December 31, 2017 – January 7, 2018
Weekly Activities
Thursday, January 4 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, January 6 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS – SAT. ONLY – Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, January 6 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
*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, December 31 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Elizabeth Dick (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick)
Monday, January 1, 2018 ~ Solemnity of Mary ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – All Souls (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Tuesday, January 2 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Wednesday, January 3 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Thursday, January 4 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Friday, January 5 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Saturday, January 6 ~ Vigil Mass of the Epiphany at 4:30 p.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Sunday, January 7 ~ Mass of the Epiphany of the Lord at 10:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Blessed Trinity Choir (The Choir)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, January 6 and 7:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Gary Kelley; Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Judy Casassa, Sharon Dunnigan; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Pat Hartinger, Kathleen Marien, Bonnie Williams, Don Williams
A December 29 Explore Buffalo tour group enjoyed not only the Christmas decorations, but a docent’s insight on Christian symbolism exhibited in our church transept.
News from our Parish Community
After communion on Sunday, December 31, Fr. Victor will offer a birthday prayer to all those born during the month of December.
Spread the News! There is so much beautiful music available to us within the liturgy, it is difficult to select only a few each week. Our first goal as church musicians is always to enhance our liturgical experience. If we are doing our job correctly, you sometimes leave church with a song in your heart (and perhaps even on your lips) for a few hours or even a few days. The choral meditation this week is one of the songs we hope will stick with you. It’s Christmas! Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere! Tell everyone Jesus Christ is born! Our humble Christ was born in a lowly manger, yet He is our Salvation! Tell a friend, spread the Good News … He is born! Alleluia! Choir rehearsals resume on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 7:00pm in St. Charles Hall.
The Giving Tree ~ Please remember to place any Giving Tree envelopes containing your monetary donation (checks payable to “Blessed Trinity”) for Gerard Place and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy in the collection basket. We would like to send the money to our two chosen charities early in January.
First Friday Adoration is January 5 from 8 to 11am prior to Mass. Sign-up sheets are located on the bulletin boards at the side doors.
St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum will be performing in concert at 2:00pm on Sunday, December 31, at All Saints Church, 127 Chadduck Street, Buffalo 14207. If you enjoyed their musicality at our Service of Lessons and Carols, you won’t want to miss their Christmastide concert.
Let There be Light ~ If church seemed brighter when you came for Christmas services, it wasn’t your imagination. A team of volunteers devoted many hours over a period of several days and changed EVERY light bulb in the hanging fixtures as well as all the bulbs illuminating the Six Days of Creation in the side aisle ceiling vaults. As you can imagine, this was no easy task and involved considerable climbing and moving of scaffolding. Many, many thanks to: Nik, Sean and Tom Brodfuehrer; Bud Dick, Brian Eberle, Bob Heicklen and Dan Korchowsky.
Helpful Hands ~ We also give thanks for the “many hands” helping to decorate our church for Christmas, including those of: Nik, Sean and Tom Brodfuehrer; Judy Casassa, Jack Curtin, Bud and Mickey Dick, Tom Dinder, Ellen Duffy, Alan Frank, Ozy Ibhawa, Amy Johnson, Dorothy Manuppelli, Kathleen Marien, Kathy Press, Sr. Liz Savage, and Palma Zanghi.
Christmas Flowers ~ Donations for our Christmas flowers have been made in memory of: Allen M. Andrew, A. Michael Andrew, Grace Marie Bailey, Angeline Bailey, George Bailey, Isabel Rosemary Billittier, Joseph Billittier, Bridget Dick Blesnuk, Ithrene Cameron, Deceased Members of the Cameron Family, John and Rita Curtin, Theodore Davis, Kevin Davis, Sara and Homer Dick, Sr., Bernadette Dorsheimer, Michael Duffy, Kriste Duffy, John and Elizabeth Duffy, Christina Hartinger, Don Hartinger, Margaret Alice Hayes, Art Gray, Henry Family, Henry Heubusch, Eddie and Irene Hoder, Gretchen Owen Kelly, James J. Kelly, Sr., Hunter James Kelly, Angela Kilcoyne, Mary and Michael Korchowsky, Robert Krajnik, Kazemierez and Sophia Kresse, Julie and Dick Kresse, Dominic and Palma LaSpada, Mary Nelson, Robert Marien, Celia Marien, Lawrence and Margaret Miano, Lawrence and Jeannie Miano, William Parker, Anne Polglase, John Polglase, Allyson M. Porter, Jimmie Porter, Jr., Mildred J. Porter, Matthew and Anna Rebovich, Dewitt Roddy, Roddy Family, Carl and Evelyn Schmelzer, Carol Schmelzer, Elizabeth Shields, William Stiffler, Margaret Stiffler Schimpf, Grace Vogt, Don Vogt, Geraldine Waters, Joan West, Don and Peggy Williams, Trevor David Williams, Joseph and Mary Zanghi; and Tony and Josephine Zanghi.
Explore Buffalo Visits Blessed Trinity ~ Explore Buffalo tour groups visited our church on Thursday and Friday, December 28 and 29. We thank this local tourism organization for supporting our Under This Roof Fund by again including us in their annual Christmas church tours. We are also grateful to Judy Casassa, Marianne Pernick, Sr. Liz Savage, Mickey Dick and Eleanor Ash for welcoming our visitors and providing information about our parish and Landmark edifice.
MLK Day of Organizing ~ The Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo (“CCCB”), including Blessed Trinity, will be participating in The Martin Luther King Day of Organizing on Monday, January 15. It is an opportunity not only to honor Dr. King, but to learn about the importance of developing relationships across race, religion and other backgrounds. Speakers will include Dr. Barry Gan, a professor at St. Bonaventure and an expert on Dr. King’s life and the civil rights movement; Pastor James Giles, Executive Director at Greater Works Fellowship and Founder of the Peacekeepers; and Brian Zralek, a VOICE-Buffalo community organizer. The program, which is free, runs from 9am-12Noon in the Ss. Columba-Brigid Church Hall, 75 Hickory Street. Coffee and snacks will be provided. For more information, phone 852-3331. We hope that you can attend for at least part of the morning.
New parking spaces have been added to the wheelchair ramp side of the church to compensate for losing ten spaces behind the old school building (FLARE) with the sale of the building. The new owner plans to rehab the structure into twenty apartments, a project that will certainly benefit the neighborhood.
Openings for Mass Intentions ~ Thank you to all who have recently placed Mass intentions. We again have openings on Saturdays and Sundays, so 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 begin the new year, 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 ~ We have created a parish group email to be used for 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
Christmas Concert featuring the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum, Sunday, December 31, 2PM at All Saints Church, 127 Chadduck Street, Buffalo 14207.
Christmas Nativity Sets ~ Just one week remains to view display of 580 nativity sets from 58 countries at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church (75 Hickory & Eagle Streets – one block south of Clinton Street). Hours are 1-4pm on Saturday, January 6, and Sunday, December 31, and January 7. There is no charge and there is a special section for children.
Tomorrow’s Youth Today Program can help you obtain your high school equivalency diploma and gain job readiness. The Catholic Charities program through the Workforce and Education Department is available to those ages 16-24 who are out of school. Visit ccwny.org/ReadySetJob or call 716-893-3500.
Journey into Love Program for engaged couples seeks married couples willing to offer a 20-minute talk to share their experiences. Contact the Family Life Office at 716-847-2210 or visit buffalodiocese.org for more details about volunteering.
The Calix Society meets on the last Sunday of each Month at 3pm in the basement of St. Michael’s Church Rectory (651 Washington Street in Buffalo) for those seeking a spiritual-based program for recovery of alcoholism. More information at calixsociety.org or 716-847-2210.
Cleaning out your closets? Catholic Charities is accepting donations of new or gently used clothing, footwear, purses, bags, and household items like small kitchen appliance, curtains, drapes, and dishes, and bed linens. Drop off weekdays 10am-2:30pm at 1122 Broadway in Buffalo or 10am-1:30pm on the first Saturday of the month (except holiday weekends). Visit ccwny.org for more information.