December 7 – December 14, 2014
Weekly Activities
Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 p.m. in church ~ Freudig Singers in Concert – A Christmas Pie.
Monday, December 8 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall.
Thursday, December 11 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.
Friday, December 12 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in church ~Assembly of gift bags for Prison Project.
Friday, December 12 from 6:00 p.m. until completion ~Assembly of gift bags for Prison Project in church.
Saturday, December 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall.
Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.
Sunday, December 14 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Retrieval of Christmas decorations (in church), followed by Pastor’s Reception for parish volunteers (in rectory).
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
Sunday, December 7 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Norine Hackney (Requested by The Dunnigan Family) and Joan West (Requested by West Children)
Monday, December 8 ~ Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception ~ Mass at 6:00 p.m. – Members of Blessed Trinity Parish
Tuesday, December 9 ~ St. Juan Diego ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members and Families of Blessed Trinity Parish (Parishioners)
Wednesday, December 10 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anthony and Teresa Hafner (Estate)
Thursday, December 11 ~ St. Damasus I ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Friday, December 12 ~ Our Lady of Guadalups ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Saturday, December 13 ~ St. Lucy ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel – Bud and Anne Horan O’Connor (Family)
Sunday, December 14 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Bridget Dick Blesnuk (Family) and Irene Hodur (Family)
The Freudig Singers of WNY with another serving of “Christmas Pie.”
News from our Parish Community
The Trinity Concert Series continues on Sunday, December 7, at 3:00 p.m. when The Freudig Singers of Western New York present “A Christmas Pie,” a delectable concert of traditional and contemporary seasonal favorites. Under the direction of award-winning organist/choral composer and arranger Roland E. Martin, the Freudig Singers are celebrating their 30th anniversary. The choral menu includes such standards as G.R. Woodward’s arrangement of “Ding-dong-ding,” Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and Jay Livingston/Ray Evans’ “Silver Bells.” Also included on the program are more recent works: Sidney King’s “Gabriel’s Message,” Martin Wimmer’s “All is Quiet, All are Sleeping,” and the stunning “Night of Dreams” by Valerie Showers Crescenz. The singers will also perform a piece composed especially for the occasion by King. The Louisville-based musician has dedicated his newest composition, “Gifts for a King,” to the Freudig Singers. Following tradition, the concert concludes with a fresh-baked-pie reception for audience members, as well as a pie auction featuring signature pies prepared by each of the singers. A delicious treat for the ears, the soul and the taste buds! Tickets are $10.00 each in advance and at the door. To see photos from the concert and reception, Click HERE.
Assembly of gift bags. Photo by Derek Gee, The Buffalo News.
The Cocoa Challenge Ends Sunday December 7 ~ Your donations of Instant Hot Chocolate should be here this Sunday. Forgot? You may place cash donations or checks payable to Peaceprints Prison Ministries in an envelope marked “Prisoners Gifts” and drop in the collection no later than Monday, December 8. Decorated gift bags are also due back at that time. Package assembly will take place in church on Friday, December 12. Anyone interested in assisting can join one of two shifts: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. until completion (usually about 9 p.m.). No reservation is required; just show up with willing hands and heart. To learn more about Sr. Karen’s vision and the history of this project, Click HERE.
Holy Day Mass ~ Monday, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feastday of our nation. We will observe this Holy Day of Obligation with Mass on Monday evening at 6:00 p.m.
The Ladies Sodality Christmas dinner is Wednesday, December 10, at 6:00 pm. at The Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 Bailey Ave, Amherst, NY. The menu includes Stuffed Pork Lion, Baked Fish or Pot Roast dinner, all served with a salad, baked potato and pita bread and rice pudding for dessert. Please make your payment of $27.00 per person to Patty Gallisdorfer. Checks should be made payable to the Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.
Gifts for our Shut-ins will be ready for pickup and delivery at weekend Masses on December 13 and 14. If you are willing to deliver a gift bag and visit with one of the fourteen recipients, please Click HERE and leave a message for Mickey Dick.
A Request from Our Ushers ~ Following services and other events held in church, we find all kinds of items left in the pews: hats, gloves, scarves, eye/sun glasses, jewelry, books, toys, etc. Items are kept in the Ushers Room in the back of church near the front entrance. If you are missing something, please look at “the collection” by January 1, 2015. All unclaimed items will then be given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Thanks for your cooperation.
Attention Readers ~ Please stop in the Priests’ Sacristy after Mass and pick up your copies of the 2015 Workbook for Readers.
Musical Mentors ~ Thanks to Dan Korchowsky who donated his tools and talent and installed the recently dedicated photo of Bridget Blesnuk on our musical wall of fame. The photograph, along with those of her musical predecessors Msgr. Henry S. Kawalec and Ms. Ethel M. Grabenstatter, can be viewed on the west (rectory) side staircase to the choirloft.
Assistance Available ~ Catholic Charities stands ready to assist individuals and families in the aftermath of Snowvember 2014. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance with basic needs as a result of the storm, you can call any Catholic Charities community-based office for help. Call weekdays between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. at 716-218-1650 for information or an appointment. Those seeking assistance should bring proof of identification for everyone in the household, along with applicant’s proof of address and proof of income. This follows Catholic Charities’ emergency assistance procedures and determines eligibility for the kinds of assistance they can provide.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Blessed Sacrament Church Celebrates Advent with two special programs. “Do Your Hear What I Hear?” is a program of Christmas carols in song and story which explains the origins of the lyrics and the music. It will be presented on from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, December 7. A Taize Prayer Service, a devotion in song, scripture, and silence, will be offered on Sunday, December 14, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Come join us for this opportunity to nurture our faith as we prepare for the birth of Christ on December 25. Both programs will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church 1029 Delaware Avenue. Parking is available behind the Catholic Academy of West Buffalo.
Christmas Nativity Sets on Display ~ The annual display of nativity sets is now taking place at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church located at 75 Hickory Street at Eagle (one block south of Clinton Street in downtown Buffalo). There are 507 creches from 57 countries with a special section for the children. Sets are made from such diverse materials as banana leaves, corn husks, newspapers, automobile parts, rice, cork, and coal. The display runs each weekend through January 4 on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. It is free and handicap accessible.
