First Reading:
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh. (Gn. 2:24)
Psalm:
May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives. (Ps. 128)
Second Reading:
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. (Heb. 2:11)
Gospel:
“Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” (Mk. 10:9)
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:
“What God has joined together.” We are all familiar with these words. Because man and woman are essentially of the same substance, although also distinctively different, there is an innate desire to be connected and united. Admittedly, marriage covenants can be extremely difficult to negotiate and, at times, very painful to experience. But they can also be celebrations of great union and happiness. This is proven by couples who have been married for many years who still have that same twinkle of devotion in their eyes that was present on their wedding day. God designed it to be this way. By God’s power, the two become one. This is not of human design. The true intimacy of marriage is a Divine Intimacy. It is a bond created by a power far greater than any found in the two people who are joined. Marriage is where the virtue of love is most fully expressed.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food truck: October 12, 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 (October 11) 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
- Blessing of Animals: This Sunday, October 3, 1:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- RCIA begins: October 6, 7:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus
- Prayer for Healing and Harmony: Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m.
- St James the Apostle: October 6 & 20
- Holy Cross Rectory: October 13 & 27
- CROP Walk: October 10, 2:00 p.m., St. James the Apostle
Funerals:
- Elizabeth Jenner, age 104, died September 11, 2021. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. James the Apostle Church on September 22, 2021.
- Lee Davidson, age 75 died September 23, 2021. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Francis Solanus Church, on September 30, 2021.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA):
This is a faith formational program for people interested in learning about Jesus Christ and His Church, with a leaning toward being baptized, confirmed and celebrating Holy Communion. It is also for Catholics who have yet to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation and/or Holy Communion. It is also for Catholics who are interested in continuing their religious education formation. The classes will be begin on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the Parish Center, St. Francis Solanus Church. Parishioners knowing people who might be interested in such a program please inform Fr. Bernard or Br. Francisco. For more information and/or to register, please phone the parish office.
Baptisms:
Jack and Brad Agnello were baptized on September 21, 2021, at Holy Cross Church.
Blessing of Animals:
This Sunday, October 3, at 1:00 p.m. at the parish center, St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken, the Blessing of Animals will take place. Monday, October 4, is the Feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis has a love for all of God’s creation. It is traditional to bless animals for his feast day.
CROP Hunger Walk:
The annual Trumansburg Tom Lange Memorial CROP Hunger Walk, sponsored by the Trumansburg Area Churches (TAC), will take place on Sunday, October 10, at 2:00 p.m. (all walkers register at 1:45 p.m.). The host and starting place will be St. James the Apostle Church. The initials CROP stand for Christian Rural Overseas Program and/or Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty, and their goal is “ending hunger one step at a time.” To register for the walk or to help sponsor the event with a donation please go here. Also, checks can be mailed to the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses, Attn: Carol MacLeod, 69 E. Main Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886. Please make checks out to CWS/CROP. During this COVID time, waivers for all walkers must be completed and signed. Waivers will be available at the event or online. If you would like to contribute directly on behalf of the parish, please go here.
Prayer for Healing and Harmony:
The gathering for prayer will take place Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. They will be at St. James the Apostle Pine Room on the first and third Wednesdays (October 6 & 20) and at Holy Cross Rectory on the second and fourth Wednesdays (October 13 & 27). Sister Anne Alderman, SSJ will facilitate the prayer sessions. For more information phone: 607–209–4206 or email [email protected].
Vocations Committee:
The Diocesan Vocation Directors have requested that each parish develop a committee to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life in their parish. They have materials available to assist this ministry. Our church needs priests and religious. Please consider helping and volunteer for the committee.
October – Respect Life Month:
The first Sunday of October, which is Respect Life Sunday, begins the Respect Life Month. The month is dedicated to helping Catholics understand and value the gift of human life and help build a culture that cherishes and protects life. During this Year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis I invites us to reflect more deeply on how St. Joseph loved Jesus with a father’s heart. Joseph’s unhesitating adherence to God’s will as he faithfully and lovingly protected the Christ Child and the Blessed Mother bears witness to our own call as Christians to safe guard God’s gift of human life. May St. Joseph help us to faithfully commit ourselves to the service and defense of human life, especially where it is vulnerable or threatened, and obtain for us the grace to do the will of God in all things.
2021-2022 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Fall Appeal Letter from Bishop Matano was mailed to our parishioners sometime during this past week. Hopefully you have all received the Appeal letter. Our parish given goal this year has been decreased from $29,979 to $28,086. Please respond to this Appeal as soon as you are able. Participation in the Appeal is primary. Please note that if all our parish households participated, our goal would be easily reached.
Synod of Bishops:
Pope Francis I has convoked an Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to take place in Rome in October 2023. Preliminary work for the Synod begins this month in all dioceses throughout the world. On October 10, 2021, Bishop Matano, in union with our Holy Father, will celebrate the convocation of the Synod of Bishops under the theme: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” The Mass will be at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 11:15 a.m. The invitation to the Mass is extended to all parishioners.
Rosary Rally:
This annual rally is promoted by a group called “America Needs Fatima.” The rally commemorates the last apparition of our Lady of Fatima and the miracle of the sun which occurred on October 13, 1917 and offers prayers for our nation, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary there will be an ending of the chaos, immorality, and social upheaval in our nation. A rosary rally will take place on October 16 at 12:00 p.m. at Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Center, 8251 Lower Lake Road, Lodi. On that date and time, it is expected that over 20,000 rosary rallies will be taking place throughout our nation.
40 Days for Life Prayer Campaign:
40 Days for Life is an international campaign of fasting and peaceful prayer outside of abortion clinics. In Ithaca we pray across the street from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca St. The next prayer campaign begins September 22–October 31, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. everyday. 40daysforlife.com/ithaca offers daily devotions, resources, and an online calendar to select your hour to pray. Together, our peaceful prayer and witness will offer hope and life-affirming options to vulnerable women. For more info contact Carolann Darling, 607–351–6668.
ExultRochester Catholic Men’s Conference:
This conference will be held on Saturday, October 23 from 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Parish of the Holy Family at St. Jude, 4100 Lyell Rd, Rochester. Information and registration are available online: exultrochester.org.
GriefShare Meetings:
Ovid Federated Church will be starting a cycle of GriefShare meetings on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. The GriefShare Program is a Biblical, Christ-centered seminar that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. For information call the Ovid Federated Church office at 607–869–2794 or Judy Mellgard at 814–762–6928.
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 problems, please email Eileen at [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.
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.
Year of St. Joseph:
Pope Francis initiated the Year of St. Joseph in recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as patron of the Catholic Church. This year is dedicated to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.
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.
