The Presentation of the Lord
February 2
The Presentation, depecticed in terra cotta oval relief in the church narthex.
Photo credit: Margaret Dick

January 29 – February 5, 2017

Weekly Activities

Sunday, January 29 at 9:15 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in Church

Thursday, February 2 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, February 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, February 4 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, February 5 at 9:30 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in Church

*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

Our new daily Mass schedule is now in effect.
Mass on Mondays and Tuesdays will be an 8:00 am;
Mass on Wednesday – Friday will continue at 11:00 am.

Sunday, January 29 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Requested by Estate)

Monday, January 30 ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

Tuesday, January 31 ~ St. John Bosco ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, February 1 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anne Crocker (Family)

Thursday, February 2 ~ The Presentation of the Lord ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Friday, February 3 ~ First Friday ~ Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Benediction – 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Friday, February 3 ~ St. Blaise, St. Ansgar ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)

Saturday, February 4 ~ St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Sunday, February 5 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Pauline Viola (Joe Viola)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, February 4 and 5:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Jack Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.   Readers: Bob Heicklen, Dianne Riordan;  Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Pat Hartinger, Bernice Bradley; Dan Korchowsky (Choir)

Photo credit: Bridget Blesnuk

 

News from our Parish Community

New at Blessed Trinity in 2017

First Friday Adoration and Benediction from 8:00-11:00 a.m. will take place this Friday, February 3, and every First Friday in the Daily Mass Chapel. Mass at 11:00 a.m. will follow. During Exposition, the Blessed Sacrament is never to be left unattended. We invite your presence for some portion of the time set aside for adoration (8am to 11am). If you can commit to at least one-half hour of prayer and meditation before the Blessed Sacrament on February 3, please sign up in church on the pink sheet or call the church office during regular office hours.

Openings for Mass Intentions ~ We ask all of you to consider placing Mass intentions, as we have openings in the coming months. Please contact the church office (716-833-0301) with your request. Office hours are: 10:30am-2:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday. The Mass Stipend is $15.

Visits to the sick began this past Friday, January 27, and will continue on the last Friday of the month. Please help Father Victor by suggesting the names of those you believe need to be visited. There are sign-up sheets for this purpose near the side doors of the church, or you may call the church office, 716-833-0301.

There will be a Meet-and-Greet for those families who have signed up for religious education instruction at Blessed Trinity on Sunday, February 12 at 9:00am in St. Charles Hall. Information about our upcoming program will be provided and you will have an opportunity to meet our instructors. If you are interested in participating in this faith formation but have not yet signed up, there is still time to do so! There are sign up sheets available at the side doors of the church, or you can contact Elizabeth Clay at 716-472-0009.

Our first Bible Study session has been scheduled for Monday evening, February 20, from 7-8pm in St. Charles Hall. You are invited to join Father Victor for reflections, sharing, and discussion. If this time proves to be acceptable, Bible study will continue on the third Monday of each month. If you are interested in a deeper understanding of the Bible, please make every effort to attend. Please bring your Bible, and  feel free to invite a friend.

Stewardship ~ We thank you for your generous donations and ask that you consider increasing your weekly offerings, if at all possible.

Changes in Music Ministry ~ We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Kate Bassett, who has been our interim musician, cantor and choir director since January 1 as well as Nancy Erdman who filled in on January 29. We hope to be introducing a new Director of Music sometime in February. Please pray that our search committee is able to select the best available candidate for our congregation.

This week we welcome Patricia “Pat” Pendleton, who has replaced Barb Sercu as our parish secretary. If you have occasion to visit the rectory or call the office beginning on January 24, please be sure to introduce yourself to Pat. Office hours will continue as in the past: Tuesday-Thursday from 10:30am-2:30pm. The bulletin is printed on Thursdays, so please be sure that you submit any notices you would like included no later than Noon on Wednesday. Announcements to be read at weekend Masses are due on Thursday. Pat will also be taking care of requests for Mass intentions. You may contact her by email at blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com or by calling 716-833-0301.

Trinity Series Concert ~ On Sunday, February 12 at 3pm, the church’s ensemble-in-residence, the Buffalo Brass Choir, will present “A Requiem in Our Time.” This liturgically themed program will feature the title piece by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaar, as well as Pablo Casals’ “O Vos Omnes,” Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring,” and works by three living American composers: John Cheetham, Anthony Plog, and Brian Balmage. Please plan to attend this powerful and uplifting program — a perfect prelude to the Lent and Easter seasons. Suggested donation: $10 per person.

Sodality Spring Raffle ~ By now, you should have received tickets for the Ladies Sodality’s Spring Raffle, which will take place on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at a special Mardi Gras-themed coffee hour following the 10 o’clock Mass.  Please make your returns as soon as possible so you won’t miss out on a chance to win: a “Basket of Cheer” valued at approximately $250; $50 gift cards for Wegmans Food Markets and Dash’s Market; or a gift bag of Trader Joe’s products valued at $35.00. Additional tickets are available from the church office or after weekend services. If you did not receive them in the mail, it means you are not on our parish mailing list or the information we have is incorrect. 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.

Sodality Dues Reminder for 2017 ~ Membership in the Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity runs with the calendar year, and dues become payable each January.  Since 2016, we have only one category of membership – member in good standing – and annual dues are $5.00 with checks payable to “Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.”  Please renew your membership as soon as possible so that our Membership Vice President, Mickey Dick, can update our roster and telephone tree. (You do not have to pay dues if you are a member in good standing and have reached your 80th birthday).

The National Black Catholic Congress XII ~ A Diocesan Delegation to The National Black Catholic Congress XII, to be held in Orlando, Florida from July 6—July 9, 2017, is now forming. If you would like to participate or obtain additional information on registration fees and room rates, please contact Althea Porter (716-316-8395) or the Office of Cultural Diversity (716-847-2217). February 15 is the last day to join the delegation and partial payment to cover trip expenses must be received by this date. The last payment should be sent to the Office of Cultural Diversity by May 15, 2017.

A wide range of classes in theology, pastoral studies, scripture and more will be offered through Christ the King Seminary’s spring continuing education program. Several new classes, workshops and retreats are available at your seminary. Join us and deepen your faith. Classes start soon. For more information, visit http://www.cks/edu/course-schedules-forms or call 716-655-7091.

Vocation View ~ Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. When our hearts and minds comply with these Beatitudes our understanding of God’s kingdom, and hence our own vocations, becomes clearer. If God is calling you to a Church vocation, call Fr. Andrew Lauricella at 847-5535. You can also check out the “Priest of the Month” stories on our website www.buffalovacations.org.

National Day of Racial Healing
Interfaith Service at Blessed Trinity

National Day for Racial Healing ~  Almost 250 people attended the Interfaith Community Prayer Service sponsored by religious leaders of the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable and held at Blessed Trinity on Tuesday, January 17. Designated as the National Day for Racial Healing, events were scheduled throughout the country, with our parish being chosen to host the Buffalo commemoration. We were deeply honored that Bishop Richard Malone proposed our church in which to hold the service. In addition to Bishop Malone, honored clergy participating in the event  included Bishop Franklin of the Episcopal Diocese, Rev. George Nicholas of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church, Rev. Darius Pridgen of True Bethel Baptist Church, Rev. Jonathan Staples of First Shiloh Baptist Church, and Rev. T. Anthony Bronner of Elim Christian Fellowship.

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.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Ready, Set, Parent! EPIC – Every Person Influences Children will provide positive parenting preparation for expectant and new parents. You’ll learn the 3 “Terrific T’s” of parenting: Taking care of yourself as a parent, Tuning into your baby’s needs, Teachable Tips for early brain development. Offered the first Saturday of the month from 1-3pm at Catholic Health System, 144 Genesee St. at NO charge. Must sign up in advance – Please call 716-332-4127 to register or go online www.epicforchildren.org. Free car seat to those in need – must be income eligible, complete course and participate in car seat safety class, offered immediately after Ready, Set, Parent!

For Women Only: Women Praying Through the Knots, A Spirituality of Imperfection! Presented by Mrs. Theresa Kehl on Monday, January 30 from 7-8pm at Our Lady of Pompeii Ministry Center (Marian Room), 129 Laverack Ave, Lancaster. All women are welcome: Free will offering accepted. Refreshments follow in the Aud together with the men from the 7pm men’s presentation.

For Men Only: The Real St. Joseph and the Tools for Real Manhood in the Home, the Church and the World! Presented by Deacon Mark Kehl on Monday, January 30 from 7-8pm at our Lady of Pompeii Ministry Center (St. Joseph Room), 129 Laverack Avenue, Lancaster. All men are welcome! Free will offering accepted. Refreshments follow in the Aud together with the women from the 7pm women’s presentation.

Attention Local History Buffs ~ The Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Historical Society (ELHS), which maintains its archives at 100 Lee St. (Heritage DiscoveRY Center) is interested in expanding its information base on the role of African-Americans and Hispanics as workers in the railroad industry. Perhaps this employment history applies to you or a family member or ancestor. If so, and you and/or your family member would like to know more about the project and how you can help, please contact Michael Connor at mjconnor_rr [at] hotmail [dot] com or (330) 691-0026.