Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Week of January 22, 2017

January 22 – January 29, 2017

Weekly Activities

Thursday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, January 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, January 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, January 28 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, January 29 at 9:15 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 22 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. ~ Gretchen Kelly (Requested by Judy Casassa)

Monday, January 23 ~ St. Vincent, St. Marianne Cope ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – Ray and Martha Freudenberger (Estate)

Tuesday, January 24 ~ St. Francis de Sales ~ Mass at 8:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Wednesday, January 25 ~ The Conversion of St. Paul ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Thursday, January 26 ~ St. Timothy, St. Titus ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anne Crocker (Family)

Friday, January 27 ~ St. Angela Merici ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Saturday, January 28 ~ St. Thomas Aquinas ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. ~ All Souls (Queen of Martyrs Parish)

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

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, January 28 and 29:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Lorna Cameron; Eucharistic Minister: Jack Curtin

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.   Readers: Sharon Dunnigan, Angela Jost;  Eucharistic Ministers: Alice Davis, Bernice Bradley, Dan Korchowsky; Sharon Dunnigan (Choir)

News from our Parish Community

New at Blessed Trinity in 2017

First Friday Adoration and Benediction from 8:00-11:00 a.m. at the Daily Mass Chapel on the First Friday of each month. Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. 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 and 11am). If you can commit to at least one-half hour for prayer and meditation on February 3, please sign up in church or call the rectory .

Change in Daily Mass Schedule ~ We now have an 8:00 a.m. Mass on Mondays, and Mass on Tuesdays will also be at 8:00 a.m., replacing the previous 11 o’clock Mass. Masses on Wednesday through Friday will continue at 11:00 a.m. All weekday Masses are in the Daily Mass Chapel. Use the entrance, so marked, in the back of the church between and rectory and the garage.

Visits to the sick will take place on the last Friday of the month, beginning January 27. 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.

The Religious Education Program for children will begin on Sunday, February 12. There are sign-up sheets for this purpose near the side doors of the church, so please register your children as soon as possible.

Bible Studies, reflections, sharing, discussion, and questions and answers will take place once a month, also beginning in February. The first Bible Study session has been scheduled for Monday evening, February 20, from 7-8pm.

Bingo Help Needed on January 29 ~ Due to unforeseen circumstances affecting a number of our dedicated Thursday/Saturday bingo workers, we are woefully short of help on Saturday evening, January 29. If you have worked bingo in the past and can help this coming Saturday, please call Fran Cahill at 716-715-0733. You would need to arrive in the bingo hall by 7pm to receive assignments and instructions.

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.

Changes in Music Ministry ~ Our choir will continue to sing through the month of January under the direction of Kate Bassett. We hope to be introducing a new Director of Music sometime in February. Please pray that our search committee is able to select the ideal candidate for our congregation. We are still accepting applications, and requirements and application information can be found by Clicking HERE.

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 ~ Our Ladies Sodality is once again sponsoring a 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.  The first prize will be a “Basket of Cheer” valued at approximately $250.  There will also be second and third prizes: gift cards for Wegmans Food Markets and Dash’s Market valued at $50 each, and a gift bag of Trader Joe’s products valued at $35.00. We wish to recognize the generosity of Wegmans’ Amherst Street and Dash’s Hertel Avenue stores and Trader Joe’s Niagara Falls Boulevard location for donating these prizes. We are also grateful to Jill Hennig and Bill Warren of Aurora Liquor in East Aurora for assisting us with the Basket of Cheer. Tickets for the raffle have been mailed to parishioners and additional copies are available from the rectory or after weekend services.

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.

Vocation View ~ Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James and John from their work as fishermen to apostleship. How is Jesus calling you? Are you called to be a priest, deacon, brother or sister? If God is calling you to a Church vocation, call Fr. Andrew Lauricella at 716-847-5535. You can also check out the “Priest of the Month” stories at www.buffalovocations.org.

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 Charities ~ The New Year is upon us. If you are still looking for a resolution for 2017, consider having a goal of giving back to your community and volunteering with Catholic Charities of Buffalo. As the most comprehensive human service provider serving Western New York, Catholic Charities has a wide array of volunteer opportunities. Your talents can be put to good use helping others! To browse volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.ccwny.org/volunteer-with-catholic-charities. For more information on volunteer positions, email Lauren Aguirre at lauren [dot] maguire [at] ccwny [dot] org or call 218-1400 x2006. For frequent updates from Catholic Charities of Buffalo follow us on Twitter @ccbuffalo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo. To browse our volunteer opportunities or services available visit www.ccwny.org.

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.