of St. Joseph on Wednesdays after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. The Litany contains a list of the many virtues of St. Joseph. The Litany was prayed for vocations to the priesthood and religious life and that all people would have a respect for human life from conception to death.

Season of Advent – Daily Meditations:
A booklet titled, The Word Among Us, is available in the foyer of the church. The booklet contains daily meditations for the Advent Season. Also the booklet contains the scripture Mass readings for each day of Advent. Please take one for your home and for daily prayer.

Prayer for Healing and Harmony:
Prayer sessions are held on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. The next dates at St. James the Apostle are December 1 & 15. At Holy Cross Rectory the next dates are December 8 & 22. Sr. Anne Alderman, SSJ will facilitate the sessions. For more information phone 607–209–4206 or email [email protected].

Desert Days in Advent:
On December 1 and 8, from 9 a.m.– 3:00 p.m., Notre Dame Retreat House will be offering single days in silence, reflection and prayer entitled “Desert Days in Advent” There is a $25.00 fee. Lunch, time for confession, and Mass will be included in the day. Please register by calling 585–394–5700 or emailing [email protected].

Donating to Your Parish:
Online giving by WeShare is safe, simple and convenient. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

  1. Visit the parish website’s giving page: https://marymotherofmercy.com/giving.
  2. Follow the directions under the “Donate Online” section.
  3. 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].

Synod of Bishops:
Pope Francis I has convoked an Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Synod: a church meeting to consult on church matters) to take place in Rome in October 2023—two years from now. Preliminary work for the Synod begins this month in all dioceses throughout the world. The theme for the Synod of Bishops is: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission. The first phase is described as “listening to one another and walking forward together, guided by the Holy Spirit” on a Diocesan level.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester   ·   1150 Buffalo Road   ·   Rochester, NY 14624
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