“Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’.” Jn. 6:68-70
Ceramic relief of Peter and Christ over exterior of right (west) door.
Photo Credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News.

August 26 – September 2, 2018

Weekly Activities

Sunday, August 26 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Birthday Blessing in church for those born in the month of August

Thursday, August 30 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, August 31 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS

Saturday, September 1 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS

Saturday, September 1 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 26 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Sylvia Heicklen (Son, Robert) and In Thanksgiving for the Baptism of Noah Osarobo Igbinigie (Parents)
Baptism of Noah Osarobo Igbinigie

Monday, August 27 ~ St. Monica ~ No Service

Tuesday, August 28 ~ St. Augustine ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Charlotte Casassa (Judy Casassa)

Wednesday, August 29 ~The Passion of St. John the BaptistMass at 11:00 a.m. –  Kevin Viola (Joseph Viola)

Thursday, August 30 ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, August 31 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, September 1 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Sandra Gmyrek (Jack Curtin)

Sunday, September 2 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – William Stiffler (Family)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, September 1 & 2:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Judy Casassa, Bernice Bradley;  Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Kathleen Marien, Maggie Gatson

The Passion of St. John the Baptist
August 29
St. John the Baptist ends the procession of prophets and saints
from the Jewish Bible in Joseph Mazur’s artistic rendering in the dome of our church.
Photo credit: Gary Kelley

News from our Parish Community

Parish Council is still looking for a few good men and women to run for the next 3-year term.  If you are interested  use the green nomination forms at the side doors. Give any one of the committee members listed on the form a call if you  have any questions.  Please submit your nomination form by August 29 and see Mickey Dick after Mass on September 2 to have your photo taken. Elections will be held at Masses on September 8 and 9.  Thank You for your consideration in serving on your Parish Council.

Sodality September Meeting. The Ladies Sodality will hold its first meeting on Sunday, September 9, following the 11am Mass. All women of the parish are invited to join them as the board reveals their plans and proposed programs for the 2018-19 year.

To Sing (the Gloria) or Not to Sing? ~ With regard to singing the Glory to God, the Roman Missal says that this hymn is either sung or spoken. Generally, one would want to sing a song rather than recite it, but it is considered so important to the gathering rites on Sundays and certain other days that, even when it is not possible to sing it, the rubrics call for it to be recited. Why do we at BT sometimes sing the Gloria, but sometimes recite it? Father Victor has requested that we recite the Gloria at least once a month so we, as participants in the liturgy, actively learn it. He also requested that Mass Setting be changed periodically to help keep our liturgy dynamic. The Mass Setting is the music we sing during the Liturgy of the Eucharist (Holy, Holy, Holy; the Mystery of Faith; the Great Amen; and the Lamb of God). Did you know that except for the introduction to the Mass of the day, and generally except for the homily, the entire Mass could be sung? All the prayers, including the Eucharistic Prayer, as well as all of the readings, intercessions, greetings, blessing, and dismissal all have a long tradition of being sung. While our Music Ministry at Blessed Trinity is quite dynamic, we still have other avenues to explore as we continue to search for ways to glorify our God. Choir practice resumes Tuesday September 4th at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome! … Elizabeth

Artist George Palmer

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.

Military Veterans ~ The WNY Catholic is looking for military veterans to interview for the upcoming Veterans Section in November. If you are a vet or know of a vet who would like to tell his/her story, contact the Managing Editor, Patrick McPartland, at pmcpartland [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org.

Special Anniversaries Celebrated ~ Are you or someone you know celebrating your 50th, 60th, or 70th Wedding Anniversary this year? If so, you are invited to participate in a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard Malone at St. Joseph Cathedral on Sunday, October 14, at 10:30am. Contact your parish rectory as soon as possible if you wish to attend.

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.

“We thank you, the Creator, for all things bright and good, the seed time and the harvest, our life our health, our food.”
Photo credit: Bridget Blesnuk

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Catholic Charities’ A Gathering Place is a social program for older adults over the age of sixty. The program is designed to provide assistance with activities of daily living (physical, cognitive, and socialization). The program is held in a safe supervised environment at 128 Wilson Street in Buffalo. Nutritious meals and snacks are included, as well as shower services. For more information call 716-896-6388 or visit ccwny.org.

Workshop / Retreat / Concert with David Haas and Lori True, Saturday, September 8, at Sacred Heart Church (380 East Fairmount Avenue in Lakewood). Workshop ($15) begins at 9am with concert ($25) at 7pm. Call Maria Perron at 716-490-4187 for information or visit eventbrite.com.

The Congrega Society of Buffalo invites you to attend their Biannual Mass  at St. Lawrence Church (1520 East Delevan Avenue in Buffalo)  on Saturday, September 8 at 9am with Celebrant Rev. Paul Seil. Prayer and music included and a continental Breakfast / Meeting will follow in the Church Hall. All are welcome to attend. For more information, call 716-870-3864. The Congrega Society has 45 members from the WNY area.  We honor the Mother of God under the title of “Crowned Virgin” through prayers and sacrifice.  The Society was founded in 1920 at St. Lawrence and is linked with the same ancient devotion in Pescasseroli, Italy.

Queen of Heaven: Mary’s Battle for You! An 8-part study on Mary, Queen of Heaven, begins Monday,  September 10 (7-8:30pm) at St. Gregory the Great (Gathering Room – 200 St. Gregory Ct. in Williamsville). Take a journey into a deeper encounter and understanding of our Blessed Mother. While Catholics know of her and honor her, the Queen of Heaven study will introduce you to her in a fuller and more intimate way. For more information, contact Dawn Iacono at stgregsmoms [at] gmail [dot] com.

Meeting God Encounters begins Wednesday, September 12, at 6:30pm at St. Casimir Social Hall (1833 Clinton Street in Buffalo). Have you ever installed a Heaven Door in your home? Here’s a home improvement project for the soul. Jesus is knocking; he’s dying, or rather has died, to enter your home. He invites himself saying, “If you open, I will enter and have supper with you.” (Rv. 3:20) Discover, with Fr. Czeslaw Krysa, Diocesan Director of Worship, how believing families have encountered the living God at home, not just in church. This meeting will be held on Wednesdays through November 14.  For more information and to register, call 716-847-5545.

Annual Men’s Retreat (September 14-16), sponsored by the Holy Name Societies of the dioceses of Buffalo and St. Catharines  Ontario, will be held at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. The theme is: “The Ministry of Jesus: It’s Heaven and Earth, Life and Death.” We are limited to 60 men. For reservations or more information, call the Holy Name Office at 716-847-2201 or Fr. Paul Sabo at 716-604-4948.

Monday Evening Faith Enrichment Series begins September 17 at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish (158 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). “Forgiveness, baggage, fessing up, and difficulties in forgiving” with Bishop Edward Grosz at the OLP Ministry Center. Future dates this year are October 22, November 26, and December 17.