The Epiphany of the Lord ~ January 6, 2019

First reading:
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. (Is. 60:1)

Psalm:
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. (Ps. 72)

Second reading:
The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Eph. 3:6)

Gospel:
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt. 2:11b)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We all have had the experience of walking into a dark room and searching for the light switch. If we are really unfamiliar with the space, anxiety, uncertainty, disorientation, and even fear can easily arise. Once we find the light, all is illuminated and we are at peace. Our light has come into the world! The glory of God has been revealed! Today’s feast of the Epiphany teaches us to look to our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the way to truly be the human beings we were created to be. He shows us how to prioritize our lives, order our relationships, care for creation, and live as daughters and sons of God. God’s love and creative power is universal, transcending all races and nations. Jesus brings the light of peace to a broken world that still struggles to understand itself and to you and I who also struggle to understand who we are. May we find ourselves overjoyed that we have found our truth and allow Jesus to bring light to the darkness of our lives!

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. (Jan. 8)
  • 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. (Jan. 7)
• Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
• Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
• Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
• Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
• Coffee Hour: January 6, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
• Parish Council Meeting: January 10 at 7:00 p.m., St. Francis
• Buildings and Grounds Committees: January 17 at various churches
• Finance Council: January 24, St. Francis
• Family Religion Education Program: January 6 at 6:00 p.m., St. James

Funeral:
Thomas John Martin, 84, died on December 16, 2018. His funeral Mass was held on December 21, at Holy Cross church in Ovid.

Parish Council:
The council members will meet this Thursday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex in Interlaken.

Buildings and Grounds Committees:
The committees will meet on Thursday, January 17, at each individual church. The Holy Cross committee will meet at 9:15 a.m., St. Francis Solanus will meet at 10:30 a.m., and St. James the Apostle will meet in the pine room at 1:00 p.m.

Finance Council:
Council members will meet with the pastor and business staff members on Thursday, January 24, at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex, Interlaken.

2018-2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of December 24, 2018, stated that ninety-six parish households have pledged $23,472 toward our given parish goal of $29,979. Thank you. If you have not yet responded, please consider your financial participation. In the vestibule of the churches there are CMA pledge envelopes. CMA has produced an extraordinary video in connection with this year’s appeal. It is posted to the diocesan website (www.dor.org) and the CMA page (www.dor/org/cma).

Food Donations at St. James:
Next Sunday, January 13, please bring a non-perishable food item to church and place it on the table in the front of the stature of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monetary gifts are also welcome.

Thank You:
The Portillo-LaBrake family would like to thank all who participated in the baby shower for baby Liam back in June of 2018. They are grateful for all the support, love, and baby gifts they have received! The family would like to invite you, “our faith family, to the baptism of our son, Liam Lane LaBrake,” on Sunday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross. A brunch reception will follow in the parish house.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
“Justice, only justice, you shall pursue” (cf. Deuteronomy 16:20) was chosen as the theme for this year’s week of prayer for Christian unity (January 18–25) by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute. The quote from Deuteronomy was chosen for its powerful message of promoting truth, equality, and unity. Begun in 1908, these days have been set aside each year so that Christians the world over may share the prayer of Jesus: “that all may be one… that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Prayer cards are available in the foyers of the churches. For more information go to: www.geii.org.

Educational Courses:
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry is offering courses for spring 2019 using their online zoom videoconferencing software. The courses this semester include:

• Canon Law and Ministerial Leadership, on Mondays from 6:00–9:00 p.m., from January 14–April 22;
• Unless You Become Like Children: Catholicism, Culture, and the Child, on Tuesdays from 7:00–9:30 p.m., weekly from January 15–April 30;
• Special Issues in Pastoral Care: Sudden Death, Suicide and Addiction, on Mondays from 6:00–9:30 p.m., from January 14– April 29; and
• The Problem of Suffering: Is it God’s Fault? on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:30 p.m., January 23 through May 1.

For more information contact Matthew Brown at [email protected] or phone 585 271 3657.

Vocations:
The Capuchins of St. Mary Province offer a number of ways to show interested candidates the Capuchin Franciscan way of life, which is built around fraternity, ministry, and prayer. Please consider participating in their next discernment weekend for men interested in religious life. It will be held at St. Michael’s Friary, New York, on February 22–24. If interested in attending, please contact Fr. Bernard at the parish office.

Diocesan Mass for Life:
Join with others from our diocese to pray together at this Mass dedicated to the protection of all human life, especially the vulnerable unborn. Bishop Matano will be celebrating the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 13, at St. Mary’s church in Canandaigua. This is in anticipation of the pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life (see item below). The Canandaigua parish is hosting a light reception following Mass. If you have any questions, contact Suzanne Stack, diocesan life issues coordinator, at 585-328-3210 x1304 or [email protected].

March for Life 2019:
Join the many thousands of people who will be marching because every human life is unique from day one, with inherent value. Buses from the diocese of Rochester to the March for Life event in Washington D.C. will leave on Thursday night, January 17, and return on Friday night, January 18. The march will follow a 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Catholic University of America, with Bishop Matano as the principal celebrant. People will then march with Bishop Matano and others from the diocese. Make your reservations today. You may also choose to pick one of two buses from the Southern Tier. One leaves from St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads and the other from Notre Dame High School, with two other pickups in Painted Post, NY and Mansfield PA. Seats are available for $65. Call Steve Spaulding at 607-739-9282 to reserve your seat.

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].

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.

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

January 5 (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Patty Messmer (for Kathleen Rourke), Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

January 12 (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Patty Messmer (for Lee Davidson), Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

January 6 (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Joan Hogan, Mark Scibilia-Carver

January 13 (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski