November 27 – December 4, 2016
Weekly Activities
Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Pastor’s meeting with his parishioners in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, December 1 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, December 2 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m. ~ Trinity Series Concert in church; post-concert reception 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 27 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Ella and Joe Loibl (Requested by Mary and Bob Kresse)
Monday, November 28 ~ No Service
Tuesday, November 29 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, November 30 ~ St. Andrew, apostle ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine Maher (Estate)
Thursday, December 1 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)
Friday, December 2 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)
Saturday, December 3 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. ~ Mary C. Nelson (Family)
Sunday, December 4 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Santos Bueme (Angela Jost) and Rhoda Tisdale (Bob Heicklen)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Gary Kelley; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Fran Cahill, Sharon Dunnigan; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Mary Kresse, Pat Hartinger; Fran Cahill (Loft)
News from our Parish Community
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 Freudig Singers performing at
Blessed Trinity in December 2015
Employment Opportunity at BT ~ Nick DelBello, our music director since 2010, is resigning to devote more time to the new addition to his family, Vincent Michael, and his teaching position in the Williamsville School District. His resignation is effective December 31, 2016. Father Ibhawa is currently accepting applications for the position. Click HERE to view requirements and information on how to apply.
A Frozen Christmas Pie, the next concert in our Trinity Series is just a week away — Sunday, December 4, at 3pm. The Freudig Singers of WNY, under the direction of Roland E. Martin, will present a program featuring traditional and contemporary music for Advent and Christmas, plus the premier of a new piece – “Star Carol” by Sidney King – to enhance your celebration of this beautiful season. The Singers invite you to “come a’ wassailing” with them, take chances to win one of their signature pies, and enjoy a delicious post-concert pie reception. Suggested Donation: $10.
The Ladies Sodality Christmas Dinner is Wednesday, December 7 at 6:00 PM at the Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 N. Bailey Ave., Amherst, and reservation are due this week. All women of the parish are invited and guests are welcome. There are 3 entrees to choose from: pot roast, baked fish, or roast pork. Greek or baked potato, chef salad, rolls & butter, coffee, tea or soda and a dessert choice of ice cream with chocolate sauce or rice pudding complete the menu – all for only $25. This price includes tax and gratuity. Entrée choices and payment (checks payable to “Ladies Sodality”) are due no later than Friday, December 2 and may be given to either Jessie Wells or Treasurer Amy Johnson. Click HERE to leave a message for them (Subject: Reservation).
Gifts for our Shut-ins – The Ladies Sodality is again assembling Christmas presents to be delivered to our homebound parishioners (6 women) and those in senior care facilities (2 women, 1 man). SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, is our target date for collecting all donated items and cash contributions 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. Some suggestions: socks, eye glass wipes, artificial tears (eye drops), calendars, large-print puzzle books, wrapped candies, or cash for a hair cut or shampoo & set. Ready-to-eat food items such as jam, jelly, toaster pastries; gelatin, fruit or pudding cups; or “add water” mixes; e.g., soup cups, single-serving oatmeal packets, tea, cocoa or coffee are also acceptable for the homebound. 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 ~ Thank you to everyone who has contributed already! We are still in need of donations of instant hot chocolate packets to reach 4,200 by next Sunday, Dec. 4. Monetary donations are welcomed. Bag decorators – Please return all bags by Dec. 4 (box near the cocoa donations). You may leave a message for Amy Johnson (Subject: Prison Project) HERE.
Detail of mural at 72 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo
Our Landmark church building is featured on a mural created earlier this year by Danial Galas on a the building located at 72 Jewett Avenue at Halbert Street. The building was originally owned by the Culliton Ice Cream Co. Local historian and preservationist, Chuck LaChiusa, has shared some marvelous photos of the mural depicting Blessed Trinity and other historical sites in the neighborhood on his web site. Click HERE to view them.
A Message from Father Reger and Sister Barbara Horan ~ “We hope all are receiving our sentiments of gratitude and thanks after our October 30 Celebration. Some may have been missed or lost in the mail, but we meant to thank you all … We thank you again for the monetary gifts from the congregation and from individuals. You are too generous! We could not do justice to all the messages of congratulations and future happiness — and to the touching ways they were expressed. They brought tears to the eyes and were read and re-read ~ and they sustain us now … It is for these offered blessings and words of appreciation that we are especially grateful. Fr. Reger and Sr. Barbara“
Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal ~ Please be as generous as possible when the collection is taken during the December 10/11 weekend Masses. For your convenience you may also donate online to the collection in the Diocese of Buffalo at www.shareinthecare.org.
St. Gerard Church ~ On November 9, 2016, Bishop Richard Malone issued a decree reducing the former St. Gerard Church building to secular use effective November 23, 2016.
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.
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.
There’s plenty of room remaining for
your donation of cocoa for Sr. Karen Klimczak’s Christmas Prison Project.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Popadick and the Parish Community of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church invite ALL to the 73rd Annual Family Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 3, from noon to 6pm in the Parish Hall, 157 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga. The Christmas Fair includes a Grand Prize Drawing, a wide variety of prize booths (groceries, musical novelties, toys for boys and girls, candy, poinsettias and Christmas variety), theme baskets and cash prizes. Santa Claus will visit with youngsters from 2-4pm and the kitchen will be serving a full menu of homemade food items at reasonable prices. For more information call the St. Aloysius Rectory at 716-833-1715.
Need time to do your Christmas shopping? Mount St. Mary Academy’s annual Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show showcases over 70 vendors, offering great gift ideas for everyone on your list. Shop for everything from homemade candles, jellies, wreaths, scarves, artwork, jewelry and more. Join us for Chiavetta’s BBQ from 11am-3pm while you do your shopping. Holiday Bazaar and Craft Show, Sunday, December 4 from 10am-4pm at Mount St. Mary Academy, 3756 Delaware Ave, Kenmore. Questions? Call Alexandra Fussell 716-877-1358 x304 or email afussell [at] msmacademy [dot] org.
Christ the King Seminary will host its annual Advent Vespers Service on the second Sunday of Advent, Sunday, December 4 at 4pm in the seminary’s St. John Vianney Chapel. The Most Reverend Richard J. Malone will preside. Alan Lukas, director of music for the seminary and the Diocese of Buffalo, will lead the Christ the King Seminary Festival chorus through a selected arrangement of Scripture passages and sacred songs. A reception will follow the service. A free-will offering will be taken; ALL are welcome. Fur further information visit www.cks.edu or call Gayle Mann, coordinator of events and scheduling 716-805-1438. Christ the King Seminary is located at 711 Knox Road in East Aurora.
Christmas Nativity Display ~ Fr. Roy Herberger invites you to experience a display of 580 nativity sets from 58 countries. These international crèches will be shown at Ss Columba-Brigid Church at 75 Hickory & Eagle St (one block south of Clinton). The building is handicapped accessible. Hours are from 1-4pm every Saturday and Sunday in December – except the weekend of Dec 24/25 – and until the weekend of January 14/15. There is NO charge and there is a special section for children. If anyone would like to view the display during the week with a large group (e.g. school children, senior groups, church organizations, etc.), please call Fr. Roy at 716-852-2076.
Catholic Charities’ Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program is collecting donations of winter outerwear and clothing. Many of the program’s clients do not have proper clothing or shoes for the winter months, especially those who arrive in the summer. Items being collected include winter boots, galoshes, jackets, coats and sweaters. All sizes are being accepted. Items can be dropped off at Immigration and Refugee Assistance, 20 Herkimer St, Buffalo from 8:45am-4:45pm Monday through Friday. Please call ahead if possible: 716-842-0270. Consider helping Buffalo’s newest neighbors. More information on Immigration and Refugee Assistance, visit http://www.ccwny.org or call 716-842-0270.