Photo Credit: R. Ordinario – Ft. Erie, ON
February 19 – February 26, 2017
Weekly Activities
Sunday, February 19 at 9:40 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in Church
Monday, February 20 from 7-8:00 p.m. ~ Bible Study in St. Charles Hall
Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, February 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, February 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, February 26 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Sodality Raffle and Coffee Hour 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
Our new daily Mass schedule is now in effect.
Mass on Mondays and Tuesdays will be an 8:00 am;
Mass on Wednesday – Friday will continue at 11:00 am.
Sunday, February 19 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Gregory DeLong (Requested by Nancy Mariani)
Monday, February 20 ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Tuesday, February 21~ St. Peter Damian ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – Anne Crocker (John J. Emerling and Robert J. Fink)
Wednesday, February 22 ~ The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Thursday, February 23 ~ St. Polycarp ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)
Friday, February 24 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)
Saturday, February 25 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Willie Evans (Katherine Jost Strickland and Angela Jost)
Sunday, February 26 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Kenneth and Katherine Bee (John Bee)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, February 25 and 26:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Maggie Gatson and Pam Zanghi; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Mary Kresse, Sharon Dunigan; Maggie Gatson (Choir)
Sodality Spring Raffle
Sunday, February 26 at Coffee Hour
News from our Parish Community
Bible Study begins this Monday evening, February 20 (7:00 – 8:00 in St. Charles Hall) ~ Please invite a friend, bring your Bible, and join us for reflections, sharing, and discussion. If there is continuing interest, Bible study will continue on the third Monday of each month.
The Sodality’s Spring Raffle will take place next Sunday, February 26, at a special coffee hour in St. Charles Hall immediately following Mass. Tickets for the raffle are only $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. That’s a real bargain if you consider your odds of winning and the value of our prizes: a “Basket of Cheer” valued at $250; $50 gift cards for Wegmans Food Markets and Dash’s Market; or a gift bag of Trader Joe’s products valued at $35. If you did not receive any chances in the mail or you need more, you will find them on the table near the ushers’ pew. Tickets will also be available at the rectory and at coffee hour on the day of the drawing. We are grateful to Wegmans, Dash Markets, and Traders Joe’s for their donations. We also thank Jill Hennig and Bill Warren of Aurora Liquor in East Aurora for assisting us with the Basket of Cheer.
Visits to the sick will continue on the last Friday of the month, February 24. You can help Father Victor prepare for this Friday’s visits to the sick and housebound by suggesting names of those you believe would appreciate a visit. There are sign-up sheets for this purpose near the side doors of the church, or you may call the church office, 716-833-0301.
Reader and Eucharistic Ministers Meeting with Father Victor will take place after Mass on Sunday, March 5. Anyone interested in serving in these ministries is invited to attend.
2017 Lenten Programs ~ Our parish Lenten program will involve three Wednesday evenings in March, so please reserve March 8, 15, and 22. In addition, our cluster of Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo will continue its Monday evening Journey Masses. They will begin on March 6 and culminate with a penance service at Blessed Trinity on April 10.
Elizabeth Clay
Lofty Moves ~ We are delighted to welcome our own Elizabeth Bailey-Sands Clay as Interim Music Director. Although many of you have heard Elizabeth sing as a soloist and member of the choir, she actually began her musical career as a church organist. Despite her many responsibilities, including that of our new Religious Education Coordinator, Elizabeth has agreed to abandon her comfortable seat on the alto bench for the “hot seat” of the organ bench. Please join us in thanking her for sharing yet another of her talents with her Blessed Trinity family.
2016 Donation Reports for tax filing purposes are available upon request. Please contact the church office if you need proof of your 2016 contributions to the church. Office hours are: 10:30am-2:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday; 716-833-0301.
Openings for Mass Intentions ~ Thank you to all who have recently placed Mass intentions. We continue to have both weekday and weekend openings in the coming months. Please contact the church office (716-833-0301) with your request. Office hours are: 10:30am-2:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday. The Mass Stipend is $15.
Last Call for 2017 Sodality Dues ~ Membership in the Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity runs with the calendar year, and 2017 dues of $5 became payable last month. If you received a dues notice in the mail and have not yet renewed your membership, please do so by the end of February so that our Membership Vice President, Mickey Dick, can update the Sodality roster and telephone tree. Checks should be made payable to “Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.”
Prayer Partner Program begins March 1 ~ If you haven’t experienced this yet, we hope you will try this year. Sign up on the lavendar sheets by the door to be given a name of someone from one of the participating parishes to pray for during Lent. In our world today, praying for the needs of another in Jesus’ name seems so important. Direct your questions to Sr. Maureen at 716-897-9948, x 114 or 716-892-2471.
Vocation View ~ Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: We are blessed to have a God who is merciful. It is important then for His disciples to know of his mercy and their duty to share it. How is God calling you to help make His mercy known? If God is calling you to a Church vocation, call Fr. Andrew Lauricella at 716-847-5535. You can also check out the “Priest of the Month” stories on our website www.buffalovacations.org.
Congratulations to Jonathan Sands ~ He received “First Honors” for his excellent work as a senior at Canisius High School.
Important Deadlines to Remember ~ Our bulletin is printed on Thursdays, so please remember to submit your announcements to our secretary, Pat Pendleton, no later than Noon on Wednesday. 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 ~ 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.
Detail of mural at 72 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo
Our Landmark church building is featured on a mural created 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.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Men’s Lenten Retreat ~ Saturday, March 4 from 9:30am to 4:00pm at Ss. Columbia-Brigid Church. Contact Leo Reiter at leobettyreiter [at] gmail [dot] com or call 716-449-8381.
Annual Lenten Day of Prayer ~ Prayer and reflection offered by Grey Nuns and Friends on Saturday, March 4 from 9:00am to 3:30pm at Madonna Hall (D’Youville College – 320 Porter Avenue). Free. Contact Arlene at arlypez [at] yahoo [dot] com or call 716-833-7451.
Marriage Preparation (Pre-Cana) is an important part of the journey into love and marriage. a Pre-Cana program is scheduled at St. Christopher Roman Catholic Church, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda on Saturday, March 11 from 9am to 3pm in the school cafeteria. All couples planning to marry in 2017 are invited to participate in this small group preparation program. The schedule for the day includes presentations and activities with sponsor couples from our Marriage Ministry as well as time for questions and answers. Contact St. Christopher’s rectory office at 716-692-2660 to register.
Catholic Women’s Conference ~ “Joyful, Patient, Faithful” will take place Saturday, March 18 from 8:00am to 3:30pm at Cardinal O’Hara High School. $35, $40 at the door…register at www.catholicwomenofbuffalo.org.