Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Join us at a special 10AM Mass.

November 18 – November 25, 2018

Weekly Activities

Sunday, November 18 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Anointing of the Sick and Well-Aging in church

Sunday, November 18 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall

Monday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Bible Discussion in St. Charles Hall

Tuesday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, November 21 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS

Thursday, November 22 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Thanksgiving Holiday – NO Bingo

Saturday, November 24 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, November 18 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Margaret Schimpf (Requested by Family) and Papa Ndombasi Edouard (Requested by Pedro and Family)

Monday, November 19 ~ No Service

Tuesday, November 20 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Mary Elizabeth Maul (Judy Casassa)

Wednesday, November 21 ~ Presentation of the Bl. Virgin Mary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Thursday, November 22 ~ St. Cecilia ~ Thanksgiving Day ~ Mass at 10:00 a. m. – Birthday Thanksgiving for Sylvester Chapman (Family)

Friday, November 23 ~ St. Clement I; St. Columban; Bl. Miguel Augustin Pro ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, November 24 ~ St. Andrew Dung-Lac & Companions ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Sunday, November 25 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Choir (Blessed Trinity Choir); Laurence Miano (Bob and Mary Kresse); and In Thanksgiving for all born during the month of November

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 24/25:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Bob Heicklen, David Iheke;  Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Maggie Gatson, Pat Hartinger;  CHOIR – Jack Curtin

Canisius High School student volunteers Patrick Crowe and Jack Manka and their families teamed up as part of the school’s Nov. 17, 2018 Community Day and helped to clean our church in preparation for Christmas. From left: Patrick, Cortney, Thomas, Pat and Lauren Crowe;
Jennifer, Madeline, Mike, Jack and Alex Manka; Joe Van Volkenburg.

News from our Parish Community

This Sunday, November 18 ~ Join us after Mass for Anointing of Sick and Well Aging, followed by coffee hour in St. Charles Hall, hosted by the Ladies Sodality.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development ~ The second collection on November 17/18 will benefit the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which supports those living at or near the poverty level in our own country. Please give generously.

Let’s Get Ready! This weekend’s Gospel was replete with the theme to Be ready! Advent is approaching, and preparations for Christ begin now. While our holiday celebrations are based in tradition, readying our hearts for Christ involves opening ourselves to new ways of glorifying Him. Perhaps you don’t believe a regular choir commitment is for you, but the Blessed Trinity Choir embraces those who want to do something “extra” for special times of the year. Please consider joining the choir for this year’s advent and Christmas season. All voices are welcome, and no previous singing experience is necessary. Help us “get ready” for the birth of our Saviour! Choir practice continues on Tuesday, November 20, at 7:00 in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome.…. Elizabeth

The last Bible Discussion Meeting for the year will be Monday, November 19, at 7pm in St Charles Hall. The booklet for the bible discussion meeting is Genesis 12-23 – Abraham and Sarah’s Journey by Kevin and Louise Perrotta: Loyola Press, 2002. The assigned reading for November 19 is from the Week #5 section, pages 54-63. The bible discussion meeting for the new year will resume on Wednesday, January 9, at 7pm and continue to meet on the second Wednesday of each month. Those who want to obtain the booklet and participate in bible discussion meetings should contact Althea Porter at 716-316-8395.

Rescheduled Parish Council Meeting ~ Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, our November Parish Council Meeting will be held next Wednesday, November 28, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall.

We welcome your donation of cocoa for Sr. Karen Klimczak’s Christmas Prison Project.

Change in Mass Time on Thanksgiving Day ~ Please note that our daily Mass on Thanksgiving Thursday is 10am instead of the usual 11am.

Cocoa Challenge 2018 is underway and we need YOU! Blessed Trinity’s goal is 4,200 plus individual packets of Instant Hot Cocoa to help fill over 2,100 gift bags for inmates at the Albion and Wende Correctional Facilities. Three more weekends until our December 9 deadline for donations. Put it on your “to do” list today. If shopping is inconvenient, please consider a cash donation in an envelope marked “Prisoner Gifts” placed in the weekend collection basket. The gift bags will be assembled here at Blessed Trinity during morning and evening sessions on Friday, December 14. There will be two project packing shifts 10am-1pm and 6pm-completion.

This Thanksgiving, we give prayerful thanks for Canisius High School Associate Campus Minister Joe Van Volkenburg and students Patrick Crowe and Jack Manka, who chose Blessed Trinity as their Community Day volunteer project. On Saturday, November 17, the young men and their family members (Cortney, Pat, Thomas and Lauren Crowe and Jennifer, Mike, Madeline and Alex Manka) washed our pews, scrubbed our floors, and carried in hundreds of books donated for next month’s Christmas Prison Package Project. We are grateful to Mr. Van Volkenburg for his continued support of our parish and delighted to have benefitted from the youthful energy and enthusiasm of the Canisius team. At the same time, we acknowledge the dedication of parishioners Judy Casassa, Bud and Mickey Dick, Dan Korchowsky, Dorothy Manuppelli, Kathy Press, Sr. Liz Savage and Colleen Schroeder who worked along with them and provided direction.

Gifts for Homebound ParishionersOnly 2 weekends remain to help the Ladies Sodality in their annual effort to prepare Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our homebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities. Why not make a note to yourself and bring your contribution when you come to Mass on Thanksgiving. That’s the deadline for monetary contributions; gift items will be accepted through Sunday, December 2. Please leave your new, unwrapped items in the designated basket at the far left end of the communion rail. The basket also contains “take one” slips with gift suggestions. Presents and plants will be ready for delivery on the weekend of Dec. 8/9. If you can help by delivering a gift bag and visiting with one of our 14 recipients, please contact Vera Andrew (716-704-2944) or Mickey Dick (716-832-2540).

The Freudig Singers in concert at Blessed Trinity, December 2 at 3 PM.

Christmas Concert ~ This year’s Christmas concert is Sunday, December 2, at 3 p.m. when the Freudig Singers of WNY present Christmas Through the Ages—a sampling of musical treats from the fourteenth century to the present. Continuing with their popular pie-themed concerts, selections on the choral menu will include compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Lennon, Roland E. Martin, and the premiere of a new work by Sidney A. King. Specialty pies baked by members of the ensemble will be raffled at the concert intermission, and pie and warm beverages will be served at a post-concert reception in St. Charles Hall. A free-will offering will be taken with a suggested donation of $15.

Sodality Christmas Dinner ~ The Sodality’s annual Christmas dinner is Wednesday, December 5, at The Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 Bailey Avenue in Amherst. The management has been very congenial, allowing us to offer five dinner choices to choose from: broiled fish, pot roast, lamb shank, stuffed Greek chicken (rice, spinach, olive, feta cheese, artichoke filling), or Chicken Souvlaki (marinated in herbs). You’ll also have your choice of soup or salad and potato, all for only $25.00. Friends are welcome. Amy Johnson (836-4694) will be accepting reservations until Thursday, November 29; payment is due by Sunday, December 2.

Under This Roof Fund ~ We are extremely grateful to everyone who responded to our “Fall Fest” fundraiser — both party attendees and financial supporters. Your response exceeded our expectations and, to date, proceeds total $7,260.00. Thank you to all!

Attention Lectors ~ In anticipation of Advent and the new church year, please pick up your copy of the 2018-19 Manual in the priest’s sacristy. They are available now.

Important News from our Bingo Team ~ After almost ten years as our bingo chair, Francis (“Fran”) Cahill has resigned and is being succeeded by Kathy Press. We are very appreciative of Fran’s decade-long stewardship and of Kathy’s willingness to assume responsibility for the parish’s primary fundraiser.

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.

November is the month of All Souls. Your deceased loved ones are remembered at each Mass.

 

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Annual Craft Show at St. Gregory the Great (250 St. Gregory Court in Williamsville). Friday, November 23, 10am-4pm and Saturday November 24, 10am-3pm. More than 150 artisans and crafters selling their hand-crafted, unique, quality items. Avoid the Black Friday shopping frenzy, the crowds, and the chaos at the malls. Come and support the local economy by choosing gifts from one of the many artisans and crafters from all around WNY.

“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.

Dinner at Ss. Columba-Brigid ~ Friday, November 30, at 12pm noon, Ida’s Kitchen invites you to join the table at Ss. Columba-Brigid (418 N Division Street in Buffalo) for a Christ-Giving Community Dinner with the neighborhood for a Thanksgiving-Christmas Celebration (donation is $5). Call 716-310-0840 to reserve a spot.

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.