February 22 – March 1, 2015
Weekly Activities
Sunday, February 22 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Sodality Coffee Hour and Raffle in St. Charles Hall (rescheduled from February 15).
Tuesday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall.
Thursday, February 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.
Saturday, February 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall.
Saturday, February 28 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.
Click HERE to view our complete Schedule of Lenten Services.
Mass Intentions
Sunday, February 22 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Intentions of Dan Kelly (Requested by Gary Weber)
Monday, February 23 ~ St. Polycarp – Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Monday, February 23 ~ CCCB Lenten Journey Mass at 6:30 p.m. – Ss. Columba-Brigid Church
Tuesday, February 24 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Wednesday, February 25 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Thursday, February 26 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. Mass – Winifred Enright (Estate)
Friday, February 27 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Saturday, February 28 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Sunday, March 1 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Fred Reger (Judy Casassa) and John Justin White (Mary and Cindy White)
News from our Parish Community
A t-shirt created by Buffalo Mass Mob for Blessed Trinity, with proceeds going to our parish.
Buffalo Mass Mob Comes to Blessed Trinity ~ We are happy to announce that we have been chosen as the site for Buffalo Mass Mob IX on Sunday, March 22. The group has even created a souvenir t-shirt to commemorate its visit to our Landmark church, with proceeds benefiting our parish. Priced at $20, the t-shirt is only available online UNTIL FEBRUARY 28. To order one, click HERE.
Not quite sure what a “Mass Mob” is? Think of it as a community-wide response to an invitation extended via social media “to support and experience some of Buffalo’s wonderful churches….” The movement, which originated in Buffalo and has been adopted in a number of other U.S. cities, encourages Western New Yorkers to attend Mass at historic city churches, thereby experiencing them not just as landmarks but as treasured houses of worship. Since November 2013 the Buffalo Mass Mob has promoted attendance at 8 other Catholic churches from South Buffalo to Black Rock. Attendance has steadily increased with each Mass Mob event, as has its popularity with parishioners at the churches involved. Now it’s our turn as Mass Mob IX comes to Blessed Trinity on March 22. Our parish committee is still working to finalize plans for the day, but we are looking for volunteers to: help as greeters and ushers; assist at the reception following the Mass; or just be available to help as needed. If you are willing to help on or before March 22 but did not have an opportunity to sign up at Mass this weekend, please call the rectory and leave your contact information. Someone from the committee will be in touch.
Lenten Journey Masses ~ The 2015 schedule of Monday Lenten Journey Masses sponsored by the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo (“CCCB”) is as follows: February 23 at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church
March 2 at Nativity Miguel School (former St. James School)
March 9 at St. Martin de Porres Church
March 15 at St. Katharine Drexel Church
March 23 at Blessed Trinity Church
Each Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a social with light refreshments. It is hoped that members from all the CCCB parishes will take part in this Lenten Journey and attend as many of the Monday evening Masses as possible.
Mardi Gras Raffle ~ Due to the extreme weather conditions on Sunday, Feb. 15, the Sodality’s coffee hour and raffle were held on Sunday, February 22. Congratulations to Ken and Marilyn Szczepanski who won the first prize Basket of Cheer donated by Bill Warren and Hertel Parker Liquor, and second prize winners Vontrese Draper and Florentina Dozier, who will enjoy shopping at Wegman’s and Dash’s Markets with their second prize gift cards.
The Ladies Sodality is pleased to welcome their newest member, Dianne Riordan. And a gentle reminder: If you have not paid your 2015 dues, remember to do so as soon as possible so that our membership chair may update the roster and email group/telephone tree. To learn more about our women’s group, Click HERE.
Simple Soup Supper
March 11 in St. Charles Hall
Photo Credit: Phyllis Lobbins
Simple Soup Supper ~ This year we are planning one Simple Soup Supper on Wednesday, March 11. We will need volunteer soup makers and cookie bakers. Beginning February 21, we will have a sign-up board on a table near the piano. It will help us with our planning if you would sign up as soon as possible. Thank you for your help. Following the supper we will have a special Way of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. in church. We hope you can plan to join us for this service.
Statement of Church Contributions ~ Anyone needing a Statement of Contributions for income tax purposes, please contact Roy Laciura at the rectory (833-0301).
Lenten Reflection Materials ~ Copies of The Word Among Us containing all the scripture readings for the Masses of Lent and Daily Reflections for Lent by Jay Cormier were distributed on February 21 and 22. We have sufficient copies of both for each parishioner to receive them. If you were unable to attend Mass this weekend, look for your copy in the ushers’ pew. We encourage you to use them daily as a means to “deepen your experience of this solemn season of prayer and penance and prepare you to participate more fully in the joy of the great Easter mystery.”
Black History Quiz ~ Here’s a little trivia question to test your knowledge of Black Composers. Match the composer, Chevalier de Saint George or Samuel Coleridge Taylor, with his composition: 1. Haitian Dance Suite or 2. Symphonie Concertante in G for Two Violins. Then be sure to attend our next concert in the Trinity Series on Sunday, March 29, and hear the Camerata di Sant’ Antonio perform both pieces.
Scholarship Money Available for Catholic School Education ~ The BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund, a privately funded tuition assistance program for children in grades K-8, has scholarships available for the 2015-16 school year. Financially eligible families can fill out an eligibility form on the BISON website. The eligibility form deadline is February 28. With a maximum award of $1,500.00, this is a great opportunity for families who desire a Catholic education for their children but may be unable to afford it. For more information, visit http://www.bisonfund.com or call 1-888-216-8380.
Canisius High School Honors – The following students achieved honors during their second marking period: Marquis Draper – 12th Grade – Third Honors; Jonathan Sands – 10th Grade – First Honors; and Robert Sands – 12th Grade – Second Honors. Congratulations to you and your families!
Catholic Charities 2015 Goal ~ Find Good Within. Share God’s Goodness. Last year, through the generous support of donors throughout Western New York, Catholic Charities was able to positively impact the lives of children, families and seniors in our community with basic needs like food, clothing and shelter, to mental health counseling and educational services. Bishop Richard Malone has announced our goal of $10.9 million and patron saint of the 2015 Appeal. St. Francis of Assisi was a man of action whose simplicity of life extended to ideas and deeds. When you support the Appeal, you are “finding good within” and offering comfort and relief to people in need. Find out more at our newly redesigned website, http://www.ccwny.org or call 716-218-1400.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Free Tax Help ~ VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a program of the University at Buffalo’s Beta Alpha Psi Accounting and Finance students is offering FREE TAX HELP for those with annual incomes under $ 53,000 on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Black Rock School (OLBR), 16 Peter Street, behind Assumption Church. (VITA will stop accepting clients at 6:00 p.m.) Call OLBR at 873-7497 or visit www.OLBRSchool.com. For married couples filing jointly, both spouses must be present. For VITA you must bring the following:
- All W-2 and 1099 forms;
- Information about other incomes;
- Information for all deductions/credits;
- A copy of last year’s tax return;
- Proof of bank account for direct deposit of refund (check or bank account/routing number);
- Social Security cards for you AND your dependents;
- Proof of identification for you and your spouse (State license or passport);
- Total paid to daycare provider and provider’s tax ID number;
- Birth dates for you, spouse and/or dependents on the return;
- Proof of foreign status if applying for ITV;
- Forms 1095-A, B, or C (Affordable Health Care Statements).
Respite for Women Caregivers ~ If you are a woman providing care for an adult and would like a few hours to restore yourself in a quiet setting, we invite you to join the Women’s Respite Program on March 7. The $25 fee includes lunch; scholarships are available. This will take place on the campus of Stella Niagara, 4421 Lower River Road, Stella Niagara, NY 14144. Meet others who are caregivers, learn stress-reduction techniques, and enjoy a good meal with good conversation. For information or to make a reservation, call (716) 893-0931.