St. Martin of Tours (c. 315-397, whose feastday we celebrate on November 11, appears in the dome of our church in a painting by Buffalo-born artist Joseph Mazur. He is depicted standing at the far left in this photo and is part of a group of 14 figures identified as “Confessors, Bishops, and Missionaries.” (Rev. Walter Kern’s "Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church," p. 39. Photo credit: Duane Held.

St. Martin of Tours (c. 315-397, whose feastday we celebrate on November 11, appears in the dome of our church in a painting by Buffalo-born artist Joseph Mazur. He is depicted wearing the bishop’s mitre and standing at the far left in this photo and is part of a group of 14 figures identified as “Confessors, Bishops, and Missionaries.” (Rev. Walter Kern’s “Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church,” p. 39. Photo credit: Duane Held.

November 8 – 15, 2015

Weekly Activities

Sunday, November 8 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Thursday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, November 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, November 15 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Sunday, November 15 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall hosted by the Ladies Sodality

*In response to requests from our players, we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo. As of  Thursday, October 15, we no longer admit children under 8 years of age.

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, November 8 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Margaret F. Schirmann (Requested by Mary C. Stoddard) and Torrey Barnes (Requested by Family)

Monday, November 9 ~ Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m. in Daily Mass Chapel

Tuesday, November 10 ~ St. Leo the Great ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. ~ Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Wednesday, November 11  ~ St. Martin of Tours ~ NO SERVICE

Thursday, November  12 ~ St. Josaphat ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – John Abbick (Angela Jost)

Friday, November  13 ~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, November  14~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Sunday, November 15 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Hans and Katharine Birner (Family) and Georgia Riles (Jacquelyn Ingram)

Readings for the Week of November 1

Sunday: 1 Kgs 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
Monday: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22
Tuesday: Wis 2:23-3:9; Lk 17:7-10
Wednesday: Wis 6:1-11; Lk 17:11-19
Thursday: Wis 7:22b-8:1; Lk 17:20-25
Friday: Wis 13:1-9; Lk 17:26-37
Saturday: Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9; Lk 18:1-8
Sunday, November 15: Dn 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32

Veterans Day November 11 Remember and pray for our veterans.

Veterans Day
November 11
Remember and pray for our veterans.

News from our Parish Community

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Gifts for our Shut-ins ~ Beginning this weekend, November 7/8 and continuing though December 6, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting items for their annual Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our homebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities. The early completion date for the drive is necessary so that presents and plants are ready for delivery on the weekend of Dec. 12/13.  If you would like to contribute, please bring your new, unwrapped items to church and leave them in the designated basket near the statue of St. Joseph. Suggested items include: socks, eye glass wipes, artificial tears (eye drops), calendars, large-print puzzle books, or cash for a hair cut or shampoo & set. Ready-to-eat food items such as jam, jelly, toaster pastries; fruit or pudding cups; or “add water” mixes; e.g., soup cups, oatmeal packets, tea, cocoa or coffee are also acceptable for the homebound. If you prefer to donate money (checks payable to “Ladies Sodality”), please do so before Thanksgiving so that our volunteers have time to shop.  You may direct any questions you may have to Mickey Dick by clicking HERE.

Monthly Coffee Hour, scheduled for Sunday, November 15, will be hosted by the Ladies Sodality.

Parish Council will meet next Wednesday, November 18, at 7 p.m. in St. Charles Hall.

Last Week For Watches ~ The Sodality’s drive to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul concludes on Sunday, November 8. Please place your donation in the “No More Mister Nice Watch” container near the statue of St. Joseph.

Our collection for The Catholic University of America is Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8. Located in Washington, D.C., the University provides an academically rigorous education guided by Catholic intellectual tradition to nearly 7,000 students every year. More than 4,000 students directly receive scholarship aid from this collection, including many from our diocese. Please be generous.

Sodality Christmas dinner party is Wednesday, December 9, at the Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 Bailey Ave., Amherst. Save the date and watch this space or the bulletin for details regarding dinner choices and reservations.

November 11 is Veterans Day. Remember and thank our veterans who served  this country and those who are serving today. Catholic Charities offers a broad range of support – from basic assistance, mental health and substance abuse programs to parenting skills and adult day care – to help not only veterans and their families, but everyone, deal with life’s difficulties. Call 716-856-4494 or visit http://www.ccwny.org.

The Freudig Singers of WNY with another serving of Christmas Pie.

The Freudig Singers of WNY return to Blessed Trinity on December 6 with another serving of Christmas Pie.

Trinity Concert Series ~ We hope you were one of the almost 200 who enjoyed To Music, the opening concert of our 2015-16 Trinity Series featuring the Vocális Chamber Choir, under the direction of James Burritt. To view photos from the concert, click HERE. Next up: The Freudig Singers of Western New York and their Magnificant Pie, Sunday, December 6 at 3 PM. You’ll be hearing more about this event in the weeks to come, including the popular post-concert pie reception. You can pick up a schedule for the entire concert series in church or request one by clicking HERE and listing “Trinity Series” as the subject.

Please welcome Rayana “Ray” Ralabate, who began working as our part-time parish secretary/receptionist last month. A Kenmore resident, Rayana has a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo, and a bachelor’s degree from Bryant & Stratton College. She put her answering service experience to use immediately, adapting our voicemail system to make it more responsive to our callers’ needs. We’d like to know what you think of the new messages. With Rayana’s arrival, we have instituted new rectory office hours: Tuesday-Friday from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Please stop by to introduce yourself and welcome the newest member of our parish family.

Scholarship Opportunities ~ We just received the information and application forms for two scholarships. Please see Sister Barbara Horan for application forms.

  • Martin Luther King Scholarship – to help an 8th grade student attain a Catholic High School Education. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
  • Albert Lenhard Family Scholarship Fund – to assist applicants who want to continue their formal education beyond high school at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Updating Our Records ~ We will soon be initiating a new group email for those who have indicated a willingness to receive time-sensitive parish announcements by email. If you have not completed a form but would like to be added to the group, call Rayana at 716-833-0301 or use the form at the bottom of the back page of the weekly bulletin to provide the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Alternatively, you may 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” when submitting information on-line.

Pope Francis says: “It is remarkable how weak international political responses have been. The failure of global summits on the environment make it plain that our politics are subject to technology and finance. There are too many special interests, and economic interests easily end up trumping the common good and manipulating information so that their own plans will not be affected.” Laudato Si: Care for our Common Home, paragraph 54. Action: Pray for world leaders to be open to change policies that pollute our common home. Pray for the success of the Global Summit on the Environment in Paris, November 30-December 11.

Bereavement Packet ~ St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans of many comforting words. During times of loss, loneliness and grief, we may not feel or recognize God’s presence in our lives. Though we can’t imagine all the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing right now, we do understand a bit about grieving and that, first of all, it is a process. The Office of Family Life Ministries has a free bereavement packet of materials designed to provide support, especially during the initial stages of grief. For a bereavement packet, please call 716-847-2210 or email familylife [at] buffalo [dot] org.

National Donor Sabbath is observed annually on Friday – Sunday, two weekends before Thanksgiving (November 13-15, 2015). During this three-day observance, faith leaders donor families, transplant recipients, and donation and transplantation professionals join forces to increase awareness of the need for lifesaving organ, tissue, and eye donation. Show compassion and love to your brothers and sisters by joining the New York State Organ, Tissue, and Eye Registry. You can find out more about the lifesaving gifts passed to others through organ, tissue, and eye donation by visiting http://alliancefordonation.org.

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News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Seventh Annual Friendship Dinner and Award Ceremony sponsored by the Peace Islands Institute and Turkish Cultural Center at Buffalo is November 11 at Daemen College, 4380 Main St., Amherst, beginning at 6 PM. The event will bring political, academic, religious, and other community leaders in the Greater Buffalo Area together to promote diversity, peace, and mutual understanding in our community through dialogue and education. The dinner theme will be “On Whose Shoulders? Violence and Extremism,” and the opening address will be delivered by Daemen College President Gary A. Olson. Kindly RSVP by Nov. 6 to rsvp [at] tccbuffalo [dot] org or by calling 716-575-5822. The cost is $25 per person, payable at the door.

A Treat for the Senses ~ The Niagara Frontier Orchid Society’s Fall Show is Saturday, November 14, from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, November 15 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo 14218. Admission: $9 adults, $8 seniors & students, $5 kids 3-12.