First Sunday of Advent

December 1 – December 8, 2013

 

Tuesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Practice in St. Charles Hall.

Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Sodality Christmas Party in St. Charles Hall, preceded by 6:00 p.m. Mass in Daily Mass Chapel.

Thursday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.

Friday, December 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to completion ~ Assembly of gift bags for Christmas Prison Project in church.

Saturday, December 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall.

Saturday, December 7 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.

Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 p.m. ~ Freudig Singers of WNY perform “A Christmas Pie” in church; post-concert pie reception in St. Charles Hall.

We now have: Red, White & Blue; carry over Bonus Ball; and a progressive Share-the-Wealth! To check the carry over amounts and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.

 

Mass Intentions

Sunday, December 1 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Dan Stabler (Requested by Ed Marien) and Kevin Cahill (Requested by Angela Jost)

Baptism of Miguel Angel Martinez and Andrew James Grey

Monday, December 2 ~ There will be NO Communion Service.

Tuesday, December 3 ~ St. Francis Xavier ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Deceased Members of St. Gerard Parish

Wednesday, December 4 ~ St. John Damascene ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Anthony and Teresa Hafner (Estate)

Wednesday, December 4 ~ Mass at 6 p.m. – Sodality Mass

Thursday, December 5 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Gladys Kibler (Estate)

Friday, December 6 ~ St. Nicholas ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Saturday, December 7 ~ St. Ambrose ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Ralph Klein (Jackie and Bob Wells)

Sunday, December 8 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Philomena M. Vaillancourt (Gayle and James Eagan) and Marie Theresa Slubecky (Pastor and Parishioners)

 

 

News from our Parish Community

Prisoner Gift Project for 2013 ~ On Friday, December 6, Sister Karen Klimczak’s legacy Christmas Prison Package Project will continue at Blessed Trinity when dozens of volunteers gather in the church to assemble nearly 2000 gift bags for men and women in Erie County correctional facilities. Anyone interested in assisting can join one of two shifts: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. until completion (usually about 9 p.m.). Just bring your willing hands and hearts to the church at 317 Leroy Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214. Sister Karen originated the project years ago so that incarcerated men would know they were not forgotten. The project has since been expanded to include women inmates. Thousands of pre-packaged food items as well as paperback books have been collected from area congregations, community members and businesses, but they need to be packed into hand-decorated bags and readied for delivery.

Gifts for our Shut-ins  ~ Items to be used in our Christmas gift bags for elderly parishioners are being accepted through Wednesday, December 4. If you have volunteered to deliver one of these presents, please pick up the gift bag and plant when you attend Mass on December 14 or 15. It will have both your name and the name and address of the person you are visiting. We need just 2 more volunteers. If you can help, click HERE and leave a message for Mickey Dick by December 8.

 

The Ladies Sodality’s 2013 Christmas party ~ For everyone who has made reservations, please remember that The Sodality Christmas Party is this Wednesday, December 4, beginning with Mass at 6 p.m. (Enter using the “Daily Mass Chapel” door next to the garage). Plans call for our holiday dinner to be served in St. Charles Hall shortly after 7 p.m. Pauline Rollek will be accepting your payment of $16 per person, with checks made payable to Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity. In lieu of an exchange present, members are asked to bring items for inclusion in our Christmas gift bags for elderly parishioners.

  

“Beautiful Music in a beautiful space…”  The Trinity Concert Series continues with The Freudig Singers of WNY serving us “A Christmas Pie” on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 3 p.m. The Freudig choristers, under the direction of Roland Martin, bring their special brand of joyfulness to the holiday season with your favorite carols, double-bassist Sydney King and a post-concert pie reception guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit. We’ll be wrapping up a very busy week at Blessed Trinity, so mark your calendar now and treat yourself to a little Christmas pie.

  

Gifts for La Casa ~ We invite you again this year to be a part of bringing Christmas to the refugees – men, women and children – who reside at Vive La Casa on Wyoming Avenue. For many years this was a favorite tradition for Sister Flavia. This year we will be collecting hats, scarves, mittens/gloves for children and adults, and toys. If you would like to participate in this effort, please bring your unwrapped gifts and place them in our La Casa box by Sunday, December 15. Thank You!

Retirement Fund for Religious ~ Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests spent years working in Catholic schools, hospitals, and social service agencies, often for little, if any, pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communities without adequate savings for retirement and elder care. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection helps provide prescription medications, nursing care, and more for thousands of elderly religious. Please give to those who have given a lifetime. Support elderly religious. A parishioner writes, “As a Catholic school student from grades K – 12, I was formed to be the person I am by many religious brothers and sisters, and I am forever grateful.” Show your appreciation for the senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who made a positive difference in so many lives. Please give generously to the collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious on December 7/8.

Thank you for your contributions to The Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development! Your generous gifts will help CCHD end poverty in America through better education, improved housing, and overall economic development. Through CCHD and its beneficiaries, we manifest Catholic social teaching and carry out Jesus’ mission to “bring glad tidings to the poor… to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free” (Lk 4:18).

A Vocation View ~ The Season of Advent calls us to be vigilant in anticipation of the Master’s return so that we live each day according to the teachings of Christ. Some are called to teach, preach, and witness those teachings as priests, deacons, and religious. God may be calling you to a Church vocation. If you think God is calling you, call Father Walter Szczesny at 716-847-5535. You can also check out the “Priest of the Month” stories on the website http://www.buffalovocations.org/.

Family Christmas Fair ~ Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Popadick and the Parish Community of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church invite all to the 70th annual Family Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 7, 2013, from noon to 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall, 157 Cleveland Drive in Cheektowaga. For more information call 716-833-1715.