National Eucharistic Revival: June 19, 2022–Pentecost 2025
First Reading:
Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. (Is. 11:3-4)
Psalm:
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. (Ps. 72)
Second Reading:
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Rom. 15:7)
Gospel:
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt. 3:1-2)
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:
The God in whom we believe is “the God of endurance and encouragement.” Have you ever thought about God in those terms? Our sight can become limited by the concerns of the world and our individual lives. We can look to the past and see what is happening in the present, but the future is primarily left to our imaginations. God has a clear vision for the future. It is one where the “wolf shall be a guest of the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.” It is a vision of harmony and gentleness where all will live as one. We can see the complete picture of life in God. We see what we may be, what may come, and who we can become. Preparing the way for the Lord means moving beyond the limitations of ideology, time, space, preference, and self-focused concern so that we can see as God sees. God will give us what we need to endure whatever comes, and the encouragement we need to get where we can be.
©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
- 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: December 10, 5:00 p.m., St. Francis
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.
Patronal Feast Day of the U.S.:
This Thursday, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the patronal feast day of the United States of America and a holy day of obligation. There will be two Masses:
- 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg, and
- 6:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross, Ovid.
After each Mass there will be an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is being offered at this time because it is a good practice to do during the Season of Advent when we are more conscious about doing God’s will and following his way as we joyfully await Jesus’s second coming in glory.
Volunteer for Trumansburg Food Pantry:
December is the month for the Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy to provide volunteers for the Trumansburg Food Pantry located in the Trumansburg United Methodist Church. Please consider helping by signing up on the list provided in the foyer, which also has a chart providing more details about each task. The Food Pantry dates are Monday, December 5 and Monday, December 19.
Birthright Donations and Mitten Tree:
As we have done in the past during Advent, our parish will be collecting baby and toddler items for Birthright in Ithaca. Please place your donations, unwrapped, in the basket near the side altar at St. James. They are especially in need of diapers (size 4 &5).
Another tradition at St. James has been the Mitten Tree. Children’s or adults’ mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and socks can be hung on the tree during Advent. Items will be brought to Catholic Charities in Ithaca. (There is a special need for men’s items.)
Update: 2022-2023 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 given parish goal is $31,000. It was reported on November 24 that 73 parish households have pledged $17,565 which represents 56.66% of our parish goal. Let us continue to pray for the success of our efforts.
Angel Tree Tags:
The Angel Tree tags at both St. Francis and Holy Cross Churches for the Seneca County Community Christmas Project have all been taken. If you took 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 still like to participate, gift cards from Walmart or the Ovid Big M would be appreciated and would be going to families from our local communities. Gifts can the returned to the churches, at St. Francis, please leave the gifts in the annex and at Holy Cross please leave the gifts in the back of the church. If you have any questions, please contact Gerry Frank at 607-869-5009 or email, [email protected].
The Bigger Better Bottle Bill:
Good for our streets, waterways, municipal budgets, and the planet: environmental advocates across the state are pushing for the modernization of New York State’s 40-year-old Bottle Deposit Law. This would increase the deposit from a nickel to a dime and would expand the types of containers requiring a deposit to include sports drinks, iced teas, juices, wine, and liquor. The current bottle deposit law has greatly boosted recycling rates and reduced litter. Expansion would cut solid waste costs for municipal governments and decrease landfill use. And remember—your cost for beverages won’t go up, as long as you return the bottles and cans! Please sign the online petition at: actionnetwork.org/petitions/modernize-new-yorks-returnable-container-act-bottle-bill.
Catholic Relief Services:
Check out the 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. 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. For more information on the local CRS Chapter in the Diocese, please contact [email protected], the CRS coordinator for the Diocese.
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.
