First reading:
Kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins—a house raised in justice to you. (Sir. 3:14)
Psalm:
Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. (Ps. 128)
Second reading:
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. (Col. 3:15)
Gospel:
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.” (Mt. 2:13a)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Families can be challenging. As much as they can be places of love, growth, and life, they can also be places of hurt, conflict, and despair. What has been your experience of family? There is no way around it: being human requires family life. We have to learn how to celebrate and embrace as well as forgive and understand. Virtue is required. St. Paul asks us to “put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” We are asked to bear with one another and forgive one another. These are tall orders for anyone, but they are not impossible achievements. If we keep our eyes on Jesus and trust in God as the Holy Family did, St. Paul’s vision is obtainable. Our families can take on a sacramental character and become places where God’s love is revealed.
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 7)
- 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 6) [NOTE: time change in T’burg]
- 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
- January 1: Holy day of obligation
- Sweet Sunday Social: After Mass, January 5, St. James
- Daily Mass Schedule Changes: 8:30 a.m., beginning January 7, 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: January 19, after 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
- March For Life: 12:45 p.m., January 24, Immaculate Conception church, Ithaca
- Catholicism Classes: will resume on Wednesday, March 4, St. Francis
New Year’s Day Masses:
January 1, 2020, is a holy day of obligation in celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord. There will be a Mass on Tuesday, December 31, at St. Francis beginning at 6:00 p.m. There will be no morning Mass that day. On Wednesday, January 1, there will be a 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James in Trumansburg and a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross in Ovid.
Daily Mass Schedule:
The Mass schedule change was to begin on January 2, but Mass has been cancelled on Thursday, January 2, and Friday, January 3. The new daily Mass schedule will begin on Tuesday, January 7. The new time and location for the parish’s daily Mass will be at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday through Friday, at St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken. There will be a communion service at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, at St. James and on subsequent Mondays.
Fr. Eugene:
Fr. Eugene O’Hara, OFM Cap., pastor of St. James the Apostle in Trumansburg from 1996 through 2006, transferred from St. Fidelis Friary, Interlaken, to St. Clare Friary (an assisted care facility) on December 9. His new address is: 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, New York 10703-2226.
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.
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 use in 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 visiting com and click “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 your parish.
If you have questions please contact the parish office at 607-294-0064.
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 [email protected] or 607-869-5009 if you have questions or would like to participate in this important ministry.
2019-2020 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
Thank you to everyone who has responded with a gift or pledge to the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). As of December 17, 2019, eighty-seven parish families have pledged $17,466 which is 58.26% 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.
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 ourselves about how racism works is one important step to opposing it. Catholic Charities and the local Multi-Cultural Resource Center are offering a three-session class called “Talking Circles on Race and Racism” on Thursdays January 16, 23, and 30, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception church. To sign up or learn more, contact Laurie at [email protected] or 607-272-5062 extension 12.
Ithaca Loves Life:
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. Save the date and join us!
Family Hope Center:
The Family Hope Center out of Geneva will be using the rectory at Holy Cross, Ovid, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 noon through 4:00 p.m. The Family Hope Center offers hope to families by providing pregnancy and parenting education, support for relationships, and needed baby supplies. The Center emphasizes, with compassion and grace, the value of each family member and desires to empower the community, including those looking at a pregnancy decision, to make life-affirming choices through a transformational encounter with Jesus. Through their free and confidential support services, the center’s staff can assist people with exploring options, or just listen if you need to talk with someone as you move forward in life’s journey.
Sweet Sunday:
There will be a “Sweet Sunday” social after Mass next Sunday, January 5, at St. James. We hope all can join in!
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 [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.
Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken
December 28, at 5:00 p.m. (fifth weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula, Cathy DelSignore
January 4, at 5:00 p.m. (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula
Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
December 29, at 9:00 a.m. (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Tim O’Boyle, Mary Szymanski
January 5, 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