Faith Formation classes for children in grades PreK–8 begin on Sunday, September 20th at St. Patrick, St. James and St. Margaret Mary Churches. Youth Group for grades 9-12 will begin on Sunday, October 4th at St. Patrick Church. Call the church office to register your children (607-687-1068).

Confirmation Preparation is a two-year program, beginning in grade 8 or higher. If you would like to register your child, please fill out a registration form, available on line and at all church entrances. Contact Annette Larrabee at the church office with questions (687-1068).

We are a group of Catholic Homeschoolers in the Southern Tier of New York with a variety of homeschooling styles and philosophies. As the primary educators of our children, we provide community and support to Catholic families as they fulfill their vocation to educate their children for eternal salvation. What we have in common is our loyalty to our Church, our Holy Father, the Pope, and to the Magisterium.
If you have questions about homeschooling or would like to connect with other Catholic home educators please feel free to contact us! Membership Director: Dana Ouellette danalouellette@gmail.com or (910) 987-3121

St. James Rosary and Altar Society will host their annual Living Rosary at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, which is the Feast Day of the Rosary. Either Fr. Galens or Fr. White will preside on this evening.

Masks and social distancing will be required in order to abide by CDC rules. Unfortunately, there will not be fellowship in the church hall; however, it is felt that now, more than ever, it is important to continue praying to our Blessed Virgin Mary and it is hoped that as many parishioners as possible may join us for this spiritual event

Win a Year of Pies!
One Pie Per Month
Homemade by Kelley McTamney Peron
Tickets $25 ~ Drawing – October 21, 2020
For Tickets or Call or Text Joann Murphy 607-624-1506
All Proceeds Benefit TCRM

St. John’s youth group will be holding a can & bottle drive through the months of October & November. Proceeds will benefit our outreach projects. Please leave bags of cans & bottles in the enclosed area near the doors to the church hall.

Thank you for your support.

Cemetery personnel ask that you please remove spring and summer decorations from St. James Cemetery and St. Patrick Cemetery no later than Monday, October 19, 2020. This includes artificial flowers/plants that are faded, worn and damaged as well as potted plants that are no longer living and any broken pots or ornaments. Anything that meets this criteria and is left after October 19th will be disposed of by cemetery personnel.

Thank you for your help in keeping our cemeteries looking nice!

Heavenly Father,
This Labor Day we thank you for employees and their employers who make this nation great. We pray for those unemployed that they may find employment in the near future. Please bless those working on a cure for the virus and that one is developed soon. We implore You keep the first responders and our families safe. This Patriot Day may we be united as citizens and recall the reason for it’s origination. We recall the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, honor her Most Holy Name and title of Our Lady of Sorrows. This Catechetical Sunday we entreat Your Blessings on students and teachers of our Faith. We ask all this through Jesus and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
Amen

Please pray this prayer along with our Prayer Partners today and throughout this month. If you have a suggestion for prayer intentions please let us now at hawaii2343@yahoo.com.

Cross Catholic Outreach is an organization that provides for the needs of the poorest of the poor in dioceses around the world. Once again, we are excited to be participating in CCO’s Box of Joy
program, which enables children in these impoverished countries to experience the joy of Christmas in a special way. By packing Christmas gift boxes for girls & boys from ages 2 to 14 and sponsoring the
cost of the shipment, we can deliver Boxes of Joy to children overseas who would otherwise receive
nothing. We will be collecting donations for the boxes at each site from Oct. 3 – 18. Our youth will collect cash donations for shipping on the weekend of Oct. 24 – 25 & they will be packing the boxes on the evening of Oct. 25. Please help us out with this project by donating items for the boxes and cash donations to help with shipping.

Box of Joy flyers with information & suggestions for gift donations are available at each church site. Please pick one up if you are interested in helping us out! Call Julie Durand (687-5607) for more details.

Help Break the Cycle of Poverty: Support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)

On September 19/20, we will join with parishes across the Diocese to take up the annual collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

CCHD is the U.S. Catholic church’s initiative to address the root causes of poverty and powerlessness in the United States by supporting self-help organizations of low-income people working together to promote justice and peace in our communities. Here in our Diocese, four life-changing community organizations have been approved for CCHD national grants. They include a farmworker organization, a workers’ center, a land trust of low-income people becoming homeowners in inner-city Rochester, and a refugee organization empowering their members to know their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

25% of the funds we contribute will remain in our Diocese to fund local anti-poverty projects. In the Southern Tier region of our Diocese, the Chemung County-based group, Man2Man, received a local grant from CCHD in 2019. This racially diverse group of local men work together and encourage each other to be engaged and concerned about the local community and to improve their own health and well-being.

During the past year, they focused on domestic violence, human trafficking, voter registration, and health issues.

By supporting the Catholic Campaign for Human Development collection, we help brothers and sisters address the root causes of poverty and reclaim their human dignity.

Thank you for your generous spirit.

With no Masses comes no collections, however, there are still bills that must be paid.

1. Mail your envelope to:
   309 Front St., Owego, NY 13827
2. Drop your envelope in the mailbox on
   the front porch of the Parish Center
   309 Front St., Owego
3. Sign-up for electronic giving.
   Email Diane Snyder-Bell at
   Diane.Synder-Bell@dor.org

Any help will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please call the office at 607-687-1068. Leave a message and we will return your call. Thank you.

My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if
You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen

Compassionate and Loving Father,
In the face of confusion and concern impart to us the calm of your presence.
In You allow us to find hope and healing.
Be with those who serve the sick and give them Your caring hands.
Be with those who lead and give them Your Spirit of wisdom.
Be with those who have fallen ill and give them Your comforting heart.
Wrap your arms around our world and hold us in your love.
Allow us at this time of trial to then serve as instruments of that love to all we meet.
We ask this in Your Name.

Amen.