Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ July 28, 2019

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Lk. 11: 9–13

First reading:
[Abraham] persisted: “Please, do not let my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time.” (Gn. 18:32)

Psalm:
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. (Ps. 138)

Second reading:
Brothers and sisters: You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him… (Col. 2:12a)

Gospel:
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Lk. 11:9)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We do not need to use a lot of words in order to pray well. Keeping things simple often works best, and it appears to be the form of prayer most preferred by Jesus. The simplicity of the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, gets quickly to the heart of all of our important relationships in life and sets us straight. Praying simply provides proper focus and helps us develop greater trust in God’s providential care. We never know how each day will unfold and cannot control a good measure of what happens to us. What we can control is the disposition we bring to life and how much we trust and hope in God’s desire to make all things new and right. Pray simply and listen deeply. Our Father is calling.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

© Liturgical Publications Inc.

Events:

• AA Meetings:
  • Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m., St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
  • Thursdays, noon, St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
• Food Pantries:
  • Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (August 6)
  • Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
  • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (July 29)
• Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
• A Family Musical: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, August 1–3 at 7:00 p.m. and on August 4 at 3:00 p.m., Trumansburg High School auditorium
• Marriage Encounter Weekend: August 2–4 at the Notre Dame Retreat House
• Missionary Cooperative Second Collection: August 3–4 at all three Masses
• Catholic Spirituality and Culture: August 5–9 at Merton Hall, Abbey of the Genesee
• Summer Retreat Day at Branches: August 9, Ann Kern will facilitate “The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux”
• Retreat Day at Branches: August 16, “Interior Castle: A Spiritual Journey Within” by Lena Shipley
• Celebration of Father Bernard’s Fiftieth Ordination Anniversary: September 8

Funerals

• Dominick Badalamenti, 89, died on June 24, 2019. There was a funeral Mass at Holy Cross, Ovid, on July 2.
• Frank Elliot Brockman, 79, died on July 10, 2019. His funeral Mass was held at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg, on July 17.

Missionary Cooperative:
Deacon Kevin Carges of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith will join us next weekend, August 3–4, to share a little bit about his charity “Eight 4 World Hope” that builds schools in impoverished rural communities of Jamaica. The majority of children who attend these schools live in conditions that are considered subhuman in America—broken down shacks with no running water or electricity. Often times the meal the children receive at the school is their only meal of the day. Together, through education, we can live the Gospel by lifting people out of the poverty they were born into. There will be a second collection to help support Eight 4 World Hope.

Sacrament of Confirmation Classes:
Confirmation classes for our high school students will resume in the fall. The program is a two-year course with a minimum of 25 class hours per year. Classes are held Sunday afternoons at Saint James the Apostle church. Students must be in the eighth grade to begin but older students are also welcome. If you are interested in having your student confirmed in our faith, please call the parish office (607-294-0064) to start the registration process as soon as possible so that study materials may be ordered for those who register.

Blessed Francis Solanus Casey:
The feast day for Blessed Francis Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., is this Tuesday, July 30. He was born of immigrants from Ireland in Oak Grove, WI, on November 25, 1870, and named Bernard Francis Casey. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in January 1897 and was ordained a priest in July 1904. Because he lacked academic success, he was not granted faculties to preach doctrinal sermons or hear confessions. He ministered as a porter or doorman at friaries in Yonkers, New York City, and Detroit. He counseled people with spiritual, emotional, and physical struggles and was the instrument of many miraculous healings (a wonder-worker). He died in Detroit on July 31, 1957. In 1995 the Church gave him the title of “Venerable” and he was beatified on November 18, 2017.

Fiftieth Ordination Anniversary Celebration:
We will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Fr. Bernard’s ordination on Sunday, September 8, at St. Fidelis Friary, 7790 County Road 153 in Interlaken. It will be begin with Sunday Mass at noon, followed by appetizers, buffet dinner, and music by Backtalk. The caterers need an accurate number of people attending so we are asking you to let us know by August 25 if you plan to attend. You may either sign up on the sign-up sheets in the back of the church, respond by email to [email protected], or by calling the parish office, 607-294-0064. Please be sure to indicate the number of people attending and your name. If you have any questions see Phyllis Motill, Kathy Sinkiewicz (607-869-2285), Gerry Todi, Mary Szymanski, or Cathy Millspaugh. Regarding the Mass at noon, it will be a parish Sunday Mass. For those who will not be attending the anniversary Mass our regular Mass schedule will still be in effect: 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at St. Francis and, on Sunday, 9:00 a.m. at St. James and 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross.

Help is Needed for the Celebration:
We are looking for donations of baked goods for the anniversary celebration. There is a sign-up sheet in the back of each church and we need to know by August 25. We are hoping to get a variety of baked good, up to twenty donations from each church, to be on the dessert bar at the celebration. These can be homemade or store bought. There shouldn’t be more than four of the same item from each church. The desserts could be brought with you to the celebration or brought to the Friary on September 7 around noon when we will be setting up for the event.

June Attendance and Collections:
On an average in the month of June there were 64 people at the 5:00 p.m. Mass in Interlaken, and, on Sunday, 115 at the Mass in Trumansburg and 102 at the Mass in Ovid. The average Mass collections during the month were: $761 at the Saturday evening Mass, $1,068 at the 9:00 a. m. Mass, and $797 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. Parishioners participating through the WeShare online giving contributed $1,895. “Thank you all for your attendance and offerings.”

School Supply Collection:
United Way of Seneca County runs a coordinated countywide effort to help local students through the 2019 Fill the Bus campaign which will run through August 14. The goal is to provide basic school supplies to students in need. Individuals, businesses, and organizations can collect supplies and both Holy Cross and Saint Francis Solanus Churches are collection sites. On August 14 all donated items will be moved to the Fayette Fire Hall. Volunteers are needed on that day to help sort, organize, and deliver supplies to the area schools. Monetary donations are also welcome. Checks should be made to United Way of Seneca County.

Trumansburg Food Pantry:
Beginning January 1, 2020, there will be a need for a new volunteer coordinator for the Trumansburg Food Pantry. In the foyer of St. James the Apostle church there are flyers describing the role of the coordinator. Even though the position begins in January 2020, for planning purposes the need for someone is immediate.

Lakeside Retreats at Branches:
Branches Christian Rest and Renewal Center, Inc. invites you for a day of rest and renewal at our Seneca Lake property. On Friday, August 9, Ann Kern will facilitate “The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux,” focusing on the simple life and intense love of God of this doctor of the Church and beloved saint who has inspired thousands. “Interior Castle: A Spiritual Journey Within” will be facilitated by Lena Shipley on August 16. For more information visit: branchescenter.org, phone 716-901-4313, or email [email protected].

Retreat with the Monks:
Catholic Spirituality and Culture is a retreat course offered by St. Bernard’s together with the Monks of the Abbey of the Genesee. This retreat course provides the opportunity to pursue a “kneeling theology” through the study of primary and secondary texts in the Catholic intellectual tradition, while simultaneously being enveloped in an atmosphere and practice of prayer. The course will be co-taught by professors from St. Bernard’s and monks from the Abbey from August 5–9 at Merton Hall, Abbey of the Genesee. For more information, please phone: 585 271 3657 or go to the website: www.stbernards.edu.

A Family Musical:
Please join the Encore Players for their summer musical production of Ian Fleming’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This is a delightful, family friendly production will be performed on August 1, 2, and 3 at 7:00 p.m., and on August 4 at 3:00 p.m. The show will take place in the Trumansburg High School auditorium (which is air conditioned) at 100 Whig Street. Tickets are $14 and available at the door or through the web site: encoreplayers.org

You Made a Difference:
This winter, during public policy weekend, our parish collected signatures in support of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act. Over 10,300 signatures were collected around the diocese. We’re happy to report that the New York State legislature finally passed legislation to give farmworkers basic labor rights, including the right to form a union and bargain collectively and to have one day of rest per week! We had been advocating for farmworkers to get paid overtime as well; the final bill establishes overtime for farmworkers after 60 hours of work a week. This is still not equal with other workers, but it is a step forward. Thank you for standing with our sisters and brothers whose work feeds us.

Notre Dame Retreat House
Come join us for one of our fall weekend retreats on the theme of “Our Spiritual Journey.” There are three women weekends, two men weekends, and one couple’s weekend being offered between September 13 through October 27. Please visit our website at notredameretreat.org, phone 585-394-5700, or email us at [email protected] for more details.

Thrift Shop in Mecklenburg:
Mecklenburg United Methodist Church, 6069 Turnpike Road, has the best thrift shop! The Check it Out Shop is open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Friday and Saturday until September 7. They have quality household and craft items, puzzles, toys, children’s clothes, sporting goods, books, small furniture, knick-knacks, kitchenware, and much, much more at very reasonable prices.

Help for Victims:
Victims of abuse should always report abuse to the civil authorities. To report a case of possible sexual abuse and to receive help and guidance from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, victims are encouraged to contact the victims’ assistance coordinator, Deborah A. Housel, by phone at (585) 328-3228, ext. 1555; toll-free at 1–800–388–7177, ext. 1555; or by email: [email protected].

Prayers from the Sisters of St. Joseph:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry and Sr. Dolores Bachman and Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish throughout 2019. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as well.

Support Group:
Many people who have suddenly lost a family member, friend, classmate or colleague find that sharing openly with fellow survivors about what they have lived through can help with the healing process. The Seneca County Suicide Prevention Coalition hosts twice-monthly support groups which meet in Waterloo and Ovid for convenience of the entire community. These groups are held on the first- and third- Monday of every month; and provide people who are survivors of loss or survivors of suicide the opportunity to talk in an open and inclusive environment, free of judgment or stigma. The Waterloo Public Library plays host on the first Monday of every month and the Ovid session takes place on the third Monday at the Ovid Federated Church. Both sessions run from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. For more information see www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicidePrevention or contact Mary Joslyn at [email protected].

Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes:
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes, located at 551 Exchange St. in Geneva, is offering a “Forgiven and Set Free” post abortive ten-week session beginning October 4 until December 13. There is no cost involved. “If you regret your abortion, you are not alone. Let us help you learn to forgive yourself. Pleased join us for this healing ministry program.” For more information phone 315 789 0708.

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.

Toiletries and Hygiene Products:
There is a basket in the vestibule of St. James church for donations of toiletries. The request comes from Catholic Charities which is in need of items like shampoo, toothpaste, diapers etc. The items will be transferred to the Catholic Charities office in Ithaca.

July 28, at 5:00 p.m. (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary and Lee Davidson

August 3, at 5:00 p.m. (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

July 28, at 9:00 a.m. (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Tim O’Boyle

August 4, at 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Not available at this time