The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15
This solemnity celebrates the bodily taking up of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life. Dogmatically defined in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, accounts of the assumption of Mary into heaven survive in apocryphal narratives from the third and fourth centuries and was celebrated as early as the fifth century.
Painting of Mary’s Assumption by Joseph Mazur on left side of church transept.
Photo credit: Steve Mangione
August 12 – August 19, 2018
Weekly Activities
Thursday, August 16 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, August 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Saturday, August 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Saturday, August 18 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, August 12 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Kathy Mallery (Requested by Family)
Monday, August 13 ~ St. Pontian & St. Hippolytus ~ No Service
Tuesday, August 14 ~ St. Maximilian Kolbe ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Wednesday, August 15 ~ Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Outdoor Service at 6:00 p.m. – Offering of Prayers and Petitions.
Outdoor Mass at 7:00 p.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Thursday, August 16 ~ St. Stephen of Hungary ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Friday, August 17 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, August 18 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Kathy Mallery (Family)
Sunday, August 19 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Elizabeth Dick (Family) and Chimuanya Mbenka and her children (Fidelia Ejimadu)
Anointing of the sick and well-again following Mass
Ministry Schedule for Wednesday, August 15:
Readers: Judy Casassa, Bob Heicklen; Eucharistic Ministers: Pat Hartinger, Dan Korchowsky
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, August 18 & 19:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Lorna Cameron; Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Mary Kresse, Grace Iheke; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Kathleen Marien, Maggie Gatson
Marian Devotion and outdoor Mass
beginning at 6pm on
The Feast of the Assumption
August 15
News from our Parish Community
Wednesday, August 15, is the Feast of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a Holy Day of Obligation. Weather permitting, we will gather outside near the statue of the Blessed Mother beginning at 6pm for an offering of prayers and petitions and the presentation of individual flowers. An outdoor Mass will begin at 7pm. Please bring a lawn chair and a flower to offer. In the event of rain, services will be held in the church.
A Summertime “Must Read” ~ It’s not too late to throw your hat into the ring. Please consider running for Parish Council. With the support of the present dedicated members, you will find that the “yoke is easy and the burden light.” Look for green information sheets and nomination forms at the church doors, Thank You!
Wrong and Strong: It’s All for the Glory of God ~ Our Blessed Trinity Music Ministry provides beauty, joy, comfort and inspiration for our liturgies and festive parish celebrations through the musical gifts, generosity and commitment of our members. As summer draws to an end, we are planning for the return of the choir and would love to include you in our membership. No previous singing experience is necessary, nor is the ability to read music. If you carry a song in your heart, want to learn more about the liturgy, and want to glorify God through music, do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth at 716-472-0009 or email twosingersintune [at] gmail [dot] com. Wrong and Strong – it’s our BT Choir’s motto! Choir practice resumes Tuesday September 4th at 7pm in St. Charles Hall.
Temporary Change in Bulletin Deadline ~ If you have announcements for the August 26 bulletin, please send them to the office by Monday, August 13. Due to vacation scheduling, our secretary will be printing bulletins for the next two weeks ahead of time.
Dennis Walczyk, CEO of Catholic Charities, has expressed his sincerest appreciation for the generosity of our Blessed Trinity Parish during the Catholic Charities annual appeal. These gifts make possible the continuation of programs offering counseling, clothing, and medicine for so many families in need.
Father Victor and the Parish Council thank each of you who made the special effort to attend the August 7 “town hall” meeting and offer your observations and suggestions to diocesan representatives from the Central City Task Force. We await their advice on “next steps” in what Bishop Malone hopes will be a new ministry plan for the central city parishes of Blessed Trinity, St. Lawrence, St. Martin de Porres and Ss. Columba-Brigid.
Artist George Palmer
Featured Artist with a BT Connection ~ The Kenan Center House Gallery (433 Locust Street in Lockport) is currently exhibiting “George Palmer: His Many Faces, 1956 – 2018,” featuring more than 80 artworks from the long career of Mr. Palmer who, at the age of 93, is still painting and teaching art from his Kenmore Avenue Studio. Parishioners may recognize George who occasionally attends our Sunday Mass, but his BT connection goes back to the beginning of his seven-decade career. In the early 1960s, Mr. Palmer painted the portrait of our fourth pastor, Rev. Charles T. Kraehn, which hangs in the Dewey Avenue entrance of St. Charles Hall. The exhibit continues through August 26 at the Kenan Center, a beautifully restored Victorian mansion. Hours are Mon-Fri, 12 Noon – 5pm and Sun. 2 – 5pm. Admission is free, but donations help the Center to continue its mission of service to the WNY community.
Join the BT Family Promise Team ~ Our volunteer team, led by Amy Johnson, assists temporarily homeless families housed at Ss. Colomba-Brigid Parish under the Family Promise program. They will be preparing and serving a Monday evening dinner on October 22. If you are able to help with this ministry by preparing part of the meal, please contact Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694.
Military Veterans ~ The WNY Catholic is looking for military veterans to interview for the upcoming Veterans Section in November. If you are a vet or know of a vet who would like to tell his/her story, contact the Managing Editor, Patrick McPartland, at pmcpartland [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org.
Special Anniversaries Celebrated ~ Are you or someone you know celebrating your 50th, 60th, or 70th Wedding Anniversary this year? If so, you are invited to participate in a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard Malone at St. Joseph Cathedral on Sunday, October 14, at 10:30am. Contact your parish rectory as soon as possible if you wish to attend.
Do you know that Mass is the highest and greatest form of prayer? The Catechism of the Catholic Church reveals that “from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, [the Church] has honored with great respect the memory of the dead.” In its reference to the Second Vatican Council’s conclusion that “it is a wholly and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins,” the Catechism adds: “Our prayer for them is capable of not only helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.” Consider contacting the church office (716-833-0301) to request a Mass for yourself, your deceased loved ones, or for any intention. The stipend is $15.
Religious Ed Volunteers ~ We are in need of volunteers to help with the Religious Education of our parish children. Anyone interested in helping, please sign up on the orange sheets at the church entrances or call Father Victor (716-833-0301) during rectory office hours. You are also asked to call Father Victor if you are interested in enrolling a child or young adult preparing for Confirmation.
Has your contact information changed? Our parish secretary is finding that our parish records contain a growing number of not-in-service phone numbers, and the recent parish mailing resulted in several letters returned for “expired forwarding.” If your contact information has changed, you can notify the rectory office in one of several ways: use the form on the back of the bulletin; phone our secretary at 716-833-0301 any Tuesday-Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm; send an email to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com; or Click HERE to use the contact feature of our web site to submit the information. If you choose either of the last two, please use “New Contact” as the subject of the email or message.
Home Visits ~ Please notify the church office if you know of aged, sick, or homebound parishioners who may wish to receive a visit and the Eucharist on the last Friday of each month.
Mary with ministering angels, perhaps another depiction of the Assumption,
over exterior of east side church entrance.
Photo Credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Catholic Charities’ A Gathering Place is a social program for older adults over the age of sixty. The program is designed to provide assistance with activities of daily living (physical, cognitive, and socialization). The program is held in a safe supervised environment at 128 Wilson Street in Buffalo. Nutritious meals and snacks are included, as well as shower services. For more information call 716-896-6388 or visit ccwny.org.
Pilgrim Statue Comes to WNY ~ The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be at Our Lady of Pompeii church for Veneration on Tuesday, August 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. a Vigil Mass for the feast of the Assumption will be celebrated followed by the Rosary and presentation by Mr. Bill Sockey, who is the custodian of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue and travels with the Statue throughout the United States. Stockey will present the Message of Our Lady of Fatima, that will include the five reasons for reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the promise by Our Lady of Fatima that was confided to Sr. Lucia, one of the three children, who witnessed the Marian apparitions at Fatima.
Dancing Under the Stars, Sunday August 19 (7-9pm) at St. Joseph University Church (3269 Main Street in Buffalo) featuring Jim Tudini Big Band with Bobby Militello. Call 716-833-0298 or visit stjosephbuffalo.org for information.
Workshop / Retreat / Concert with David Haas and Lori True, Saturday, September 8, at Sacred Heart Church (380 East Fairmount Avenue in Lakewood). Workshop ($15) begins at 9am with concert ($25) at 7pm. Call Maria Perron at 716-490-4187 for information or visit eventbrite.com.
Annual Men’s Retreat (September 14-16), sponsored by the Holy Name Societies of the dioceses of Buffalo and St. Catharines Ontario, will be held at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. The theme is: “The Ministry of Jesus: It’s Heaven and Earth, Life and Death.” We are limited to 60 men. For reservations or more information, call the Holy Name Office at 716-847-2201 or Fr. Paul Sabo at 716-604-4948.
Monday Evening Faith Enrichment Series begins September 17 at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish (158 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). “Forgiveness, baggage, fessing up, and difficulties in forgiving” with Bishop Edward Grosz at the OLP Ministry Center. Future dates this year are October 22, November 26, and December 17.