Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14
September 13 – September 20, 2015
Weekly Activities
Sunday, September 13 following the 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Sodality program: “Celebrating Women Witnesses” – discussion of the life of Venerable Henriette Delille
Wednesday, September 16 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, September 17 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, September 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, September 19 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall
We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.
Mass Intentions
Sunday, September 13 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the Intentions of the Ejimadu Family (Fidelia and Family) and Eula Mae Cooper (Blessed Trinity Ladies Sodality)
Monday, September 14 ~ Exaltation of the Holy Cross ~ Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. – Torrey Stephen Barnes
Tuesday, September 15 ~ Our Lady of Sorrows ~ Winifred Enright (Estate)
Wednesday, September 16 ~ St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Joseph Kohn (Family)
Thursday, September 17 ~ St. Robert Bellarmine ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parishioners)
Friday, September 18 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reily, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, September 19 ~ St. Januarius ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Ithrene Cameron (Pauline Rollek)
Sunday, September 20 ~ Gus Marien (Ed Marien) and Healing for Ogbuagu Ejimadu (Fidelia and Family)
Readings for the Week of September 13
Sunday: Is 50:5-9a; Jas 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35
Monday: Nm 21:4b-9; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17
Tuesday: 1 Tm 3:1-13; Jn 19:25-27 or Lk 2:33-35
Wednesday: 1 Tm 3:14-16; Lk 7:31-35
Thursday: 1 Tm 4:12-16; Lk 7:36-50
Friday: 1 Tm 6:2c-12; Lk 8:1-3
Saturday: 1 Tm 6:13-16; Lk 8:4-15
Sunday, September 20: Wis 2:12, 17-20; Jas 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37
Terra cotta ornamentation below Blessed Trinity’s Tabernacle Altar. Photo credit: Steve Mangione
News from our Parish Community
Employment Opportunities in Our Parish ~ After almost five years as Blessed Trinity Business Manager, Roy Laciura has decided to embark on a new career. We thank him for all his good work over the years, and wish him all the best in his new position at the WNY Catholic newspaper. Good luck and God bless, Roy!
In light of Roy’s move, the parish has decided to readjust staffing in the rectory. We plan to hire a part-time bookkeeper and a part-time secretary and initiate specific office hours for calling and appointments in the rectory. Can you help us with the following:
- Do you know someone with considerable bookkeeping experience (preferably according to diocesan procedures) willing to work 15-20 hours per week (flexible schedule) handling computerized accounts and reports? A job description for the position is available.
- Do you know someone with a pleasant personality and good computer skills interested in a part time (12-15 hours per week) position as a receptionist/secretary? Duties include answering the telephone and door, handling mail, photocopying, producing the bulletin, and related activities.
Compensation for both positions will be commensurate with training and experience. Please pass the word around, and if someone is interested, have him/her contact Bud Dick (716-832-2540) for more information.
Also, since it may take a little time to actually fill these paid positions, the Finance Committee would be very appreciative if any volunteers could step up to the plate and perform some of the above duties on a short-term, interim basis. Again, call Bud Dick if you are willing, and thank you very much for any help you can offer!
The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall.
Updating Our Records ~ We are requesting your cooperation in updating our parish records and contact information. If you moved recently and forgot to notify the rectory office, this is your reminder to do so. If you have an email address, we would like to include you in our parish group email. This is a way of providing you with time-sensitive information; e.g., the death of a parishioner or the unexpected cancellation of some event due to weather or illness. Please help smooth the way for our new office staff by providing the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Please email the information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com specifying “Contact Information” in the subject line, or Click HERE and use our handy template. Just remember to reference “Contact Information.”
Give so that more can serve ~ Thousands of people annually access Christ the King Seminary (“CKS”) and the St. Columban Center managed by CKS for retreats, workshops, convocations, and group meetings – seeking to serve and grow in their faith. Please help them build stronger parishes. This weekend is the annual collection for Christ the King – our diocesan seminary. This is your opportunity to help support the education of our future priests, deacons and lay leaders. Please invest in the future of the church in our area by helping our seminary continue its important work of ensuring that all who answer God’s call to ministry will never be denied the opportunity to serve. Please give generously so more can serve, and pray for the success of our seminary’s mission. For more information on our seminary’s mission or programs, or to contribute on-line, go to www.cks.edu.
Gardening volunteers from the Buffalo Underground Meetup Group
Fall Gardening at BT ~ Saturday, September 26, marks the return of those wonderful folks from Underground Buffalo who did such an amazing landscaping job for us in June. They volunteered to help again in the fall, and we’d like to match their numbers with parish volunteers. That means we need at least eleven parishioners armed with gardening tools and ready to dig in starting at 10 AM on Saturday, Sept. 26. Will you be one of them?
Blessed Trinity School Alumni and Friends will be attending our 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, September 27. This is their annual remembrance of deceased alumni and faculty of the grammar school, which served the community from 1908-1975. Each year the alumni committee also sponsors a split-club raffle, with half of the proceeds benefiting our Under This Roof Fund. Click HERE for additional information regarding the event, tour of our landmark church, and the alumni committee raffle.
Project Homeless Connect is a one day event where those experiencing homelessness can come and connect with community based resources, dental and medical services, get a free haircut and so much more. It will take place on September 22 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. For several years, our parish supported the work of Sister Claire Edwards by collecting deodorant for this project. Now Catholic Charities is seeking donations of additional personal care products for Sept. 22. They are attempting to find individuals who will donate travel size personal care items or do a collection for these items within their offices or through their place of worship. Desired items include soap, shampoo, conditioner (including unopened hotel samples), disposable razors, band aids, dental floss, deodorant, hair brushes, toothpaste, and sanitary napkins. If you or someone you know would like to help or has items they would like to donate, please contact Renee Siepierski of Catholic Charities at 716-856-4494. It would be a wonderful tribute to our former parishioner, Sister Claire.
Henriette Delille (1813-1862)
The Ladies Sodality resumed its activities on Sunday, September 13, following the 10 AM Mass. We thank Dr. Althea Porter for sharing her insights on the life of Venerable Henriette Delille (1813-1862) and leading our small group discussions. Focusing on their own life experiences, participants were able to recognize and celebrate the role each has played as women witnesses of the Faith. The next Sodality meeting will be Sunday, October 4.
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound ~ New York State law prohibits hospitals and nursing homes/rehab facilities from notifying a church when one of its parishioners is admitted for treatment. If such a situation arises with your loved one or family member, please contact the rectory to request visitation and administration of the sacraments. This also applies to someone receiving care in a home setting.
More About Our Preservation Project ~ Earlier this year, Blessed Trinity Catholic Church received word from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation that our application for funding to repair and restore major sections of our landmark church had been approved. With God’s help, we have begun the process of making these improvements happen in accordance with State and Federal standards. Firms wishing to submit proposals for architectural design services in connection with restoring our roof, nave windows and front entrance steps were required to demonstrate education, experience and expertise in historic preservation and the development of Sectarian Budgets as well as assurances of significant (30%) contracting opportunities for minority-and woman-owned business enterprises. Members of our building heritage committee and their advisers evaluated the proposals submitted in response and are currently in the process of selecting an architectural firm that will head up the restoration project over the next 18-24 months. Each member of our team takes his/her responsibilities very seriously, and they request that you continue to pray that their decisions will be inspired ones.
Give a Child a Safe Home. Catholic Charities works closely with birth families to provide a safe place for children, especially sibling groups, to stay and receive care when they cannot receive it at their own home. Interested in learning more about their Foster Care program? Call (716) 856-4494 ext. 360 or send an email to foster [dot] adapt [at] ccwny [dot] org.
Local Coverage of Papal Visit 2015~ Time Warner Cable News will provide complete coverage of the Pope’s visit to the U.S. on various media platforms. Channel 199 will air non-stop papal coverage September 20-27, including daily recap shows and national call-in shows. Channel 1020 has begun on-demand coverage, including pre-visit preparations, documentaries and previous papal visit programming, and will continue through November 30. On September 1, the cable outlet began featuring coverage with a local perspective on their news channel as well as a special papal visit section on their TWC News App, www.twcnews.com/papalvisit, for a video chronicle of the Pope’s visit.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
St. Joseph University Parish/Pax Christi WNY Retreat ~ A time to invigorate and restore our spirits on our individual spiritual journeys of confusion, grace and trial, by finding God and hope in ourselves and others. Saturday, October 17, 2015, 8:30 – 3:30. The retreat will use the book, A Spirituality of Being Human by Hugh Brady, D. Min. (Reading the book is not a prerequisite for participation). For information or registration, contact Tom Casey at caseytpc [at] aol [dot] com or 716-491-9172.
Griefshare: A Supportive Group, When You Have Lost Someone Dear ~ 2 Wednesdays per month, starting Wednesday, September 23, 2015, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Our Lady of Pompeii Parish Ministry Center, 129 Laverack Avenue, Lancaster, NY 14086. Go to www.olpparish.com for details or call Sister Joyce at 716-683-6522.