Assembly of gift bags for Prison Project

Assembly of gift bags for Prison Project. Photo by Derek Gee, The Buffalo News.

December 4 – December 11, 2016

Weekly Activities

Tuesday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, December 7 beginning at 6:00 p.m. ~ Sodality Christmas Dinner at the Family Tree Restaurant

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

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

Friday, December 9 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ~ Prisoner Gift Project, First Phase of Assembly in Church
Friday, December 9 from  6:00 p.m. – completion ~ Prisoner Gift Project, Assembly and Packing in Church

Saturday, December 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

*In response to requests from our players, we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo.  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, December 4 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Santos Bueme (Requested by Angela Jost) and Rhoda Tisdale (Requested by Bob Heicklen)

Monday, December 5 ~ No Service

Tuesday, December 6 ~ St. Nicholas ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Wednesday, December 7 ~ St. Ambrose ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Thursday, December 8 ~ Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Mass at 6:00 p.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)

Friday, December 9 ~ St. John Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Saturday, December 10 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. ~ Catherine Maher (Estate)

Sunday, December 11 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Bob and Mary Kinmartin (Mary and Bob Kresse) and Bridget Blesnuk (Family)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Jack Curtin

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.   Readers: Maggie Gatson, Angela Jost;  Eucharistic Ministers: Alice Davis, Dan Korchowsky, Fran Cahill; Maggie Gatson (Loft)

News from our Parish Community

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Father Victor thanks ALL the parishioners who attended the November 30th “meet and greet.” His efforts to share his thoughts, get to know you better and begin a dialog with the congregation was a great success. Your presence spoke volumes in support our parish as a community. He thanks you for all the thoughtful comments and questions and looks forward to working together to strengthen Blessed Trinity’s mission.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is this Thursday, December 8. It is a Holy Day of Obligation and our Mass will be at 6pm.

Employment Opportunity at BT ~ Nick DelBello, our music director since 2010, is resigning to devote more time to the new addition to his family, Vincent Michael, and his teaching position in the Williamsville School District. His resignation is effective December 31, 2016. Father Ibhawa is currently accepting applications for the position. Click HERE to view requirements and information on how to apply.

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A Frozen Christmas Pie, the next concert in our Trinity Series, is this Sunday, December 4, at 3 PM. The Freudig Singers of WNY, under the direction of Roland E. Martin, will present a program featuring traditional and contemporary music for Advent and Christmas, plus the premier of a new piece – “Star Carol” by Sidney King – to enhance your celebration of this beautiful season. The Singers invite you and your friends to “come a’ wassailing” with them, take chances to win one of their signature pies, and enjoy a delicious post-concert pie reception in St. Charles Hall. Suggested Donation: $10.

The Ladies Sodality Christmas Dinner is this Wednesday, December 7 at 6:00 PM at the Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 N. Bailey Ave., Amherst. Reservations & entrée choices (pot roast, baked fish, or roast pork) were due Friday.  If you forgot, click HERE now and leave a message for Jessie Wells or Treasurer Amy Johnson (Subject: Reservation). The $25 price includes tax and gratuity. Checks payable to Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.

Prisoner Gift Project 2016 ~ Thank you! As of last Sunday we have 3,066 packets! With this weekend’s donations we will reach our goal. Forgot? Make a donation in an envelope marked “Peaceprints of WNY” and drop it in the collection basket. Bag decorators: Please return all bags (decorated or not). Help assemble the gifts here at Blessed Trinity on this Friday, December 9 in two shifts: Morning 10am-1pm – Unpacking, sorting, counting, prepping shipping boxes; or Evening  6pm to completion – Filling gift bags and packing the shipping boxes

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Gifts for our Shut-ins – Thank you to everyone who has contributed items to be delivered to our homebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities for Christmas. The gift bags will be ready next weekend, December 10/11, and Mickey Dick is looking for 9 more volunteers. Can you give an hour of your time between December 11 and Christmas to deliver a gift bag and visit with its recipient? If so, click HERE and leave a message for Mickey (Subject: Shut-ins).

Prisoner Gift Project 2016 – Cocoa Challenge 2016 ~ Thank you to everyone who has contributed already! We are still in need of donations of instant hot chocolate packets to reach 4,200 by next Sunday, Dec. 4. Monetary donations are welcomed. Bag decorators –  Please return all bags by Dec. 4 (box near the cocoa donations). You may leave a message for Amy Johnson (Subject: Prison Project) HERE.

Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal ~ A reminder to please be as generous as possible when this annual collection for women and men religious is taken during the December 10/11 weekend Masses. For your convenience you may also donate online to the collection in the Diocese of Buffalo at http://www.shareinthecare.org.

Detail of mural at 72 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo

Detail of mural at 72 Jewett Avenue, Buffalo

Our Landmark church building is featured on a mural created earlier this year by Danial Galas on a the building located at 72 Jewett Avenue at Halbert Street. The building was originally owned by the Culliton Ice Cream Co. Local historian and preservationist, Chuck LaChiusa, has shared some marvelous photos of the mural depicting Blessed Trinity and other historical sites in the neighborhood on his web site. Click HERE to view them.

Catholic University of America ~ Thank you for your generous contributions to last week’s special second collection. Your support enables Catholic University to provide an education based in the Catholic intellectual tradition to the next generation of leadership for our Church and nation. You can learn more about your impact and the University at collection.cua.edu.

Blessed Trinity extends Congratulations to Jonathan Sands who elected to pursue his college preparatory education at Canisius High School. Jonathan has achieved first honors during his first quarter of 12th grade. Keep up the good work!

A Message from Father Reger and Sister Barbara Horan ~ “We hope all are receiving our sentiments of gratitude and thanks after our October 30 Celebration. Some may have been missed or lost in the mail, but we meant to thank you all … We thank you again for the monetary gifts from the congregation and from individuals. You are too generous! We could not do justice to all the messages of congratulations and future happiness — and to the touching ways they were expressed. They brought tears to the eyes and were read and re-read ~ and they sustain us now … It is for these offered blessings and words of appreciation that we are especially grateful. Fr. Reger and Sr. Barbara

Mass Intentions ~ If you wish to have a Mass offered for a special intention, please call Barbara Sercu at the Rectory Office 716-833-0301. She will be available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30am-2:30pm. The Mass offering is $15.00.

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Just a sample of the gift bags decorated for prior Christmas Prison Project

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Finding Hope in Hard Times,  presented by Charles Gardner on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9:30-11am at the St. Joseph Center for Spirituality, 4975 Strickler Rd, Clarence. Based on the writing of Henri Nouwen, Turn My Mourning Into Dancing, he encourages us to let go, make ourselves vulnerable and to wait patiently for God’s hope often while in a state of despair. Not always easy. For reservations, call 759-6893 x175.

Christmas with Harmonia ~ Be blessed on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 4-5:30pm as the Harmonia Chamber Singers present “O Holy Night: Christmas with Harmonia” at St. Leo the Great Church, 885 Sweet Home Rd, Amherst. Free will offering or donations gratefully accepted. CDs will be available. Celebrate the sacredness of the season.

Give a child a safe home. Catholic Charities works closely with birth families to provide a safe place for children, especially sibling groups, to stay and receive care when they cannot receive it at their own home. While often temporary, some children must be relocated permanently. Our Foster Care program allows for children to receive nurturing care in these moments of their lives from other loving families. Interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent? Our next informational meeting will be held at 525 Washington St, Buffalo on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 10-11:30am and 5-7:30pm; attend either one. To register or learn more, call 716-856-4494 x360 or email elizabeth [dot] murphy [at] ccwny [dot] org. For  frequent updates from Catholic Charities of Buffalo follow us on Twitter @ccbuffalo and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo. To view our full list of services, find us online at http://www.ccwny.org.

Canisius High School presents a Service of Lessons and Carols on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7pm at Assumption Church, 435 Amherst St, Buffalo. All are welcome to attend this free presentation of Christmas carols and readings. The school’s new audio CD, “Christmas at Canisius,” will be available for purchase. For more information call the school at 716-882-0466.

Celebrate Christmas ~ Cardinal O’Hara High School, 39 O’Hara Rd, Tonawanda, will continue one of its longest running traditions with a Greccio re-enactment and Christmas concert starting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Dec. 14. The O’Hara freshman class will re-enact St. Francis of Assisi’s pageant which depicts the birth of Jesus. O’Hara’s Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Chorus and Song Corps will also perform their annual concert of holiday favorites in the performing arts center immediately following the Greccio re-enactment. The Music Department will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4-6pm in the student dining room. Eat in or take-out is available. Dinner tickets may be purchased by calling O’Hara at 716-695-2600.

Christmas Nativity Display ~ Fr. Roy Herberger invites you to experience a display of 580 nativity sets from 58 countries. These international crèches will be shown at Ss Columba-Brigid Church at 75 Hickory & Eagle St (one block south of Clinton). The building is handicapped accessible. Hours are from 1-4pm every Saturday and Sunday in December – except the weekend of Dec 24/25 – and  until the weekend of January 14/15. There is NO charge and there is a special section for children. If anyone would like to view the display during the week with a large group (e.g. school children, senior groups, church organizations, etc.), please call Fr. Roy at 716-852-2076.