First Reading:
“Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Dt. 6:5)
Psalm:
I love you, Lord, my strength. (Ps. 18)
Second Reading:
But Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him. (Heb. 7:24-25)
Gospel:
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mk. 12:34)
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:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!” This ancient prayer has been found on the lips of many of God’s devoted servants throughout history. In its simplicity it reminds us of a timeless truth we often forget. We often worship other gods rather than the One true God and find all of our relationships distorted as a result. This One True and Eternal God who alone has a solitary claim on us and must be loved with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is important that we remind ourselves often of God’s primary place in our lives, lest we get distracted and sidetracked. But there is one more important piece that Jesus insists belongs with this. We must love our neighbor as ourselves. You cannot have one without the other. God’s presence within each one of us requires that all of our relationships work together. This is at the heart of God’s kingdom.
©LPi
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
©LPi
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m.
- Food truck: November 9, 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 (November 8) 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: November 3 & 17, December 1 & 1
- Holy Cross Rectory: November 10 & 24, December 8 & 24
- Religious Education: October 31, 10:00 a.m., St. James
- Cemetery Fund collection: November 6 & 7
Parish Annual Financial Report:
The annual financial report, fiscal year July 1, 2020–June 30, 2021, was distributed by email or postal service to all parishioners on the weekend of October 10, 2021. Copies of the report are in the foyers of the Church. Thank you for your financial support and for keeping the parish solvent. You are a blessing.
2021-2022 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The active phase of our parish CMA campaign continues. By now past CMA donors have received a special letter in the mail with a personalized pledge card. 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. Thank you. Let us continue to pray for the success of our efforts.
All Saints’ Day – November 1:
This year All Saints’ Day is not a holy day of obligation because it falls on a Monday. On all Saints’ Day there will be one Mass at 8:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus in Interlaken.
All Souls’ Day is November 2:
It is the day the Church commemorates all the faithful departed. It is the custom that the names of one’s beloved deceased be submitted to be remembered and prayed for on that day and throughout the month of November. Envelopes are available in the churches to record the names of those to be remembered and prayed for. The envelopes will remain on the altar for the month of November. On that day, at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, the names of all those whose burial took place through the ministry of the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy during the past year will be announced, and a candle will be lit in remembrance of them.
Cemetery Fund Collection:
Collection for the support of our two parish cemeteries will be taken up on the weekend of November 7. In preparation for that collection envelopes have been placed in the churches. Also, the opportunity to donate is online through the WeShare program.
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.
Share the Warmth:
Trumansburg Rotary Club has placed a collection bin for winter outerwear on the St. James the Apostle Rectory porch. So, if you have coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, etc. that are not being used, drop them off to benefit another.
Cemeteries Fall Cleanup:
The fall cleanup for Holy Cross and St. James cemeteries will take place on Saturday, November 13. Please have all previous season’s decorations removed by that date. If possible, please take them home for disposal.
Seneca County Christmas Project:
Applications (sign-up) for participation in the Christmas Project will be accepted at the Ovid Food Pantry on Mondays through November 8 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and at the Interlaken Food Pantry on Fridays through November 5 from 3:00–6:00 p.m. For more information phone 315–835–1996.
Prayer for Healing and Harmony:
Prayer sessions are held on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. The next dates at St. James the Apostle Pine Room are November 3 & 17 and December 1 & 15. At Holy Cross Rectory the next dates are November 10 & 24 and December 8 & 22. Sr. Anne Alderman, SSJ will facilitate the sessions. For more information phone 607–209–4206 or email [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.
Birthright of Ithaca:
Birthright of Ithaca is celebrating 40 years of service to women and children in need in our surrounding communities. Come help us celebrate and see our new space! We will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, November 13, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. We are located at 223 Elmira Rd. in Ithaca. We hope to see you there!
Worldwide Marriage Encounter:
Marriage Encounter will be November 12–14 at the Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua. Register online at wwme.org. Couples can apply for a discount rate with the code ED&LEO35 at wwme.org. The WWME weekend teaches communication techniques such as active listening, listening with the heart and empathy towards your spouse’s feelings. It is based on the sacrament of Holy Matrimony and expresses the importance of love in the union and encourages this love be taken out into the world in various ministries to serve God by strengthening the couples and families in the church.
News:
The official voice of the Catholic Church in the Empire State is the New York State Catholic Conference. Stay on top of the issues of concern to Catholics, get the latest new on our Bishops and Dioceses, find inspiring content to deepen your spiritual life and more! Facebook: @nyscatholicconference; Twitter: @NYSCatholicConf or Instagram: @NYSCatholicConf.
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].
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.
