November 26 – December 3, 2017
Weekly Activities
Tuesday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, November 30 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, December 2 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS – SAT. ONLY – Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, December 2 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, December 3 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Liturgy Committee Meeting
Sunday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m. ~ Freudig Singers Christmas Pie Concert in church; dessert reception in St. Charles Hall
*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 26 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Geraldine Stroh (Requested by Richard R. Stroh) and Susanne Dulski (Requested by Colleen Schroeder and Sister Ann Helene Koenig)
Monday, November 27 ~ No Service
Tuesday, November 28 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 29 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 30 ~ St. Andrew, Apostle ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Bernadette Dorsheimer (Family)
Friday, December 1 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Saturday, December 22 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Vincent, Frances and Agnes Manion (Estate)
Sunday, December 3 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Mary C. Nelson (Family) and Frank and Delores Downing (Bob and Mary Kresse)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: John Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Bob Heicklen, Miles James; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Mary Kresse, Maggie Gatson, Pat Hartinger; Kathleen Marien (Choir)
News from our Parish Community
Stewardship is living a life of gratitude… taking the time every day to recognize the gifts that God has given and to be grateful for them.
Bulletin Distribution ~ In response to concerns raised about our present system of bulletin distribution, we will be trying a more “hands on” approach going forward. Beginning Sunday, December 3, ushers will stand near the 3 doors at the end of Mass and hand the bulletin to you as you leave church. If you would like to assist them in their ministry, please talk to Ed Marien or Lawler Brown.
The Liturgy Committee will meet on Sunday, December 3, after 10am Mass.
December 3 Concert ~ Continuing a Christmas Pie Concert tradition, the Freudig Singers of Western New York will usher in the holiday season at Blessed Trinity with a glorious array of choral pieces selected by music director Roland E. Martin. Featured will be works by Morten Lauridsen, Hector Berlioz, John Rutter, and new compositions by Martin himself. “Love Came Down at Christmas” by Chris Artley, winner of Freudig’s biennial choral composition competition, will receive its North American premiere. Seasonal favorites will include “Sleigh Ride,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a Grinch medley, and much more. As always, “Christmas Pie” features a raffle of signature pies baked by chorus members, and a post-concert reception where audience members are treated to beverages and – you guessed it – a delicious serving of Christmas pie. A free-will offering will be taken ($15 suggested). For further information, visit www.freudigsingersofwny.org.
“Prepare the way of the Lord…” Advent, which begins on Sunday, December 3, is a time to prepare our hearts and homes to celebrate the birth of Jesus, a time when God became man and walked with us in our pain, our sorrows and our joys. This year our parish council will be providing each parishioner with an advent calendar to help prepare your own way for the Lord. When you receive it in the mail, take some time to fill in the blank days with actions, readings, or activities that are meaningful to you and bring you closer to the Christ Child as we prepare to celebrate His birthday. Additional copies of the calendar will be available in church.
Lectors ~ Please pick up your workbooks for the 2018 Litugical year from the Sacristy after Mass.
We offer prayerful thanks to Joe Van Volkenberg, members of the Canisius High School Alumni and their family members who gave of their time and energies to clean our church for Advent and Christmas. The group of eleven arrived before 9am on Saturday, November 18, and got right to work washing the pews and floor and dusting a few nooks and crannies that were gathering webs. We are also grateful to parishioners Judy Casassa, Bud and Mickey Dick, Dan Korchowsky and Sister Liz Savage who worked along with them.
Soon and Very Soon ~ Like anticipatory children at Christmas, we are reminded of our eternal life with Jesus Christ, our King of the Universe. The last weekend of the liturgical year is one of the best for music, and selecting hymns with sufficient pomp and circumstance to celebrate was difficult. May our music continue to praise our Lord and King throughout the upcoming advent season. 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 here! Please consider joining the choir as an “extra” for Christmas. Praise in Song continues on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in St. Charles Hall.
Gifts for Homebound Parishioners –The donation deadline for the Sodality’s Christmas project is next weekend, December 2/3. The early close of the drive is necessary so that the gift bags can be assembled and waiting in church on December 9/10 for delivery to our homebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities. Please leave your new, unwrapped items in the designated basket at the far left end of the communion rail. You will also find a slip with gift suggestions in this basket. Monetary contributions are also welcome, with checks payable to “Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.” If you are willing to deliver one of these gifts and spend a few minutes visiting with a parishioner, please call Mickey Dick at 832-2540. Three of 4 suburban addresses are covered; the 9 remaining are all in close proximity to church.
Prison Project Update: Congratulations and Thank You! We met our goal of 4,200 packets of cocoa! Many wonderful people brought in boxes of hot chocolate or donated money so we could buy them in bulk. There will be lots of warm tummies in Albion and Wende at Christmas! Next Steps: During the week of December 4, other food and goodies collected by other churches and organizations will be delivered here for the Big Event: Packing Day! On Friday, December 8, we will pack all the gifts into the bags decorated by schoolchildren and community groups and box them for delivery. Packing will occur in two shifts: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM until ? (the job is finished). We need lots of people with good muscles and a caring heart to help. If you can come for a few hours for either shift, please do. It’s a congenial gathering and a rewarding experience. Call Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694 with your questions. We need your help!!
Sodality Christmas Dinner ~ The Ladies Sodality would like the women of the parish to join us for our annual Christmas dinner on Wednesday, December 6 at 6pm. It will be held at the Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 Bailey near Longmeadow in Amherst. Menu choices include: pot roast, chicken souvlaki, sweet and sour salmon, or a fish fry. Salad, baked potato, pita bread, and rice pudding as well as your choice of coffee, tea or soft drink are also included. The price for the dinner is $25.00, which includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, please contact Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694 by November 29. You can make your check payable to the Ladies Sodality. We thank you in advance for your support.
MLK Day of Organizing is January 15, 2018 at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church (75 Hickory Street in Buffalo). It will be a day of learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and learning ways to organize a community action. Churches in the northern vicariate are welcomed to help in this planning. For more information ask Fr. Jud Weiksnar at 716-852-3331.
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 Fran Cahill, 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
Christmas Nativity Sets on display at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church (75 Hickory & Eagle Streets – one block south of Clinton Street). Father Roy Herberger invites you to experience a display of 580 nativity sets from 58 countries (1-4pm every Saturday and Sunday from the weekend of November 25-26 until the weekend of January 6 & 7 (except December 23-24). There is no charge and there is a special section for children. Please call Father Roy at 716-852-2076 for additional information.
Rekindle the Fire Within on Thursday November 30 at 7pm at St. Christopher Parish (266 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Tonawanda). This Praise and Worship evening will be an evening spent in adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, during which we will be singing songs of praise led by our music ministry and have moments of prayer and reflection interspersed throughout. Please give yourself a gift and attend this new and exciting time with Jesus! Parents bring your children! Children bring your parents and grandparents! Teens bring your friends! You won’t be disappointed because Jesus never disappoints those who praise Him!
Buffalo Choral Art Society, a 115-voice community chorus, presents “Ringing in the Season,” a group of Christmas concerts featuring guest artists, The Royalton Ringers: Handbell Quartet. Concerts will be held on Sunday, December 3 at 3pm at St. Joseph Cathedral (50 Franklin Street in Buffalo), and Saturday, December 9 at 7:30pm at SS. Peter & Paul Church (66 East Main Street in Hamburg). More information at 716-775-7664 or BuffaloChoralArts.org.
Holiday Bazaar & Craft Show at Mount St. Mary Academy is Sunday December 3 (10am – 3pm) at 3756 Delaware Avenue in Kenmore) with over 70 vendors with everything from homemade candles, jellies, wreaths, scarves, artwork, jewelry, a used book sale, and more. Free to public. Accepting donations of canned goods or other non-perishable food item to our Food Drive. For more information, call Alexandra Fussell at 844-1358, ext. 304.or email afussell [at] msacademy [dot] org.
Christmas Show to be Remembered with Marsha McWilson is Saturday December 9, 6-9pm at Niagara Catholic High School (520 66th Street in Niagara Falls). Featuring the sounds of Etta James, Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and The Temptations with Vegas entertainer Richie Derwald and the vocal harmony group, “Steadfast.” Proceeds go to struggling families to help with tuition assistance so their kids can go to Niagara Catholic HS. Visit marshachristmas.brownpapertickets.com for tickets (admission at the door is $25).
Villa Maria Chorale Christmas Concert is Sunday December 10 at 3pm at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel (600 Doat Street in Buffalo). Free will offering.
Old World Christmas Cookie Shoppe is Sunday December 10, 11:30am – 2pm at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish (57 Center Avenue in North Tonawanda). Have a photo taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Browse Santa’s workshop for small gifts.
Grief and the Holidays program is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 (2-3pm) at the Hospice Buffalo Education Center (225 Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga). Email mgiesler [at] palliativecare [dot] org or call 716-836-6460 for required registration .
Uplift at Advent packet is full of practical and easy reassurances, articles, and prayers to provide you with materials for those feeling overwhelmed by Christmas. Call the Office of Family Life Ministries for the free packet at 716-847-2210 or email familylife [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org.
Cleaning out your closets? Catholic Charities is accepting donations of new or gently used clothing, footwear, purses, bags, and household items like small kitchen appliance, curtains, drapes, and dishes, and bed linens. Drop off weekdays 10am-2:30pm at 1122 Broadway in Buffalo or 10am-1:30pm on the first Saturday of the month (except holiday weekends). Visit ccwny.org for more information.
Western New York Caregiver Partnership offers support to caregivers and seeks volunteers. Visit wnyacp.org or call 800-342-9871 to learn more.