Feast of St. Joseph
March 20

March 19 – March 26, 2017

Weekly Activities

Sunday, March 19 from 9:00-9:45 a.m. ~ Religious Education Classes in St. Charles Hall

Sunday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in Church

Monday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. ~  CCCB Lenten Journey Mass at NativityMiguel School, St. Augustine Campus

Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. ~ NO Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, March 22 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. ~ Pizza Supper in St. Charles Hall, followed by Prayer Around the Cross at 7:00 p.m. in Church

Thursday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, March 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, March 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, March 25 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, March 26 from 9:00-9:45 a.m. ~ Religious Education Classes in St. Charles Hall

Sunday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in Church

Monday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. ~  CCCB Lenten Journey Mass at Sisters’s Hospital, second floor Chapel

*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, March 19 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ William Stiffler (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick)

Monday, March 20 ~ St. JosephMass at 8:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Tuesday, March 21 ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Wednesday, March 22 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Thursday, March 23 ~ St. Turibius of Mogrovejo ~Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Friday, March 24 ~ St. Patrick ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Friday, March 24 ~ Stations of the Cross in church at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 25 ~ The Annunciation of the Lord ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Jimmie Porter, Jr. (Family)

Sunday, March 26 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ John Riordan (Family)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Gary Kelley; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Sharon Dunnigan, Mary Kresse;  Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Alice Davis, Pat Hartinger; Maggie Gatson (Choir)

Rev. Peter Drilling was the opening speaker for our Wed. evening Lenten Program.

News from our Parish Community

Change in Lenten Program due to Wednesday’s weather cancellation ~ Our Lenten Program will conclude this week on Wednesday March 22 with a second “simple supper” of pizza, a green salad, and desserts, served from 5:30-6:30pm, followed by Prayer Around the Cross in the Church at 7pm. If you signed up to bring cookies on the 15th, we’re hoping your can still accommodate us this Wednesday.

Stations of the Cross
Fridays at 6 PM

Stations of the Cross will take place in church at 6pm each Friday during Lent.

Breaking News: If you picked Blessed Trinity in Church Madness 2017, your bracket is still intact! This week we beat out the Crypt Church of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC by 514 votes in Art & Liturgy’s balloting for “Most Beautiful Catholic Church in the U.S.” Our new matchup should be made public sometime on Sunday, 3/26, and we will post a link to the new ballot as soon as it becomes available. From what we’ve seen of the remaining churches, the competition in this round will be really tough. Polls will close on Wednesday, March 29, so be sure to vote right away. We’ve made it to the Sacred Sixteen, and the Faithful Four are in our sights!

Religious Education Update ~ Our religious education classes, focusing on Liturgy and Prayer, are continuing each Sunday of March from 9-9:45am in St. Charles Hall. We will be following the Buffalo Diocesan directives for Faith Formation and parents are expected to attend class with their children.  We are in desperate need of more teachers. If you are interested in helping to teach a small group of children with planned activities, please contact Elizabeth Clay at 472-0009.

Our cluster of Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo continues its tradition of Monday evening Lenten Journey Masses at 7pm. On March 20 we will be visiting Sister’s Hospital (2nd Floor Chapel), 2157 Main St., Buffalo. You will receive a ticket to cover the cost of your parking.

The Parish Council meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday March 29 at 7pm in order to accommodate the Lenten program.

Summary of February 15 Parish Council Meeting: Movement on sale of FLARE awaits action from NYS. Closing date of St. Gerard [sale] is not set. Planning continues for new “Welcome” sign on side lawn. Thanks to Luis Clay and dedicated volunteers for their service at the Food Pantry; more volunteers are welcome. Attendance at Mass is up recently and times for Masses will be reviewed for several months. Religious Education program has fourteen youths ranging from second grade to high school. Additional teachers are welcome. Also seeking those interested in joining an Event Planning Team to identify events/activities that will increase participation.

Notes from the Loft ~ Thanks again to Nancy Erdman for enhancing our services with her music ministry this Sunday.

Vocation View: Third Sunday in Lent:   All of us thirst for fulfillment. Christ alone is the living water that can satisfy the innermost longings of our souls. Might Christ be calling you to lead souls to the source of this living water? 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.

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.

We thank you for all your generous donations and ask that you consider increasing your weekly offerings, if at all possible.

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

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

“The Story of Faith” will be presented by nationally-acclaimed performer, Frank Runyeon, on Monday, March 20, (Signs: Gospel of John) and Tuesday, March 21, (Sermon on the Mount and Hollywood Versus Faith) at St. Martha’s Church (10 French Road, Depew) from 7:00 to 8:30pm.

Irish literary legend, Edna O’Brien, will present “Why Literature Matters,” Friday March 24 (8pm) at Kleinhans Music Hall.  Call 716-832-5400 or visit justbuffalo.org to reserve tickets.

“Welcome the Stranger” Monday March 27 (7pm) at St. Joseph University Community Room. The Lenten Speaker Series features Executive Director of International Institute of Buffalo. Eva Hassett, will explore issues related to refugee resettlement in Buffalo.

Lenten Pierogi & Placek Sale at St. John Kanty (101 Swinburne Street) March 4 – April 9 on Saturdays 3-5pm and Sundays 9:30am-noon. Call 716-893-0412 for information.

Father/Daughter Bonding Day at Sacred Heart Academy (3860 Main Street, Eggertsville) for Dads and daughters in grades 4 to 7 will take place Sunday, March 26, from 1:00 to 4:00pm. More information at sacredheartacademy.org or 716-834-2101, ext. 311.

A Concert for Laetare Sunday with Bobby Militello at St. Michael’s Church (651 Washington Street) is Sunday, March 26, at 2pm. Tickets are available at St. Michael’s rectory or in the church on concert day. More information at stmichaelbuffalo.org.

Fish Fry catered by Krolick’s at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School March 31 (4-7pm) will be hosted by Timon’s Parent Guild. Call 716-826-3610 for information.

Polish Easter Egg Ornamentation for beginners and advanced on Saturday April 1 from 9:30am to 3:45pm at St. Casimir’s Social Center (1833 Clinton). Call 716-824-9598 to register as seating is limited.

“The Passion of Paul” presentation by by Mary Ann Getty Saturday, April 1 from 8:30am to 3:00pm at the Millennium Hotel (2040 Walden Ave, Cheektowaga). Please register at cbstudies.org or call 716-871-9180.

St. Ann’s 11th Annual German Mass will take place April 2 at 12:30pm at St. Louis Church (780 Main Street at the corner of Edward). All are welcome!