June 28 – July 5, 2015
Weekly Activities
Thursday, July 2 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, July 4 ~ INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY ~ FOOD PANTRY CLOSED
Saturday, July 4 ~ INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY ~ NO BINGO GAMES
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, June 28 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Margaret F. Schirmann (Requested by Mary C. Stoddard)
Monday, June 29 ~ St. Peter and St. Paul ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 30 ~ First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Wednesday, July 1 ~ Blessed Junipero Serra ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Thursday, July 2 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Friday, July 3 ~ St. Thomas, Apostle ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Saturday, July 4 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Deceased Members of the Horan and Caulef Families (Family)
Sunday, July 5 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Mary Sakura Koessler (Mary and Bob Kresse)
News from our Parish Community
Heartfelt Thanks ~ Delegates to the National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference taking place in Buffalo included community service in their busy agenda. We are grateful to the eleven young men and women from Canisius College, Creighton University, Gonzaga University, Marquette University and the University of Detroit Mercy who spent their Saturday morning cleaning the choir loft, pews, and floor of our church. We continue to express our appreciation to Joe Van Volkenberg and his Canisius Campus Ministry Program for always thinking of us and treasure our partnership with the college.
We also extend prayerful thanks to Rev. Adolph Kowalczyk and forty parishioners and friends from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Orchard Park, NY, who visited Blessed Trinity on June 25 and made a generous donation to the Under This Roof Fund. Father Reger and docent Mickey Dick joined forces in highlighting the art and architecture of our Landmark building for our Southtowns visitors. Father Adolph also took time to bestow a special blessing on one couple celebrating their forty-ninth wedding anniversary. Click HERE for additional photos from their tour.
Preservation Project Proceeds ~ Earlier this year, Blessed Trinity Catholic Church received word from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation that our application for funding to repair and restore major sections of our landmark church had been approved. With God’s help, we have begun the process of making these improvements happen in accordance with State and Federal standards. For several weeks, Blessed Trinity has been accepting proposals for architectural design services in connection with restoring our roof, nave windows and front entrance steps. Architects wishing to submit proposals were required to demonstrate education, experience and expertise in historic preservation and the development of Sectarian Budgets and also be able to include assurance of significant (30%) contracting opportunities for minority-and woman-owned business enterprises. Please pray for the members of our building heritage committee and their advisers who are currently evaluating the proposals submitted in response.
Restoration of Church Doors ~ Although it is not part of our grant project, it has become necessary to undertake restoration work on the doors of the church. Deterioration was especially noticeable following the harsh winter of 2014-15. They are currently undergoing restoration by Bryans Brothers Painting.
Summer Respite For Single Moms ~ Thursday, July 30 to Saturday, August 1 at the Center of Renewal on Stella Niagara Campus, Lewiston, NY. See flyer at church entrances. Application forms are available through Sister Barbara. More information: 716-893-0931 or www.womensrespite.wordpress.com. Application deadline is July 15.
So Happy to Meetup with You ~ They came from as far away as N. Collins and Marilla, bringing with them rakes, pruning shears, electric hedge trimmers and even a rototiller! Together with eleven parish volunteers, these generous members of the Buffalo Underground Meetup Group contributed more than 60 wo/man-hours raking and weeding, pruning and planting, tilling and trimming, edging and mulching. Passers-by on Leroy can’t help but notice the difference, especially on the west side of the church and around the rectory. We are so grateful to organizer Melanie Chimento, who chose Blessed Trinity as a Meetup destination on May 31. After touring our church, she asked how they could help us, which is how our June 16 “Garden Party” became their first group gardening venture. We offer our prayerful thanks to Bridget Baumgartner, Cindy Bogdan, Melanie Chimento, Joan Corby, Annette Fontanez, Rich Hull, Julie Hughes (a horticulturist from the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens), LaRond Johnson, Scott Mack, Liz Melock, Norbert Muller, Jenny Pfeiffer and two anonymous members, as well as Sue Bordonaro, Drew, Nik and Tom Brodfuehrer; Luis Clay, Judy Casassa, Bud and Mickey Dick, Dorothy Manuppelli, Elizabeth Sands and Palma Zanghi, who answered the call from Blessed Trinity. To view photos from our June 16 event, Click HERE. For more information about Buffalo Underground and its interest “in exploring all the fascinating, unique, beautiful & historic places in the WNY area & beyond,” visit their web site at www.meetup.com/Buffalo-Underground/, or Facebook page, where you can also read about their visit to our church.
An Evening Farmer’s Market Comes to Leroy Avenue ~ Every Wednesday evening, from 4-6 p.m., now through October 22nd, the Massachusetts Avenue Project’s Mobile Market will be coming to the FLARE! Rain or shine, you’ll find “a farmers market on wheels” in the driveway next to FLARE. On Thursday evenings, from 4-6 p.m., it will be at nearby Elim Christian Fellowship, 70 Chalmers Avenue. Take advantage of this twice a week opportunity to shop for fresh produce from local growers right in your neighborhood! For more information, Click HERE.
Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program ~ As we celebrate the independence of our country, the approximate 600 refugees Catholic Charities resettles each year are celebrating freedom from regimes or insurgents that seek to torture, imprison or kill them. Our diocese offers a safe haven to refugees through the Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program. Here they find shelter, food, clothing, and a second chance for a new life. For more information on how you might help welcome a stranger, call 716-842-0270. Find Catholic Charities at http://www.ccwny.org.
Bishops Seek Assistance in Renewing Western New York ~ In January 2015, Bishops Richard J. Malone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and R. William Franklin of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York issued their first joint pastoral letter on the Renewal of Western New York. In a follow-up letter dated June 14, 2015, the two prelates express gratitude for the positive response to their joint statement and offer “concrete suggestions” to those who have asked what can be done “to move our region toward inclusivity and equality.” To read an excerpt from their second letter, Click HERE.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Saint Mary of the Lake in Hamburg Hosts ‘Powerful Tools for Caregivers’ Classes ~ Do you help a relative or friend in need? Perhaps you can benefit from Powerful Tools for Caregivers Classes to be held Tuesday evenings, July 7 through August 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Lake Parish Center, 4737 Lake Shore Rd., Hamburg, NY 14075. This six week educational program is designed to provide you with the tools needed to take care of yourself! Balance your life and learn to reduce stress, increase self confidence, express yourself and increase your ability to calmly make difficult decisions. Helpful resources will be discussed. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $25 and includes a copy of The Caregiver Handbook. Full course cost is covered for Independent Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY members. For more information or to register contact Erie County Department of Senior Services at 716-858-2177; caregiver [at] erie [dot] gov or visit: www2.erie.gov/seniorservices.
Employment Opportunity ~ A part-time maintenance position has become available at St. Martin de Porres. Duties include performance of manual work necessary to maintain cleanliness, orderliness, appearance of the interior of the Church building and sanitation of church grounds, roads, and walkways. Work is performed within established procedures under both written and verbal instructions. Some minor decision making about details of work is exercised. Compensation is dependent upon experience. To apply, please contact the parish for an application and position description at: stmartindeporresbuffalo [at] gmail [dot] com or call 716-883-7729. Completed application forms may be submitted until June 30, 2015. No walk-ins please.
St. Vincent de Paul Summer Camp ~ It is not too late for St. Vincent de Paul Summer Camp on Lake Erie in Angola this year. Registrations are being accepted for the 2015 season. Children, ages 8-13, enjoy a camping experience in a pleasant, safe and stress-free Christian environment. Six weekly sessions begin July 12. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. For more information, go to http://www.svdpwny.org and click on “Summer Camp.” Information is also available at 716-882-3360, ext. 7, or 716-549-0986.
Change the life of a child ~ Catholic Charities invites you to learn more about the adoption process or becoming a foster parent through an introductory information session set for July 14 from 10-11:30 a.m. or 6-7:30 p.m. at their 525 Washington Street, Buffalo office. Work with Catholic Charities to make a positive impact on the lives of children and teens. For more information or to register please call 716-856-4494 ext. 360 or email foster [dot] adopt [at] ccwny [dot] org. For more information about foster care or adoption, visit http://www.ccwny.org.
Camp Turner ~ Campfires and horseback riding, hiking and crafts, archery, wood shop, and so much more. Camp Turner is still accepting registrations for weekly camping sessions this summer. (The deadline is the week before each arrival day.) The program is operated by the Catholic Diocese and open to all boys and girls age 7-16. Financial assistance is available. Please visit http://www.campturner.com to sign up, or call 716-354-4555.
Dinner Lecture Series at Christ the King Seminary ~ Wednesday, July 15 – “Living a Eucharistic Life!” presented by Rev. Joseph Gatto. Wednesday, July 29 – “The Church at Fifty” presented by Rev. John Mack. Reservations are required. Dinner is at 5:45 p.m.; lectures are from 6:45-8:30 p.m. in the main dining room of Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Road, East Aurora. To register, call Gayle Angelli at 716-805-1438.