Sacred Sites Open House, Sun. May 21, 2023

A view from the loft reveals some of our Sacred Sites visitors who remained for the closing musical presentation on May 21, 2023.
Photo credit: Margaret Dick

May 21st Sacred Sites Open House ~ Docents and greeters alike were pleased with the turnout at this year’s Sacred Sites Open House. Blessed Trinity was one of more than 100 houses of worship celebrating the New York Landmarks Conservancy‘s 50th anniversary celebration by participating in their statewide Sacred Sites Open House Weekend. We welcomed more than 50 visitors, doubling our 2022 numbers, and 27 stayed to enjoy the 3pm finale. Elizabeth Clay made a presentation on the church’s 1927 Tellers-Kent organ, and members of the choir performed a mini concert. Many thanks to docents Eleanor Ash, Tom Brodfuehrer, Elizabeth Clay, Mickey Dick, Darvan Draper, Rafael Rondon, Nancy Yager and Palma Zanghi; as well as Vera Andrew and Mary Karlis who acted as greeters.

Sacred Sites Open House, Sun. May 21, 2023

Photo credit: Char Szabo-Perricelli

Blessed Trinity’s Sacred Sites Open House
Sunday, May 21, 2023
1:00-3:00 p.m.

Blessed Trinity Church celebrates the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 50th anniversary by participating in its statewide Sacred Sites Weekend. This year’s theme, Congregations and Communities, seeks to “highlight how sacred sites create community connections….” We invite the public to learn about our Landmark site and the connections our faith community has made over more than a century at an Open House on Sunday, May 21.

This year’s Open House coincides with the church’s construction centennial, its cornerstone having been laid on August 7, 1923. Members of our docent team will welcome you and share their knowledge about this “made in America” treasure considered to be the purest replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the United States. But there is more to our story than the church’s handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, extensive use of terra cotta, fascinating medieval iconography and display of more than 2,000 Christian symbols. We want you to know about our faith community, its neighborhood outreach and its building preservation efforts — most recently, reconstruction of the church stairs and front plaza and repairs to its tile roof.

And no introduction to Blessed Trinity would be complete without music. The church’s original 1927 Tellers-Kent organ underwent major renovations in 2022, and the instrument will be featured in musical interludes during the Open House with a concluding performance at 3 PM.

So bring your questions about the architecture, art and history of Blessed Trinity Church, its East Side neighborhood and its welcoming congregation, and join us on Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1-3 PM. And don’t forget your camera for the Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Photo Contest.

Located at 317 Leroy Avenue, the church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking.

“Inside Blessed Trinity Church” with Explore Buffalo, Feb. 19, 2023

Photo Credit: Ray Ordinario – Ft. Erie, ON

Blessed Trinity Welcomes Explore Buffalo
Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m.

Click HERE to reserve your place.

Built between 1925 and 1928, Blessed Trinity Church is considered to be the purest replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the USA. In addition to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a NYS Historical Site and was the first architectural landmark recognized by Buffalo’s Landmark & Preservation Board in 1977.

Experienced docents will be on hand to highlight the building’s history and design and share their knowledge of its unique handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, the extensive use of terra cotta in its construction, and the fantastic array of Christian symbolism found in its sculpture and artwork. Weather permitting, the 90-minute tourism opportunity will include an interpretation of the building’s ornate facade.

Located at 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, the church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking behind the church and adjacent to the east side door.

 

The Choir that Never Quits, January 8, 2023

 

Choir members among those
to sing on Little Christmas.

Never mind “rain, shine, sleet or snow,” even the Christmas Blizzard of 2022 can’t deter this group! If they couldn’t “do” Christmas, they’ll be there for Little Christmas, and you’re invited to join them. The Christmas Caroling that was to have preceded our Christmas Eve service will now take place before Sunday Mass on January 8, the Feast of the Epiphany or “Little Christmas,” beginning at 9:30 AM. Please come early and Praise the Lord with them in song.

“Inside Blessed Trinity Church” with Explore Buffalo, Jan. 7, 2023

Blessed Trinity Welcomes Explore Buffalo
for the first tour of 2023.
Saturday, January 7 at 2:00 p.m.

Click HERE to reserve your place.

Built between 1925 and 1928, Blessed Trinity Church is considered to be the purest replication of twelfth century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the USA. In addition to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a NYS Historical Site and was the first architectural landmark recognized by Buffalo’s Landmark & Preservation Board in 1977.

Experienced docents will be on hand to highlight the building’s history and design and share their knowledge of its unique handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, the extensive use of terra cotta in its construction, and the fantastic array of Christian symbolism found in its sculpture and artwork. The Christmas setting will be a bonus for visitors to this church that needs no decoration. Weather permitting, the 90-minute tourism opportunity will include an interpretation of the building’s ornate facade.

Located at 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, the church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking behind the church and adjacent to the east side door.

 

Peaceprints of WNY Prison Project Returns December 9, 2022

Prison Project Volunteers at Blessed Trinity
Photo credit: WKBW-TV

Following a COVID induced 2-year hiatus, the Christmas Prison Package Project is back. On Friday, December 9, community volunteers will gather in Blessed Trinity Church for the thirteenth year to continue Sister Karen Klimczak’s legacy project. Originally created by the late Sr. Karen as a way to assure incarcerated men that they were not forgotten, the effort has since expanded to include women inmates. Thousands of pre-packaged food items as well as paperback books collected from area congregations, community members and businesses, will be packed into 2,000+ hand-decorated bags and readied for delivery to Albion and Wende Correctional Facilities. The sponsoring organization, Peaceprints of WNY, welcomes volunteers to the church on December 9, 2022, for either of two shifts: 10:00AM—12:00PM or 6:00—9:00PM. Located at 317 Leroy Avenue in Buffalo, the Landmark church is wheelchair accessible with ample off-street parking.