St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
September 21
St. Matthew, whose feast day is celebrated on September 21, is depicted in this pendentive supporting Blessed Trinity’s great dome. “Since Christ sent the Apostles out to preach the Good News of how much God loves us, this church rightly places the missionary emphasis of the Church in a prominent position.” Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church, page 21. Photo Credit: Gary Kelley.
September 17 – September 24, 2017
Weekly Activities
Sunday, September 17 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Anointing of the sick and well-aging in the church
Monday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Bible Study in St. Charles Hall
Tuesday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, September 20 at 6:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS – SAT. ONLY – Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, September 23 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, September 24 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ BT School Alumni 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. 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, September 17 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ William Stiffler and Margaret Schimpf (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick) and James M. Lojacono (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse)
Monday, September 18 ~No Service
Tuesday, September 19 ~ St. Januarius ~Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Wednesday, September 20 ~ Ss. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chong Ha-sang & companions ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Thursday, September 21 ~ St. Matthew, apostle & evangelist ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, September 22 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Frances Pernick (Children)
Saturday, September 23 ~ St. Pius of Pietrelcina ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Peter DeRosa (Joseph DeRosa)
Sunday, September 24 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Deceased Alumni (Blessed Trinity School Alumni) and James F. Eagan (Guy and Margaret Latona)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Gary Kelley; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Bob Heicklen, Grace Iheke; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Pat Hartinger, Mary Kresse, Sharon Dunnigan; Maggie Gatson (Choir)
The BT Choir is looking for a few good men and women
to enhance our liturgy through the gift of music.
News from our Parish Community
Stewardship ~ Once we allow God to truly take up residence in our hearts we become so overwhelmed by his abundant love for us that we just naturally feel the need to join our lives with Him and dedicate our time, talent and treasure to carrying out God’s work here on earth. Our generosity comes from within and not from any eternal pressure or reward.
A warm Blessed Trinity welcome to Carolyn Liarakos, who will be sharing her musical talents with us this weekend while Elizabeth is away at school. Thank you, Carolyn, for enhancing our liturgical experience!
Bible Study resumes Monday, September 18, at 7pm. Contact Althea Porter at 716-316-8395 for information.
Do you have a song in your heart? There are still openings in the Blessed Trinity Choir! If you think God is calling you to serve Him through a music ministry, don’t hesitate to join us at choir practice at 7:00 on Tuesday evening, September 19, in St. Charles Hall. No audition necessary. The only requirement is a love of The Lord.
The Parish Council will meet this Wednesday, September 20, in St. Charles Hall, beginning at 6pm. (Please note earlier start time). Due to a tie vote in last weekend’s election, the council will welcome five, rather than four new members: Nik Brodfuehrer, Lorna Cameron, Kathy Press, Bonnie Williams, and Don Williams. We hope you will congratulate them and support their efforts on your behalf. The September meeting agenda will include election of officers (president, vice president and secretary) and formation of committees for 2017-18. Summary of the last Parish Council Meeting on June 21, 2017: Proceeds from the sale of the FLARE Building will help bring St. Charles Hall up to code. Blessed Trinity continues to be responsible for some debts incurred because of the merger with St. Gerard. Thanks to all for the success of Trinity Weekend; 12 new parishioners have registered. The Ladies Sodality donated $1000 for tree removal and beautification of the Marian shrine. Plans for nomination for Parish Council according to the By-laws and the Summer River Cruise were finalized. Arrangements will be made for weekend liturgies while Father Victor is away on vacation from the 2nd week of October to the 2nd week of December.
Sr. Maureen Harris and friends
Party for Sister Maureen Harris ~ The “Bon Voyage to Tanzania Tea Party” for Sr. Maureen is Sunday, September 17 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM at Ss. Columba-Brigid. She will be traveling to our Sister Communities in Tanzania, Africa, leaving for six months at the end of September. After a stop in Rome, she will continue on to the mission territory, where she will travel and walk with our Sisters and the people in their missions. Sr. Maureen spent three months there in 2008 teaching English as a second language. This time she will follow up with the Sisters, assist with their record keeping, and offer an encouraging presence as the Sisters cultivate leadership within their own communities. We would like Sister Maureen to have many happy memories to sustain her during her six months abroad, and you can be one of them by attending her farewell party this Sunday, September 17.
Blessed Trinity School Alumni ~ On Sunday, September 24, we welcome alumni of the parish grammar school and friends for their annual Alumni Sunday. A 9:30am guided mini-tour of the church will precede our 10am Mass at which recently deceased alumni and faculty of the school will be remembered. We are especially pleased that members of the Class of 1967 will be with us to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary. Blessed Trinity School operated from 1909-1975, educating more than 2,300 students. If you know anyone who attended the grammar school, please be sure to mention the annual all-class gathering to them. Click HERE for additional information regarding planned activities and weekend events of the Class of 67.
Collection for Hurricane Victims ~ There will be a second collection to assist victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on the weekend of September 23 and 24. This will be our contribution to a diocesan-wide collection, so please do what you can to help the many thousands of people affected by the recent storms.
The Ladies Sodality will hold their first meeting of the year on Sunday, October 1, in St. Charles Hall, immediately following the 10am Mass. The agenda will focus on the organization’s plans for the 2017-18 calendar year.
St. Vincent dePaul Society Watch Collection begins October 1 and continues through October 22. Marianne Pernick reports that in the last two years Blessed Trinity parishioners have donated 164 watches to be repaired and sold. Please deliver your donations (wristbands not required) of unwanted watches to the watch collection box near the St. Joseph Shrine on the left side of the transept. The watches will be repaired and sold in the thrift stores run by the Society.
Parish General Meeting is planned for Monday evening, October 2, at 7pm. Parishioners are invited to gather for a “Meet and Greet” in St. Charles Hall. Father Victor would like us to discuss, listen, and ask questions. Suggestions, comments, and observations are welcome.
We are in need of additional lectors and Eucharistic ministers. We will be including young readers in this helping ministry. Those who are interested, please contact the office at 716-833-0301.
Helping Hands Food Pantry ~ The Helping Hands Food Pantry not operates on Saturdays only from 10am to 2pm. Its director, Luis Clay, is also seeking additional volunteers. Please contact the church office at 716-833-0301 if you or someone you know might be interested in this opportunity.
Openings for Mass Intentions ~ Thank you to all who have recently placed Mass intentions. Please contact the church office (716-833-0301) with your requests. Office hours are: 10:30am-2:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday. The Mass Stipend is $15.
Important Deadlines to Remember ~ As we think ahead to 2018, please remember to contact our secretary, Pat Pendleton, with dates (even tentative ones) that should appear on the parish calendar. Our bulletin is printed on Thursdays, so please remember to submit your announcements to no later than Noon on the Wednesday prior to the weekend you wish it to appear. Announcements to be read at weekend Masses are due on Thursday. You may contact Pat at blessedtrinitychurch@gmail or 716-833-0301 any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm.
Parish Record Keeping ~ Several parishioners have inquired about the possibility of group email notification of time-sensitive information; e.g., a mid-week funeral service. If you would be interested in receiving such messages, please make sure that the church office has your email address. If you need to update your contact information or would like to register as a parishioner, please call the church office (716-833-0301) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday during office hours: 10:30am-2:30pm, email your contact information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com, or use the CONTACT feature of this web site.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
“We thank you, then, Creator, for all things bright and good, the seed time and the harvest, our life our health, our food.”
“Welcoming the Stranger” Prayer Services will take place in September. Hosted by the WNY Leadership Conference of Religious Women, come learn about refugee advocacy opportunities. Prayer services will be held on September 17 at 2pm (St. Mary of the Angels, 201 Reist St., Williamsville and at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, 115 E. Main St., Allegany); September 24 at 2pm (Immaculate Conception Convent, 5229 South Park Ave., Hamburg and at the Sacred Heart Center, 22 Meadowbrook Pkwy., Cheektowaga); and September 24 at 4:30pm (Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent, 600 Doat St., Buffalo). Personal hygiene items may be donated at any of these services to refugees in Jericho Road’s Vive program.
Thursday September 21 at 7pm is the Anointing of the Sick Healing Mass in honor of St. Peregrine, Patron Saint of Cancer Patients, at St. Aloysius Gonzaga (157 Cleveland Drive in Cheetowaga). More information at 716-283-0011.
The Catholic Biblical Studies Program presents Understanding Islam, a four part series with Dr. Judith Martin beginning September 21 at 7pm at The University of Buffalo Newman Center (495 Skinnersville Road in Amherst). The program continues on Oct.5 and 19, and concludes Nov. 2 ($40 registration).
Seminary and Diocese to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the passing of John Timon, the first Bishop of Buffalo. The Diocese of Buffalo and Christ the King Seminary will host a conference on Friday, September 22 (1-5pm) at the seminary in East Aurora and a memorial Mass, celebrated by Bishop Richard Malone, on Sunday September 24 at 10:30am at St. Joseph Cathedral. There is no cost for the conference, but please register at cks.edu/timon or call 716-805-1438. A lecture series, “The Life and Times of Bishop John Timon,” will being Monday, October 2, at 6:30pm. Presented by Dr. Dennis Castillo, Professor of Church History at Christ the King Seminary, the conclusion is Thursday October 12 at 6:30pm. Both session take place in Marian Hall below the church. More information at 716-884-0053.
The annual St. Joseph Collegiate Institute (845 Kenmore Avenue in Buffalo) Open House is Monday evening, October 2, from 5 to 7pm.
Revival 2017 is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, October 9-11, at 6:30pm each day at St. Martin dePorres Church, 555 Northampton Street in Buffalo,, with guest speaker, Reverend R. Tony Ricard. This event, “Shut Up and Just Listen: Jesus Has Something to Say,” is sponsored by the African American Commission and the Diocese of Buffalo. Call 716-847-2217 for more information.
Labor & Delivery Open House at Sisters Hospital (2157 Main Street in Buffalo) is Tuesday, October 10 (4:30-7:30pm). Come see why more families choose Sisters Hospital to deliver their babies than any other hospital in Western New York Afterwards, the hospital will be presenting informational displays on infant/child CPR, sleep safety, car seat safety, childbirth classes and more! There will also be giveaways and an opportunity to win a new car seat or stroller. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and free parking is available. For more information or to schedule a tour, call Catholic Health’s Health Connection at 716-923-9790.
Employment Opportunity ~ The Franciscan Center has a part-time employment opportunity in a Transitional Independent Living Program for young men. Find out more at franciscancenterinc.org or call Fr. Joe Bayne at 716-822-8537.
World Youth Day 2019 ~ If you or someone you know is interested in World Youth Day 2019 visit jp2parish.org/wyd2019 for all the information and forms. Contact Fr. Mike at 716-627-2910 or FrMikeL [at] jp2parish [dot] org with questions or special arrangements.