Third Sunday of Advent ~ December 17, 2017

Year of the Eucharist June 18, 2017 ~ June 3, 2018

First Reading:
I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. (Is. 61:10)

Psalm:
My soul rejoices in my God. (Lk. 1)

Second Reading:
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes. 5:16–18)

Gospel:
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” (Jn. 1:26–27)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
John the Baptist came to testify to the light, who is Jesus Christ. Like John, we are called to testify to that same Light. We do so by living lives of faith and bringing the joy of the Gospel to everyone we meet. We are people of joy who rejoice at his birth and eagerly await his coming again. We share that joy by tending to the needs of the poor, helping those who are broken, and witnessing to the freedom that a life in God brings. May we take our task of being joyful witnesses to the good news seriously as the celebration of Christ’s birth fast approaches.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
“When it is the depth and power of God that stirs, is there anything of which love is incapable?” ~ Fr. Raniero Cantalamesa

© Liturgical Publications Inc.

Upcoming Events:

• AA Meetings: St. Francis Church, on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.
• Food Pantries: Ovid Federated Church on Mondays, 10:00 a.m. The food truck is available to everyone every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (December 26 and January 9). The food pantry is at the Interlaken Reformed Church on Fridays, 3:00–6:00 p.m. The Trumansburg food pantry is at the Methodist Church every other Monday 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30–6:00 p.m. (December 18).
• Rehearsals for the St. James Guitar Choir: Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in the choir loft.
• Eucharistic Holy Hours on December 15 and 22: from 7:00–8:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus
• Confirmation Candidates’ Program: Classes on December 17 and January 7, 14, 21, and 28
• Holiday Breads Request: Holiday breads for the Trumansburg Food Pantry need to be delivered by the morning of December 18
• Eucharistic Holy Hour: December 22 and 29, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., in St. Francis Solanus Church
• Vocation Priesthood Dinner: A Mass and dinner on December 28 at the Blessed Sacrament Rectory in Rochester. Register by December 20.
• Catholic Education Open Forum: January 10 at 6:30 pmat St. Catherine’s of Siena, Ithaca

Christmas Mass Schedule:

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione

Sunday, December 24:
4:30 p.m. at St. James the Apostle
6:30 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus
9:30 p.m. at Holy Cross

Monday, December 25:
8:30 a.m. at St. James the Apostle
10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross.

Fr. Daniel McMullin from Cornell University will celebrate the 9:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Christmas Masses.

Weekend Mass Schedule Change:
On Saturday January 6, 2018, due to the transfer of Fr. Brendan Buckley, OFM Cap. and no replacement, the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, will begin a new weekend Mass schedule as follows:

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken
Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross, Ovid

All 483 parish households should have received a letter this week with the announcement of the weekend Mass schedule change. Please spread the word. Fr. Bernard is most appreciative of the parishioners’ input, understanding, and support during this time of change.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMs) in the Diocese of Rochester are appointed by Bishop Matano for a three-year term. Many of our parish EM’s terms end in December 2017. All EMs are asked to pick up an envelope with your name on it in each of the churches. In the envelope is a form to be completed and returned to the church. The forms will be mailed to Bishop Matana petitioning for your re-appointment for another three-year term.

2018 Calendar:
The Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy 2018 calendars are available in the foyers of each church.

2018 Offertory Envelopes:
Parishioners using the boxes of offertory envelopes may pick up their box at the following locations: at St. James the Apostle in the Pine Room; at St. Francis Solanus in the Annex, and at Holy Cross in the church vestibule/foyer. The boxes at each location are labeled with your name and address. If you would like a box of offertory envelopes please contact the parish office.

2017-2018 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
A reminder mailing was sent out on December 7 from the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) office. If you have not already made a pledge to the appeal please consider making one as soon as possible. An update of December 1 was issued: our parish goal for the appeal is $30,549. One hundred and four households have pledged $17,060, which represents 55.84% of our goal. A “thank you” to all who have made a pledge to the appeal. Pledge envelopes have been mailed and there are envelopes in the foyers of the churches. “Participation is primary, what is pledged is secondary.”

Family Activity for Advent:
Here is a creative way to help our local food pantries. Set out a box or basket in your home. Each day of Advent add one food item or personal care item to the box or basket. After Christmas donate the contents to your local food pantry. This is a wonderful activity for the whole family while helping those in need.

Trumansburg Food Pantry:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry needs twenty loaves of holiday breads (banana, pumpkin, lemon poppy, etc.) for holiday distribution on December 18. Breads may be left in the basket in the St. James Pine Room after Masses or delivered to the food pantry on Monday morning December 18.

Year of the Eucharist:
The following is taken from Bishop Salvatore R. Matano’s pastoral letter announcing a “Year of the Eucharist” in celebration of the 150 (sesquicentennial) anniversary of the diocese. “Our churches are not museums or mere testimonies to the past, nor are they multipurpose facilities for a wide spectrum of activities. They are the Houses of the Lord where the Holy Mass is offered, the Sacraments are celebrated and where Christ dwells in the tabernacles. If they are to remain open and vibrant, the love of Christ present in the Eucharist must be manifested by those believers who fill the pews of these churches and with their prayers lifted up to the Lord become a true sign of hope, a sign of the active presence of Christ among His people.” The Bishop’s letter in its entirety may be found on the diocese website.

Pope Condemns the Possession of Nuclear Weapons:
On November 10, Pope Francis not only denounced the use of nuclear weapons—as his recent papal predecessors have done, but declared for the first time ever that even the possession of nuclear weapons is to be condemned. Speaking before a high-profile Vatican sponsored international symposium, attended by 11 Nobel Peace Laureates titled “Prospects for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament,” the pope said we can not fail to be genuinely concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental effects of any employment of nuclear devices. “If we also take into account the risk of an accidental detonation as a result of error of any kind, the threat of their use, as well as their very possession, is to be firmly condemned. Weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, create nothing but a false sense of security. They cannot constitute the basis for peaceful coexistence between members of the human family, which must rather be inspired by an ethics of solidarity.” (For full address see https://zenit.org/articles/pope-stresses-need-to-halt-nuclear-arms/).

Becket Dinner:

Men: do you feel God may be calling you to priesthood? You are cordially invited to a Mass and attendance at the Becket dinner on Thursday, December 28, at the Blessed Sacrament Rectory, 259 Rutgers Street, Rochester. Confer with Fr. Bernard to be registered by December 20. If you have questions you may contact Fr. Jones or Fr. Van Lieshout at 585 271 7940 or visit rocpriest.org.

Thank You:
At the end of November the Trumansburg Food Pantry sent a note to the parish: “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.”

Catholic Education Open Forum:
Curious about the possibility of being able to pursue a Catholic Education for your child(ren)?  Join us on Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 pm at St. Catherine’s of Siena, Ithaca. Deborah Franklin, principal of Notre Dame High School; Karen Jennings, Notre Dame 7th & 8th grade coordinator; and Jean Yorio, principal of St. Mary Our Mother Elementary School in Horseheads will be present to discuss the academic opportunities each school has to offer. Additionally, information will be on hand regarding a bus option that will transport students from the Ithaca area to Notre Dame High School Grades 7–12 and St. Mary Our Mother Elementary School (PreK–6). Questions regarding the open forum may be directed to Michelle Barkley, director of public relations and marketing at Notre Dame High School, by calling 607-734-2267 ext. 321 or email: barkleym
@notredamehighschool.com.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester:
The sisters have a prayer ministry and throughout 2017, Sister Dolores Bachman and Sister Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish and parishioners. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as an expression of gratitude. Sisters of St. Joseph website: www.ssjrochester.org.

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.

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.

Cancer Services Program (Cortland and Tompkins Counties):
This a program that provides free cancer screenings (breast, cervical, and colorectal) to women from ages 40–64 and men ages 50–64, who are uninsured or have health insurance that does not cover these screenings and who meet income eligibility requirements. These services are provided in local health centers, doctor’s offices, and hospitals. For more information call 1-866 442 2262.

Ministry Schedules for St. James the Apostle

Schedule for December 16 and 17, 2017 (Third Sunday):

5:00 p.m. Mass
Lectors: Carol Kuklo and Barbara Willers
EM: Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore, Traci Bump

11:00 a.m. Mass
Lectors: Glenn Stamps and Nancy Olszewski
EM: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Tom and Beth Duff

Schedule for December 23 and 24, 2017 (Fourth Sunday):

5:00 p.m. Mass
Lectors: Paul Povinelli and Carol Kuklo
EM: Cathy DelSignore, Joan Hogan, Robin Hamula

11:00 a.m. Mass
Lectors: Tim Davis and Lynne Stager
EM: Eileen Heptig

Schedule for December 24 and 25, 2017 (Christmas Eve and Day):

On Sunday, December 24, 4:30 p.m.
Lectors: Tommy Perry and Carol Kuklo
EM: Cathy DelSignore, Robin Hamula, and Lynne Stager
Altar servers: Hamulas

Monday, December 25, 8:30 a.m.
Lectors: Barbara Willers, and Mark Scibilia-Carver
EM: Anne Haus, Ron Singer

December 2017:

Lector Schedule

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:

/cmh-10/14/17

REMEMBER: to take Communion to Richard Suchocki and Maryann Dendis before giving to congregation.

Altar Server Schedule:

10/18/17-cmh