Easter Week – Week of March 27, 2016

March 27 – April 3, 2016

Weekly Activities

Thursday, March 31 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, April 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, April 3 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in the loft

Sunday, April 3 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Meeting in St. Charles Hall

Mass Intentions

Easter Sunday – March 27
10:00 a.m. – Easter Sunday Mass with Choir and Brass
Intention: Blessed Trinity Parish Community

Monday, March 28 ~ NO SERVICE SCHEDULED

Tuesday, March 29 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Wednesday, March 30 ~ NO SERVICE SCHEDULED

Thursday, March 31 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Friday, April 1 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Winifred Enright (Estate)

Saturday, April 2 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Mary C. Nelson (Family)

Sunday, April 3 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – August and Clara Marien (Ed Marien) and Carl, Evelyn & Carol Schmelzer (Mary and Bob Karlis)

Readings for the Week of March 27

Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Lk 24:1-12
Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; Mt 28:8-15
Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; Jn 20:11-18
Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9; Lk 24:13-35
Thursday: Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2, 5-9; Lk 24:35-48
Friday: Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27; Jn 21:1-14
Saturday: Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118:1, 14-21; Mk 16:9-15
Sunday, April 3: Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Rv 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31

News from our Parish Community

The Ladies Sodality will meet on Sunday, April 3, immediately following the 10 AM Mass. There will be a brief business meeting focusing on programs for May and June. All women of the parish are invited to attend.

Trinity Concert Series ~ Our 2015-16 concert season concludes on Friday, April 22, with The Buffalo Brass Choir, performing “American Originals.“ Directed by our own Nick DelBello, the musicians present a program of all-American works originally composed for brass ensemble, including “Fanfaria” by local composer Rob Deemer and a solo performance by Timothy Smith, second trombone with the BPO. Please note that this is a Friday evening performance, beginning at 7:30 PM.

Seven Churches Visitation ~ Visita Iglesia, the ancient Roman Catholic custom of visiting seven churches on the evening of Holy Thursday, is alive and well in Buffalo. Ushers Jerry Gallisdorfer and Ed Marien estimated the number of visitors to Blessed Trinity at more than 200. Following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved on an “altar of repose” in each church, and the faithful visit several churches (usually seven) to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

Parish Council Seeking Feedback ~ Our 2016 Lenten Program included three evenings of prayer, meditation and discussion centering on A Spirituality of Being Human by Dr. Hugh Brady and a fourth that ended in church with us Praying the Stations of Mercy with Pope Francis. Our Parish Council is requesting your help in evaluating the Wednesday evening offerings. In particular, they would like to know: How many did you attend? What was the primary reason you decided to participate? If not, what kept you from attending? Is there anything else you wish had been included? You can click HERE and respond on-line or talk with Sr. Peg Gallagher, Sr. Liz Savage, or Mickey Dick.

Charities Appeal 2016 ~ At Catholic Charities, we rejoice with you today in the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We also want to thank you for following the example of Appeal Patron St. Nicholas and “finding good within” to be a beacon of hope for those we serve.  By giving generously to the 2016 Appeal in support of Catholic Charities, you demonstrate that you are a part of a generous community that is always there for our neighbors in need, just as St. Nicholas was for the poor and sick.  If you have not already made your contribution to this annual appeal, our Parish Chairman, Bob Heicklen, will be happy to accept your donation or provide you with a pledge form. Parish societies are also reminded to support the appeal with a donation. Learn more about the many local programs funded by Catholic Charities at www.ccwny.org or call 716-218-1400.

Children in the Church ~ On March 10, we welcomed a group of 5th & 6th grade students from St. Joseph University School who are part of an ongoing program with Explore Buffalo and the Darwin Martin House that introduces students to “Buffalo’s incredible architecture, history, and culture.” After a presentation by Judy Casassa and Mickey Dick on the church’s design and unique architectural features, the students, teachers and parents enjoyed a scavenger hunt for “Children in the church,” as depicted in paintings, stained glass and terra cotta sculpture. Both Explore Buffalo and St. Joseph University School shared our photos on their Facebook pages, and here’s what Explore Buffalo had to say: “Thank you for the wonderful tour of Blessed Trinity for the students from St. Joseph’s University School! The tour was just the perfect mix of information and interactive – they loved the scavenger hunt! Thanks again for a great tour!” For more photos, click HERE.

Keeping in Touch ~ In January, members of the Parish Council attempted to call all parishioners to inform them of the death of Deacon Jimmie. They used the phone numbers contained in our parish records. In the process, they discovered a high percentage of non-working numbers. Please think about the last time you updated your contact information with the parish. Have you abandoned your land line in favor of a cell phone? Moved and acquired a new number? Please use the form on the back of our bulletin to bring our information up to date, or send your new information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com. Thank you.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Documentary:  Building a Basilica ~ WKBW-TV will air Building a Basilica, the documentary about how Father Baker built Our Lady of Victory Basilica, on Easter Sunday, March 27, from 5:00 -6:00 PM.

Earth is the water planet. In light of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si: Care of Our Common Home, in solidarity with the people of Flint, Michigan and all those who suffer with polluted water, the Franciscan Religious Communities of WNY invite you to pray, learn and enjoy the gift of our Sister Water. These events are co-sponsored by the Diocesan Care of Creation Committee: Saturday, April 9 at 2:00 PM at Penn Dixie, 4050 North Street, Blasdell, sponsored by Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Felician Sisters, and Sister of St Francis of the Neumann Communities; Saturday April 23 at 11:00 AM at Franchot Park by the Allegany River, sponsored by Franciscan Sisters of Allegany; Friday, April 29 at 10:00 AM at the Stella Niagara Preserve, Lower River Road, Town of Lewiston, sponsored by Sisters of St. Francis of Penance & Christian Charity, Stella Niagara (bad weather date of May 2).  These events are ecumenical and open to all.

“Music and Memories,” A Service to Remember Those We Love, will be held on Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 PM at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore and again on Saturday, April 30 at 1:00 PM at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna.  The service will feature songs that will inspire and uplift you as we remember those we have loved.  Poems and pieces will be interspersed throughout the program along with the reading of your loved one’s name. Call by April 18 to have your loved one’s name listed in the program book. For the service at Mount Olivet, call 716-873-6500; for Holy Cross service, call 716-823-1197. This program is presented as part of the bereavement support programs of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Buffalo.