Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ~ November 24, 2019

First reading:
“You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander over Israel.” (1 Sm. 5:2b)

Psalm:
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. (Ps. 122)

Second reading:
He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Col. 1:13)

Gospel:
[Jesus] replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk. 23:43)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Are we looking for Christ to be our earthly king or our eternal one? We often go back and forth with God on this question. What we find in the content of our prayer usually reveals the answer. Because life can be difficult, we may desire that God cushion our earthly experience a bit, make it more tolerable, remove the crosses, and do the miraculous. Preserving our earthly lives can take too much precedence and be of too much concern. Christ the eternal king offers a different promise and hope. The eternal king offers us a way through suffering and hardship to the greater glory to be revealed when our journey is completed in heaven. The eternal king is not the king of earthly comfort but the king who advocates for the poor, vulnerable, lost, broken, marginalized, and hurting. We are asked to become like the eternal king, Jesus Christ, both in this life and in the life to come.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

© Liturgical Publications Inc.

Events: 

• Food Pantries:
  • Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (November 26)
  • 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. (December 2)
• Confirmation Candidates Classes: Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
• Catholicism Classes: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., St. Francis
• Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
• Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
• Trumansburg Robotics: Mondays 5:00–8:00 p.m. and Tuesdays 3:00–6:00 p.m., St. James
• Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer Service: November 24, 3:00 p.m., Holy Cross, Ovid
• Thanksgiving Mass: November 27, 7:00 p.m., St. Francis
• Sweet Sunday Social: December 1, St. James
• Food Pantry Donations: December 8, St. James
• Religious Education Monthly Gathering: December 15, after 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
• Trumansburg Food Pantry Breads Needed: Pine Room, St. James, December 15
• Daily Mass Schedule Changes: January 2, St. Francis, at 8:30 a.m.

Thanksgiving Holiday Prayer Service:
An ecumenical Thanksgiving service will be held this Sunday, November 24, at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Cross church in Ovid. Participating will be the Interlaken Reformed church, Ovid Federation church, Christ Episcopal church at Willard, and our parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy. That Sunday is also the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The worship service will include both themes: Christ the King and Thanksgiving. All are invited.

Thanksgiving Holiday Mass Schedule:
Our parish will have a Thanksgiving holiday Mass on Wednesday, November 27, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus church. There will be no morning Mass that day, nor on Thanksgiving day.

The Season of Advent:
Next Sunday, December 1, is the beginning of the Advent season. “Advent has a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and like wise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight” (from #39 of the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar).

Sunday Collection Counters Needed:
St. Francis Solanus church is in urgent need of two volunteers who are able and willing to count the weekend collection once a month at St. Francis. Please notify Fr. Bernard for more information.

2019-2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The active phase of our parish Catholic Ministries Appeal (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. As of November 15, thirty parish families have pledged $5,340 which is 17.81% of our parish goal of $29,979. What is primary is our parishioners’ participation. What is secondary is what is pledged. The CMA provides funding for important programs, services and ministries that strengthen our whole Church.

CMA Allocations:
In anticipation of a challenging fiscal and fundraising environment in the coming year, the Diocese of Rochester is not increasing the CMA 2019–2020 parish goals. While holding the overall CMA goal flat this year, the diocese is still committed to maintaining the usual level of services to the parishes. These include Catholic Charities, ministries to youth and young adults (faith formation, Catholic schools, campus ministry, CYO, etc.), seminarian and deacon education, and other CMA funded programs. It is important to remember that the CMA covers about 57% of the diocesan budget, not the entire diocesan budget.

To a Suffering Church:
Bishop Robert Barron has written a letter to Catholics who feel demoralized, scandalized, angry beyond words, and ready to quit because of the sexual abuse scandal in the Church. Many are asking “Why stay Catholic with so much scandal?” It is a compelling letter encouraging Catholics to stay and fight—and to do so on behalf of themselves, and their families, but especially on behalf of those who have suffered so grievously at the hands of wicked men. Copies of the letter (contained in a small booklet format) are located in the foyer of each church in our parish. Please take a copy and, after reading the letter, pass it on to other Catholics. Go here for an interview with Bishop Barron about this letter.

Catholicism Classes:
The Catholicism Adult Formation Program was created by Bishop Robert Barron to enhance and support the Church’s mission to evangelize and teach the content of the faith. The programs explains what Catholics believe and why. Our parish classes are held on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m., both at the St. Francis church annex in Interlaken. The classes are for all parishioners, for those contemplating being Catholic, and for Catholics who have not celebrated the sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist. Please join us!

Daily Meditations for Advent:
The Word Among Us booklets are available in the foyer of each church. The booklet contains, among other things, meditations and Mass prayers and readings for each day of Advent. The booklets are costly, so whatever donations you can make toward the expense would be appreciated.

Changes in the Daily Mass Schedule:
Our parish presently has daily morning Mass on Tuesday through Friday, in different places and without a consistent time. The parish boundary from north to south is forty miles long. Parishioners in the north are hesitant to travel to our to attend daily Mass in Trumansburg and parishioners in the south are hesitant to travel to our parish church in Ovid. Therefore, some parishioners desiring to attend daily Mass do not do so because of the travelling distance. Added to this is the confusion that daily Mass is celebrated in three different churches in our parish and one church has a different time than the other two. To provide an equal opportunity for all parishioners and to eliminate the confusion regarding the place and time, and after consultation with the Worship Committee and the Parish Council, beginning January 2, 2020, the daily Mass (Tuesday through Friday) will be centrally located at St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The communion service will continue on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. at St. James. Please spread the word. Thank you.

Share the Warmth:
The Trumansburg Rotary Club is sponsoring a collection bin on the front porch of the St. James rectory as part of their Share the Warmth campaign that runs through early December. Share the Warmth accepts all winter clothing in good repair: coats, snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, etc. Blankets also are welcome. All donations should be new or gently used, and clean for future recipients. Thank you to all who participate in sharing the warmth this winter.

Snow Days:
A reminder that if during the week a “snow day” for the local schools has been declared there will be no morning Mass or communion service that day.\

Parish Christmas Mass Schedule:
Christmas is on a Wednesday this year. Our schedule of Masses for the holiday begins on Christmas Eve with Mass at 4:30 p.m. at St. James, Trumansburg, and a 8:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross, Ovid. On Christmas Day, December 25, there will be one Mass at 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken. We hope to see you at one of these Masses.

Sweet Sunday:
There will be a social with coffee and pastries after Mass at St. James on the first Sunday of each month, beginning on December 1. All are welcome!

Bakers Needed:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry needs over a dozen loaves of breads (banana, pumpkin, cranberry, etc.) for the Christmas distribution on December 16. Breads may be left in the St. James Pine Room after Mass on December 15. A sign-up list will be posted in the foyer. Thank you for all you do in support of the Food Pantry’s mission.

Ring Those Bells:
The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring the bell near the red bucket at the Shur-Save from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas, any time between 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Most shifts are an hour in length, though feel free to stay longer. It is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors while helping those in need. The money raised will mainly be used in our local community. If you are interested in bell ringing, please call Judy at 387-6488. Thank you!

Bishop’s Vita Award:
Our own Mary Camobreco received a Vita Award from Bishop Salvatore R. Matano during the annual Respect Life Mass on October 6 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Rochester. Vita Awards are given to people in the Diocese of Rochester whose actions reflect and promote the consistent life ethic—the principle that calls for all human life to be respected and affirmed, from conception until natural death. Mary, who attends both Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca as well as St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg, became the founding director of Birthright in Ithaca in 1981—the first crisis pregnancy center ever for that city. She continued in that role as a volunteer for some thirty-four years before stepping down in 2015. She still helps out at the Birthright facility, located at 605 W. State St., Ithaca, two days per week. Mary said that when she sought to establish a local Birthright, “I told God if I could be an instrument in saving one life, it would be worth it.” As it has turned out, she said, thousands of young women have been helped—and in many instances, the lives of would-be aborted babies have been spared. Mary has gladly devoted herself to helping others, noting that she’s done so out of gratefulness for blessings in her own life. “I have been given so much,” she remarked. “I just thank God.”

Habitat House for Sale:
There is a Habitat for Humanity home available for sale in Trumansburg. The home has three bedrooms and one bath and is located at 19 Salo Drive on .36 acres. Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties provides an affordable home ownership opportunity by offering a “hand up, not a hand out” and evaluate applications based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. The total gross household income should be at least $28,000. Other details about partnering with Habituate in owning your own home are available on their website: https://tchabitat.com/homeownership. Applications for the Salo Drive home will be accepted until November 30. If interested in the home call 607-844-3529 or email Liz Warner at [email protected]. We want to help you purchase your own home!

Employment Opportunity:
Could you use a little extra income? The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people to collect important information for the 2020 census in their own communities. These are temporary, part-time, or full-time positions with flexible hours. The hourly wages are $17 an hour for an enumerator/lister and $18.50 for a census field supervisor. Mileage is reimbursed at $0.58 per mile. No experience or educational requirement is necessary. If you are interested or have questions go to https://2020census.gov/en/jobs. This is your chance to be a part of history!

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.

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.

November 30, at 5:00 p.m. (This is considered a first weekend as Sunday is 12/1):
Lectors: Gerry Messmer (for Karl Messmer), Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

December 7, at 5:00 p.m. (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Lee and Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

December 1, at 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan (for Lynne Stager) and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng

December 8, at 9:00 a.m. (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Not available at this time