Photo credit: Sean Brodfuehrer
December 27, 2015 – January 3, 2016
Weekly Activities
Thursday, December 31, 2015 ~ New Year’s Eve: NO Bingo games
Saturday, January 2, 2016 ~ from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, January 3 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. ~ CCCB Christmas in the City in church
*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, December 27 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Ethel Grabenstatter (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick) and Elizabeth Harasimowicz (Requested by Mickey Dick)
Monday, December 28 ~ The Holy Innocents ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m. in Daily Mass Chapel
Tuesday, December 29 ~ St. Thomas Becket ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Winifred Enright (Estate)
Wednesday, December 30 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Thursday, December 31 ~ St. Sylvester I ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, January 1, 2016 ~ The Solemnity of Mary ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Elizabeth Dick – Anniversary (Family)
Saturday, January 2 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Sunday, January 3 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Norine Hackney (Ed Marien) and Arthur Kopra – Birthday Remembrance (Bud & Mickey Dick)
Readings for the Week of December 27
Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52
Monday: 1 Jn 1:5–2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7-8; Mt 2:13-18
Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5-6; Lk 2:22-35
Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40
Thursday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18 2:1-14
Friday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
Saturday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28
Sunday, January 3: Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a; Mt 2:1-12
Please remember, there will be NO BINGO games on New Year’s Eve. Happy Holidays from our volunteers.
News from our Parish Community
Solemnity of Mary
January 1
Friday, January 1, is the Solemnity of Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Our Mass will be at 10 AM.
Christmas in the City ~ Sunday, January 3: 2:00 – 4:00 PM ~ Next Sunday, our parish will host the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo as we celebrate our Christmas faith. The annual joint celebration will begin in church with a musical program featuring adult and children’s choirs from Blessed Trinity, Ss. Columba-Brigid, St. Lawrence and St. Martin de Porres, and conclude with a social in St. Charles Hall. The Parish Council is very appreciative of those who have already signed up to assist, but we’re counting on all of you to be part of our welcoming committee.
Praise and thanksgiving for all of you who contributed your time and energies over the past two weeks to decorate our church and Sanctuary for Christmas. It is an amazing testament of faith as it all comes together!
Our Spiritual Journey from Advent to Lent ~ During the Advent season, our Parish Council invites you to join your fellow parishioners in reading A Spirituality of Being Human by local author Hugh Brady, D. Min. In Dr. Brady’s own words, “a spirituality of being human…is loving and accepting human nature in its brokenness and in its state of grace. It is awareness of the deeply transformative experience of being human.” A group discussion of the book is planned for the Lenten season, which begins on February 10. Copies of the book are available after Sunday Mass from Dianne Riordan, or you can pick one up at the rectory. The purchase price is $20, with a portion being donated to the Little Portion Friary. Some of our “loaner copies” have already been read and returned and are once again available to borrow.
Sodality Members will meet on Saturday, January 9, to help with the mailing of tickets for the February 7th Basket of Cheer raffle. Please join the “work party” at 1 PM in St. Charles Hall.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give your rest” (Matthew 11:28). Everyday there are things that remind us of our experiences of loss. Grief never takes a holiday. A free 2016 packet “Coping with Seasons of Loss” filled with resources, insights, prayers and scripture support is available upon request one from the Office of Family Life Ministries. Email http://familylife [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org or call 716-847-2210.
Merry Christmas from Catholic Charities ~ May the gift of the Christ child bless you and your family this season. You can also give in the spirit of Christmas to the Catholic Charities Immigrant and Refugee Assistance Program. The program helps hundreds of refugees start life anew in the form of housing, furniture, and even gift cards. Have a gift card to spare? An old table and chairs to re-purpose? Consider donating to people in need in our own diocese. Please call 716-842-0270 for information or to offer assistance. Visit ccwny.org for more information on our programs.
Photo Credit: Thomas Dinder
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Christmas Crèches on Display ~ Fr. Roy Herberger invites you to experience a display of 560 nativity sets from 59 countries. These international crèches will be shown at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church located at 75 Hickory and Eagle St. (one block south of Clinton). The building is handicapped accessible. The hours are 1 – 4 p.m. every weekend in December (EXCEPT December 26 and 27) and on January 2 and 3. There is no charge, and there is a special section for children.
Catholic Charities needs your help in collecting gently worn unwanted shoes during the months of December and January. For information drop-off points for your donation, call Cassandra Carleton at 716-218-1400. All types of shoes accepted. Drop them off in bags, boxes or totes. All shoes collected will be donated to poverty stricken communities across the world.