St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast day we celebrate on November 17, is depicted in Joseph Mazur’s procession of saints in the church dome. The daughter of the King of Hungary, she wears a crown and appears as the second standing figure from the right. Photo credit: Gary Kelley

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast day we celebrate on November 17, is depicted in Joseph Mazur’s procession of saints in the church dome. The daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary, she devoted her life to caring for the poor. She was widowed at the age of 21, and continued her charitable activities as a member of the Third Order of Franciscans. St. Elizabeth appears as the second standing figure from the right, wearing a crown. Photo credit: Gary Kelley

November 13 – November 20, 2016

Rev. Victor Ibhawa, 2nd from right,with parishioners and Rev. John Aligamhe on Nov. 6.

Rev. Victor Ibhawa, 2nd from right,with parishioners and Rev. John Aligamhe on Nov. 6.

Blessed Trinity welcomes Rev. Victor Ibhawa with warmth and joyful anticipation. Father Victor has been appointed by Bishop Malone to serve as our parish priest and temporary administrator. A native of Nigeria, he comes to us from St. Vincent de Paul parish in Niagara Falls, NY, where he had served as parochial vicar. Click HERE for additional photos.

Weekly Activities

Tuesday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, November 17 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, November 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, November 19 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, November 20 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall

*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, November 13~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Aileen Horan Townsell (Requested by Angela Jost)

Monday, November 14 ~ No Service

Tuesday, November 15 ~ St. Albert the Great ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, November 16 ~ St. Margaret of Scotland; St. Gertrude ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Francis Pietrzykowski (Estate)

Thursday, November 17 ~ St. Elizabeth of Hungary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine Maher (Estate)

Friday, November 18 ~ Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss. Peter & Paul; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Saturday, November 19 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. ~ Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)

Sunday, November 20~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Bob Kinmartin (S. Miletello)

Assisting on the Altar – Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Jack Curtin

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.   Readers: Chris Porter and Dianne Riordan;  Eucharistic Ministers: Alice Davis, Maggie Gatson, Pat Hartinger; Dan Korchowsky (Loft)

Readings for the Week of November 13

Sunday: Mal 3:19-20; Ps 98:5-9; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19
Monday: Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 18:35-43
Tuesday: Rv 3:1-6, 14-22; Ps 15:2-5; Lk 19:1-10
Wednesday: Rv 4:1-11; Ps 150:1-6; Lk 19:11-28
Thursday: Rv 5:1-10; Ps 149:1-6, 9; Lk 19:41-44
Friday: Rv 10:8-11; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Lk 19:45-48
Dedication: Acts 28:11-16, 30-31; Ps 98:1-6; Mt 14:22-33
Saturday: Rv 11:4-12; Ps 144:1-2, 9-10; Lk 20:27-40
Sunday, Nov. 20: 2 Sm 5:1-3; Ps 122:1-5; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43

News from our Parish Community

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Father Victor invites you to join him at 7pm on Wednesday evening, November 30, for a parish “meet and greet.” He would like to get to know you better, share his thoughts and yours, and begin a dialog with his congregation. Please show your support for our future together by participating in the conversation. The meeting will take place in St. Charles Hall.

The Parish Council will meet in St. Charles Hall on Wednesday, November 16, at 7pm.

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Gifts for our Shut-ins – For the next 3 weeks, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting items for their annual Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our homebound parishioners (6 women) and those in senior care facilities (2 women & 1 man). The early completion date for the drive is necessary so that presents and plants are ready for delivery on the weekend of Dec. 10/11.  If you would like to contribute, please bring your new, unwrapped items to church and leave them in the designated basket at the far left end of the communion rail. If you prefer to donate money, please do so before Thanksgiving so that our volunteers have time to shop. If you have any questions, please Click HERE and leave a message for Mickey Dick (Subject: Shut-ins).

Prisoner Gift Project 2016 – Cocoa Challenge 2016 ~ 4,200 packets by December 4! Your donation of instant hot chocolate packets is needed for the Prisoner Gift Project. Put it on your “to do list” today! You may make a donation to “Peaceprints of WNY,” in an envelope marked “Prisoner Gifts,” and drop it in the collection basket. We need more bag decorators to personalize the gift bags. Bags available at Sunday Mass or by leaving a message for Amy Johnson (Subject: Prison Project) HERE.

Special Alert for Lectorers ~ Please pick up your copy of “2017 Workbook for Readers” in the priest’s sacristy today. We begin using it for the First Sunday in Advent, November 26/27. Suggestion: as a refresher, read pages iv to ix.

Mass Intentions ~ If you wish to have a Mass offered for a special intention, please call Barbara Sercu at the Rectory Office 716-833-0301. She will be available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30am-2:30pm. The Mass offering is $15.00.

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Prayerful Thanks ~ October’s farewell and “thank you” celebration for Father George and Sister Barbara was a great success, and we thank everyone who played a part in making this such a memorable event. So many people volunteered that we can’t name names, but here is how they contributed: prepared and mailed invitations; planned and participated in the liturgy; provided the music; agreed on a menu, then shopped (and shopped some more); gathered after bingo on Saturday night to take down tables and chairs and reconfigure the hall for Sunday’s reception; returned on Sunday to decorate, prepare countless trays of food, and ready beverages; supervised our wait staff of Canisius College students; cleared the hall and washed dishes; and returned again on Wednesday to reset the hall for Thursday bingo! We hope you enjoyed Sunday’s reception and had a chance to personally thank our guests of honor, and we salute the members of the BT “family” who made it all possible.

Looking for Photos ~ Our web diva, Mickey Dick, is looking for additional photos from the October 30 farewell party for Father George and Sister Barbara. If you have any to share, please leave a message for Mickey (Subject: photos) by clicking HERE.

The Diocese of Buffalo wants your feedback. A survey has been created to understand perceptions about how deacons are currently ministering within our community, as well as direct future needs so that our ordained deacons are able to effectively minister to all people within the diocese. Please visit http://bit.ly/dcnsurvey to take this short survey.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Living Mercy Beyond the Year of Mercy presented by Deacon Bill Hynes on Monday, November 14 from 7-8pm at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 158 Lavarack Avenue, Lancaster. The close of the Year of Mercy is quickly approaching! Here is an opportunity to reflect on mercy and to learn ways to make mercy part of our everyday lives. ALL are welcome. Refreshments following presentation. Free will offering accepted.

Grace and Mercy in the Face of Addiction on Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30pm at St. Leo the Great Church, 885 Sweet Home Rd, Amherst. Please join us for an evening of prayer and reflection as we seek to provide support for people and their families dealing with the disease of addiction. A communal “Rosary for Addiction” (rosaries provided) will be followed by a presentation by Dr. Paul Updike, Director of Addiction Medicine and Recovery Services at the Catholic Health System. We hope to provide you with support through faith, prayer and the demonstration of God’s healing love as our community faces the darkness of this epidemic together. You are NOT alone. This event is free and open to the public. Questions: contact Maureen Couche, RN, parish nurse, 835-8905 x13.

2016 International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on Saturday, November 19 from 1-3pm at Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Butler Rehab Center Auditorium, 400 Forest Ave, Buffalo, BuffaloPC [at] omh [dot] ny [dot] gov. Reaching out can change your life. You are not alone. Join with a community of suicide loss survivors to find comfort and gain understanding as we share stories of healing and hope. Please register in advance if possible by calling 816-2011. Light lunch provided. There is no charge for this program.

Journey Into Love ~ The Office of Family Life Ministries is looking for married couples to assist with the monthly diocesan marriage preparation program, Journey Into Love. Married couples help by giving a 20-minute talk once or twice a year on essential topics and issues that engaged and newly married couples face. Married couples that support this ministry find it beneficial to their own marriage and their efforts contribute to the strengthening of family life as couples prepare for their marriage. If you are interested in finding out more about this very successful diocesan marriage program, call the Family Life Office at 716-847-2210.

Volunteers needed ~ Little Portion Friary, located at 1305 Main St (south of Canisius College), Buffalo, is a shelter for homeless men and women whose goal is to assist our guests in ending the reasons for their homelessness. Needed are men and women willing to greet and serve the guests on weekends and weekday shifts. Training is provided. It is an ideal ministry for retired seniors as well as for men and women who want another opportunity to “live out” their faith. Please consider in answering God’s call to help feed and shelter the homeless. Call Ed L. at 875-3610 x221 or 222.