Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles
October 28
Symbols representing the apostles appear in the capitals and the bases of the columns surrounding the angels on either side of The Main Portico. “The common way of representing [the apostles] is with the symbol of their martyrdom.” (Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church, page 15). St. Simon is symbolized by this saw;
St. Jude is symbolized by a knotted club which appears in another column.
October 22 – October 29, 2017
Weekly Activities
Tuesday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, October 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS – SAT. ONLY – Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, October 28 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 22 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Bridget Blesnuk (Requested by Family)
Monday, October 23 ~ St. John of Capistrano ~ No Service
Tuesday, October 24 ~ St. Anthony Mary Claret ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 25 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, October 26 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Friday, October 27 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Saturday, October 28 ~ Ss. Simon and Jude, apostles ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Sunday, October 29 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, October 28 and 29:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Jack Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Chris Porter, Bernice Bradley; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Mary Kresse, Pat Hartinger, Jack Curtin, Maggie Gatson; Sharon Dunnigan (Choir)
Sommelier Bill Warren uncorks wine and wisdom at a BT winetasting.
News from our Parish Community
Stewardship is recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. We can take credit for nothing. Everything we have and everything we do is the result of some gift that God has placed into our hands.
While Father Victor is away (through December 17), Rev. Peter Drilling, former rector of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and Rev. Martin Eneh will celebrate Masses and Sacraments each Thursday through Sunday at the times indicated below. Please remember that there is a temporary change in daily services during this time. There will be no service on Mondays. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Jack Curtin will offer a Communion Service at 11:00 am. There will be Mass at 11:00 a.m. each Thursday and Friday. There is NO CHANGE in the weekend Mass times.
The Wine Tasting committee is counting on you. Our November 3rd Wine Tasting benefiting the church’s “Under This Roof Fund” is now less than three weeks away. Parishioners have traditionally provided the hors d’oeuvres and desserts which make our wine tasting a cut above the rest. We are hoping you’ll be able to help us out by donating a favorite of yours. The event runs from 7 – 9 p.m. and in addition to wine and food includes beer, non-alcoholic beverages, a basket raffle and silent auction. Our last wine tasting in 2014 raised more than $4,000.00, but we need your support to duplicate that success. Tickets are available after weekend Masses for a donation of $25/person ($30 at the door), checks payable to “Blessed Trinity Church,” or by calling Bud Dick (716-832-2540). Unable to attend? You can still support the effort with a food or monetary donation.
World Mission Sunday is October 22. Since “mission” is at the heart of our Christian faith, we ask you to give generously to the second collection on October 21/22.
Bridget Dick Blesnuk
July 11, 1970 – June 20, 2014
Former Music Director
1991 – 2010
Wonderful, Glorious, Awesome – God! Welcome to Carolyn Liarakos, who is sharing her musical talents with us this week as Elizabeth attends class in Georgia. Thank you, Carolyn, for enhancing our liturgical experience! 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. As we sing Sunday’s meditation hymn, “How Great Thous Art,” we will be remembering our fearless Choir Mistress, Bridget Dick Blesnuk, and the anniversary of her marriage (October 23). Bridget, an active member of the Church Musician’s Guild with the voice of an angel, sang this at the Cathedral in 2011 for Bishop Kmiec’s 50th Anniversary Mass. It was meant to be a solo leading into a choral piece, but the congregation was so moved they began to sing with her. Thank you, Bridget, for teaching us how to praise our Lord through song. Praise in Song continues on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. Join us anytime.
St. Vincent dePaul Society Watch Collection continues through Sunday, 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.
The Ladies Sodality will meet after the 10am Mass on Sunday, November 5. They will be holding their annual service of remembrance for deceased members, particularly Virginia Tapley and Agnes Manion.
Parish Council Update ~ At its October 18 meeting the Council chose Dan Korchowsky and Palma Zanghi to co-chair the Council’s Spiritual Life Committee, which is charged with coordinating activities that “affect the life of faith of the members of the parish including…prayer and worship, intergenerational faith formation, and youth.” Sister Liz Savage and Kathy Press will co-chair the Community Life Committee, which is “concerned with the development of community in the parish and between the parish and the larger community…includ[ing]…social life, pastoral care of the sick and homebound, and social justice and peace-making activities.” We honor them for accepting these additional duties and thank all the members who contributed in planning for Advent.
We pray for all who are ill and have requested our prayers, especially parishioners Fran Cahill, Gerald Gallisdorfer, Barbara Draper, 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.
Young people who toured the church on Oct. 13 enjoyed a mini “scavenger hunt” for animals and fantastical creatures as Christian symbols in the Sanctuary’s terra cotta.
Special Guests ~ We so enjoyed meeting and hosting Rev. Mark Noonan and parishioners from churches in Holley and Hilton, NY who visited our Landmark church on October 13. Thank you Father Mark for celebrating Mass with us. We are also grateful to three of our faithful docents, Eleanor Ash, Judy Casassa and Mickey Dick, who shared their knowledge of parish history and the building’s art and architecture with our visitors as well as Jack Curtin, David Folmar, Ozy Ibhawa, and Bob Heicklen who were on hand to welcome them. After Mass and a church tour at Blessed Trinity, these WNY pilgrims continued on to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston, NY.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Some of our October 13 “pilgrims” who learned about
medieval iconography on the church facade.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Training for Ministers of Holy Communion is being offered on Saturday, October 28, at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ransomville and Saturday, November 4, at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. Applications are available at buffalodiocese.org or call Office of Worship at 716-847-2210. Both sessions are from 9:30am-2:00pm.
Divine Mercy Pilgrimage ~ Informational meeting on Wednesday, October 25, at 7pm at Blessed Sacrament about a Divine Mercy Pilgrimage to Poland and Lithuania May 22-June 1, 2018. Call 716-834-4282 for brochure or email mnycz [at] hotmail [dot] com.
Sunday November 5 (12-4pm) is a Spaghetti Dinner at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish Mininstry Center (129 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). Call the rectory at 716-683-6522 for information.
The Maryknoll Mission Society is inviting young writers (grades 6-12) to submit an essay on the topic, “Recognizing Violence and Promoting Peace.” November 10 is the contest deadline for submission of your essay, with prizes up to $3000 in scholarship funds. Find out more at Maryknollsociety.org/Essay.
Western New York Caregiver Partnership offers support to caregivers and seeks volunteers. Visit wnyacp.org or call 800-342-9871 to learn more.