St. Clare (1193-1253)
August 11
St. Clare was a follower of St. Francis of Assisi and became superior of a religious community known as The Poor Clares. She is said to have carried the Host in a monstrance to an upper window of her convent where she successfully prayed for their deliverance from marauding Saracen mercenaries of Frederick II. Greatly revered and respected as a “new leader of women” and credited with many miracles, she was canonized just two years after her death. St. Clare is depicted in a grouping of “Virgins and Widows” in the great dome of our church as the standing figure on the far right, holding a monstrance.
Artist: Joseph Mazur. Photo credit: Gary Kelley.
August 5 – August 12, 2018
Weekly Activities
Tuesday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Diocesan “Town Hall” in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, August 9 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, August 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Saturday, August 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Saturday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played 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, August 5 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Williams, Chapman and Cavitt Families (Requested by Seta Chapman)
Monday, August 6 ~ The Transfiguration of the Lord ~ No Service
Tuesday, August 7 ~ St. Sixtus II & Companions; St. Cajetan ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Wednesday, August 8 ~ St. Dominic ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Birthday Thanksgiving for Ozy Ibhawa (Father Victor)
Thursday, August 9 ~ St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, August 10 ~ St. Lawrence ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, August 11 ~ St. Clare ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Sunday, August 12 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Kathy Mallery (Family)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, August 11 & 12:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Joseph Nwogu, Chris Porter; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Pat Hartinger, Judy Casassa
Ministry Schedule for Wednesday, August 15:
Readers: Judy Casassa, Bob Heicklen; Eucharistic Ministers: Pat Hartinger, Dan Korchowsky
St. Dominic (1170-1221), whose feast day is celebrated on August 8, is depicted in this grouping of monks, hermits and religious in the dome of our church. He is the standing figure, second from the left, shown holding a book. The painting is by Joseph Mazur. Photo credit: Gary Kelley.
News from our Parish Community
Special Collection ~ On the weekend of August 4/5, there will be a second collection for the Retired Diocesan Priests Medical Benefits Fund.
Important Parish Meeting, this Tuesday, August 7 ~ Father Victor and the Parish Council urge every parishioner to attend this Tuesday’s “town hall” meeting at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. This is your opportunity to pray, discuss, and discern with other parishioners and the newly created Central City Task Force and consider possibilities for future cooperation to ensure the health of central city parish life. A three-year arrangement under which the CCCB parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Martin de Porres have been linked with the suburban parish of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be coming to an end. Rev. Ronald P. Sadjak, who previously served all three parishes, will remain as pastor at Nativity. Bishop Richard Malone is asking the central city parishes of St. Martin de Porres and St. Lawrence to join with Blessed Trinity and Ss. Columba-Brigid “to enact a ministry plan that will lead to their successful growth in ministry and continued witness to faith and justice on Buffalo’s East Side.” The Bishop remains committed to keeping all four of our parishes open and in active ministry. Diocesan representatives at the meeting will include Sr. Maureen Harris, our CCCB Pastoral Care Minister, Rev. Joseph Rogliano (our Vicar) and Deacon Ron Thaler. Blessed Trinity will be represented by YOU.
The Bread of Life ~ According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (usccb.org), the celebration of the Eucharist is of the utmost importance. In order for the Christian faithful to deeply understand the genuine significance of the rites and liturgical texts for active celebration of the Eucharist, the “dignity, the beauty of the sacred place, the music and art should contribute as greatly as possible.” No one would argue that Blessed Trinity Church is stunningly beautiful. Perhaps also you have a sense of how the music enhances our Liturgical experience. Today’s opening hymn, Rain Down, contained text right from the first reading from Exodus. Singing Bread of Life for the Presentation and Preparation of Gifts reminded us of how we are all united by the Eucharist. Our Communion hymn, Transfigure Us, O Lord, allowed us to publicly proclaim how we are changed by Christ. If we are transformed by our relationship with our Savior, How Can We Keep from Singing? Pablo Casals, a Spanish cellist, once said “Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” … Elizabeth
Marian Devotion and outdoor Mass on
The Feast of the Assumption
August 15
Wednesday, August 15, is the Feast of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a Holy Day of Obligation. Weather permitting, we will gather outside near the statue of the Blessed Mother beginning at 6pm for an offering of prayers and petitions and the presentation of individual flowers. An outdoor Mass will begin at 7pm. Please bring a lawn chair and a flower to offer.
Parish Council Nominations ~ Want to become more involved in the future of Blessed Trinity? It’s not too late. Sign up today to be a candidate for the September elections for Parish Council. Pick up a green sheet at the church doors. The nominating committee members, Kathy Press, Tom Brodfuehrer, Lorna Cameron and Sr. Liz Savage will be happy to answer your questions about serving on the Council.
Know Your Faith ~ Why should I give money in the church collection? Another word the church uses for collection is offertory meaning to offer back to God from the gifts He has given to us. (1 Corinthians 4:7). We make collection as an expression of our love, faith, and thanksgiving to God. Also, we make collection to fulfill one of our Christian DUTIES to the church. The catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2043 calls us to carry out our responsibility of providing for the material needs of the church. In the scripture we are told that the early Christian community brought their goods together to care for the Christian community (Acts 4:34-35). So when we give our collection we are fulfilling our responsibility or duty to the church. The collections we take up helps to care for the spiritual and material needs of the church. So how much should I give as my collection? We are called to give generously according to our ability. For God loves a cheerful giver and reward us accordingly (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). When we fail to give according to our ability only God and ourselves knows. And failing to give much of what we have shows our failure to fulfill our duty towards the church. Jesus told us the story of the widow who was appreciated because she gave much of the little she had while others gave little from their surpluses. (Mark 12:41-44). We are encouraged to give or offer our gifts to God with a generous heart. Giving should be done with a joyful spirit not with a grumbling heart. Giving with a joyful spirit should be done with a genuine intention no matter how inconvenient it might be to us. For God, who sees everything in secret, definitely rewards us.
Temporary Change in Bulletin Deadline ~ If you have announcements for the August 19 and/or August 26 bulletins, please send them to the office by Friday August 10. Our secretary will be preparing those publications early due to vacation scheduling.
Featured Artist with a BT Connection ~ The Kenan Center House Gallery (433 Locust Street in Lockport) is currently exhibiting “George Palmer: His Many Faces, 1956 – 2018,” featuring more than 80 artworks from the long career of Mr. Palmer who, at the age of 93, is still painting and teaching art from his Kenmore Avenue Studio. Parishioners may recognize George who occasionally attends our Sunday Mass, but his BT connection goes back to the beginning of his seven-decade career. In the early 1960s, Mr. Palmer painted the portrait of our fourth pastor, Rev. Charles T. Kraehn, which hangs in the Dewey Avenue entrance of St. Charles Hall. The exhibit continues through August 26 at the Kenan Center, a beautifully restored Victorian mansion. Hours are Mon-Fri, 12 Noon – 5pm and Sun. 2 – 5pm. Admission is free, but donations help the Center to continue its mission of service to the WNY community.
Join the BT Family Promise Team ~ Our volunteer team, led by Amy Johnson, assists temporarily homeless families housed at Ss. Colomba-Brigid Parish under the Family Promise program. They will be preparing and serving a Monday evening dinner on October 22. If you are able to help with this ministry by preparing part of the meal, please contact Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694.
Do you know that Mass is the highest and greatest form of prayer? The Catechism of the Catholic Church reveals that “from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, [the Church] has honored with great respect the memory of the dead.” In its reference to the Second Vatican Council’s conclusion that “it is a wholly and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins,” the Catechism adds: “Our prayer for them is capable of not only helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective.” Consider contacting the church office (716-833-0301) to request a Mass for yourself, your deceased loved ones, or for any intention. The stipend is $15.
Religious Ed Volunteers ~ We are in need of volunteers to help with the Religious Education of our parish children. Anyone interested in helping, please sign up on the orange sheets at the church entrances or call Father Victor (716-833-0301) during rectory office hours. You are also asked to call Father Victor if you are interested in enrolling a child or young adult preparing for Confirmation.
Has your contact information changed? Our parish secretary is finding that our parish records contain a growing number of not-in-service phone numbers, and the recent parish mailing resulted in several letters returned for “expired forwarding.” If your contact information has changed, you can notify the rectory office in one of several ways: use the form on the back of the bulletin; phone our secretary at 716-833-0301 any Tuesday-Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm; send an email to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com; or Click HERE to use the contact feature of our web site to submit the information. If you choose either of the last two, please use “New Contact” as the subject of the email or message.
Home Visits ~ Please notify the church office if you know of aged, sick, or homebound parishioners who may wish to receive a visit and the Eucharist on the last Friday of each month.
St Clare is also one of six saints associated with the Eucharist who is depicted (center right) in silver relief on the doors of our Tabernacle. (Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R.C. Church, page 30).
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Thursday August 2 – Sunday August 5 is Summerfest 2018 at Fourteen Holy Helpers Parish (1345 Indian Church Road in West Seneca). Kicking off with a Meat Raffle on Thursday, August 2 at 7 pm in the hall. Join us each day for delicious dinners, raffles, Vera Bradley Bingo on Saturday, and much more. Prepare to be entertained with great live music including Nerds Gone Wild, Hit N’ Run, and The Buffalo Touch Polka Band. Don’t miss our Polka Mass on Sunday, August 5 at 12 noon, followed by our Polish Dinner. For more information, visit 14hh.org or call 716-674-2374.
Pilgrim Statue Comes to WNY ~ The National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be at Our Lady of Pompeii church for Veneration on Tuesday, August 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. a Vigil Mass for the feast of the Assumption will be celebrated followed by the Rosary and presentation by Mr. Bill Sockey, who is the custodian of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue and travels with the Statue throughout the United States. Stockey will present the Message of Our Lady of Fatima, that will include the five reasons for reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the promise by Our Lady of Fatima that was confided to Sr. Lucia, one of the three children, who witnessed the Marian apparitions at Fatima.
When was the last time you sat down with Mama Mary and had a heart-to-heart conversation? Yes, Jesus’ Mama Mary. She waits, particularly at her sacred heaven windows, icons of the Madonna and Child, listening to your heart as she did to Jesus’. Try this innovative, seven-year running, prayer twist at the Church of St. Casimir (160 Cable Street in Buffalo) weekday evenings at 7 pm, Sundays at 10 am from August 18-26. Maybe you’ve yet to discover the mysteries of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, how the saints of the ages, Casimir and John Paul, and Mother Angela drew power and healing from God’s Mother, scarred by human hatred. Come, listen and sing her a song.
Sacred Sites of the UK – a Pilgrimage with Bishop Malone, October 26 – November 5. Visit Walsingham (EWTN Studios), Canterbury, Lindisfarne, St. Andrews, London, Edinburgh, York, and Cambridge! For reservations, contact Marianne at Unitours, 1-800-777-7432 or mpisano [at] unitours [dot] com.