December 11 – December 18, 2016

Weekly Activities

Tuesday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, December 15 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, December 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Friday, December 16 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ~ Prisoner Gift Project, First Phase of Assembly in Church

Saturday, December 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

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

Sunday, December 18, following the 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Moving of Christmas decorations from church basement

*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, December 11 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Bob and Mary Kinmartin (Requested by Mary and Bob Kresse) and Bridget Blesnuk (Requested by Family)

Monday, December 12 ~ Our Lady of Guadalupe ~ No Service

Tuesday, December 13 ~ St. Lucy ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Mary D. Clemons (Amy Johnson)

Wednesday, December 14 ~ St. John of the Cross ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Thursday, December 15 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Friday, December 16 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Saturday, December 17 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. ~ Adam and Pauline Glowacki (Barbara Sercu)

Sunday, December 18 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Albert and Ella Tiede (Mary and Bob Kresse) and Gretchen Kelly (Bud and Mickey Dick)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Jack Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.   Readers: Bob Heicklen, Gary Kelley;  Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Bernice Bradley, Pat Hartinger; Sharon Dunnigan (Loft)

For our schedule of Christmas season services, Click HERE

News from our Parish Community

The Parish Council Meeting, usually held on the third Wednesday of the month, will instead take place this Wednesday, December 14, at 7 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. Any Council member who will be unable to attend is reminded to call the parish office after 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday. Summary of November 16 Parish Council Meeting: Thank you to all who helped with the retirement party for Fr. Reger and Sister Barbe. The Finance Council (Fran Cahill, Bud Dick, Judy Casassa, Madonna Hartzell, Bob Heicklen) continues to meet weekly; income/expenses are watched closely. Closings on the sale of the FLARE building and St. Gerard’s Church and rectory are expected in the near future. A new boiler will be installed in St. Charles Hall. Members discussed a banner for the church, plus signs at several city intersections directing people here. Fr. Victor stressed his availability to the people and the need to identify some parish activities.

Decorating for Christmas: Phase I ~ On Sunday, December 18 after 10am mass, we will be bringing the Christmas decorations up from the church basement. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

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.

Thanks from Our Ladies Sodality – Thank you to everyone who contributed items for our homebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities. This was such a busy week at Blessed Trinity, and we are especially grateful to: Judy Casassa, Elsieta Chapman, Jack Curtin, Madonna Hartzell, Amy Johnson, Angela Jost, Marianne Pernick, Dianne Riordan, Sue Trabert and Palma Zanghi for volunteering to deliver the presents; Bud Dick for picking up the poinsettias; and Vera Andrew and Mickey Dick for assembling the Christmas gift bags and having everything ready for delivery by December 10. Best wishes to all for a blessed Christmas.

Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal ~ A reminder to please be as generous as possible when this annual collection for women and men religious 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 http://www.shareinthecare.org.

Announcements ~ If you have meeting or church event information you would like read during Mass announcements, please make sure to submit the information for approval to Barbara Sercu by Thursday morning of each week.

Detail of mural at 72 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo

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

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.

Sunday TV Mass ~ For those who are unable to physically attend Mass, the Diocese of Buffalo provides a televised Mass from the Our Lady Chapel at St. Joseph Cathedral that airs each Sunday on WUTV-Fox at 7:30am.

A Friendly Call ~ The Telephone Assurance Program (TAP) serving Erie and Chautauqua Counties, and the Friendly Phones program serving Orleans County, are free volunteer services providing regular phone calls to homebound elderly and disabled persons to check on their well-being and to give people an opportunity to socialize. These calls are especially needed during the upcoming holiday season to alleviate concerns facing those who live alone and to help them maintain their independence. If you know of someone who would like to receive calls through the programs or volunteer to make calls, call 585-343-0614 x18 for Friendly Phones and 716-218-1400 for TAP. For frequent updates from Catholic Charities of Buffalo follow on Twitter @ccbuffalo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo. For other services available or volunteer opportunities visit us at www.ccwny.org.

Photo credit: Margaret Dick

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Free Monthly Faith Enrichment Series ~ On Monday, December 12 at 7pm, Deacon Dave Rotterman will present “Advent…It’s Not Just a Countdown to Christmas” at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 158 Laverack Ave, Lancaster. Learn how to prepare and be spiritually ready for Christmas. Make each day and each moment of Advent “count.” It’s not a countdown…it’s a state of being. Refreshments to follow. ALL are welcome; no need to register.

Give a child a safe home. Catholic Charities works closely with birth families to provide a safe place for children, especially sibling groups, to stay and receive care when they cannot receive it at their own home. While often temporary, some children must be relocated permanently. Our Foster Care program allows for children to receive nurturing care in these moments of their lives from other loving families. Interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent? Our next informational meeting will be held at 525 Washington St, Buffalo on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 10-11:30am and 5-7:30pm; attend either one. To register or learn more, call 716-856-4494 x360 or email elizabeth [dot] murphy [at] ccwny [dot] org. For  frequent updates from Catholic Charities of Buffalo follow us on Twitter @ccbuffalo and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo. To view our full list of services, find us online at http://www.ccwny.org.

Canisius High School presents a Service of Lessons and Carols on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7pm at Assumption Church, 435 Amherst St, Buffalo. All are welcome to attend this free presentation of Christmas carols and readings. The school’s new audio CD, “Christmas at Canisius,” will be available for purchase. For more information call the school at 716-882-0466.

Celebrate Christmas ~ Cardinal O’Hara High School, 39 O’Hara Rd, Tonawanda, will continue one of its longest running traditions with a Greccio re-enactment and Christmas concert starting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The O’Hara freshman class will re-enact St. Francis of Assisi’s pageant which depicts the birth of Jesus. O’Hara’s Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Chorus and Song Corps will also perform their annual concert of holiday favorites in the performing arts center immediately following the Greccio re-enactment. The Music Department will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4-6pm in the student dining room. Eat in or take-out is available. Dinner tickets may be purchased by calling O’Hara at 716-695-2600.

St. Joseph Cathedral Choir will present a Festival of Lessons & Carols on Monday, Dec. 19 at 7:30pm under the direction of Organist-Choir Director Tim Socha. The Cathedral Choir will be joined by the Royalton Ringers and Diane Dick, solo handbells; the Bel Canto Singers of West Seneca West High School, and the Christ the King Seminary Schola. Featured music will include newly composed music and traditional Christmas music for choirs and congregation. There will be a free will offering. ALL are welcome. St. Joseph Cathedral is located at 50 Franklin St, downtown Buffalo (between Church & Swan Sts). For more information call 716-854-5855.

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.

NativityMiguel Boys Basketball Team starts season with Tournament wins. Again this year the NativityMiguel St. Augustine Rens began its basketball season with wins in local tournaments: Canisius High School Tip-Off Tournament and St. Joe’s John Barden Memorial Tournament. The team is coached by Mr. Dorcely with the support of school principal, Father Edward Durkin, SJ, and teacher, Sister Timothy Howard, OSP. The team is inspired by the New York Renaissance (also known as the Harlem Rens), the first all black, African-American owned professional basketball team and one of the most successful basketball teams of all time. Both the St. Augustine Rens boys team and the St. Monica Doms girls teams start their regular season of play this month. For more info about the school please visit www.nativitymiguelbuffalo.org  or call Nancy Langer, school president at 716-836-5188.