“I believe in … the Communion of Saints….and life everlating. Amen.”
The Feast of All Saints on November 1 and the Commemoration of All Souls on November 2 remind us of these tenants of our Faith, expressed in The Apostles Creed and depicted in symbols on the right side of the main doors to our church. In the words of Pope Paul VI: “We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth,
the dead who are being purified and the blessed in heaven,
all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this
communion, the merciful love of God and
his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers.”
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
October 28 – November 4, 2018
Weekly Activities
Sunday, October 28 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ October Birthdays Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall
Sunday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m. ~ Explore Buffalo docent-guided tour of our church
Tuesday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, November 1 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Friday, November 2 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Saturday, November 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Saturday, November 3 at 5:30 p.m. ~ Bingo Workers Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Sunday, November 4 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Annual Service of Remembrance 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, October 28 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – for the Repose of Papa Ndombasi Edouard (Requested by Pedro and Family)
Monday, October 29 ~ No Service
Tuesday, October 30 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, October 31 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – St. Ignatius of Antioch ~ For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Thursday, November 1 ~ All Saints Day ~ Mass at 6:00 p. m. – Deceased Sodality Members (The Ladies Sodality)
Friday, November 2 ~ All Souls Day ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, November 3 ~ St. Martin de Porres ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Sunday, November 4 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the Repose of Papa Ndombasi Edouard (Pedro and Family) and Grace Diamond (Requested by Ladies Sodality)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 3/4:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Richard Plunkett, Palma Zanghi; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Maggie Gatson, Mary Kresse; CHOIR – Kathleen Marien
St. Martin de Porres
November 3
Woodcarving of St. Martin de Porres
in the church’s left transept.
A gift of the Southtowns Woodcarvers.
News from our Parish Community
All Saints Day ~ Thursday, November 1, is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation. Our Mass for the Holy Day will be celebrated in church at 6pm. There will be NO 11am Mass in the Daily Mass Chapel.
All Souls Day ~ As we prepare for the feast of All Souls on Friday, November 2, you are encouraged to send your prayer requests to the church office using the special All Souls envelope included with your weekly church envelopes. We will pray for the deceased members of your family and their names will be mentioned at Masses.
The Ladies Sodality’s annual Service of Remembrance for deceased members will take place in St. Charles Hall next Sunday, November 4, immediately following Mass. All women of the parish are invited to join us in sharing memories of Pauline Rollek and Grace Diamond and praying for these dynamic women and faithful Sodalists.
There is a Balm (in Buffalo) ~ Today’s Gospel is one to which we can all relate. The blind man on the side of the road is absolutely desperate. He cries out louder and louder until Jesus hears him. The “blindness” can be interpreted as “the inability to notice, understand, and integrate the spiritual dimension of life.” (John Shea, Eating with the Bridegroom, Year B: July, 2005). Today’s hymn for the Presentation and Preparation of Gifts is a well-known spiritual based on Jeremiah 8:22. The text is powerful as it relates to today’s readings as well as our societal environment:
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole,
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, and say, “He died for all.”
Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge, He’ll ne’er refuse to lend.
Music Ministry continues on Tuesday, October 30 at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome…. Elizabeth
Gifts for our Shut-ins – Starting next weekend (November 3/4) and continuing through December 2, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting items for their annual Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our homebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities – a total of 8 women and 3 men at last count. It may seems as if we have plenty of time to prepare for the holiday, but an early completion date for the drive is necessary so that presents and plants are ready for delivery on the weekend of Dec. 8/9. If you would like to contribute, please bring your new, unwrapped items to church and leave them in the designated basket near the statue of St. Joseph. If you prefer to donate money, please do so before Thanksgiving so that our volunteers have time to shop. To share information about someone you think should be included, please contact Vera Andrew (716-704-2944) or Mickey Dick (716-832-2540).
The Liturgical Committee will meet after Mass on Sunday, November 11.
Know Your Faith: Why so much emphasis on praying to Mary? When we pray and call on Mary, we pray to God asking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are many reasons we call on Mary in our prayers. She is the mother of God. With her “fiat,” her “yes” to the invitation of being the mother of the savior, Mary became part of the redemptive work of God. Read her conversation with angel Gabriel, God’s messenger ((Luke 1:1-38).
The Bible tells us that she interceded at the first miracle performed by Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana. After her conversation with Jesus she came with the words: “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:1-12). She continues to intercede for all who invoke her maternal intercession. I have never asked anything through her intercession that I didn’t receive. You can try it yourself. Do it with faith. Each time we call on Mary, we seek her intercession to intercede for us as she did at the first miracle of Jesus.
Jesus also introduces Mary his mother to John his beloved apostles. In doing so, he introduces his mother to the church, for the apostles continued the ministry of Christ. “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then said to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (John 19:26-27).
Each time we pray the Hail Mary, we are glorifying God because God created Mary and we are praising the handiwork of God. How do we praise God when we mention Mary in our prayers? Remembering the words of Jesus when someone shouted “Blessed is the womb that bore you,” Jesus completed the statement saying “Blessed is the one that does God’s will,” affirming that Mary did the will of God. (Luke 11:27-30). When we, like Mary, do God’s will, we receive God’s blessing.
Are we more of Mary’s church or Jesus? Well, Jesus is the son of God. Mary is his mother. So if Mary is the mother of Jesus and Jesus is God, then Mary is the mother of God. Jesus started the Church. When we remember all holy men and women, all the saints, and Mary, we are praising God. It does not make it a church of Mary or other saints. And there is no emphasis we can lay on either saints or Mary that will be excess because all glory goes to God.
Our Bell Restoration Project Has Begun ~ In 1909, a bell donated by parishioner Helena Eckert was installed in the bell tower of Blessed Trinity’s combination church/school building, which most of you know as the FLARE Building. The last time the bell tolled was on May 27 of this year when we celebrated Trinity Sunday and the ninetieth anniversary of the dedication of our “new” church.
Once the bell was removed,
we were able to read the inscription.
The bell is named St. Helena and was
“Donated by Helena Eckert, 1909.”
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
The recent sale of the FLARE Building necessitated removal of the bell, so plans were made to have it repaired, restored and relocated on the church grounds in the hope of using it on special occasions and as a way of preserving an important parish artifact. Obviously this project comes with a cost.
The parish is fortunate to have already covered the removal and restoration portion of the expense. This came about thanks to John Cozzarelli, the building’s new owner, a generous contribution from a couple who happened to attend a Sunday Mass and wanted to help with the project, and more than $7,000.00 in donations from members of the Blessed Trinity School Alumni.
On October 4, the bell was removed and has been transported to the Verdin Bell Company in Cincinnati, Ohio where restoration work will take place. While that work is being done, we will continue to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and suitability of different types of structures that can be used to display the bell.
We are especially grateful to the Mr. Cozzarelli and his employees for their assistance in removing the bell and very appreciative of everyone who has contributed to the project thus far.
Additional photos of the are now on display in church.
Family Promise of WNY ~ Due to a change in scheduling by Family Promise, Blessed Trinity will not be providing dinner this month for the homeless families sheltered at SS. Columba-Brigid. However, parishioners who are interested or just curious about Family Promise of WNY can find volunteer opportunities, a wish list of needs, and their newsletter on the website at fpwny.org.
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.
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.
Some of the more than ninety “Fall Fest” guests enjoy dinner in the historic
Twentieth Century Club’s elegant dining room on Oct. 19, 2018.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Two scholarships opportunities are available to interested students. The Albert Lenhard Family Scholarship is for those wishing to pursue education beyond high school. The Martin Luther King Scholarship is for African American eighth grade students wishing to attend a Catholic High School. Deadlines are approaching soon. You will find information for both on the tables inside our church entrances.
Fr. Roy Herberger’s collection of nearly 600 nativity sets (formerly displayed at Ss. Columba-Brigid) will be exhibited at a new location this year. He is in need of coat racks, “winter” mats for the doorways, glass display cases, and rectangular tables. If you have some to donate, please call him at 716-852-2076.
Healing Mass on Friday, November 2, at 7 pm at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (4375 Harris Hill Road in Williamsville). Celebrant: Fr. Daniel Ogbeifun. Come together and pray for our family, for our community, for one another, especially the sick, those in hospitals, those with cancer, the homebound, those going for surgery, those with special intentions, the travelers – anyone seeking “physical, spiritual healing.” For additional information, call their rectory office at 716-632-8838.
Annual Fall Festival fundraiser hosted by Our Lady of Hope Parish, is Saturday, November 3, at 5pm in O’Brien Hall (corner of Grant and Lafayette in Buffalo). $5 admission includes sheet of tickets for basket auction, dessert and coffee. Big Money Raffle with grand prize of $1500. Call 716-885-2469 for more information.
Black Catholic History Month Celebration is Sunday November 4, following 9:30am Mass at St. Martin De Porres (555 Northampton Street in Buffalo). Slide presentation, Split Club Raffle 50/50, and one-act play with award-winning actor/director, Mary Craig.
Sunday, November 4, is Cemetery Sunday as designated by the Catholic Cemetery Conference. Please note that Grief Support Programs for those experiencing the pain of grief are offered as part of their community outreach services. Call 716-873-6500 to find out more.
Free Community Events for Seniors at St. Francis Park ~ St. Francis Park, the Southtown’s most unique independent living option for seniors located at 5229 South Park Ave., Hamburg, is hosting the following community events in November: “Estate Planning” on Monday, November 5, 1-2:30 pm. “Tea in the Park” on Wednesday, November 14, 2-3:30 pm. “Living Life to the Fullest: Adaptive Equipment and Home Safety Tips” on Monday, November 26 from 1-2:30 pm. “Outsmart the Scammers” on Wednesday, November 28, 1-2:30 pm. Free and open to both residents of St. Francis Park and seniors in the community. Reservations required. Call 716-649-1205 or visit SaintFrancisPark.com/Events.
David Haas Concert, Wednesday, November 7 at 7 pm at St. John the Baptist Parish (1085 Englewood Avenue in Kenmore). Haas will take us on a musical journey of songs and reflections born from over 40 years of liturgical composition. For tickets, call 716-873-1122 or email cheryldhtickets [at] gmail [dot] com.
Annual Women’s Retreat, Saturday, November 10 from 8:30am to 1:30pm at St. John Paul II Parish (2052 Lakeview Road in Lake View). The theme is “Living Water…Come and Be Refreshed!” The retreat begins with Mass at 8:30 am, followed by a light breakfast, retreat program and lunch at 12:30 pm. Free of charge and open to all (free-will offering will be accepted), but seating is limited. Call 716-627-2910 or email parish [at] jp2parish [dot] org to reserve your seat. Women are invited to bring a new or gently used winter clothing item or blanket as a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Society Winter Clothing Drive.
“Advent Anticipation” with Sister Lucette Kinecki, Monday November 26 at 7pm at Our Lady of Pompeii, (129 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). Learn about this special time where “Emmanuel” God-with-us calls us to come and be refreshed in spirit with God’s warming grace and peace. During this sacred time, learn how to relax, reflect, and celebrate the season of Advent anticipation. For more information, call 716-683-6522.
Camp Turner’s WinterCamp ’18 is Friday December 28 at 10am through Sunday December 30 at 6pm for Boys and girls, ages 7-15. An optional round trip bus is available from Williamsville and Hamburg. The cabins are toasty, the food is delicious, and our experienced staff is excited to make this a great experience for everyone. An RN is on-site at all times. Visit CampTurner.com for activity descriptions and online registration. If you have any questions, e-mail CampTurner [at] gmail [dot] com or call 716-354-4555.