The "Assumption of Mary into Heaven," painting by Joseph Mazur on left side in church's transept. Photo credit: Steve Mangione

The “Assumption of Mary into Heaven,” painting by Joseph Mazur on left side in church’s transept.
Photo credit: Steve Mangione

August 14 – August 21, 2016

Weekly Activities

Thursday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, August 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, August 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, August 20 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

*Please remember that we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo in response to requests from our players. As of  October 15, 2015, we no longer admit children under 8 years of age.

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, August 14 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Mary Kinmartin (Requested by The Gallisdorfers) and Gregory DeLong (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick)
Baptism of Elise Christine Chessher

Monday, August 15 ~ Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m.  – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Tuesday, August 16  ~ St. Stephen ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Wednesday, August 17 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Thursday, August 18 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Friday, August 19 ~ St. John Eudes ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Saturday, August 20 ~ St. Bernard, Abbot ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Ann Horan O’Connor (Family)

Sunday, August 21 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Bob Kinmartin (Wife, Mary) and Kristi Duffy and Elizabeth Duffy (Duffy Family)

Readings for the Week of August 14

Sunday: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Ps 40:2-4, 18; Heb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53
Monday: Vigil: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Ps 132:6-7, 9-10, 13- 14; 1 Cor 15:54b-57; Lk 11:27-28
Day: Rv 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10-12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56
Tuesday: Ez 28:1-10; Dt 32:26-28, 30, 35-36; Mt 19:23-30
Wednesday: Ez 34:1-11; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 20:1-16
Thursday: Ez 36:23-28; Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; Mt 22:1-14
Friday: Ez 37:1-14; Ps 107:2-9; Mt 22:34-40
Saturday: Ez 43:1-7a; Ps 85:9-14; Mt 23:1-12
Sunday, August 21: Is 66:18-21; Ps 117:1-2; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13: 22-30

Altar of the Blessed Virgin in the church's Lady Chapel Photo credit: Ron Storfer

Altar of the Blessed Virgin in the church’s Lady Chapel
Photo credit: Ron Storfer

News from our Parish Community

The Assumption of Our Lady Mary Into Heaven ~ Because this year the Feast of the Assumption falls on a Monday, it is not celebrated as a Holy Day of Obligation. However, we will be celebrating a Mass on Monday, August 15, at 11:00 a.m. in the Daily Mass (Sacristy Chapel). Please join us in honoring Mary on this day.  

The dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was proclaimed in 1950, but this observance has been celebrated on this day from the middle of the fifth century. On this solemnity, we profess our belief that Mary has gone before us, body and soul, into heaven. For her, the resurrection of the dead has taken place already. And thus the Assumption is technically an “Easter feast.” God invites us to eternal life, to enjoy the glorious new creation of his Son in body, soul, and spirit. Our final hope is the resurrection of our own bodies at the end of time to exist forever in this new order of creation. The Solemnity of the Assumption is our great celebration of this final hope. Mary is a pioneer for us in faith. She was the first among us to accept Jesus Christ into her life. In her bodily assumption, she is also the first fully to enjoy eternal life at the side of her risen son in the glory of heaven. Where she has gone, we hope to follow. We rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s promise in her, as we turn to her to guide us to the side of her risen son who reigns in heaven.

Full-time Position Available ~ We are still hoping to bring on a new custodian before Jerry Gallisdorfer leaves in September so that he can show the new person around and train him/her in the basic tasks of the job. If you know of someone qualified for the job, please have him/her submit a resume to the rectory as soon as possible.
The Custodian is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of several buildings and assisting with a variety of semi-skilled manual work in the maintenance, repair and energy management of the church and other parish buildings. Requires a high school education, completed police background check, basic knowledge of plumbing and electrical work, and ability to maintain the buildings and grounds of the parish. This is a full-time position, with salary commensurate with education and experience.
For detailed questions about the job, contact Bud Dick (832-2540). More information about the position is available at http://www.buffalodiocese.org/job-opportunities. Look under under “Parishes/Other.”

Who Doesn’t Like a Picnic! ~ On Tuesday, August 2nd, we proved that we all do. But even something as “relaxed” as a picnic requires a lot of planning and hard work, and Blessed Trinity was up to the task. And so we send heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in making National Night Out and the CCCB’s “Summer in the City” such an enjoyable evening. We won’t name names, but you know who you are: the folks who arranged for donations; gathered the grill and tents and shopped for essentials; made sure there was ample ice to keep all the drinks cold; hauled tables and chairs; set up games and erected canopies; prepared side dishes and desserts; provided entertainment for the children; endured the fire and smoke to grill our hot dogs and hamburgers; made numerous trips up and down stairs with food and utensils – and then did it all in reverse at the end of the night as we put everything back in its place. Whew! In between, we hope you all enjoyed meeting and dining with neighbors and dancing to the music of J.J. Williams. Thanks again to a wonderful team of BT volunteers. Click HERE for a photo gallery from our National Night Out celebration.

Weekly Highlight from Faithful Citizenship: A message from Sister Maureen Harris ~ How does the Church help the Catholic Faithful to speak about political and social Questions? Part 1 of A Well-Formed Conscience is so important in regard to forming moral consciences that I feel I am not doing justice to it and encourage you to read the document for yourself. (Available at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithfulcitizenship/upload). The section on “Making Moral Choices” contains articles #31 – 39.

  • #31 – This exercise of conscience begins with outright opposition to laws and other polices that violate human life or weaken its protection.
  • #36 – “When all candidates hold a position that promotes an intrinsically evil act, the conscientious voter faces a dilemma. The voter may decide to take the extraordinary step of not voting for any candidate or, after careful deliberation, may decide to vote for the candidate deemed less likely to advance such a morally flawed position and more likely to pursue other authentic human goods.”
  • #38 has a beautiful quote from Pope Benedict XVI, in his reflection on the Eucharist. It is “The sacrament of charity,” challenged all of us to adopt what he calls “a Eucharistic form of life.” This means the redeeming love we encounter in the Eucharist should shape our thoughts, our words, and our decisions, including those that pertain to the social order.
    From “A Call to Political Responsibility” from the Catholic Bishops of the United States – “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”

Prayer Service for Mercy ~ Join women and men Religious of the Diocese of Buffalo during this Year of Mercy for a Prayer Service for Mercy. The Buffalo Leadership Conference of Women Religious is inviting the public to join us in a prayer for Mercy. Host sites include: September 9 at 7 pm, St. Mary Center, 241 Lafayette Ave, Buffalo; September 11 at 2 pm, Immaculate Conception Convent, 5229 South Park Ave, Hamburg; Sacred Heart Center, 22 Meadowbrook Pkwy, Cheektowaga; St. Mary of the Angels Convent, 210 Reist St, Williamsville.

Are You Parishioners in your 20s and 30s Looking to Make a Meaningful Difference in Our Community? Meet other young people, have fun, and put your faith into practice? Then we have the perfect event for you – “Give Back!” Give Back is a day of community service open to young adults ages 18-39. On September 10 volunteers will spend the morning serving at various non-profits around Buffalo to help positively impact our community. Afterwards, there will be a celebration at Canalside with a free food truck lunch, music and more. Volunteers must register in advance so sign up at www.HaveFaithBuffalo.com today!

Rectory office hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM. Please call our secretary, Barbara Sercu, at 716-833-0301 if you have information for the bulletin, changes to your phone number or mailing address, or would like to register as a parishioner.

Our Helping Hands Food Pantry has extended its hours and now operates on both Friday and Saturday mornings from 9 AM – 12 Noon. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Luis Clay at 716-812-3461.

We welcomed parishioners and friends from Our Mother of Good Counsel in Blasdell, NY for a guided tour of the church on July 19, 2016.

We welcomed parishioners and friends from Our Mother of Good Counsel
in Blasdell, NY for a guided tour of the church on July 19, 2016.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Burgers, Brews & Blues ~ The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities will host their inaugural “Burgers, Brews & Blues” on Tuesday, August 16 from 5-9:30 PM at St. Mary of the Angels, 201 Reist Street, Williamsville. A performance by Janice Mitchell and the Jim Beishline Trio will highlight the event. The evening will include a social hour, dinner and live music. For additional information, call 716-632-2155 x687 or email cmunschauer [at] sosf [dot] org.

Free Dinner Program on Relieving Chronic Shoulder Pain ~ Catholic Health is sponsoring a free dinner program, “Why Live with Chronic Shoulder Pain?” on Tuesday, August 16 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Community Room at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, 2950 Elmwood Ave. Kenmore. Joint local shoulder and joint experts, Ryan Wilkins, MD and Joe Lorenzetti, DPT as they answer your questions on the causes of shoulder pain, home remedies, when it’s time to see a doctor, and surgical and non-surgical options. Space is limited. Reservations are required by calling Catholic Health’s HealthConnection at 44-6205 or by registering online at www.chsbuffalo.org/events.

Infant of Prague Lawn Fete, 921 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga, will be having their lawn fete on August 26-27 – rides and games, carnival food, games of chance, a beer tent, entertainment, a basket extravaganza and much more. On Friday the rides, midway and beer garden open at 5 pm; basket raffle extravaganza from 5-10 pm; “Party of Nine” in the beer garden from 7-11:30 pm. On Saturday the rides and midway open at 12 noon; basket raffle extravaganza from 12-10 pm; “Kids Zone” featuring Party Animals Petting Zoo, face painting and games from 1-6 pm; Krolick’s BBQ dinner from 4-6 pm (or sold out): “Hit ‘N Run” in the beer garden from 7-11:30 pm.

Artisan Fair & Farmers’ Market ~ Father Baker Manor, 6400 Powers Road, Orchard Park, will be sponsoring its Second Annual Artisan Fair & Farmer’s Market on Saturday, August 27, from 10 am – 4 pm. The event is open to the public and will be held rain or shine. The community is invited to enjoy local artisans, crafters, and market vendors. There will also be a Lucky Draw Raffle for a number of prizes. All proceeds to support special projects at Father Baker Manor, a Catholic Health Skilled Nursing Facility. For more information visit www.chsbuffalo.org/FBMfair or contact Jill Hirczak at jhirczak [at] chsbuffalo [dot] org or by calling 716-209-0744.

Summer Celebration Features Big Band Dance Under the Stars! Sunday, August 28 from 7-9 PM, St. Joseph University Church will host an outdoor Big Band Concert and Dance featuring the Jim Tudini Band with Bobby Militello. Join us for a great summer evening of music and dance under the stars! The Jim Tudini Band is an 11 piece contemporary big band perfect for dancing. Tudini has played with such notables as the Tommy Dorsey Band, Doc Severinson and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The band specializes in traditional big band music as well as songs from the 70s through the 90s. Donation for the dance is $10 per person at the door. Beverages and light snacks will be available for purchase. For information contact 833-0298.

September Concert ~ The Evangelization Committee at St. Martin de Porres (“SMDP”) is sponsoring The George Scott Big Band in concert at the church on Saturday, September 10 from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are available for $10.  Tickets purchased before August 22 will be eligible for a $50 cash drawing! Please call the SMDP office at 883-PRAY for further information.

Uptown Fresh ~ A Healthy Lifestyle Market featuring fresh fruits and vegetables is now taking place every Saturday from 10 AM – 2 PM at the corner of Bailey and Dartmouth in Buffalo. It began operation on June 25 and will continue every Saturday (except Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3) through September 24.

“Griefshare” Support Group to meet at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church ~ If you’ve experienced the death of a loved one, or know someone who has, please consider joining us on September 21 at 6:30 PM in our Ministry Center, 129 Laverack Avenue, Lancaster, NY. A different DVD will be shown on two Wednesdays of each month on how to cope with grief and loss. Coffee and an informal discussion will follow. Call Sister Joyce to register at 716-683-6522 x103.