Depiction of the Blessed Trinity in our church's baldachino. Photo credit: Gary Kelley

Depiction of the Blessed Trinity in our church’s baldachino.
Photo credit: Gary Kelley

 

February 1 – February 8, 2015

Weekly Activities

Tuesday, February 3 ~ The Choir is taking a winter break. Rehearsals resume next Tuesday, February 10.

Thursday, February 5 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.

Saturday, February 7  from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall.

Saturday, February 7  at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.

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.

MassMobIX

Mass Intentions

Sunday, February 1 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Dennis Long (Requested by Mary and Bob Karlis)

Monday, February 2 ~ The Presentation of the Lord – Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, February 3 ~ St. Blaise; St. Ansgar ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. ~ Anna Snyder (Estate)

Wednesday, February 4 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. ~ Winifred Enright (Estate)

Thursday, February 5 ~ St. Agatha ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. Mass – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Church (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Friday, February 6 ~ St. Paul Miki & Companions ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anthony and Teresa Hafner (Estate)

Saturday, February 7 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. –  Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Sunday, February 8 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Frederick Reger (Pauline Rollek)

Basket of Cheer Raffle Sunday, February 15 at Coffee Hour

Basket of Cheer Raffle
Sunday, February 15 at Coffee Hour

News from our Parish Community

Mardi Gras Raffle ~ Only two weekends remain before the February 15 Basket of Cheer Raffle, so please remember to make your ticket returns. The first prize Basket of Cheer, courtesy of Bill Warren and Hertel Parker Liquor, is valued at approximately $200. There are two second prizes: $50 gift cards for Wegman’s and Dash’s. Tickets for the raffle are $1 each or 6 for $5. Additional tickets are available at the rectory or on the table near the ushers’ pew. Please plan to join the Sodality at their Mardi Gras Coffee Hour after Sunday Mass on Feb. 15 and be there to collect your prize!

Buffalo Mass Mob Comes to Blessed Trinity ~ We are happy to announce that we have been chosen as the site for Buffalo Mass Mob IX on Sunday, March 22. Watch our “This Week” and “Upcoming Events” posts for details as they become available.

Prayer Partner Information ~ We are about to begin sign-up for the annual Lenten Prayer Partner program. If you haven’t experienced this yet, we hope you will try this year. During the Lenten season, you will be given the name of a parishioner from one of the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo (CCCB) or St. Michael’s, and asked to pray for that person and their intentions during Lent. In return, that person will be praying for you. Why do we do this? It’s rather simple. Jesus told us that “if two or more agree on earth about anything for which they pray, it shall be granted to them by my Father.” (Mt. 18:19,20). This helps us see the importance of praying with and for one another.  How can you participate? Look for sign-up sheets at church on the weekends of February 1 or February 8. If you can’t worship with us on either of those weekends, call the rectory office (833-0301) and ask to be added as a prayer partner. Once you receive the name of your partner, you can include them in a daily prayer of remembrance, at Mass, or during your own individual time of prayer. If they give their phone number, you can make a personal contact to introduce yourself and exchange intentions, but this is not required. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sr. Maureen Harris at 897-9948, ext. 114 or 892-2471.

Trenton Scott and Brian Le, recipients of 2014 MLK Scholarships, prepare to present the gifts at the MLK Mass at Blessed Trinity on January 18, 2015. Photo Credit: Margaret Dick

Trenton Scott and Brian Le, recipients of 2014 MLK Scholarships, prepare to present the gifts at the MLK Mass at Blessed Trinity on January 18, 2015.
Photo Credit: Margaret Dick

The African American Commission of the Office of Cultural Diversity of the Diocese would like to extend a thank you to Blessed Trinity Church members for hosting the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Mass.  A special thank you to Mrs. Jessie Wells and her “crew” for coordinating the reception, all who gave offerings in the collection and donated theme baskets to raise funds for MLK scholarships, for Nick DelBello and the choir for making the liturgy so special, and clergy who celebrated with us.  The African American Commission was able to raise $1,870 for scholarships. To view photos from the Mass, please visit Blessed Trinity’s Facebook page by clicking HERE.

Sodality Dues Reminder ~ Membership in the Ladies Sodality runs with the calendar year. Please remember to pay your dues by February 22 so that our membership chair may update the roster and email group/telephone tree. To learn more about our women’s group, Click HERE.

Thank you for your generous support of the Catholic Relief Services Collection. Through your generosity families will be reunited, valuable skills will be taught to those seeking a better life, and vital humanitarian needs will be met. Please visit www.usccb.org (search “Catholic Relief Services Collection”) to learn how your donations make a difference and help Jesus in disguise.

Special Collection on February 7/8 for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. ­This collection supports Catholic organizations that provide affordable shelter and train seminarians in a region that still struggles from the effects of Soviet rule. By providing pastoral care, catechesis, and funding for building renovations, your donations help to restore the Church and build the future in the region. Please give generously to the collection on that weekend. Visit www.usccb.org (search “Church in Central and Eastern Europe”) to learn more.

Catholic Charities 2015 Goal ~ Find Good Within. Share God’s Goodness. Last year, through the generous support of donors throughout Western New York, Catholic Charities was able to positively impact the lives of children, families and seniors in our community with basic needs like food, clothing and shelter, to mental health counseling and educational services. Bishop Richard Malone has announced our goal of $10.9 million and patron saint of the 2015 Appeal. St. Francis of Assisi was a man of action whose simplicity of life extended to ideas and deeds. When you support the Appeal, you are “finding good within” and offering comfort and relief to people in need. Find out more at our newly redesigned website, http://www.ccwny.org or call 716-218-1400.

2015 Calendars ~ The new Blessed Trinity Calendars were distributed last weekend. There are extra copies in the ushers’ pew in the middle of church. Please feel free to take copies for family members, etc. Thanks again to Bud and Mickey Dick, Vandercher & Dick Funeral Home, for providing these beautiful calendars for our use.

BTC.Winter.Wonder.sm

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Free Tax Help ~ VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a program of the University at Buffalo’s Beta Alpha Psi Accounting and Finance students is offering FREE TAX HELP for those with annual incomes under $ 53,000 on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Black Rock School (OLBR), 16 Peter Street, behind Assumption Church. (VITA will stop accepting clients at 6:00 p.m.) Call OLBR at 873-7497 or visit www.OLBRSchool.com. For married couples filing jointly, both spouses must be present. For VITA you must bring the following:

  • All W-2 and 1099 forms;
  • Information about other incomes;
  • Information for all deductions/credits;
  • A copy of last year’s tax return;
  • Proof of bank account for direct deposit of refund (check or bank account/routing number);
  • Social Security cards for you AND your dependents;
  • Proof of identification for you and your spouse (State license or passport);
  • Total paid to daycare provider and provider’s tax ID number;
  • Birth dates for you, spouse and/or dependents on the return;
  • Proof of foreign status if applying for ITV;
  • Forms 1095-A, B, or C (Affordable Health Care Statements).

Respite for Women Caregivers ~ If you are a woman providing care for an adult and would like a few hours to restore yourself in a quiet setting, we invite you to join the Women’s Respite Program on March 7. The $25 fee includes lunch; scholarships are available. This will take place on the campus of Stella Niagara, 4421 Lower River Road, Stella Niagara, NY 14144. Meet others who are caregivers, learn stress-reduction techniques, and enjoy a good meal with good conversation. For information or to make a reservation, call (716) 893-0931.