Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ September 23, 2018

First reading:
For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. (Wis. 2:18)

Psalm:
The Lord upholds my life. (Ps. 54)

Second reading:
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. (Jas. 3:18)

Gospel:
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” (Mk. 9:37)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Humility is really a virtue that allows us to keep our relationships in proper order: God first, others second, and myself third. However, we all wrestle with our incompleteness, weakness, and imperfections. Passions and impulses from within can color how we view our lives and distort them. Who among us does not struggle with jealousy, envy, pride, and lust? Then, when we can’t have what we desire, we find ourselves angry, greedy, and taking more than we deserve. The downward spiral continues. Even Jesus’s disciples, who knew him better than most, argued about who was the greatest. Humbly seeking the wisdom that comes from God and His righteousness is the corrective we need in order to keep ourselves in check.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

© Liturgical Publications Inc.

Upcoming Events:

• AA Meetings: St. Francis Solanus church, Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.
• Food Pantries: There is a food pantry at the Ovid Federated church on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. The food truck is available to everyone every other Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. (October 2). A 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. (September 24).
• Bernard is Available: Every Friday at 6:30 p.m. in St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken, and no appointment is needed.
• Pro-life Novena: from August 3 to September 28
• Steve Angrisano: a renowned Catholic musician and storyteller at 7:00 p.m. on September 23 through 25 at Immaculate Conception Church
• Forty Days for Life: A peaceful and prayerful vigil from September 26 until November 4
• Renewing Your Relationship: 6:30–9:00 p.m. on September 29 in the Newcomb Friendship Center at St Cecilia Church, 2732 Culver Rd., Rochester.
• Vigil Mass for Respect Life Sunday: at 4:30 pm. on October 6 in the Church of the Holy Spirit, 1355 Hatch Rd, Webster
• Catholic Men’s Conference: October 13 at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Rochester, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Crop Hunger Walk: October 14 at the Trumansburg Methodist Church
• Empty Rice Bowl Events: October 16 at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Center Street, Geneva, and on October 24, at Sacred Heart Church, 90 Melrose Road, Auburn

Workbook for Lectors:
Lectors are asked to please pick up the 2019 Workbook for Lectors located in the churches where you usually proclaim the word of God. Please take the book that has your name posted on the workbook.

Maintenance Person:
Our parish is in need of one person who would be on call for periodic maintenance jobs for each of our church buildings. Jobs could include things like painting, minor electrical or plumbing work, repair of kneelers, changing light bulbs, or other such tasks. If interested, or you know of someone who might a good candidate, please contact the parish office regarding this paid service.

Reception of Holy Communion:
On occasion, communicants have taken the host and dipped it into the chalice to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, a practice called intinction. Our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion have been instructed that, when an attempt is made by a communicant to dip the host into the chalice, the Eucharistic minister will put their hand over the cup to stop that action.

Weekly Offerings:
The parish will be ordering the boxes of offertory envelopes for 2019. If you are not presently using the box of offertory envelopes and would like to, please notify the parish office and an order for a box of offertory envelopes will be made for you. A reminder that offerings to the parish can also be made by donating on line through “WeShare.” The bulletin announcement below will tell you how to donate online.

Donate Online:
Online giving is now available for parishioners with WeShare, an easy and convenient way to save time and support your parish. Donating is simple, safe, and completely secure. If you would like to enroll in online giving, please visit the parish website and click on “Giving.” Follow the instructions you will see on that page. If you have any questions or concerns about the program or would like help setting up your account, please email our business manager, Eileen Heptig, at [email protected].

Free Tables and Chairs:
St. Francis Solanus church has solid folding tables and chairs that have not been used in recent years. If you are interested in having one or several, please contact the parish office. The church also has an artificial Christmas tree in good condition to give away.

Ending Hunger One Step at a Time:
This year marks the thirtieth year for the local Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty (CROP) Hunger Walk and the thirtieth anniversary of the Trumansburg Food Pantry. The CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, October 14, and it will start and finish at the Trumansburg Methodist Church (site of the Food Pantry). Walker registration will be at 1:45 p.m. and the Walk will begin at 2:00 p.m. CROP is sponsored by the Ecumenical Church World Service—a way to give to our local pantry and share in viable hunger projects beyond our community. Plan to walk and begin now to ask people to sponsor you.

Victims of Sexual Abuse:
Victims of sexual abuse should always report to the civil authorities. To receive help and guidance from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester contact the victim assistance coordinator, Deborah Housel, at 585 328 3228 ext. 1555, or toll-free at 1 800 388 7177 ext. 1555, or by email to [email protected].

Rekindle the Holy Spirit:
Come join us for three faith-filled evenings, September 23 through 25, with Steve Angrisano, a nationally renowned Catholic musician and storyteller, at 7:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 113 North Geneva Street, Ithaca. Young and old (and even Saint Pope John Paul II) embrace the passionate message of faith, hope, love, and the Gospel woven through gifts of music and story to help strengthen our faith. This is a great way to begin the new academic year and help enkindle the fire of the Holy Spirit within. You can contact Rich at [email protected] or at 607-273-6121 for more information. We hope you can join us.

Can You Love Enough:
“Love WILL end abortion,” says Jim Havens. From September 26 until November 4, the Ithaca “40 Days for Life” will lead a peaceful and prayerful campaign right here in our community. Join in peaceful vigil across from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca St., Ithaca, along the public right-of way, from 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Please consider praying with us for just one or two hours weekly, with a friend, your church, or your family. For more information, contact Mary Anne Tissot, 315-246-7479 or email [email protected]. Details/updates about Ithaca 40 Days for Life is available at www.40daysforlife.com/Ithaca. Visit and “like” our Facebook page: “Ithaca 40 Days for Life.”

Average Attendance in August:
In August the three churches averaged the following number of people at Mass. On Saturday at the 5:00 p.m. Mass there were 76 people. On Sunday at the 9:00 a.m. Mass there were, on average, 138 people and, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, 122 parishioners in attendance.

Winter Coat Collection:
The annual collection for winter coats in Seneca County is currently underway. The local distribution will take place at the Ovid VFW on Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Warm winter coats are needed, from infant through adult sizes and the coats can be new or gently used and clean. The coats donated will be shared locally. Collection bins will be located at Holy Cross in the entry ramp and at St. Francis in the vestibule. We are in need of volunteers to help the children find their “perfect coat.” If you want to volunteer or need further information, please contact Gerry Frank at 607 869 5009.

Diocesan Respect Life Mass
Please join Bishop Matano and the faithful from around the diocese to celebrate the Vigil Mass for Respect Life Sunday, sharing, through our presence, our respect for all human life. The Mass will begin at 4:30 pm. on Saturday, October 6 in the Church of the Holy Spirit, 1355 Hatch Rd, Webster, with a reception to follow. If you have questions contact Suzanne Stack, life issues coordinator, at 585-328-3210 x1304 or [email protected]. Every life is cherished, is chosen, and is sent.

Annual Empty Bowls Events:
There will be two Empty Rice Bowl events in our area. One is on October 16 at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Center Street, Geneva, and the second on October 24, at Sacred Heart Church, 90 Melrose Road, Auburn Both events begin at 5:00 pm and run until 7:00 p.m. with a cost of $20.00 per ticket for adults or $10.00 per ticket for children under ten. Cost includes soup, bread, beverage, dessert, and a handmade ceramic bowl. Empty Bowls began in a Michigan High School classroom and has become a popular event to raise awareness of the effects of hunger and food insecurity. Participants walk away with a commemorative Empty Bowl that serves as a reminder that hunger does indeed exist in our community. For tickets or more information contact Rhonda Zettlemoyer at 315-789-2235, ext. 104 or email [email protected] or catholiccharitiesfl.org. All proceeds will benefit programs of Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes. Please help us help others!

Catholic Men’s Conference:
For the past four years, this annual conference has been highly successful in serving men throughout our diocese. This year the conference will take place on Saturday, October 13, at St. Jude the Apostle Parish, 4100 Lyell Road, Rochester, N.Y. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Register at www.exultrochester.org. Cost is $40 (early bird) until August 31. For more information, flyers have been placed in the churches.

Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency
Volunteer drivers are being recruited to support its Medicaid Transportation Program. Our drivers transport people to and from medical appointments and are reimbursed at the federal mileage rate of $0.545 per mile. Visit us online (cscaa.com/MedicaidTransportationProgram.html) or contact us for more information, 315-255-1703 x222.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester:
The sisters have a prayer ministry and throughout 2018 Sister Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish and parishioners. Such an act of love offers us the opportunity to keep Sr. Anne Marie and the Sisters of St. Joseph in our prayers.

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.

September 22, 2018 (Fourth Weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Patti Perry, Cathy DelSignore, Marie Roloson

September 29, 2018 (Fifth Weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Marie Roloson, Patti Perry, Millie Messmer

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

September 23 (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Joan Hogan, Tim O’Boyle

September 30  (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Joan Hogan, Tim O’Boyle