December 2 – December 9, 2018

Weekly Activities

Sunday, December 2 at 3:00 p.m. ~ Freudig Singers in concert in the church

Sunday, December 2 at 4:30 p.m. ~ Post-concert reception in St. Charles Hall

Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, December 5 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS

Wednesday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. ~ Ladies Sodality December Dinner, Family Tree Restaurant

Thursday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Volunteers are asked to pick up gifts in St. Charles Hall.

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

Sunday, December 9 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Pick up gifts for homebound in St. Charles Hall

Sunday, December 9 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Liturgy Committee Meeting

*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 2 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Joseph M. Rutowski (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse) and Papa Ndombasi Edouard (Requested by Pedro and Family)

Monday, December 3 ~ St. Francis Xavier ~ Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. – Sylvester Chapman

Tuesday, December 4 ~ St. John Damascene ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, December 5 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Thursday, December 6 ~ St. Nicholas ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, December 7 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – First Friday Adoration and Benediction

Friday, December 7 ~ St. Ambrose ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, December 8 ~ Immaculate Conception of the Bl. Virgin Mary ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, December 8 ~ Celebration of Marriage at 1:00 p.m. –

Saturday, December 8 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Mary C. Nelson (Family)

Sunday, December 9 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Bridget Blesnuk (Family) and Edward Wilbert (Seta and Family)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, December 8/9:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Lorna Cameron; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Fran Cahill, Bernice Bradley;  Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Maggie Gatson, Mary Kresse;  CHOIR – Sharon Dunnigan

“Christmas Through the Ages,” Sunday, December 2 at 3 PM.

News from our Parish Community

Today…December 2 at 3pm … Advent is here and so are the FREUDIG SINGERS!! They will bring their marvelous repertoire of classical gems and popular carols to us. Come with a friend, have some seasonal fun, win a pie, enjoy a piece at the reception in the hall. Suggested donation $15 for a glorious opening to the Season of Hope, Peace and Joy!

A New (Liturgical) Year! The First Sunday of Advent always reminds me of receiving my textbooks the first week of school – that “new book” smell is one that thrills me for the excitement about to come. As we begin this new year, it is important to reflect upon how we can let our work in liturgy and music lead us to holiness – and how we might renew our desire for justice and peace. Today’s prayer after Communion implored: as we walk amid passing things, You teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. May the music here at BT help us all to discern the difference between what is passing and that which endures. Let’s crack open that new book and begin! Choral Christmas preparation continues on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00 in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome. …. Elizabeth

Sodality Christmas Dinner is this Wednesday, December 5, at The Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 Bailey Avenue in Amherst. Dinner choices and payment ($25/dinner) are due by December 2, so please contact Amy Johnson (716-836-4694) if you have not already done so. You can select from five entrees: broiled fish, pot roast, lamb shank, stuffed Greek chicken (rice, spinach, olive, feta cheese, artichoke filling), or Chicken Souvlaki (marinated in herbs).

We welcome your donation of cocoa for Sr. Karen Klimczak’s Christmas Prison Project.

Cocoa Challenge 2018 ~ We have reached 75% of our goal of 4,200 packets of hot chocolate. Thank you! With this momentum and your continued support we will make our goal by Sunday December 9. Cash donations are being used to buy in bulk at reduced prices. No special talent is needed to help decorate the gift bags. Draw, trace, or just write season greetings or lines from carols & hymns to personalize the gift bags. Bags and instructions are available in a back pew near the cocoa donations (or call Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694). Help assemble the gifts on Friday, December 14 at 10 AM and 6 PM here at Blessed Trinity.

Gifts for Homebound Parishioners – The Ladies Sodality thanks everyone who has contributed gifts or money for our annual drive. The gift bags will be packed this week and ready for pick-up next weekend, December 8 & 9. We still need a few volunteers to deliver. The most distant residences are in Williamsville and West Seneca; the closest in the Bailey-Kensington area. If you can help, please call Mickey Dick (716-832-2540) by Wednesday.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Saturday, December 8. Our Mass for the Holy Day of Obligation will be celebrated at 10am. The 4:30pm Mass is the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent and does not satisfy your obligation for the Holy Day.

Retirement Fund for Religious ~ There will be a second collection on the weekend of December 8/9 for the Retirement Fund for Religious. It supports hundreds of senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have spent their lives serving others — even in “retirement” — but never benefited from a Diocesan retirement plan. Please give to those who have given a lifetime.

Water With Blessings ~ In the spring, the Ladies Sodality solicited donations in support of the Felician Sisters “Gift of Clean Water” initiative. A total of $1,200 was collected and sent to the Sisters’ Our Lady of Hope Province in Beaver Falls, PA. The Sodality has received an acknowledgement letter from Provincial Minister Sister Mary Christopher Moore, CSSF, which reads, in part: “Thank you for the most generous gift of support from the parishioners of Blessed Trinity Church….This gift will enable Haitian mothers… specially chosen and trained …to use proven water filter technology to provide clean, safe drinking water to their families and several neighboring families. We are deeply grateful for this gift, humbled by the kindness, and blessed by your interest in…this life-giving and life-changing initiative.” Your dollars purchased 20 filtration units for the women of Jacmel, Haiti. Visit feliciansistershaiti.com to see how our gift “is making a difference.” Sister Mary Christopher promised that “we will remember each of you…in our daily prayers,” and again thanked us for our “kindness and generosity.”

Under This Roof Fund ~ We are extremely grateful to everyone who responded to our “Fall Fest” fundraiser — both party attendees and financial supporters. Your response exceeded our expectations and, to date,

Saint Francis Xavier
December 3
Right side aisle, statue of “St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), the famous Jesuit missionary to the Far East.” (Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church, page 25). Photo credit: Margaret Dick

proceeds total $7,260.00. Thank you to all!

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.

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.

 

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Deacon Greg Feary Presents: The Mary of AdventMonday December 17, 7-8pm at Our Lady of Pompeii Church (158 Laverack Avenue in  Lancaster). How can Mary help us prepare for Christmas?  Explore the stories of the Mary of Advent that we find in Scripture, song, and art to fill your Advent with joyful expectation.  Visit olpparish.com or call 716-683-6522.

Camp Turner’s WinterCamp ’18 is Friday December 28 at 10am through Sunday December 30 at 6pm for Boys and girls, ages 7-15.  An optional round trip bus is available from Williamsville and Hamburg. The cabins are toasty, the food is delicious, and our experienced staff is excited to make this a great experience for everyone. An RN is on-site at all times. Visit CampTurner.com for activity descriptions and online registration. If you have any questions, e-mail  CampTurner [at] gmail [dot] com  or call 716-354-4555.