Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 27 – February 3, 2013

The early life of Christ is depicted in relief in six terra cotta medallions in the narthex of the church. Here we see The Presentaton of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-40) The Feast of the Presentation is celebrated on February 2. Photo credit: Margaret Dick.

Weekly Activities

Sunday, January 27 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Bingo Workers meeting in St Charles Hall.

Tuesday, January 29 ~ NO Choir Rehearsal. Rehearsals will resume on February 5 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Charles Hall.

Thursday, January 31 at 8:00 p.m ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.

     We now have new games: Red, White & Blue; carry over Bonus Ball; and a progressive Share-the-Wealth!

Sunday, February 3 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Generations of Faith program in St Charles Hall.

Sunday, January 27 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Deceased Family Members (Requested by Angela Jost) and Susan C. Bechtel (Requested by Family)

Monday, January 28 ~  St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Communion Service at 11 a.m.

Tuesday, January 29 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Anthony and Teresa Hafner (Estate)

Wednesday, January 30 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Simon Keough (Estate of Mary Condon)

Thursday, January 31 ~ St. John Bosco ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Gladys Kibler (Estate)

Friday, February 1 ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Saturday, February 2 ~ Presentation of the Lord ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Edward J. Eagan (James and Gayle Eagan)

Sunday, February 3 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Sue Cahill (Judy Casassa) and Frances Pernick (Duffy Family)

News from our Parish Community

Attention Bingo Workers ~ There will be an important meeting in St. Charles Hall on Sunday, January 27, following the 10:00 a.m. Mass.

Generations of Faith ~ Session 4 of the 2012-13 Generations of Faith Program, “Celebrating the Sacraments,” will take place on Sunday, February 3, following the 10 o’clock Mass. Our focus for February is “Viaticum”: Provisions for the Journey, from Exteme Unction to Anointing of the Sick.

Memorial Mass ~ You are invited to a Memorial Mass celebrated for Sister Margaret Dougherty, D.C., in the chapel at Sisters Hospital at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 4. Sister Margaret, who died in Albany last month, was for many years the Director of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program at Sisters Hospital.

Spring Raffle ~ By now you should have received your tickets for the Ladies Sodality February 10, 2013 raffle. The first prize is a Basket of Cheer, courtesy of Bill Warren and Hertel Park Liquor. There are two second prizes: $50 gift cards for Wegmans and Dash’s. Tickets for the raffle are $1 each or 6 for $5. The raffle will take place at a special Mardi Gras-themed coffee hour hosted by the Sodality on Sunday, February 10, following the 10 o’clock Mass. Additional chances are available at church or by calling the rectory at 716-833-0301.

Sodality Bake Sale ~ The Sodality is planning a bake sale on Sunday, February 10, in conjunction with the spring raffle and Mardi gras coffee hour. We are looking for all types of baked goods, so your specialty will be gratefully received. Please drop your donation off at St. Charles Hall on February 10 beginning at 9:30 a.m. – but before you go to Mass. Because everything will have to be priced and arranged in a short time, please label your item; for example, “cranberry-nut bread,” and include a suggested sale price. Any questions? Contact President Vera Andrew.

Special Collections ~ Our parish will take up a special collection for Catholic Relief Services at weekend services on January 26 and 27. This Collection supports six Catholic agencies that touch more than 100 million lives around the world. The funds from this Collection help to provide food to the hungry, welcome and support to displaced refugees, and advocacy for the voiceless. The collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe is scheduled for the weekend of February 2-3. It provides support for basic pastoral programs, safe and affordable housing for students so they may return to support their local churches, and other important initiatives. Generous support to the Collection ensures that the future of the Church there is inspired not just by bullet-scarred buildings but by individuals who are sharing the light and love of Christ throughout the region. Please give generously to these two special collections.

Charitable Contributions ~ If you need a 2012 Statement of Contributions for income tax purposes, please contact Roy Laciura at the rectory, 716-833-0301.

February Concert Rescheduled ~ Due to illness, the extremely talented Chorus of the Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts will be unable to perform their much-anticipated concert at Blessed Trinity Church on Sunday, February 3, 2013. We hope that all these fine performers will be well for a re-scheduled concert at 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 2, 2013. For more information on our Trinity Concert Series of “beautiful music in a beautiful space,” click HERE.

We give thanks for the many volunteers who turned out on Monday evening, December 14, for our annual “de-decorating” party. With the assistance of Sean and Tom Brodfuehrer, Judy Casassa, Mickey Dick, Ellen Duffy, Jerry and Patti Gallisdorfer, Amy Johnson, Gary and Marian Kelley, Dan Korchowsky, Roy and Shonen Laciura, Dorothy Manuppelli, Ed Marien, and Kathy Press, trees and wreaths, crèche figures, altar rail and window garlands, and pew decorations were disassembled and returned to storage, floors were swept and rugs vacuumed – all in record time. In addition to supervisory tasks, Sister Barbara and Father George also provided healthy, post-holiday refreshments for the clean-up crew.

Catholic Charities Appeal ~ Protect, Strengthen, Empower. Please Give to the 2013 Catholic Charities Appeal. Last year, thanks to the generous support of donors throughout the Western New York community, Catholic Charities of Buffalo was able to positively impact the lives of children, families and seniors across the region with everything from basic needs like food, clothing and shelter, to mental health counseling or education services. Bishop Richard J. Malone has announced this year’s goal of $10.7 million. The patron of the 2013 Appeal, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, inspires us to be as committed in our own time and community as he was in nineteenthcentury France. We look forward to working with you now through Appeal Week or until our goal is reached. Find out more at ccwny.org, facebook.com/ccbuffalo and twitter.com/ccbuffalo.

The Helping Hands Food Pantry has been experiencing chronic shortages of cereal (store brands welcome). Their supply of cereal is usually gone by the end of the first week after the monthly food delivery from the Food Bank. They also are in need of any kind of canned vegetables, juice or canned soup, as well as flour or sugar and baking supplies. Many younger people and grandparents are asking for baby supplies, such as diapers and formula. You should also know that the food pantry now has used clothing that is clean and folded according to size for men, women, boys, girls and infants. They are in greatest need of clothing for men and infants. All clothing is donated and must be cleaned upon acceptance.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Are you hurting and don’t know where to turn? We are talking especially about the problems of excessive eating and alcohol abuse. Does someone in your family deal with these issues and you wish you could do something to help them? We will have speakers at Ss. Columba-Brigid on January 29, at 7 p.m., to explain how. There will also be a question and answer period. Refreshments will be served.

Human Trafficking: Modern Day Slavery ~ On Monday, February 4, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph University Parish Community Room (3269 Main Street, Buffalo, next to UB South Campus), Karen O’Hara, Mrs. New York State International 2013, will speak on this topic.  Mrs. O’Hara has used her various titles to become a strong voice for the victims of human trafficking not only here in WNY, but internationally as well.  She is also the Founder/Director of United Hands of Hope House, an organization providing recovery services to domestic survivors of human trafficking throughout Western New York.  Karen O’Hara has received the Fred Langless Award for humanitarian outreach acknowledging her achievements in developing awareness of human trafficking.