January 8 – January 15, 2017

Weekly Activities

Sunday, January 8 immediately following Mass ~ Pastor’s meeting with those who have signed up for various ministries

Tuesday, January 10 at 6:30 p.m. ~ “Take-Down” [Christmas Decorations] Party in Church

Thursday, January 12 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, January 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, January 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, January 14 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.

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

There will be a change to our daily Mass schedule beginning on January 16, 2017.
Mass on Mondays and Tuesdays will be an 8:00 am;
Mass on Wednesday – Friday will continue at 11:00 am.
The Epiphany of the Lord

Sunday, January 8 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Blessed Trinity Parish Community

Monday, January 9 ~ The Baptism of the Lord ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Tuesday, January 10 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, January 11 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)

Thursday, January 12 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anne Crocker (Family)

Friday, January 13 ~ St. Hilary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Saturday, January 14 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. ~ All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Sunday, January 15 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Jack Curtin

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.   Readers: Pam Zanghi, Bernice Bradley;  Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Pat Hartinger, Sharon Dunnigan; Maggie Gatson (Choir)

For our schedule of Christmas season services, Click HERE

Diocesan Mass Celebration
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 15, Holy Cross Church
Photo credit: Phil Woods

News from our Parish Community

New at Blessed Trinity in 2017

First Friday Adoration and Benediction from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at the Daily Mass Chapel on the First Friday of each month. Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Mass on Mondays, at 8:00 a.m. beginning January 16. Mass on Tuesdays will also be at 8:00 a.m., replacing the present 11 o’clock Mass. Masses on Wednesday through Friday will continue at 11:00 a.m.

Visits to the sick will begin on January 27, the last Friday of the month. Please help Father Victor by suggesting the names of those you believe need to be visited. 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.

Religious Education Classes for children will begin on Sunday, February 5. There are sign-up sheets for this purpose near the side doors of the church, so please register your children as soon as possible.

Bible Studies, reflections, sharing, discussion, and questions and answers will begin during the first week of February.

Meeting with Volunteers ~ On Sunday, January 8, immediately following the 11:00 a.m. Mass, Father Victor would like to have a brief meeting with parishioners who have signed up for various ministries.

Special Monday Mass celebrating The Baptism of the Lord, Monday, January 9, at 11:00 a.m.

The Spirit of Christmas Past ~ We are hoping you have enough spirit left to join us for a quick ‘n easy “Take-Down Party” this coming Tuesday evening, January 10, beginning at 6:30pm. With your help, we will have all the church decorations carefully packaged, labeled, and moved to their off-season storage area in record time. Please use the side entrance near the wheelchair ramp.

Changes in Music Ministry ~ We welcome Kate Barrett, who has agreed to serve temporarily as our musician and choir director for the month of January. Our search for a Director of Music to replace Nick DelBello, who served in the position from 2010-16, is continuing. Please pray that our search committee and the ideal candidate for Blessed Trinity will soon find each other. If you think you know someone with the “right stuff,” Click HERE to view requirements and information on how to apply.

Diocesan Celebration Honoring Rev. Martin Luther King is Sunday, January 15, at Holy Cross Church, 345 Seventh Street, Buffalo. Rev. Bishop Richard J. Malone will be the celebrant for the 10am Mass; the guest homilist, Rev. Chester Smith, SVD, from the Dioceseof Indianapolis, IN, will expand on the theme for the celebration, “Captured by the Spirit.” A reception will follow the Mass, with proceeds from a theme basket raffle going to support the MLK Scholarship Fund. The program is sponsored by the African American Commission, Diocesan Office of Cultural Diversity. Additional information is available by calling the Office, 716-847-2217.

Sodality Members: Save the Date ~ Members of the Ladies Sodality will meet in St. Charles Hall at 1:30pm on Saturday, January 21, to stuff envelopes and prepare the mailing of tickets for our February 26, 2017 Basket of Cheer Raffle. Please save the date. If we have a good member turnout, we should be finished in one hour.

Sodality Dues Reminder for 2017 ~ Membership in the Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity runs with the calendar year, and dues become payable each January.  Since 2016, we have only one category of membership – member in good standing – and annual dues are $5.00 with checks payable to “Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.”  You do not have to pay dues if you are a member in good standing and have reached your 80th birthday. Our Membership Chair, Mickey Dick, is now accepting dues for 2017.

The National Black Catholic Congress XII ~ A Diocesan Delegation to The National Black Catholic Congress XII, to be held in Orlando, Florida from July 6—July 9, 2017, is now forming. If you would like to participate or obtain additional information on registration fees and room rates, please contact Althea Porter (716-316-8395) or the Office of Cultural Diversity (716-847-2217). February 15 is the last day to join the delegation and partial payment to cover trip expenses must be received by this date. The last payment should be sent to the Office of Cultural Diversity by May 15, 2017.

Vocation View ~ None of us is without gifts to share for the good of God’s kingdom. Could it be that your gift is a vocation to priesthood or religious life? 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 at www.buffalovocations.org.

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.

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.

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.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Benefit for Luz Milagros Ramos ~ Friends and family of Luz Milagros Ramos are hosting a benefit in her honor on Saturday, January14, from 3-9pm at the VFW Weber Post, 2909 South Park Avenue, Lackawanna, NY.  Ms. Ramos, the Director of the Office of Cultural Diversity of the Buffalo Diocese, is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. If you would like to donate or buy a ticket, please contact Vicky at 716-903-3751.

Christmas Nativity Display ~ Only one week remaining to see Fr. Roy Herberger’s incredible display of 580 nativity sets from 58 countries. These international crèches are being 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 on Saturday and Sunday 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.

Attention Local History Buffs ~ The Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Historical Society (ELHS), which maintains its archives at 100 Lee St. (Heritage DiscoveRY Center) is interested in expanding its information base on the role of African-Americans and Hispanics as workers in the railroad industry. Perhaps this employment history applies to you or a family member or ancestor. If so, and you and/or your family member would like to know more about the project and how you can help, please contact Michael Connor at mjconnor_rr [at] hotmail [dot] com or (330) 691-0026.

Annual Festival of Lights Benefit and Auction on Saturday, January 14 at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Rd. (off Rt. 18E), Lewiston, NY. An elegant evening in support of the Shrine’s renovation will honor Shrine Rector, Fr. Julio Ciavaglia, CRSP on the occasion of his fiftieth anniversary of priestly ordination. Wine tasting, basket auction, door prizes and catered dinner. Limited tickets available by calling 716-754-7489. Encore lighting of Fatima Shrine’s Festival of Lights display makes the setting of this gala unique. Come enjoy a fun evening for a great cause. Preview night of auction baskets Friday, January 13 from 12-7pm and Saturday, January 14 from 9am-3pm.

Meat Raffle ~ St. Gregory the Great’s Home School Association will be holding a Meat Raffle on Friday, January 20 in the Ministry Center, 200 St. Gregory Court, Williamsville. Doors open at 6pm and the first spin is at 7pm. With admission you receive dinner and unlimited pop, beer and wine, as well as a ticket for our big ticket item raffle. Besides raffling off lots of different types of meats, we will also have a basket raffle and a 50/50. You can reserve a table or purchase individual tickets by contacting MeatRaffleTime [at] gmail [dot] com. Seating is limited but you can purchase tickets at the door if space is available. Hope to see you there!

For Women Only: Women Praying Through the Knots, A Spirituality of Imperfection! Presented by Mrs. Theresa Kehl on Monday, January 30 from 7-8pm at Our Lady of Pompeii Ministry Center (Marian Room), 129 Laverack Ave, Lancaster. All women are welcome: Free will offering accepted. Refreshments follow in the Aud together with the men from the 7pm men’s presentation.

For Men Only: The Real St. Joseph and the Tools for Real Manhood in the Home, the Church and the World! Presented by Deacon Mark Kehl on Monday, January 30 from 7-8pm at our Lady of Pompeii Ministry Center (St. Joseph Room), 129 Laverack Avenue, Lancaster. All men are welcome! Free will offering accepted. Refreshments follow in the Aud together with the women from the 7pm women’s presentation.