Third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ January 27, 2019

First reading:
Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD, their faces to the ground. (Neh. 8:6)

Psalm:
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. (Ps. 19)

Second reading:
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12)

Gospel:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk. 4:18a, 19)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
St. Theresa of Avila reminds us that, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.” We are, in every way shape and form, the Body of Christ. Our bodies are not just one single part but many. We are many, and we are all uniquely different. Yet each in his or her own way contributes significantly to the whole. We are all baptized in one spirit, and there are no distinctions that separate us. We must keep our eyes focused on the greater whole and not get distracted or consumed with particular parts. Everything and everyone must work together for the praise and glory of God.

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. (February 5)
  • 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. (rescheduled January 28 and February 4)
• Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): will resume March 20 at 7:00 p.m., St. James
• Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, will resume March 10 at 4:00 p.m., St. James
• Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
• Antonine’s Eightieth Birthday: January 31
• Coffee Hour: February 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
• When is a Free Lunch a Good Thing: February 3, 2:00–3:30 p.m. in Call Auditorium, Cornell
• Souper Bowl of Caring: February 3
• Public Policy Weekend: February 9–10
• Weekend Backpack Program Collections: weekends, February 9–24
• Communion Service: On Mondays at 9:00 a.m. will resume February 11, St. James
• Discernment Weekend: February 22–24, St. Michael’s Friary
• Bernard: Being available on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. will resume March 8, St. Francis
• Catholic Women’s Conference: March 9, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., at Aquinas Institute

Rev. Bartholomew Minson, OFM Cap.:
Fr. Bart died on Friday, January 18, 2019, at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, at the age of eighty. He had suffered with cancer over the previous five years. His funeral was on Tuesday, January 22, at Sacred Heart church in Yonkers, N.Y. Fr. Bart was the pastor of St. Francis Solanus and Holy Cross parishes from 2008 through 2014. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Visiting Priest:
Fr. John Mellitt, OFM Cap., will be visiting and helping out in the parish during the month of February while Fr. Bernard is away. Please welcome Fr. John to our parish.

Friday Evenings:
During the month of February, Fr. Bernard will be out of town and therefore not available on Friday evenings in Interlaken to speak with people or provide the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Those wishing to celebrate the sacrament or simply to talk with a priest, may make an appointment with Fr. Richard or Fr. John by contacting them personally or by leaving a message on the phone at the parish office (607-294-0064).

Communion Service:
There will be no communion service on January 28 and February 4. The Monday morning communion service at St. James the Apostle will resume on February 11 at 9:00 a.m.

Brother Antonine’s Birthday:
Br. Antonine Lizama, OFM Cap., is a member of the St. Fidelis Fraternity in Interlaken. He will be celebrating his eightieth birthday on January 31. This is a momentous event! If the occasion presents itself, please wish him a “happy birthday.”

2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of January 14, stated that 103 parish households have pledged $25,372 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).

Prayer for Christian Unity:
Although the annual week of prayer for Christian unity concluded Friday, we continue to remember this year’s theme: “Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20) and pray “that all may be one… that the world may believe” (John 17:21). In the coming weeks and months, we will be joining other Christian churches in our area in various ecumenical opportunities. Your active participation is encouraged. For more information go to: www.geii.org.

Souper Bowl of Caring 2019:
Sunday, February 3, is Super Bowl Sunday and Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday. The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, will be participating in this one-day event. The goal is to collect donations of non-perishable food items and cash that would go directly to our local food pantries. Food items may be brought to any of the three churches on the weekends of January 26–27 and February 2–3. On February 3, the second year Confirmation students will assist in taking up a collection after the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James the Apostle. Please consider being as generous as you possibly can as everything collected will be going directly to our local food pantries to help those who are in need.

Weekend Backpack Project:
The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, will be participating in the Weekend Backpack Program. This program was designed to assist lower income families by providing food for elementary students within our parish community. Food items donated must be single serving size. Examples could include: canned fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, packets of hot chocolate, packets of cheese and crackers, and pudding, cereal, canned milk, or juice. There will also be money collection jars in all three churches. If you wish to write a check, please make it payable to Mary, Mother of Mercy, and write “Backpack Program” on the memo line. Collection of items occur on weekends in February, beginning February 9 and ending February 24.

Thank you:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry sent a “Thank You” to the parish for donations given. “We are grateful for the support from such a caring community. Your kindness enables us to purchase food or personal care items for the families who benefit from the bi-monthly distributions. No other goods or services are purchased with your donation.”

Volunteers Needed in March and April:
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. March and April are the months for Mary Mother of Mercy/St. James to provide volunteers. 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 March 4 and 18, and April 1, 15, and 29. Don’t forget to leave your phone number if you would like a reminder call. Thank you.

Catholics Speak Out for Justice:
Protecting workplace dignity is essential to protecting human dignity in general. As Catholics, we believe that workers have fundamental rights, including the right to organize themselves to petition for improved working conditions. This has been part of Church teaching for over 125 years. In New York State, farm workers are excluded from this and other basic rights granted to other workers. For example, they can be fired if they collectively bring a grievance to their supervisor. During the upcoming Public Policy Weekend, February 9–10, please plan to sign the diocese-wide petition that will go to state elected officials, urging them to support equal labor rights for farm workers.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:
You are being called to a life of forgiveness. Accept God’s invitation! The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6. Prepare yourself for Lent by embracing the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Learn more at http://forgiven.dor.org.

Help Clothe our Neighbors in Need:
Catholic Charities’ free clothing closet is seeking volunteers to sign up for weekly shifts, any day Tuesday through Friday, from 1:00 until 3:30 p.m. Volunteers sort and stock donated items, and serve as clerks, although there is no charge for the items. This is an opportunity to show care and friendliness to people who struggle with poverty and loneliness, who need clothes for job interviews and school, or just to keep warm. If you are interested, please contact Michaela at [email protected] or call 607-272-5062 ext. 17.

How Do We Help the Poor:
Each year the Ithaca MobilePack for Feed My Starving Children provides thousands of meals to children in some of the most impoverished areas of the world. Natural disasters and famines make emergency food essential for those most in need, but free food can also have a negative impact on local economies and farmers. We hope you will come to “When is a Free Lunch a Good Thing,” a roundtable discussion addressing global hunger on Sunday, February 3, from 2:00–3:30 p.m. in Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall, Cornell University. Speakers will include Mark Crea and Matt Muraski from Feed My Starving Children, Ted Miles from Maryknoll Lay Missionaries, and Christopher Barrett of Cornell University.

Catholic Women’s Conference:
The Rochester Catholic Women’s Conference will be held at the Aquinas Institute on Saturday, March 9, from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. This year’s theme, “Full of Grace,” will invite participants to reflect on Mary’s role in the Church, in history, and in an individual’s personal life. The speakers are Karlo Broussard and Sr. Anne Catherine Burleigh, OP. Registration is now open. Please visit the website at Rochestercwc.org/2019 for conference details and more information.

On-Line Giving:
Parishioners can easily sign-up online to support the parish financially.

1. From the parish website, see top bar under church photos
2. click “Giving”
3. click “online giving link” in blue or the “Online Giving By WeShare” logo (toward the bottom of the page)
4. click “Make a Donation” in the Offertory box
5. click “Recurring donations”
6. a page will appear titled “Create a new repeating donation for Offertory”
7. respond to the sections on that page requesting information to set up your personal account.

Once you have added your account information, donations will be automatically deducted as per your instructions. If you have questions, please contact the parish office at 607 294 0064.

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.

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

January 26 (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary Davidson

February 2 (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

January 27 (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Tim O’Boyle

February 3 (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Joan Hogan, Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng