The Altar of Sacrifice at Blessed Trinity is dedicated to St. Isaac Jogues and his companions, Jesuit martyrs who are commemorated in a single celebration on October 19. A relic of St. Isaac Jogues is one of several placed in the altar when it was consecrated by Bishop Edward D. Head on June 2, 1976..
October 16 – October 23, 2016
Weekly Activities
Sunday, October 16 at 9:30 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in church
Sunday, October 16 following the 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, October 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, October 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, October 23 at 9:30 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in church
*In response to requests from our players, we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo. As of October 15, 2015, 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, October 16 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ William Blesnuk (Requested by Family) and Deacon Jimmie Boyd (Requested by Blessed Trinity Holy Name Society)
Monday, October 17 ~ St. Ignatius of Antioch ~ No Service
Tuesday, October 18 ~ St. Luke, Evangelist ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, October 19 ~ St. John de Brebeuf; St. Isaac Jogues & Companions ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine Maher (Estate)
Thursday, October 20 ~ St. Paul of the Cross ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)
Friday, October 21 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)
Saturday, October 22 ~ St. John Paul II, Pope ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Francis Pietrzykowski (Estate)
Sunday, October 23 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ James McNamara (Colleen Schroeder)
Assisting on the Altar – Ministry Schedule for Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Jack Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Maggie Gatson and Richard Plunkett; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Alice Davis, Sharon Dunnigan, Maggie Gatson (Loft)
Readings for the Week of October 9
Sunday: Ex 17:8-13; Ps 121: 1-8; 2 Tim 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8
Monday: Eph 2:1-10; Ps 100:1-5; Lk 12:13-21
Tuesday: 2 Tm 4:10-17b; Ps 145:10-13, 17-18; Lk 10:1-9
Wednesday: Eph 3:2-12; Is 12:2-6; Lk 12:39-48
Thursday: Eph 3:14-21; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19; Lk 12:49-53
Friday: Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 12:54-59
Saturday: Eph 4:7-16; Ps 122:1-5; Lk 13:1-9
Sunday, Oct. 23: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3, 17-19, 23; 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14
News from our Parish Community
Fr. Reger joins members of Deacon Jimmie Boyd’s family in front of the plaque which now bears the deacon’s name. From lf. to rt.: Jimmie’s daughter, Kim Harris; grandson Aaron, sister Juliette Graves;
Mrs. Carrie Boyd, and granddaughter Porsha.
Honoring Deacon Jimmie ~ On Sunday, October 16, the parish honored the memory of Deacon Jimmie Boyd with the placing of his name on our memorial plaque. The plaque was presented to the parish in the early 1990s by our Holy Name Society and lists the names and tenure of all pastors and associates who have served our parish. Members of the Boyd family attended both the liturgy and the social which followed the service.
Parish Council ~ Important Parish Council meeting on Wednesday, October 19, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. If unable to attend, please notify Sr. Peggy Gallagher in advance.
Sr. Barbara Horan
Rev. George Reger
October 30 Celebration Honors Father George Reger and Sister Barbara Horan ~ Father George Reger began serving as our parish priest in February 1991, and will celebrate his last Mass as our pastor on Sunday, October 30. The day will also mark the retirement of Sister Barbara Horan, our long-tenured pastoral associate. A number of priests have been invited to concelebrate with Father Reger and to accommodate everyone’s schedule, our Mass times for the weekend have been changed. There will be NO Mass on Saturday, October 29, and the 10am Sunday Mass will be REPLACED by a Mass of celebration at 3 pm. The afternoon Mass will be followed by a reception in St. Charles Hall, honoring both Father Reger and Sister Barbara. Please join us in thanking them for their decades of service and dedication.
Our Annual Watch for Watches Campaign to assist the St. Vincent de Paul Society began on October 1 and will continue through the month of October. Your watch doesn’t have to have a strap or be in working order. Watches are repaired and sold to further the work of the Society which is to help the poor. Last year we collected 104 watches. The Watch for Watches box will be near the statue of St. Joseph. Thanks to all who have contributed thus far. We’re off to a good start. For further information see Marianne Pernick.
World Mission Sunday is October 23. Its theme this year is “Mercy Changes the World.” Pope Francis invites the entire Church to support the young mission dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe, where priests, religious and lay leaders serve some of the poorest of the poor. Please keep the Missions in your prayers and be generous in our special collection on October 22/23 for the Society of the Propagation of the Faith. There is a special envelope in your packet for this collection.
The Ladies Sodality will hold its annual Service of Remembrance for deceased members on Sunday, November 6, following Sunday Mass. The service will be preceded by a brief business meeting.
Ralph Overton
Please welcome Ralph Overton, who assumed the position of parish custodian on Monday, October 3rd. We are happy to have him on board and hope that you will make him feel at home here at Blessed Trinity.
Giving Griffins ~ On Sat. October 1, 2016, Blessed Trinity welcomed 13 Canisius College “Giving Griffins” who chose our site for their Community Day volunteer efforts. We are so grateful to Accounting Society members Quinn Corrao, Thomas Gagola, Donald Hymers, Wesley Ireland, Liam Kulakowski, Tom Widman, and Nicholas Wojtkiewicz; and Disney Club members David Hicks, Sophie Huffman, Nathan Hynes, Gwyneth Romon, Krystal Saimon and Ethan Shannon for their hard work and youthful energy in helping to make our Landmark edifice even more beautiful. The following is an excerpt from a letter received from their office of Campus Ministry: “On behalf of all of us at Canisius College, we thank you for your partnership with us…. As a Catholic and Jesuit University we place a very strong emphasis on the importance of being men and women both with and for others and through events such as this one we are able to introduce our students to this concept in a very hands on way. Thank you, again, for your support and partnership with Canisius College.” Click HERE for additional photos of the students at work.
Albert Lenhard Family Scholarship ~ The Albert Lenhard Family Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 through a bequest of the estate of Albert M. Lenhard. The Scholarship was developed to assist applicants who want to continue their formal education beyond high school at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To be eligible for the Scholarship the candidate will have to be residing in the geographic boundaries of the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo, i.e.: Blessed Trinity, SS Columba Brigid, St. Ann, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Lawrence and St. Martin de Porres. The Lenhard Scholarship fund is administered by the pastor of St. Martin de Porres in collaboration with the African American Commission of the Diocese of Buffalo and the director of the Office of Cultural Diversity. This Scholarship is awarded annually. The completed application and the Personal Statement Essay should be sent to the Office of Cultural Diversity, 795 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203 to the attention of Milagros Ramos by December 1, 2016. An email confirmation will be sent to verify receipt of your application. The recipient of the award will be invited to receive the award in person at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, which will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2017, at 10 am at Holy Cross Church in Buffalo. Applications are available at the rectory office. Please call our secretary, Barbara Sercu, at 716-833-0301 if you are interested in applying. (Rectory office hours are: Tuesday-Thursday from 10:30am – 2:30pm).
Jerry Gallisdorfer extends his heartfelt THANK YOU to all who attended the reception on Sunday, September 25. Having all of you with him to celebrate his retirement was gratifying. He will remember your kindness and friendship as he begins a new phase of life. Jerry also promises that we will continue to see him in the usher’s pew at Sunday Mass.
Rectory office hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 10:30am – 2:30pm. Please call our secretary, Barbara Sercu, at 716-833-0301 if you have information for the bulletin, changes to your phone number or mailing address, or would like to register as a parishioner.
“I am the true vine and you are the branches….”
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Political responsibility from a Catholic Perspective presented by Msgr. Frederick Leising on Monday, October 17 from 7-8pm at Our Lady of Pompeii church, 158 Laverack Ave, Lancaster. As we prepare to exercise our rights and duties as participants in our democracy on Election Day, Msgr. Leising will help us evaluate what we hear through culture and the media and what the Bible teaches us. All our welcome! Refreshments follow presentation. Free will offering accepted.
Classes for Caregivers ~ The Church of the Annunciation, 7580 Clinton St, Elma will host a 6-week session of “Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” a national program which addresses the problems facing persons responsible for the needs of relatives or friends with physical and/or memory impairments. Each week attendees will learn new ways to deal with stress, brainstorm solutions to common challenges, and receive information on available services to assist them in their caregiving role. Classes will take place from 1-3:30pm on Tuesdays from October 18 through November 22. Fee (paid by insurers Blue Cross/Blue Shield of WNY and Independent Health for members) covers the cost of The Caregivers Helpbook. For more information and registration contact the Erie County Caregivers Resource Center at caregiver [at] erie [dot] gov or 716-858-2177.
Save the Date ~ Sr. Maureen invites you to save the date – Wednesday, October 19, from 6:30-8pm for a live session about “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” and our Catholic participation in political life as a U.S. Citizen. Deacon Don Weigel will assist us in bringing together our principles and our political voices, our values and our votes, to help build a better world. Place to be announced. Contact Sr. Maureen Harris OSF at 897-9948 x114 to RSVP or with any questions.
Harmonia Chamber Singers open their 11th season with Voices of Autumn – an eclectic program of a cappella choral treasures on Friday, October 21 at 7:30pm, St. Bernadette’s Church, 5930 S. Abbott Rd., Orchard Park and again on Sunday, October 23 at 4pm, St. Louis Church, 35 Edward Street at Main in Buffalo. $15 donation. Harmonia, one of Western New York’s finest vocal ensembles, will present a cappella works of all subjects, from the seasons to the wonder of nature to the working man. You will hear works such as Simple Gifts, Voices of Autumn, I Have Had Singing, Cindy, Shall We Gather at the River, and Wade in the Water. Gorgeous music in two beautiful spaces. Join us as we kick off an exciting year.
October 28/29 Retreat: “Sharing the Mercy of God” ~ The African Commission is sponsoring a retreat from 6-9pm on Friday, Oct. 28 and Sat. Oct 29 at Holy Cross Parish, 345 Seventh St, Buffalo. Reverend Anthony Mario Ozele will conduct the retreat and serve as homilist at the Africa Thanksgiving Bazaar Mass, to be celebrated by Most Reverend Bishop Richard J. Malone at 10am on Sun., Oct. 30.. A bazaar following the Mass will include a Taste of Africa, auction and basket raffle. All are welcome to participate.