St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226), whose feast we celebrate on October 4, is depicted in the dome of our church in a painting by Buffalo-born artist Joseph Mazur. St. Francis appears in a group of twelve figures identified as “Monks, Hermits, and Religious” in Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church, p. 38. He is the second kneeling figure from the left in this photo by Gary Kelley.
October 1 – October 8, 2017
Weekly Activities
Sunday, October 1 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Sunday, October 1 at 4:00 p.m. ~ Blessing of the Animals in church
Monday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish “Town Hall” Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Tuesday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, October 5 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS – SAT. ONLY – Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, October 7 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played 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, October 1 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Requested by Estate)
Monday, October 2 ~ Holy Guardian Angels ~ No Service
Tuesday, October 3 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Wednesday, October 4 ~ St. Francis of Assisi ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Thursday, October 5 ~ Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, October 6 ~ 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. in Daily Mass Chapel ~ First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction
Friday, October 6 ~ St. Bruno, Bl. Marie Rose Durocher ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Saturday, October 7 ~ Our Lady of the Rosary ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Sunday, October 8 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Joseph and Ella Loibl (Bob and Mary Kresse)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Lorna Cameron; Eucharistic Minister: Michael Ogoh
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Maggie Gatson, Palma Zanghi; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Pat Hartinger, Jack Curtin, Alice Davis, Mary Kresse; Dan Korchowsky (Choir)
Blessed Trinity welcomes “travelers” on NY’s “Path Through History” on Saturday, October 7, from 2-4 p.m.
News from our Parish Community
Stewardship is returning a portion of our gifts to God. The gifts we return are our time, our talent and our treasure. We return these gifts not because God or our church needs them but because we feel an overwhelming need to show our love and gratitude to God.
After Communion on Sunday, October 1, there will be an introduction and blessing of the newly elected Parish Council members, Nik Brodfuehrer, Lorna Cameron, Kathy Press, Bonnie Williams, and Don Williams, and 2017-18 officers President Mickey Dick, Vice President Kathy Press, and Secretary Tom Brodfuehrer. We are grateful to these individuals and all the hold-over Council members for their stewardship and leadership.
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.
We pray for all who are ill and have requested our prayers, especially parishioners Gerald Gallisdorfer, Fran Cahill, Richard Plunkett, and Anthony Hartmann. Please inform the parish of those who are sick by calling the rectory office so that they can be added to our prayer list and schedule for home visits, as needed.
Fr. Victor will offer a Blessing of Animals in the church this Sunday October 1 at 4pm to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Please bring your pets for a blessing and thank God for their companionship.
Parish General Meeting is 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.
First Friday Adoration is this week on October 6. If you are coming at any time between 8 and 11am, please sign up on the sheets by the doors of the church.
Saturday Open House features free church tours ~ We will host an Open House on Saturday, October 7 between 2:00 and 4:00 PM in conjunction with New York State’s Path Through History Weekend. The theme for the event is “Come See a Bit of OLD Italy.” In addition to free tours of our Landmark church, we will feature a display of photos and descriptions of 12th Century churches in Pavia, Italy on which our architecture is closely modeled. Visitors can see bricks, terra cotta, and exquisite iconography made in the U.S.A. in the same way Italian craftsmen did it 900 years ago! Invite your friends to come and share some biscotti!
Alumni Sunday ~ On Sunday, September 24, we welcomed members of the Blessed Trinity School Alumni for their annual Alumni Memorial Mass and all-class reunion. Parishioners and alumni Tom Brodfuehrer and Mickey Dick served as docents for a special guided mini-tour of the church, while Madonna Hartzell and Marianne Pernick acted as greeters at the Mass at which recently deceased alumni and faculty of the school were remembered. Members of the fiftieth anniversary Class of ’67 presented the bread and wine as well as symbolic gifts. At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Victor bestowed a special blessing on alumni who attended.
Hurricane Victims ~As we donate money and material gifts for hurricane and earthquake victims, let us also consider offering masses for them. Request Masses for their divine comfort, healing, and strength to endure these traumatic times.
Notes from the Loft ~ The Mass setting we are using this month is the Santa Clara Mass. It is not in the Breaking Bread hymnal, but it should be in your heart because you have heard it before. We will continue to use the Glory to God from the Mass of Creation, which is #873 in Breaking Bread. Do you have a favorite hymn you would like to hear during the liturgy? Don’t hesitate to let Elizabeth or one of the choir members know. Also, choir practice continues in St. Charles Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. You are always welcome to join us!
Fr. Victor will be away on his annual vacation from October 11 until December 18, as he travels to Nigeria. Please remember him in your prayers. While away, Fr. Peter Drilling, past rector of Christ the King Seminary, along with Fr. Martin Eneh, will be celebrating Masses and administering sacraments.
Sommelier Bill Warren uncorks wine and wisdom at a BT winetasting.
Our celebrated Wine Tasting returns on Friday, November 3. Please save the date and start inviting your family and friends. Pre-sale tickets are already available from Bud Dick for $25.00. They will be $30 at the door. Proceeds benefit our Under This Roof Fund, a sustaining fund created in 2002 for the preservation and restoration of our architectural landmark and house of worship.
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.
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.
Parishioners Dan Korchowsky and Mickey Dick were among the guests wishing Sr. Maureen Harris (certer) success in her mission trip to Tanzania at her Sep 17 Bon Voyage Tea Party at Ss. Columba-Brigid.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
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.
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.