News – Page 28 – The Parish of Mary Mother of Mercy

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ February 24, 2019

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
“The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.” (1 Sm. 26:23a)

Psalm:
The Lord is kind and merciful. (Ps. 103)

Second reading:
The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. (1 Cor. 15:47)

Gospel:
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” (Lk. 6:37)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
“Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.” We do not like hearing these words, but they are at the heart of Jesus’s teaching. When we are hurt, we want to get defensive and fight back. We prefer engaging in battle with something that is negative and evil rather than returning a heart of love. It is easy to love those who will love us back and much harder to love those who may not. But there is no credit to be found in simply surrounding ourselves with friends. Jesus wants to push us out of our comfort zones. We still find ourselves judging others and condemning them when the order of the Gospel is forgiveness and mercy. Why are we so unwilling to let go of the control? Perhaps the answer is found in a failure to love and an absence of faith.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (March 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. (March 4)
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
James Choir Rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., St. James
Weekend Backpack Program Collections: weekends, February 9–24
Coffee Hour: March 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Ash Wednesday: March 6
Forty Days for Life: From March 6 through April 14, Ithaca
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., Aquinas Institute
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, classes will resume March 10 at 4:00 p.m., St. James
Day of Penance and Mercy in the Diocese: March 13, 2:00–4:00 and 6:00–8:00 p.m., St. Francis
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Instruction will resume March 20 at 7:00 p.m., St. James

Visiting Priest:
Fr. John Mellitt, OFM Cap., is visiting and helping out in the parish during the month of February while Fr. Bernard is away. Please thank Fr. John for his time with us this month.

Weekend Backpack Project:
The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, is 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: 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. The final collection of items is this weekend, February 23 and 24.

Coffee Hour:
There will be a coffee hour on March 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James. This is sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus.

Ash Wednesday:
Ash Wednesday is celebrated on March 6 this year. It is a day of fast and abstinence which means those who are between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast (i.e. two small meals are not to equal one full meal) and all those over the age of 14 are obliged to abstain from eating meat. Ashes will be distributed at St. James the Apostle church at the 9:00 a.m. Mass and there will be with a distribution of ashes service at Holy Cross church at 6:00 p.m.

Lent Stations of the Cross:
The Stations of the Cross devotion will be held twice every week during Lent. One will be at Holy Cross on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. followed by a soup supper. The other will be held at St. James the Apostle on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available after Benediction).

Helping Others:
When Jesus fed the multitudes, he needed people to help distribute the loaves and fishes. The same is true in Trumansburg. 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. The Food Pantry counts on our parish to provide assistance for this important ministry during these two months so please come and help out. 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. Please sign up on the list provided in the St. James foyer. Don’t forget to leave your phone number if you would like a reminder call.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Have questions about the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Has it been a while since you last celebrated this sacrament? There is nothing to fear. Visit http://forgiven.dor.org and click on “Commonly Asked Questions” to ease your worries. Throughout the Diocese of Rochester, March 13, the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday, will be celebrated as a day of penance and mercy. The celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place in parishes throughout the diocese on that day, including at our parish center (St. Francis Solanus church) from 2:00–4:00 and 6:00–8:00 p.m. Please make note of this opportunity as the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a “graced opportunity for us to celebrate God’s forgiveness.”

Parish Finances:
The parish finance council met on January 25, and, in the review of the sixth month finance report, (July 1–December 31, 2018) it was noted that our parish ordinary income, i.e. weekend collections, are not meeting our ordinary expenses, creating a deficit over the sixth month period of $1,405. This deficit would have been higher, if not for the fact that our ordinary expenses were down $7,663.76 from the previous year’s sixth month reporting. Also noted was that our ordinary income was $11,635.62 less than the previous year’s ordinary income. It is suspected that, because our weekend Mass attendance is down from the previous year, possibly due to the Mass schedule changes, our collections are down as well. On another level, church collections are down nationally because of the scandals the Church is dealing with at this time. Whatever the reason why our collections are down, we need to alert parishioners to the situation. Please continue to invite parishioners who are not attending weekly Mass to return to the celebration of God’s word, the celebration of the memorial of Jesus’s death and resurrection, and the celebration of our union with Jesus and one another in the sacrament of Holy Communion. It would also be helpful if parishioners could increase their weekly offering according to their means. Thank you for your kind consideration of this matter.

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,” invites 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, and registration is now open. Please visit the website at Rochestercwc.org/2019 for conference details.

Forty Days for Life:
Beginning on March 6, our community will take part in “40 Days for Life,” a groundbreaking and coordinated international mobilization. We pray that, with God’s help, this will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our community. From March 6 to April 14 there will be a peaceful campaign of prayer and fasting in Ithaca, across from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca St, in the public right-of-way, daily from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. We hope you will consider an hour or two of prayer vigil per week with your family, a friend, or church group. Come and pray together! For more information, contact Mary Anne Tissot at 315 246-7479 or via e-mail at

Choir Rehearsals:
Parish choir rehearsals have commenced on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in St. James the Apostle church. Anyone from 15 years old to 115 years young is welcome! If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Joanie Gelatt at 607 220–9579.

More Counters Needed:
We currently have four two-person teams counting the offertory collections at St. James the Apostle. The counting is done after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays or Tuesdays. It would be good to have a one or two additional parishioners to fill in as substitutes. 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 or Father Bernard Maloney at .

Ministers of Hospitality Needed:
St. James the Apostle is in need of additional volunteers to serve as ministers of hospitality/ushers. If we could 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 involvement. You do 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 or Father Bernard Maloney at .

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 or call 607-272-5062 ext. 17.

On-Line Giving:
Parishioners can easily sign-up online to support the parish financially.
1) You have already started by visiting the parish website
2) click “Giving” in bar across top of page
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 .

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

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

February 23 (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary Davidson

March 2 (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

February 24 (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Tim O’Boyle

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

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information not available at this time)

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ February 17, 2019

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD; whose hope is in the LORD. (Jer. 17:7)

Psalm:
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. (Ps. 1)

Second reading:
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Cor. 15:12)

Gospel:
Raising his eyes toward his disciples [Jesus] said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” (Lk. 6:20)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Getting ahead in the world is something many see as important. Success, a comfortable life, and worldly securities are seen as what is needed to achieve happiness. Whether or not we like to admit it, these pursuits are operative in many of our lives. As much as we want to believe in the Gospel, we also find it hard not to cling to these other things. Unconditional trust in God must be first if we are going to perceive the kingdom of God. And while God does not want us to go out of our way to be miserable, Jesus clearly gives preference to those who are poor, hungry, weeping, marginalized, vulnerable, and despised. When people encounter these things, they touch God. It teaches us not to get too comfortable with our riches and that there is much more to true life than the stuff we find so important.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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 19)
- 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. (February 18)
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
James Choir Rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., St. James
Weekend Backpack Program Collections: weekends, February 9–24
Discernment Weekend: February 22–24, St. Michael’s Friary
Coffee Hour: March 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Forty Days for Life: From March 6 through April 14, Ithaca
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., Aquinas Institute
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, classes will resume March 10 at 4:00 p.m., St. James
Day of Penance and Mercy in the Diocese: March 13, 2:00–4:00 and 6:00–8:00 p.m., St. Francis
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Instruction will resume March 20 at 7:00 p.m., St. James

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

Weekend Backpack Project:
The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, is 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: 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. The collection of items occur on weekends in February, beginning February 9 and ending February 24.

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 St. James 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.

More Counters Needed:
We currently have four two-person teams counting the offertory collections at St. James the Apostle. The counting is done after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays or Tuesdays. It would be good to have a one or two additional parishioners to be substitutes for when one or more of our regular counters is either ill or otherwise unavailable. 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 or Father Bernard Maloney at .

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. It would be best 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 involvement. You do have to be18 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 or Father Bernard Maloney at .

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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

February 16 (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

February 23 (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary Davidson

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

February 17 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short

February 24 (fourth Sunday):
Lectors: Beth Duff and Tim Davis
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Tom Duff, Tim O’Boyle

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information not available at this time)

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ February 10, 2019

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
“Here I am,” I said; “send me!” (Is. 6:8)

Psalm:
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. (Ps. 138)

Second reading:
Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (1 Cor .15:11)

Gospel:
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. (Lk. 5:10b-11)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Have you ever felt a compelling urge to respond to a situation and then found yourself questioning whether you should do so? Fear often takes hold of us, and we find ourselves making excuses for why it is better to just mind our own business. There is a voice within each of us that is saying, “Follow me.” What does this prompting mean? The purpose of discipleship is not to secure our own station in life and enhance our comfort zone. Discipleship is about taking risks and venturing forth into the unknown, tending to the needs of others and being prophetic voices of change. We will not drink deeply of life until we listen to the voice of God within. When God asks, “Whom shall I send?” will you reply, “Here I am—send me!”?

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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 19)
- 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. (February 18)
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
James Choir Rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., St. James
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
Coffee Hour: March 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Forty Days for Life: From March 6 through April 14, Ithaca
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
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, classes will resume March 10 at 4:00 p.m., St. James
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Instruction will resume March 20 at 7:00 p.m., St. James

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).

Weekend Backpack Project:
The parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy, is 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.

Parish Finances:
The parish finance council met on January 25, and, in the review of the sixth month finance report, (July 1–December 31, 2018) it was noted that our parish ordinary income, i.e. weekend collections, are not meeting our ordinary expenses, creating a deficit over the sixth month period of $1,405. This deficit would have been higher, if not for the fact that our ordinary expenses were down $7,663.76 from the previous year’s sixth month reporting. Also noted was that our ordinary income was $11,635.62 less than the previous year’s ordinary income. It is suspected that, because our weekend Mass attendance is down from the previous year, possibly due to the Mass schedule changes, our collections are down as well. On another level, church collections are down nationally because of the scandals the Church is dealing with at this time. Whatever the reason why our collections are down, we need to alert parishioners to the situation. Please continue to invite parishioners who are not attending weekly Mass to return to the celebration of God’s word, the celebration of the memorial of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the celebration of our union with Jesus and one another in the sacrament of Holy Communion. It would also be helpful if parishioners could increase their weekly offering according to their means. Thank you for your kind consideration of this matter.

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 will be Karlo Broussard and Sr. Anne Catherine Burleigh, OP, and registration is now open. Please visit the website at Rochestercwc.org/2019 for conference details and more information.

Forty Days for Life:
From March 6 through April 14, 40 Days for Life, a peaceful campaign of prayer and fasting, will take place in Ithaca, across from Planned Parenthood, 620 W. Seneca St, in the public right-of-way, daily from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. We hope you will consider an hour or two of prayer vigil per week with your family, a friend, or church group. Come and pray together! For more information, contact Mary Anne Tissot at 315 246-7479 or via e-mail at

More Counters Needed:
We currently have four two-person teams counting the offertory collections at St. James the Apostle. The counting is done after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays or Tuesdays. It would be good to have a one or two additional parishioners to be substitutes for when one or more of our regular counters is either ill or otherwise unavailable. 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 or Father Bernard Maloney at .

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 St. James 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.

Equal Rights for Farmworkers:
You can be a voice for justice today! In the words of the New York State Catholic Conference, “There is no legitimate reason for treating farmworkers inequitably.” Today you can support justice for farmworkers by signing our diocese-wide petition to our state elected officials in favor of the “Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act.” This bill would give tens of thousands of farmworkers in our state equal labor rights. Put your faith into action. Stand with them and take the time to sign the petition this weekend, February 9–10, which is Public Policy Weekend.

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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

February 9 (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Lee and Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

February 16 (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

February 10 (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

February 17 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information not available at this time)

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ February 3, 2019

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. (Jer. 1:5)

Psalm:
I will sing of your salvation. (Ps. 71)

Second reading:
So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13)

Gospel:
[Jesus] said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” (Lk. 4:24)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
No one wants to listen to a prophet, especially when the prophet is someone close to us. We have a hard time accepting that ordinary associations can develop the type and depth of wisdom that can not only positively change lives but profoundly challenge them. To many folks, Jesus was simply the son of Joseph, even though his words caught their attention and amazed them. After his words sunk in, they were infuriated and drove him out of town. Is Jesus simply the son of Joseph to us as well, or is he the God who knew us before we were formed in the womb? If he is God, then we need to heed his message and change our lives accordingly.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (February 4)
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
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
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, will resume March 10 at 4:00 p.m., St. James
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): will resume March 20 at 7:00 p.m., St. James

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.

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.

Parish Finances:
The parish finance council met on January 25, and, in the review of the sixth month finance report, (July 1–December 31, 2018), it was noted that our parish ordinary income, i.e. weekend collections, are not meeting our ordinary expenses, creating a deficit of $1,405. Also noted was that our ordinary income was $11,635.62 less than the previous year’s ordinary income. It is suspected that, because our weekend Mass attendance is down from the previous year, possibly due to the Mass schedule changes, our collections are down as well. On another level, church collections are down nationally because of the scandals the Church is dealing with at this time. Whatever the reason why our collections are down, we need to alert parishioners to the situation. Please continue to invite parishioners who are not attending weekly Mass to return to the celebration of God’s word, the celebration of the memorial of Jesus’s death and resurrection, and the celebration of our union with Jesus and one another in the sacrament of Holy Communion. It would also be helpful if parishioners could increase their weekly offering according to their means. Thank you for your kind consideration of this matter.

Souper Bowl of Caring 2019:
This 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, is 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, February 9 through February 24.

Food Donations at St. James:
Next Sunday, and every second Sunday of the month, please bring non-perishable food items to St. James the Apostle church. You may place the items in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monetary gifts are also welcome.

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 St. James 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.

More Counters Needed:
We currently have four two-person teams counting the offertory collections at St. James the Apostle. The counting is done after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays or Tuesdays. It would be good to have a one or two additional parishioners to be substitutes for when one or more of our regular counters is either ill or otherwise unavailable. 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 or Father Bernard Maloney at .

Equal Rights for Farm workers:
Next week you’ll have the opportunity to sign our diocese-wide Public Policy Weekend petition in support of farm workers. It will read: “The labor of tens of thousands of farm workers brings food to our tables. However, New York State labor law categorically denies farm workers basic rights and protections enjoyed by virtually all other workers. These exclusions mean that, unlike other workers, farm workers do not have the right to: a guaranteed day of rest per week; overtime pay; employer contributions to disability insurance; public health protections including sanitation and housing standards; or protections while bargaining collectively. Farming is a vital part of the New York State economy. Economic policies that protect family farms are essential. We urge the legislature to support New York State farmers along with farmworkers. We believe that the sacred human dignity of every man, woman, and child, without exception, should be respected and that the basic rights of all workers should be recognized. Therefore, we urge the New York State Assembly, Senate and Governor Cuomo to support the ‘Farm workers Fair Labor Practices Act’ ending the exclusion of farm workers from basic rights and granting them equal treatment under our labor laws.”

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 this 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 will be Karlo Broussard and Sr. Anne Catherine Burleigh, OP, and registration is now open. Please visit the website at Rochestercwc.org/2019 for conference details and more information.

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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

February 9 (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Lee and Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

February 16 (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

February 10 (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

February 17 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information not available at this time)

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ January 27, 2019

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

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:

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.

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.

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.

From the parish website, see top bar under church photos
click “Giving”
click “online giving link” in blue or the “Online Giving By WeShare” logo (toward the bottom of the page)
click “Make a Donation” in the Offertory box
click “Recurring donations”
a page will appear titled “Create a new repeating donation for Offertory”
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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

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

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

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

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information to come)

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ January 20, 2019

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Is. 62:3)

Psalm:
Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations. (Ps. 96)

Second reading:
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. (1 Cor. 12:7)

Gospel:
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn. 2:3-5)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Did you ever consider that God takes great delight in you? We are by no means second or afterthoughts of God. As the master artisan, God takes delight in every fabric of our being and every single component of who we are. We are intentionally and lovingly designed! God gets much joy out of every child He creates, and He does not abandon us. God is definitely in charge! God can take a painful past or an apparent dead-end and turn it into a glorious future. He can transform nothing into something and is always eagerly ready to give us the gifts of faith, hope, and love. We are never bound by the past and never without options. All we have to do is listen to Him. Are we willing to give up the controls and allow Him to do what He does best?

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (January 22)
- 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. (January 21)
Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: January 18 through January 25
Baptism: Liam Lane LaBrake, January 20, during 10:30 a.m. Mass, Holy Cross
Finance Council: January 24, St. Francis
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
Weekend Backpack Program Collections: weekends, February 9–24
Public Policy Weekend: February 9–10
Discernment Weekend: February 22–24, St. Michael’s Friary
Catholic Women’s Conference: March 9, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., at Aquinas Institute

Funerals:

William J. Cool, 85, died on January 6, 2019. A funeral Mass was held on January 10 at Holy Cross church.
Jerome W. Ohlsten, 87, died on December 16, 2018. A funeral Mass was held on January 12, 2019, at St. James the Apostle church.

Finance Council:
Council members will meet with the pastor and business staff members on Thursday, January 24, at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex, Interlaken.

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.

2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of January 7, 2019, stated that 102 parish households have pledged $25,297 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).

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
The annual week of prayer for Christian unity concludes on Friday, January 25. Let us join other Christian churches in our area as we remember the theme chosen for 2019: “Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Throughout 2019, join Christians everywhere in praying “that they may all be one,” joining our prayer with that of the Lord Jesus Christ. For this purpose, there are prayer cards in the foyers of each of the churches. For more information go to: www.geii.org.

Vocations to Religious Life or Priesthood:
The Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Franciscans will hold a discernment weekend at St. Michael’s Friary, New York, on February 22–24, for men interested in religious life. If you would like to participate, please contact Fr. Bernard at the parish office.

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.

Average Attendance and Collections in December:
The average attendance in December were: 62 people at the 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Francis, 101 at the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James, and 81 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross. At each of the three churches the collections averaged: $901 at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturdays, and, on Sundays, $969 at the 9:00 a.m. Mass and $780 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. This reporting does not include the Christmas Mass attendances and collections.

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, farmworkers 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 farmworkers.

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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

January 19 (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

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

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

January 20 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short

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

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information to come)

The Baptism of the Lord ~ January 13, 2019

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Is. 40:5)

Psalm:
O bless the Lord, my soul. (Ps. 104)

Second reading:
He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Ti. 2:5b)

Gospel:
The Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk. 3:22)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
At the baptism of Jesus, a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Through Baptism, Jesus’s identity as God’s Son is revealed and understood. He knows very clearly who he is. Baptism does the same for us. It gives us our identity as daughters and sons of God. We have the wonderful opportunity, given to us as a gift, to share in the same intimate relationship Jesus has with God his Father. Being a daughter or son of God gives us a unique and focused mission to which we must be faithful. Our identity, as with Jesus, is rooted in God. This is a simple fact we all must accept. Through Baptism, we are given the power and ability to see the world as God sees and to think and act as God would think and act. This is a tall order but one that will lead us to truth and ultimately to happiness.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (Jan. 22)
- 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. (Jan. 21)
Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
Buildings and Grounds Committees: January 17 at various churches
March for Life: January 18, Washington, D.C.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: January 18 through January 25
Baptism: Liam Lane LaBrake, January 20, during 10:30 a.m. Mass, Holy Cross
Finance Council: January 24, St. Francis
Coffee Hour: February 3, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Souper Bowl of Caring: February 3
Discernment Weekend: February 22–24, St. Michael’s Friary
Catholic Women’s Conference: March 9, from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., at Aquinas Institute

Wedding:
George Hade III and Bethanne Beckhorn were married on December 29, 2108, at St. James the Apostle church.

Buildings and Grounds Committees:
The committees will meet this Thursday, January 17, at each individual church. The Holy Cross committee will meet at 9:15 a.m., St. Francis Solanus will meet at 10:30 a.m., and St. James the Apostle will meet in the pine room at 1:00 p.m.

Finance Council:
Council members will meet with the pastor and business staff members on Thursday, January 24, at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex, Interlaken.

2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of December 31, 2018, stated that ninety-six parish households have pledged $23,472 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).

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
The annual week of prayer for Christian unity begins this Friday, January 18, and concludes next Friday, January 25. Let us join other Christian churches in our area as we remember the theme chosen for 2019: “Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Throughout 2019, join Christians everywhere in praying “that they may all be one,” joining our prayer with that of the Lord Jesus Christ. For this purpose, there are prayer cards in the foyers of the church. For more information go to: www.geii.org.

Educational Courses:
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry is offering courses for spring 2019 using their online zoom videoconferencing software. The courses this semester include:

Canon Law and Ministerial Leadership, on Mondays from 6:00–9:00 p.m., from January 14–April 22;
Unless You Become Like Children: Catholicism, Culture, and the Child, on Tuesdays from 7:00–9:30 p.m., weekly from January 15–April 30;
Special Issues in Pastoral Care: Sudden Death, Suicide and Addiction, on Mondays from 6:00–9:30 p.m., from January 14– April 29; and
The Problem of Suffering: Is it God’s Fault? on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:30 p.m., January 23 through May 1.

For more information contact Matthew Brown at or phone 585 271 3657.

Vocations to Religious Life or Priesthood:
The Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Franciscans will hold a discernment weekend at St. Michael’s Friary, New York, on February 22–24, for men interested in religious life. If would like to participate, please contact Fr. Bernard at the parish office.

March for Life 2019:
Join the many thousands of people who will be marching because every human life is unique from day one, with inherent value. Buses from the diocese of Rochester to the March for Life event in Washington D.C. will leave on Thursday night, January 17, and return on Friday night, January 18. The march will follow a 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Catholic University of America, with Bishop Matano as the principal celebrant. People will then march with Bishop Matano and others from the diocese. Make your reservations today. You may also choose to pick one of two buses from the Southern Tier. One leaves from St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads and the other from Notre Dame High School, with two other pickups in Painted Post, NY and Mansfield PA. Seats are available for $65. Call Steve Spaulding at 607-739-9282 to reserve your seat.

Souper Bowl of Caring 2019:
February 3 is Super Bowl Sunday and it is also the date for the Souper Bowl of Caring in which our parish will be participating. The idea is to collect donations of non-perishable food items and cash that will go directly to the local food pantries in the three communities that make up our parish. Food items may be brought to any of the three churches on the weekends of January 26–27 and February 2–3. As part of their community service project this year, the second year Confirmation students will assist in taking up a collection for monetary donations after Mass has ended at Saint James the Apostle Church on February 3. 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.

Women’s Conference:
The bishop invites women to attend what has become an annual conference in the diocese, “a beautiful witness to the unity and charity so characteristic of women of faith and it provides a special opportunity to strengthen our faith in a very challenging and difficult time in the church.” The Rochester Catholic Women’s Conference will be held at the Aquinas Institute on Saturday, March 9, from 8 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 include 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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

January 12 (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Patty Messmer (for Lee Davidson), Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

January 19 (third weekend):
Lectors: Scott Hamula, Ann Buddle
EMs: Robin Hamula, Kathleen Rourke, Cathy DelSignore

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

January 13 (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

January 20 (third Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Nancy Olszewski
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Beth and Tom Duff, Debbie Short

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information to come)

The Epiphany of the Lord ~ January 6, 2019

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. (Is. 60:1)

Psalm:
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. (Ps. 72)

Second reading:
The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Eph. 3:6)

Gospel:
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt. 2:11b)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
We all have had the experience of walking into a dark room and searching for the light switch. If we are really unfamiliar with the space, anxiety, uncertainty, disorientation, and even fear can easily arise. Once we find the light, all is illuminated and we are at peace. Our light has come into the world! The glory of God has been revealed! Today’s feast of the Epiphany teaches us to look to our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the way to truly be the human beings we were created to be. He shows us how to prioritize our lives, order our relationships, care for creation, and live as daughters and sons of God. God’s love and creative power is universal, transcending all races and nations. Jesus brings the light of peace to a broken world that still struggles to understand itself and to you and I who also struggle to understand who we are. May we find ourselves overjoyed that we have found our truth and allow Jesus to bring light to the darkness of our lives!

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (Jan. 8)
- 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. (Jan. 7)
Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
Coffee Hour: January 6, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Parish Council Meeting: January 10 at 7:00 p.m., St. Francis
Buildings and Grounds Committees: January 17 at various churches
Finance Council: January 24, St. Francis
Family Religion Education Program: January 6 at 6:00 p.m., St. James

Funeral:
Thomas John Martin, 84, died on December 16, 2018. His funeral Mass was held on December 21, at Holy Cross church in Ovid.

Parish Council:
The council members will meet this Thursday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex in Interlaken.

Buildings and Grounds Committees:
The committees will meet on Thursday, January 17, at each individual church. The Holy Cross committee will meet at 9:15 a.m., St. Francis Solanus will meet at 10:30 a.m., and St. James the Apostle will meet in the pine room at 1:00 p.m.

Finance Council:
Council members will meet with the pastor and business staff members on Thursday, January 24, at 1:00 p.m. in the St. Francis annex, Interlaken.

2018-2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal:
The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of December 24, 2018, stated that ninety-six parish households have pledged $23,472 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).

Food Donations at St. James:
Next Sunday, January 13, please bring a non-perishable food item to church and place it on the table in the front of the stature of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Monetary gifts are also welcome.

Thank You:
The Portillo-LaBrake family would like to thank all who participated in the baby shower for baby Liam back in June of 2018. They are grateful for all the support, love, and baby gifts they have received! The family would like to invite you, “our faith family, to the baptism of our son, Liam Lane LaBrake,” on Sunday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross. A brunch reception will follow in the parish house.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
“Justice, only justice, you shall pursue” (cf. Deuteronomy 16:20) was chosen as the theme for this year’s week of prayer for Christian unity (January 18–25) by the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute. The quote from Deuteronomy was chosen for its powerful message of promoting truth, equality, and unity. Begun in 1908, these days have been set aside each year so that Christians the world over may share the prayer of Jesus: “that all may be one… that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Prayer cards are available in the foyers of the churches. For more information go to: www.geii.org.

Educational Courses:
St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry is offering courses for spring 2019 using their online zoom videoconferencing software. The courses this semester include:

Canon Law and Ministerial Leadership, on Mondays from 6:00–9:00 p.m., from January 14–April 22;
Unless You Become Like Children: Catholicism, Culture, and the Child, on Tuesdays from 7:00–9:30 p.m., weekly from January 15–April 30;
Special Issues in Pastoral Care: Sudden Death, Suicide and Addiction, on Mondays from 6:00–9:30 p.m., from January 14– April 29; and
The Problem of Suffering: Is it God’s Fault? on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:30 p.m., January 23 through May 1.

For more information contact Matthew Brown at or phone 585 271 3657.

Vocations:
The Capuchins of St. Mary Province offer a number of ways to show interested candidates the Capuchin Franciscan way of life, which is built around fraternity, ministry, and prayer. Please consider participating in their next discernment weekend for men interested in religious life. It will be held at St. Michael’s Friary, New York, on February 22–24. If interested in attending, please contact Fr. Bernard at the parish office.

Diocesan Mass for Life:
Join with others from our diocese to pray together at this Mass dedicated to the protection of all human life, especially the vulnerable unborn. Bishop Matano will be celebrating the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, January 13, at St. Mary’s church in Canandaigua. This is in anticipation of the pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life (see item below). The Canandaigua parish is hosting a light reception following Mass. If you have any questions, contact Suzanne Stack, diocesan life issues coordinator, at 585-328-3210 x1304 or .

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

January 5 (first weekend):
Lectors: Karl Messmer, Scott Hamula
EMs: Patty Messmer (for Kathleen Rourke), Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

January 12 (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Patty Messmer (for Lee Davidson), Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

January 6 (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Joan Hogan, Mark Scibilia-Carver

January 13 (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

(information to come)

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~ December 30, 2018

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
“I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” (1 Sm. 1:27-28)

Psalm:
Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord. (Ps. 84)

Second reading:
And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. (1 Jn. 3:23)

Gospel:
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. (Lk. 2:46-47)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Families are complicated systems. They can be the most transforming or the most hurtful of experiences. Our families of origin have a huge claim on who we are and who we will become. While families need to help us fulfill some of our human needs, this cannot be their sole purpose or focus. Healthy and happy families consist of folks who always have their eyes on the needs and best interests of the other individuals who make up their family unit. We live in the greater family of the world, which is also God’s family. It can’t only be about us. We must focus our gaze on the needs and well being of our brothers and sisters. This whole seeing allows us to see others as God sees them. The Holy Family is the perfect example of how all families can work: our families of origin, the families in which we now find ourselves, and the family of our world. May we look to their example in helping us fine-tune our systems of family life so that God’s presence can truly be revealed in and through them!

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (Jan. 8)
- Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (Jan. 7)
Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
Holy Day of Obligation: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is January 1, 2019
Coffee Hour: January 6, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Family Religion Education Program: January 6 at 6:00 p.m., St. James

New Year’s Day:
January 1, 2019, is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God and is also the eighth day of Christmas. It is a holy day of obligation and our parish will have two Masses, both at St. Francis Solanus church in Interlaken. The Vigil Mass will be on Monday, December 31, at 6:00 p.m. and the Mass on Tuesday, January 1, will be at 9:30 a.m.

2018-2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA):
The CMA report of December 17 stated that 94 parish households have pledged $23,272 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).

Church Calendars:
2019 church calendars are available in the church vestibules. Please take only one calendar per family.

Card Ministry:
Card ministry is a working group of the parish’s Witness Committee. They are looking for parishioners who would be interested in writing and sending cards to our home bound or parish members in nursing home. As a member of this work group, you would send cards once a month to (currently) seventeen individuals. If you are interested please contact Marilynn Frank at .

Sainthood for Benjamin Joseph Salmon:
The National Council of Pax Christi USA, at their annual meeting in August, unanimously supported the cause for sainthood of Ben Salmon, a native of Denver, CO, who was a conscientious objector in the first World War. Ben Salmon was explicit that his Roman Catholic faith and his understanding of the life and example of Jesus made it impossible for him to participate in warfare. Because of that, he served a lengthy imprisonment, solitary confinement, and ruined his health. Many people see Ben’s life, faith, and suffering as those of a saint and are actively working to petition the Catholic Church to formally recognize Ben Salmon as a saint. To learn more about Ben Salmon and to endorse the petition advocating his canonization, go to the website: www.bensalmon.org and scroll down to the yellow background that provides links to the sainthood page.

Notice:
Victims of sexual abuse should always report the abuse to the civil authorities. To receive help and guidance from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, please contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator, Debora Housel, 585 328 3228 ext. 1555 or by email to . “You do not have to deal with this alone.”

Thanks from the Kitchen Cupboard:
Georgianne Bakker, director of the Interlaken Reformed church’s Kitchen Cupboard, wrote to the parish thanking us for the donation resulting from “Operation Rice Bowl.” In the note she writes that the number of families in need is on the increase. “We are having weeks where we have over 100 families come in. This is a large increase over where we were three years ago when sixty was the average weekly number.”

Parish Cemeteries:
Our parish has two cemeteries: St. James the Apostle and Holy Cross. The cost to purchase a plot for the right of burial for a body or cremains is $650. St. James has a green burial section that costs $950. For further information please phone the parish office.

Ministry Schedule for January 1, 2019, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God:

Monday, December 31:
6:00 p.m. at St. Francis Solanus
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke,
EMs: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Anne Haus

Tuesday, January 1:
9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus
Lectors: Scott Hamula and Barbara Willers
EMs: Robin Hamula

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

December 29 (fifth weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Ann Buddle
EMs: Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula, Patty Messmer

January 5 (first weekend):
Lectors: Barbara Willers [for Marie Roloson], Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula

Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg

Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m.

December 30 (fifth Sunday):
Lectors: Nancy Olszewski (for Lynne Stager) and Barbara Willers
EMs: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Joan Hogan, Tom Duff (for Tim O’Boyle)

January 6 (first Sunday):
Lectors: Lynne Stager and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Joan Hogan, Mark Scibilia-Carver

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

	12/2/18	12/9/18	12/16/18	12/23/18	12/30/18

Greeter in addition to Usher		M. Maleski		M. Maleski

Altar Ser 1	P. Schirmer	G. Frank	G. Frank	G. Frank	M. Humulock
Altar Ser 2

Lector 1	M. Humulock	E. Moore	K. Knapp	N. Shumway	P. Motill
Lector 2	T. Humulock	J. Swanson	L. Kurkchi	J. Liedenfrost°	M. Frank

Extraordinary Min 1	L.A. Fox	D. Moore	L.A. Fox	S. Limoncelli	F. Grasek
Extraordinary Min 2	F. Grasek	D. Brandow°	K. Sinkiewicz	D. Moore	T. Humulock
Extraordinary Min 3	D. Traphagen	S. Limoncelli	M. Frank	P. Schirmer	D. Brandow
	2 Envelopes
Usher 1 (Lead)	J. Taylor	S. Brandow°	J. Taylor	M. Maleski	T. Grasek
Usher 2	J. Swanson	M. Maleski	T. Humulock	A. Reagan	S. Brandow
Usher 3	T. Grasek
Usher 4

Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ December 23, 2018

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Kathleen Rourke

First reading:
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD. (Mi. 5:3a)

Psalm:
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80)

Second reading:
By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10)

Gospel:
“How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” (Lk. 1:43-44)

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Life is often unfair. Sadly, life’s inequity usually occurs at our hands. The world’s systems—economic, political, and environmental—do not always serve the best interests of the people. We create situations that tip the scales by profiting a few and reducing the quality of life for many. We look at all of the injustices in our world, people being hurt and exploited, and wonder why God has abandoned us or why He won’t fix what is happening. God did fix it. He sent his Son into the world as our just ruler and the one who will bring peace. The problem is we still turn away and think that we can do better. The Son of Justice has come into the world. We can work for change and be the voice of justice. We can dream and do things differently. Blessed are you who believe that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:

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. (Dec. 31)
- Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (Jan. 8)
Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m. at St. Francis, no appointment needed
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., St. James
Confirmation Candidates: Eighth and ninth graders, Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
Robotics: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., St. James
Breads Needed: In the St. James pine room after Mass on December 16
Remaining Choir Practice for Christmas: December 18, 7:00 p.m., Holy Cross
Holy Day of Obligation: Solemnity of Mary, the holy mother of God, is January 1, 2019
Coffee Hour: January 6, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
Family Religion Education Program: January 6 at 6:00 p.m., St. James

Christmas Masses:
Our Parish of Mary, Mother of Mercy will have three Christmas Masses. There will be two on Christmas Eve:

4:30 p.m. at St. James the Apostle and

8:00 p.m. at Holy Cross.

There will be one Christmas day Mass:

9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus.

Please spread the word and plan now as to which Mass you will attend.

Christmas Offering:
It is the custom in the Church that parishioners make a special contribution to their parish at Christmas. Parishes have come to rely on this offering, as is the case in our parish, taken up as a collection during the Christmas Masses. Please consider making a special offering, your Christmas gift to the parish. Thank you for your kind consideration of this custom and request.

The Season of Advent and Reconciliation:
During the season of Advent, the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) will be celebrated in each church after each of the weekend Masses. The sacrament is also celebrated on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. in St. Francis Solanus church.

2018-2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA):
The 2018–2019 Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) report of December 4 stated that eighty-five parish households have pledged $22,362, nearly 75% 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).

Church Calendars:
2019 church calendars are available in the church vestibules. Please take only one calendar per family.

Card Ministry:
Card Ministry is a working group of the parish’s Witness Committee. They are looking for parishioners who would be interested in writing and sending cards to our homebound or parish members in nursing home. As a member of this work group, you would send cards once a month to (currently) seventeen individuals. If you are interested please contact Marilynn Frank at .

Shur Save Donations:
At the Shur Save there is a box into which you can donate food for the food pantry to distribute. If you contribute, please check the expiration date first as they cannot use food items that are past the printed date. We can never have enough food to distribute but it needs to be safe too. Thank you for your consideration of this request and any possible donations you might be able to make.

You Are a Blessing:
Nancy Canniff, director of the South Seneca Ecumenical Food Pantry in Ovid, sent a card to our church family. In it she wrote: “Thank you for your support…throughout the year. You are a blessing to us and our community.”

Holy Day of Obligation on January 1:
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on January 1, 2019, is a holy day of obligation. Masses will be held on Monday, December 31, at 6:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 1, at 9:30 a.m. Both Masses will be at St. Francis Solanus church. There will be no communion service at St. James on Monday morning, December 31.

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.

Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken

Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m.

December 22, 2018 (fourth weekend):
Lectors: Gerry Messmer and Millie Messmer
EMs: Cathy DelSignore, Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula

Christmas Day:
Tuesday, December 25 9:30 a.m.
Lectors: Donna Ryan and Barbara Willers
EMs:

December 29 & 30 (fifth weekend):
Saturday, December 29 5:00 p.m.
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.

December 23 (fourth Sunday):
Lector 1: Barbara Willlers (for Beth Duff) and Tim Davis
EMs: Deborah Short (for Tom Duff), Joan Hogan, Mark Scibilia-Carver (for Tim O’Boyle)

Christmas Eve:
Monday, December 24 4:30 p.m. at Saint James, Children’s Mass
Lectors: Scott Hamula and Nancy Olszewski
EMs: Robin Hamula, Cathy DelSignore

Sunday, December 30
Lectors: Nancy Olszewski (for Lynne Stager) and Barbara Willers
EMs: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Joan Hogan, Tom Duff (for Tim O’Boyle

Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid

Christmas Eve: Monday, December 24 8:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church

Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.

	12/2/18	12/9/18	12/16/18	12/23/18	12/30/18

Greeter in addition to Usher		M. Maleski		M. Maleski

Altar Ser 1	P. Schirmer	G. Frank	G. Frank	G. Frank	M. Humulock
Altar Ser 2

Lector 1	M. Humulock	E. Moore	K. Knapp	N. Shumway	P. Motill
Lector 2	T. Humulock	J. Swanson	L. Kurkchi	J. Liedenfrost°	M. Frank

Extraordinary Min 1	L.A. Fox	D. Moore	L.A. Fox	S. Limoncelli	F. Grasek
Extraordinary Min 2	F. Grasek	D. Brandow°	K. Sinkiewicz	D. Moore	T. Humulock
Extraordinary Min 3	D. Traphagen	S. Limoncelli	M. Frank	P. Schirmer	D. Brandow
	2 Envelopes
Usher 1 (Lead)	J. Taylor	S. Brandow°	J. Taylor	M. Maleski	T. Grasek
Usher 2	J. Swanson	M. Maleski	T. Humulock	A. Reagan	S. Brandow
Usher 3	T. Grasek
Usher 4