Symbol of the Trinity in the church’s Great Dome.
Photographic rendering by Todd Treat.
This painting represents God the Father,
clothed in a royal purple robe, with a tiara on his head.
His hands are outstretched in the form of a cross.
Christ Jesus is pictured as the sacrificial Lamb.
He is holding the banner of victory over death, a cross in red.
Coming forth from the bosom of the Father in the form of a dove
is the Holy Spirit who hovers over the Lamb of God.
This way of depicting the Trinity became popular
in Western Christianity, beginning in the Early Renaissance.
God’s People of the Covenant with Moses were invited
to experience God’s mercy at the propitiatory
of the Ark of the Covenant
(see Book of Leviticus 16:2, 11-19 where we read
how Aaron atones for the sins of the Israelites
by sprinkling blood on the Ark and God offers forgiveness).
Now the cross of Christ is the propitiatory,
God’s “mercy seat” or “throne of grace”
(see the Letter to the Hebrews 4:16).
On the cross God incarnate in Jesus pours forth his life for us
and we are granted mercy by the divine Trinity.
Rev. Peter Drilling – Rector, St. Joseph Cathedral
May 22 – May 29, 2016
Weekly Activities
Sunday, May 22 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in the loft
Sunday, May 22 from 12 Noon – 2:00 p.m. ~ Sacred Sites Open House – Docent-guided church tours
Thursday, May 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, May 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, May 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, May 28 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, May 29 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in the loft
*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.
Depiction of the Blessed Trinity in our church’s baldachino.
Photo credit: Gary Kelley
Mass Intentions
Sunday, May 22 ~ Feast of the Most Holy Trinity ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Dorothy West (Requested by Bud and Mickey Dick) and Jeanne Heubusch (Requested by Don and Bonnie Williams)
Monday, May 23 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 24 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Wednesday, May 25 ~ Ss. Bede, Gregory VII, Mary Magdalene de Pazzi~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Thursday, May 26 ~ St. Philip Neri ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Friday, May 27 ~ St. Augustine of Canterbury ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Saturday, May 28 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – John J. Horan, Jr. (Family)
Sunday, May 29 ~ Corpus Christi – Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Bob Kinmartin (Madonna Hartzell)
Readings for the Week of May 22
Sunday: Prv 8:22-31; Ps 8:4-9; Rom 5:1-5; Jn 16:12-15
Monday: 1 Pt 1:3-9; Ps 111:1-2, 5-6, 9-10; Mk 10:17-27
Tuesday: 1 Pt 1:10-16; Ps 98:1-4; Mk 10:28-31
Wednesday: 1 Pt 1:18-25; Ps 79:8-9, 11, 13; Mk 10:32-45
Thursday: 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12; Ps 100:2-5; Mk 10:46-52
Friday: 1 Pt 4:7-13; Ps 149:1-6, 9; Mk 11:11-26
Saturday: Jude 17, 20b-25; Ps 63:2-6; Mk 11:27-33
Sunday, May 29: Gn 14:18-20; Ps 110:1-4; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Lk 9:11-17
News from our Parish Community
Docent Eleanor Ash describes Sanctuary art and architecture to Sacred Sites Open House visitors.
You’re Invited to Our Open House This Weekend ~ On May 21-22, 2016, Blessed Trinity will participate in the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sixth Annual Sacred Sites Open House weekend. We will join dozens of houses of worship all over the state showcasing their landmark buildings. Members of our docent team will be on hand Saturday, May 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and Sunday, May 22 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM to explain the unique features that make Blessed Trinity Church the purest replication of 12th century Lombard-Romanesque architecture in the United States. It’s an opportunity to highlight our Landmark church as a perfect example of art preserved by faith and faith preserved in art. Tell your friends, neighbors and anyone who may never have visited BT about it. All are welcome!!
Sodality Dinner ~ On Wednesday evening, June 8, members of the Ladies Sodality will meet at Sean Patrick’s Restaurant, 3480 Millersport Hgwy. in Getzville for their annual dinner. There will be 3 dinner entrees priced at $29: broiled haddock (with Italian breadcrumbs or Cajun style) including soup or salad & choice of sides; roast turkey (with homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy); or sautéed shrimp (with garlic, basil, tomato pesto & a hint of chipotle) served over fettuccini pasta. A fourth entrée choice features charbroiled boneless chicken & ½ rack of BBQ baby back ribs with coleslaw & one side for $31. These prices include tax and gratuity. All women of the parish are invited to attend and friends are welcome. There will be a cash bar beginning at 6 PM with dinner served at 6:30 PM. Please contact Mickey Dick or Amy Johnson with your reservations by Wednesday, June 1. Payment is due by Sunday, June 5. Checks should be made payable to “Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.”
Please welcome Barbara Sercu, who began working as our part-time parish secretary/receptionist on April 26. A Kenmore resident, Barb is a high-energy retiree who had two previous medically-related careers at ECMC and Kenmore Mercy. She’s had fun mastering the idiosyncrasies of our scanner-copier as she prepares the bulletin, and is now working on several areas of record keeping that need serious attention. With Barbara’s arrival, we have instituted new rectory office hours: Tuesday-Thursday from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM. If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by to introduce yourself and welcome the newest member of our parish family.
Collection for the Church in Latin America ~ On May 28 and 29, we will take up the Collection for the Church in Latin America. In Peru, the 14 villages of Chazuta, in Moyobamba, are all located away from the city center, with the most remote only accessible by boat. The faithful in these communities do not have access to catechectical formation, and members often feel separated from the rest of the universal Church. Through a grant from the Collection for the Church in Latin America, the religious congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus was able to provide faith formation, spiritual retreats, and workshops to nearly 250 people. Upon completion, participants were better equipped to help others deepen their faith and answer questions. The program also renewed their sense of commitment to their parishes and created stronger bonds within their own families. Through this program, members of the Chazuta villages felt the love and support of the universal Church. Please support programs like these and give generously in next week’s collection. For more information, please visit www.usccb.org/latin-america.
Congratulations, Elsieta! ~ Our parish would like to congratulate Elsieta Chapman on the completion of four years of study with the Catholic Biblical Studies Program. This accomplishment will be recognized with the awarding of a certificate at a Closing Mass of Thanksgiving on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 7:00 PM at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Lancaster. The certificate received at this celebration of faith represents a dedication to the study of Scripture and openness to how the Bible challenges us in our daily lives.
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.
Greeter Vera Andrew and Docent Judy Casassa (right) welcome visitors to Sacred Sites Open House.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
100th Anniversary of Fatima Tour for Peace ~ In honor of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima, the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of our Lady of Fatima is touring the United States and is coming to the Diocese of Buffalo. Please join us June 1-2 at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church in Hamburg, June 3 at St. John Gualbert Church in Cheektowaga, or June 4-5 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Elba. Go to www.FatimaTourForPeace.com/the-tour for more information and scroll down to desired date. Come hear the story of Fatima and experience the presence and graces of Our Lady.
Respite Weekend for Grandmothers raising their grandchildren is scheduled from 3 PM on Friday, June 10 through 3 PM Sunday, June 12. Applications are available at our church. Questions may be directed to Sr. Maureen Harris at 716-882-3129.