The Baptism of the Lord~ January 12, 2020

First reading:
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased. (Is. 42:1)

Psalm:
The Lord will bless his people with peace. (Ps. 29)

Second reading:
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. (Acts 10:38a)

Gospel:
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. (Mt. 3:16)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
The Baptism of Jesus is similar in purpose to our own. As Jesus was distinguished as the beloved Son in whom God is well pleased, so, too, are we. We share that same special favor with God and are brought into an intimate relationship with Him. Does this reality change how we feel about ourselves? It certainly does. Baptism forever changes us and calls us to the ministries of mercy and humility. God has formed each of us in our mother’s womb and asks us to be a light for all people. We carry this light humbly as we know who ultimately has a claim on us and to whom we belong. We then are called to live our lives in imitation of Christ and become incarnate vessels of mercy. Our world needs to be touched by compassion and only we can complete the task.

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. (January 21)
  • Interlaken Reformed church: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Fridays
  • Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:15-6:00 p.m., every other Monday (January 20)
• Confirmation Candidates Classes: 4:00 p.m., Sundays, St. James
• Trumansburg Robotics: 5:00–8:00 p.m. on Mondays and 3:00–6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, St. James
• Family Hope Center: 12:00–4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, Holy Cross rectory
• Choir Rehearsal: 6:30 p.m., Thursdays, St. Francis
• Fr. Bernard is available: 6:30 p.m., Fridays, St. Francis
• Food Pantry Donations: January 12, St. James
• Talking Circles on Race and Racism: 6:00 p.m.; January 16, 23, and 30; Immaculate Conception church
• Religious Education Monthly Gathering: after 9:00 a.m. Mass, January 19, St. James
• Annual TAC Meeting: 1:00 p.m., January 19, Jacksonville United Methodist church
• Respect Life Novena: January 21 through the 29
• Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children: January 22
• March for Life: 12:45 p.m., January 24, Immaculate Conception church, Ithaca
• Stand Out for Life: 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., January 25, across the street from Planned Parenthood
• Sweet Sunday Social: After Mass, February 2, St. James
• Catholicism Classes: will resume on March 4, St. Francis

Baptism of the Lord:
With the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord on January 12, the Christmas season comes to an end liturgically. Ordinary time in the Church begins on January 13 and continues through February 25, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. January 12 is not a holy day of obligation.

Food Donations at St. James:
This Sunday, and every second Sunday of the month, please bring nonperishable food items to St. James church. You may place the items in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monetary gifts are also welcome.

Food Pantry Volunteers Needed:
Every two months the churches of Trumansburg and Jacksonville take turns providing volunteers for the Trumansburg Food Pantry located in the Trumansburg United Methodist church. February and March are the months for Mary Mother of Mercy/St. James to provide volunteers this year. Please consider helping by signing up on the list provided in the foyer. There are various times and tasks available from which you can choose and the dates are February 3 and 17 and March 2, 16, and 30. Don’t forget to leave your phone number if you would like a reminder call. Thank you.

Church Calendars for 2020:
In the foyers of the churches there are church calendars for the new year of 2020. The lower portion of the calendar contains helpful information regarding the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, e.g.: the mailing address, phone number, email address, and website plus the weekend Mass schedule. Please be sure to pick up a calendar for your home.

Financial Support for the Parish:

There are several ways to financially support the parish.

• Boxes of offertory envelopes: These continue to be available for those who prefer to use offertory envelopes. For those who requested them, check your local church for the box with your name on it.
• Writing a check: If you support the parish with a check, there is no need to use boxes of offertory envelopes. You will still receive your tax information in the new year.
• On-line giving: You can safely contribute online through the WeShare Program by clicking on  “Giving.” Once on the giving page, click on the line “online giving link” which will lead you to the WeShare page for our parish. Under offertory you will see a box: “Make a Donation.” Click on that box and choose either “Recurring” or “One Time Donation” and then follow the directions to enter your donation. Please continue to use your WeShare account to support of your parish.

If you have questions please contact the Parish Office at 607-294-0064.

2019–2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Thank you to everyone who has responded with a pledge to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). As of December 26, 2019, ninety-four parish families pledged $19,951 which is 66.55% of the 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.

Sunday Collection Counters:
The parish is in need of people to count our weekend collections. Volunteers work with another volunteer once a month for about two–three hours. If you can do this ministry, it will be a great help to the parish. Please contact Fr. Bernard to volunteer.

Priest Coverage:
Fr. Joseph Marcoux, pastor of St. Catherine of Sienna church in Ithaca, will be away the weekends of January 19 and 26, and has requested help. Fr. Bernard will fill in for Fr. Joseph on those weekends. Fr. Bernard will also be away during the month of February. At the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, Fr. Richard will be the presider at the Masses for the last two weekends of January and during weekends throughout February. Fr. Richard will also be presiding over the weekday Masses at St. Francis, Tuesday through Friday, during February.

Trumansburg Area Churches:
Everyone is invited to annual meeting of the Trumansburg Area Church (TAC). It will be held next Sunday, January 19, at the Jacksonville United Methodist church at 1:00 p.m. Carmen Guidi will be providing a presentation on Second Wind Cottages Inc., which provides housing and support for homeless adults in the Tompkins County.

For Life:
Join Catholics nationwide in a special Respect Life novena from January 21 through the 29. You can sign up at www.9daysforlife.com for daily intentions, brief reflections, and more. Respect for life events also include the following:

• The annual day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children will be held on Wednesday, January 22. Catholics are called to observe this day through prayer and penance. For more information: respectlifeprogram.org/january-22.
• The local “March for Life”will take place in Ithaca on Friday, January 24, beginning at 12:45 p.m. from the steps of Immaculate Conception church. The Knights of Columbus will be providing refreshments following the March.
• “Stand Out for Life”takes place on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. across the street from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca Street. There will be a peaceful, prayerful, public witness for the protection of unborn children and their mothers and fathers.

For more information on the above items, contact Carolann at 607–351–6668.

Addressing Racism:
As Catholics we believe that racism is evil, a sin against human dignity. It’s not enough to say “I’m not a racist;” we have to actively work against racism. Educating people about how racism works is one important step to opposing it. Catholic Charities and the local Multi-cultural Resource Center in Ithaca are offering a great opportunity to do this with a three-session class called “Talking Circles on Race and Racism” beginning at 6:00 p.m. on January 16, 23, and 30, at Immaculate Conception church. To sign up or learn more, contact Laurie at LKonwinski@dor.org or 607-272-5062 ext 12.

Catholicism Class:
The adult faith formation program by Bishop Robert Barron called “Catholicism” will resume on Wednesday, March 4, and will continue throughout the Season of Lent on Wednesdays at St. Francis.

Card Ministry:
The Witness Committee is seeking one or two individuals who would be willing to join the group in writing and sending cards, notes, or letters to the homebound and hospitalized members of our parish. If you are interested you would be assigned one month in which you will agree to send a note or card to the names on the list. There are currently eighteen individuals on the parish homebound list. Please contact Marilynn Frank at maren@ottcmail.com or 607 869 5009 if you have questions or would like to participate in this important ministry.

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 for the Diocese of Rochester. They have informed our parish that Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, during 2020. In gratitude, let us pray for Sr. Anne Burns and all the Sisters of St. Joseph.

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.

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 liz@tchabitat.com. 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!

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.

January 11, at 5:00 p.m. (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Millie Messmer and Cathy DelSignore (for Lee and Mary Davidson), Robin Hamula

January 18, at 5:00 p.m. (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

January 12, 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

January 19, at 9:00 a.m. (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Not available at this time