First reading:
God replied: “I am who I am.” Then he added, “This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” (Ex. 3:14)
Psalm:
The Lord is kind and merciful. (Ps. 103)
Second reading:
Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. (1 Cor. 10:12)
Gospel:
“But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Lk. 13:5b)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
If salvation history teaches us anything, it’s that God is very patient. Time and time again, people have wandered away from Him and He has sent prophet after prophet to lead them back. To show us just how much He does love us, He sent us His Son who revealed this unconditional love in all that he said and did. This Lenten season is an opportunity to repent and turn back. The mystery of God’s presence is revealed in and through the ordinary events of life as the birth of Christ reminds us. God told Moses through the burning bush, “I am who am.” And so he reminds us today. Let us turn away no more and turn back to truth.
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. (April 2)
- 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. (April 1)
- Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
- Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
- Fr. Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
- Stations of the Cross: Thursdays, 6:00 p.m., Holy Cross, and Fridays, 3:30 p.m., St. James
- Sacrament of Reconciliation: Fridays, 4:00 p.m., St. James, and 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
- Days of Abstinence: Fridays of Lent, those over the age of 14 should abstain from eating meat
- Forty Days for Life: From March 6 through April 14, Ithaca
- Marion Icon Prayer Service: 2:00 p.m., March 31, St. Patrick’s church, Seneca Falls
- Movie Gosnell: March 27, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s church, Waterloo
- Coffee Hour: April 7, after 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
- Pancake Breakfast: April 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Immaculate Conception Church parish hall.
- Cemetery Spring Cleanup: April 13, Holy Cross and St. James cemeteries
- Chrism Mass: April 16, 7:00 p.m., Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Relief Services Collection:
Next weekend our parish will join with Catholic parishes across the country to take up the annual Catholic Relief Services (CRS) collection. This special national collection helps support the U.S. Catholic community’s global social ministry carried out in our name by six U.S. Catholic agencies, including Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Migration and Refugee Services, U.S. Bishops’ Justice, Peace and Human Development Ministry, and the Holy Father’s Relief Fund. These agencies annually touch the lives of more than 100 million brothers and sisters all over the world.
Trumansburg Food Pantry Updates:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry is now up and running on both Instagram and Facebook. Search for Trumansburg Food Pantry and join in the pantry’s ongoing mission. On another note, the pantry is in need of a new coordinator to carry on the work of our parishioner, Anne Haus, who will be retiring this year after many years of doing amazing work for the panty. She is greatly appreciated by the community for the many gifts and talents she has shared so generously.
Pancake Breakfast:
The family based and youth ministry programs of Immaculate Conception church and the family based religious education program of the parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy are joining together to raise money to help rebuild the San Juan Bautista Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic. The breakfast will be held on Sunday, April 7, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Immaculate Conception church parish hall. The cost is $6 per person, $5 for senior citizens, and $20 max per family. Children 3 and under are free.
Annual Chrism Mass:
Bishop Salvatore R. Matano will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Tuesday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. At the Chrism Mass, the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick will be blessed, and the Oil of Chrism will be consecrated. At the conclusion of the Mass, parishioners may obtain the oils and bring back to their parish churches. Please let Fr. Bernard know if you intend to attend this year’s Chrism Mass.
Marian Icon:
The icon of Our Lady, Help of Persecuted Christians, is on tour and will be at St. Patrick’s church in Seneca Falls on Sunday, March 31. All are welcome to a prayer service at 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s. This event is being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 222.
Cemetery Spring Cleanup:
Spring cleanup day for our parish cemeteries (Holy Cross and St. James) will be April 13. Please have all previous seasons’ decorations /flowers removed and disposed of off site by April 12. Anything left will be removed, as the cemetery manager deems appropriate.
2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of March 4, 2019, revealed that 105 of our parish households have pledged $26,972 toward our given parish goal of $29,979. Thank you. If you have not yet responded, please consider your financial participation. In the church vestibules there are CMA pledge envelopes and CMA has produced an extraordinary video in connection with this year’s appeal. It is posted to the CMA page at www.dor/org/cma.
Mass Intentions:
People wishing to have a Mass offered for whatever reason, may send in the request via phone, email, or U.S. mail to the parish office (see web page for contact information). It is important you clearly indicate the purpose for the Mass intention, the date and time desired, and the name of the person(s) making the request. Please include your phone number or e-mail so the request can be confirmed or to resolve any questions. It is also helpful to let us know if you desire a Mass intention card for you to give to the family or an individual. The suggested stipend (offering) for an announced Mass (meaning it will be published in the Sunday bulletin) is $10 which can be mailed to the parish office. You can also deposit it in the weekly collection, but you need to clearly indicate it is intended for a Mass stipend and for whom the Mass is requested.
40 Days For Life:
Peaceful prayer to end abortion continues at the vigil site across from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca Street, Ithaca. Consider selecting an hour or more per week as part of your Lenten offering. See more details at the website: www.40daysforlife.com/ithaca. For more information about the Ithaca vigil, contact Mary Anne Tissot at 315-246-7479 or Carolann Darling at 607-351-6668. “Like” us on Facebook at Ithaca 40 Days for Life.
Free Movie:
The movie Gosnell will be shown at St. Mary’s Church, 35 Center St., Waterloo, on Wednesday, March 27, at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. There is no admission fee. The film is the shocking true story of the investigation and trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell and his thirty-year abortion practice and the political and media establishment that tried to cover it up. It is rated PG13 and runs for 93 minutes. A discussion will follow for those who wish to participate. For more information contact Kathy Peters at 315-539-8006.
Daily Meditations:
The Center for Action and Contemplation offers daily mediations that have proved most helpful to thousands of people. Please go to https://cac.org or Meditations@cac.org.
More Great Links
The New York State Catholic Conference has an excellent website available at http://www.nyscatholic.org. It is a good way to stay informed and a great way for people to quickly notify your legislators regarding issues that concern you. Another link is available through Catholic Charities, and offers a variety of helpful programs: https://catholiccharitiesusa.org/advocacy-and-policy.
More Counters Needed:
We currently have four two-person teams counting the offertory collections at St. James the Apostle but could use more people as substitutes. The counting is done after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays or Tuesdays and you need to be eighteen years old or older to be a counter. The commitment involves one hour of training and then counting four or five times per year. If you are interested, please contact either Ron Singer at 607-387-6577 or at singer.consulting@snet.net or Father Bernard Maloney at Fr.Bernard.Maloney@dor.org.
Ministers of Hospitality Needed:
St. James the Apostle is in need of additional volunteers to serve as ministers of hospitality/ ushers. It currently has two two-person teams and one substitute but it would be good to increase the ministry by at least four additional people. That would give the church four two-person teams and would allow each team to usher just once a month. We currently do not have any women involved in this ministry and would welcome their participation. You have to be 18 years old or older (men or women) to be an usher. If anyone is interested, please contact Ron Singer at 607-387-6577 or at singer.consulting@snet.net or Father Bernard Maloney at Fr.Bernard.Maloney@dor.org.
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 mjoslyn11@gmail.com.
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.
Easter Duty:
All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. The precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at some other time during the year (Church Law #920).
Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken
Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.
March 23 (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary Davidson
March 30 (fifth weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula
Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.
March 24 (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Tim O’Boyle
March 31 (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Tim O’Boyle
Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid
Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.
(information not available at this time)