St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast day we celebrate on November 17, is depicted in Joseph Mazur’s procession of saints in the church dome. The daughter of the King of Hungary, she wears a crown and appears as the second standing figure from the right. Photo credit: Gary Kelley
November 12 – November 19, 2017
Weekly Activities
Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, November 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS – SAT. ONLY – Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, November 18 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, November 19 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall hosted by the Ladies Sodality
*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, November 12 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Ed and Claudia Post (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse)
Monday, November 13 ~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini ~ No Service
Tuesday, November 14 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 15 ~ St. Albert the Great ~Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 16 ~ St. Margaret of Scotland; St. Gertrude ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Friday, November 17 ~ St. Elizabeth of Hungary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Saturday, November 18 ~ Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss. Peter & Paul ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Sunday, November 19 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Tom Wisniewski (Bob and Mary Kresse)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Bob Heicklen, Miles James; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Bernice Bradley, Sharon Dunnigan, Mary Kresse; Pat Hartinger (Choir)
We welcome your donation of cocoa for Sr. Karen Klimczak’s Christmas Prison Project.
News from our Parish Community
Stewardship calls us to realize that each of us is called to give as God has given to us. We no longer base our giving on what others are giving. We no longer excuse ourselves from giving because we do not see others giving. Rather we give in proportion to all that God has given to us.
The Parish Council meets this Wednesday November 15, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. Please come prepared to finalize our Advent Program.
Special Collections ~ The second collection on November 18/19 benefits the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Anointing of the Sick and Well-Aging will take place in church on Sunday, November 18, immediately following Mass.
Our November coffee hour is Sunday, November 18, in St. Charles Hall, hosted by the Ladies Sodality.
Father Victor sends his warm regards to all after being away for one month. He is enjoying time with his family in their village of origin and will return the week before Christmas.
Adjusting for the Holiday ~ Please note that the parish bulletin for November 26 will be prepared early due to Thanksgiving. Submissions must be received in the parish office by Tuesday, November 21.
The Ladies Sodality’s annual Christmas collection for parish homebound continues though December 3.
Collection for Parish Homebound – For the next 3 weeks, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting items for their annual Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our homebound parishioners (5 women) and those in senior care facilities (1 man; 1 woman). If you would like to contribute, please bring your new, unwrapped items to church and leave them in the designated basket at the far left end of the communion rail. You may also contribute cash instead of gifts, but please do so before Thanksgiving so that our volunteers have time to shop. Sunday, December 3, is our target date for collecting all donated items; presents and plants will be ready for delivery on the weekend of Dec. 9/10. Need ideas? You will find a slip with suggestions in the basket at the left end of the communion rail. To share information about someone you think should be included, please contact Vera Andrew (704-2944) or Mickey Dick (832-2540). Please let Mickey know if you are willing to deliver one of the gift bags between December 9 and 23.
Our Ever-Changing World ~ This Sunday’s meditation is a traditional Irish tune called Star of the County Down with a powerful text based on Luke 1:46-58. This psalm-like setting of Mary’s “Magnificat” includes the following refrain: “My heart shall sing of the day You bring. Let the fires of Your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn!” Please continue to submit your ideas for how we can make our liturgical experience more meaningful through song to Elizabeth or any member of the Blessed Trinity Choir. The Mass setting we are using this month is the Santa Clara Mass. It is not in the Breaking Bread Hymnal, but it should be in your heart, because you have heard it before. We will continue to use the Glory to God from the Mass of Creation, which is #873 in Breaking Bread. Advent is coming! Please consider joining the choir as an “extra” for Christmas. Praise in Song continues on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in St. Charles Hall.
Prisoner Gift Project…Cocoa Challenge 2017. Please remember to shop for instant hot chocolate packets. If shopping is inconvenient, consider a donation in an envelope marked “Prisoner Gifts,” which can be dropped in the collection basket. No special talent is needed to help decorate the gift bags, just a desire to personalize the gift. Make it a family project. Bags available at Sunday Mass or by caling Amy Johnson (836-4694).
Save the Date ~ The Ladies Sodality Christmas Dinner Party is Wednesday, December 6, at 6:00pm at the Family Tree Restaurant (4346 N. Bailey Avenue, Amherst).
Wine Tasting Kudos. Once again we have reason to celebrate a successful wine tasting. There are so many people to thank, but we will start with Bill Warren from Aurora Liquor who contributed his time and knowledge of vine and wine, and his wife, Gwen, who assisted with selections and pours. We are also indebted to the following businesses that donated food or merchandise for our fundraiser: Bengert Greenhouses, Black & Blue Steak and Crab, Cugino’s Restaurant, Curtiss Hotel, Darwin Martin House, Dash’s Markets, Elbers Landscape Service, Just Pizza, Lone Star Fajita Grill, Mason’s Grille 52, Paula’s Donuts, Raymondo’s Pizzeria, Russell’s Steaks Chops and More, Salvatore’s Hospitality, Share Kitchen & Bar Room, Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Trader Joe’s, Watson’s Chocolates (Depew), Wegman’s Markets, and WOOT [Wine] Cellars. Please remember to support them in return by utilizing their services or purchasing their products. Parishioners and friends who contributed time, raffle prizes, and delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts are too numerous to list, but we love you all and thank you for your role in hosting such a memorable evening.
Welcome to Barbara Strusienski, who has joined our part-time administrative team as a bookkeeper, while continuing to provide the same services for the CCCB parishes of St. Martin de Porres and St. Lawrence. We are grateful for her expertise and hope that this will be long and successful relationship for both Barb and our parish.
While Father Victor is away (through December 17), Rev. Peter Drilling, former rector of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and Rev. Martin Eneh will celebrate Masses and Sacraments each Thursday through Sunday at the times indicated below. Please remember that there is a temporary change in daily services during this time. There will be no service on Mondays. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Jack Curtin will offer a Communion Service at 11:00 am. There will be Mass at 11:00 a.m. each Thursday and Friday. There is NO CHANGE in the weekend Mass times.
We pray for all who are ill and have requested our prayers, especially parishioners Barbara Draper, Richard Plunkett, and Anthony and Mary Hartmann. Please inform the parish of those who are sick by calling the rectory office so that they can be added to our prayer list and schedule for home visits, as needed.
Helping Hands Food Pantry ~ The Helping Hands Food Pantry not operates on Saturdays only from 10am to 2pm. Its director, Luis Clay, is also seeking additional volunteers. Please contact the church office at 716-833-0301 if you or someone you know might be interested in this opportunity.
We are in need of additional lectors and Eucharistic ministers. We will be including young readers in this helping ministry. Those who are interested, please contact the office at 716-833-0301.
Openings for Mass Intentions ~ Thank you to all who have recently placed Mass intentions. Please contact the church office (716-833-0301) with your requests. Office hours are: 10:30am-2:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday. The Mass Stipend is $15.
Important Deadlines to Remember ~ As the year ends and we think ahead to 2018, please remember to contact our secretary, Pat Pendleton, with dates (even tentative ones) that should appear on the parish calendar. Our bulletin is printed on Thursdays, so please remember to submit your announcements to no later than Noon on the Wednesday prior to the weekend you wish it to appear. Announcements to be read at weekend Masses are due on Thursday. You may contact Pat at blessedtrinitychurch@gmail or 716-833-0301 any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm.
Parish Record Keeping ~ Several parishioners have inquired about the possibility of group email notification of time-sensitive information; e.g., a mid-week funeral service. If you would be interested in receiving such messages, please make sure that the church office has your email address. If you need to update your contact information or would like to register as a parishioner, please call the church office (716-833-0301) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday during office hours: 10:30am-2:30pm, email your contact information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com, or use the CONTACT feature of this web site.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
November 15 Women’s Health Program ~ Catholic Health presents a free dinner program, “Genetic Testing and Women’s Cancers: Are You at Risk?”on Wednesday, November 15, from 5:30-7:30pm at the Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Buffalo. Registration begins at 5pm; reservations are required by calling 716-447-6205. Women’s health experts Stacey Akers, MD, and Karen Gutierrez, NP, provide an in-depth look at the various gynecologic cancers and discuss the link between endometriosis, ovarian and breast cancer. They’ll present the latest information on prevention, detection, and treatment options, and whether genetic testing is right for you.
Grief and the Holidays programs are scheduled for Tuesday, November 14 (6-7pm) and Thursday, December 14 (2-3pm) at the Hospice Buffalo Education Center (225 Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga). Registration required. Email mgiesler [at] palliativecare [dot] org or call 716-836-6460.
Concert for The Angels…An Evening of RemembranceCall 716-836-6460with Cory James Gallagher, is Sunday, November 12, 5pm at SS. Columba-Brigid Church in Buffalo (75 Hickory) and Saturday, November 18, 7pm at St. Mary of the Lake in Hamburg (4737 Lakeshore). Donations will help cover the cost of medical treatment for his father, Daniel Gallagher.
Advent is quickly approaching! Are you looking for ways to enhance your family’s Advent journey? The Office of Family Life Ministries is offering newly revised free packets of prayers, activities, and ideas to help engage your family in fun, spiritual ways. We now have a packet for children ages 3-8 and one for children ages 9-14, to try to reach families at all levels. To order, please contact the office of Family Life Ministries at 847-2210 or email familylife [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org.
Western New York Caregiver Partnership offers support to caregivers and seeks volunteers. Visit wnyacp.org or call 800-342-9871 to learn more.