Third Sunday of Advent

 

December 15 – December 22, 2013

 

Sunday December 15 ~ Gifts for shut-ins ready for pick up and delivery (in church).

Sunday, December 15 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall, hosted by Holy Name Society.

Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Practice in St. Charles Hall.

Wednesday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. ~ Decorating our Church for Christmas.

Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.

Saturday, December 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry 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 15 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Mildred Bleyle (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick) and Lawrence J. Miano (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse)

Monday, December 16 ~ Communion Service at 11 a.m.

Tuesday, December 17 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Deceased Members and Family Members of Blessed Trinity Parish

Wednesday, December 18 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Winifred Enright (Estate)

Thursday, December 19 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Deceased Members and Family Members of St. Gerard Parish

Friday, December 20 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – William Condon (Estate)

Saturday, December 21 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Sunday, December 22 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Norine Hackney (Ed Marien) and Kevin Cahill (Angela Jost)

 

News from our Parish Community

Coffee Hour ~ The Holy Name Society is hosting a coffee hour on Sunday, December 15, immediately following the 10 a.m. Mass. Don’t let the snow discourage you from joining us in St. Charles Hall.

Gifts for our Shut-ins  ~ The Christmas presents are ready and waiting for delivery. Many thanks to everyone who contributed so generously; to the Sodality members who wrapped and personalized the gift bags; and to all St. Nick’s helpers who will be delivering and visiting with our shut-ins and parishioners in senior care facilities during this coming week. If you will not be at church this weekend, please make arrangements with the rectory for pick up early in the week. All gift bags should be delivered by Christmas.

Decorating for Christmas ~ Help us create “the Christmas look” at B.T. on Wednesday, December 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and continuing until completion. There are all kind of tasks to do, and with willing hands and hearts and Christmas spirit, the work will be light for all! We’ve even cancelled Wednesday’s Parish Council meeting so that our Council members can lend their expertise.

Sounds (and tastes) of the Season ~ A special thank you to the wonderful Freudig Singers of WNY whose Christmas Pie Concert last Sunday delighted more than 150 holiday guests. And the pies were sooooo yummy! The joys of the season to ear and heart and tummy!

  

Gifts for La Casa Deadline ~ 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!

Prisoner Gifts ~ A sincere “thank you” to all who contributed goods, time and effort to continue this special project of Sr. Karen Klimczak, SSJ. Blessed Trinity exceeded its goal and collected 4,300 hot chocolate packs! Special thanks to parishioners Judy Casassa, Mickey and Bud Dick, Sharon and Esquisite Dunnigan, Amy Johnson, Dan and Jackie Korchowsky, Kathleen Marien, Althea Porter and Sr. Liz Savage who helped assemble packages on Friday, Dec. 6 and then cleaned the church for Sunday’s concert. A total of 2,100 gift bags were assembled for 1,000 men at Wende Correctional Facility and 1,100 women at Albion Correctional. And thanks to Father Reger and Sister Barbara Horan who helped Jan Burns this past Tuesday evening to assemble a number of “fill-in” bags that were needed. Jan Burns again coordinated this project, working with PeacePrints Prison Ministry. Evelyn Brady assisted Jan and arranged for the donation and bagging of all the candy and also secured white socks for the Albion women. The men’s gifts were delivered this past week and the women’s will be delivered next week.

Religious give thanks ~ “Thank you for accompanying us as we care for our elder sisters,” writes a religious superior. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps support nearly 34,000 sisters, brothers, and religious order priests past age 70. May God bless you abundantly for your goodness.

Catholic Relief Services Aids Philippines ~ “This is the worst storm ever to hit the Philippines,” says CRS Philippines Country Representative Joe Curry. There is total devastation in a 30 mile-wide swath cut by Haiyan. That corridor includes 3.6 million people, and about 10 million have been affected. Catholic Relief Services staff, who began preparing a response as the storm neared, are working with Caritas Philippines, the Philippine government and other humanitarian organizations. In the wake of the storm, CRS staff is flying in from around the world, some reaching their destinations by boat. CRS is distributing thousands of temporary A-frame shelters, which can house a family of five. Thirty-two thousand of these shelters, along with thousands of hygiene and sanitation kits, will arrive near the zone of destruction this week. As one of the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development agencies, CRS provides lifesaving emergency relief in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. We are committed to staying with the people of the Philippines for as long as needed to bring relief-and recovery. Please help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan by donating to CRS. Click HERE to donate online.