First reading:
[Abraham] said, “Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant.” (Gn. 18:3)
Psalm:
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. (Ps. 15)
Second reading:
It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. (Col. 1:28)
Gospel:
“There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Lk. 10:42)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We all have a tremendous amount of responsibility. Every day presents more challenges and lists of things we need to accomplish. Life, however, is more than just to do lists. Life is more about who we are and how present we are to what is happening around us. Our relationship with God is the same. It is not just about doing the right things or showing up in the right places, even though these are certainly important. What is more important is the quality of our presence in God’s presence. How attentive are we to His revelations of presence to us? If life’s demands, however noble they be, overly consume us, we will miss being surprised by God’s presence: in creation, in sacrament, in our brothers and sisters, and in ourselves. Listen carefully to Martha and Mary’s story today.
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. (July 23)
- 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
- Seneca Summer Music Festival Orchestra: July 21 at 3:00 p.m., South Seneca High School in Ovid
- Summer Retreat Day at Branches: July 23, Kathleen Murphy, OSF
- James the Apostle Feast Day: July 25 with Mass at 7:00 p.m. followed by ice cream social
- 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
- 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
- Summer Festival: July 25–27, parish of St. Francis and St. Clare in Waterloo
- Celebration of Father Bernard’s Fiftieth Ordination Anniversary: September 8
Mass and Ice Cream Social at St. James:
This Thursday, July 25, is the feast day of St. James the Apostle, patron saint of the parish’s Trumansburg church. St. James, sometimes called James the Greater, is the brother of John the Apostle and both were sons of Zebedee and were given the name “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus. James was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred, being decapitated by order of Herod Arippa I around the year 44 A.D. He is the patron of pilgrims, laborers, Spain, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, will celebrate the feast day at St. James church with Mass at 7:00 p.m. followed by an ice cream social. Children of all ages love this event.
Thursday Morning Mass:
There will be no Mass this Thursday, July 25, at 8:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Church due to the feast day celebration of St. James the Apostle. Daily Mass that day will be at 7:00 p.m. at St. James followed by an ice cream social. All parishioners of Mary, Mother of Mercy, are most welcome!
Seneca Summer Music Festival Orchestra:
This Sunday, July 21, at 3:00 p.m., the Seneca Summer Music Festival Orchestra will perform a diverse selection of classical music at the South Seneca High School in Ovid. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to the Special Olympics of New York.
Ithaca Loves Life:
Monthly prayer vigils for life are held every fourth Saturday of the month, from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. These vigils are a peaceful, prayerful public witness to end abortion and to offer information to the abortion-minded. The next prayer vigil will be held on July 27 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Let’s unite and boldly come together in love for 90 minutes each month. For more information contact MaryAnne Tissot (315-246-4749) or Carolann Darling (607-351-6668).
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.
Thank You:
Rev. Robert C. Bradler, diocesan director of the Society For the Propagation of the Faith, sent a letter of gratitude to the parish for our financial support of the missionary Sisters of St. Joseph and Sisters of Mercy working in Brazil and Chile. The collection was taken up in the church on the weekend of May 19 and amounted to $783.00. In giving testimony to their efforts the sisters said, “If it were not for the generosity of the good people of this diocese, we could not accomplish our work.”
Annual Summer Festival:
The parish of St. Francis and St. Clare in Waterloo is having their annual summer festival on July 25, 26 and 27, rain or shine as it is under a tent. Admission and entertainment is free. Food booths open at 5:00 p.m. and game booths open at 6:15 p.m. Total cash prize drawings: $17,800.
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:
Take time for rest and prayer at some of the Branches retreat days this summer. In “Contemplating Christ with Mary,” on Tuesday, July 23, Sr. Kathleen Murphy, OSF, will guide participants in contemplation of Christ through the beautiful mysteries of light. 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. Branches Rest and Renewal Center is located on Seneca Lake. For more information visit: branchescenter.org, phone 716-901-4313, or email [email protected].
Summer Love:
Why not plan for summer love by attending a worldwide marriage encounter weekend at the Notre Dame Retreat House overlooking Canandaigua Lake on August 2–4. Visit wwme.org for more information and/or to register. You can also email Leonor “Leo” and Ed Rivera at [email protected].
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.
Support Group:
Many people who have suddenly lost a family member, friend, classmate, or colleague to suicide find that sharing openly with fellow survivors about what they have lived through can help with the healing process. The Sudden Loss/After Suicide Support Group meets monthly on the third Monday at the Ovid Federated Church, 7137 Main St., and on the first Monday at Waterloo Library, 31 E. Williams St., from 6:30–8:00 p.m. Visit online at: www.facebook.com/SenecaSuicidePrevention.
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.
Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken
July 20, at 5:00 p.m. (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Patty Messmer (for Kathleen Rourke), Cathy DelSignore
July 28, at 5:00 p.m. (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary and Lee Davidson
Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
July 21, at 9:00 a.m. (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short
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
Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid
Not available at this time