St. Patrick of Ireland (died 492), whose feast day we celebrate on March 17, appears in the dome
of our church in a painting by Buffalo-born artist Joseph Mazur. He is depicted as the fourth standing figure from the left in this photo and is part of a group of 14 figures identified as “Confessors, Bishops, and Missionaries.” (Rev. Walter Kern’s “Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church,” p. 39). Photo credit: Duane Held.

March 11 – March 18, 2018

Weekly Activities

Tuesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. ~ NO Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. ~ Lenten Program in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, March 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, March 17 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, March 18 following the 10am Mass ~ Anointing of the sick and well-aging in church; Liturgy Committee Meeting 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, March 11 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Anderson Patrick Kesse (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse) and Robert Santo Venti (Requested by Patty and Jerry Gallisdorfer)

Monday, March 12  ~ No Service

Tuesday, March 13 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m.  – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Wednesday, March 14 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. –  Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Thursday, March 15 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, March 16 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, March 16 ~ Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 17 ~ St. Patrick ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Pauline Rollek (Catherine Bucki Gress)

Sunday, March 18 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – James M. Cavarello (Bob and Mary Kresse) and William Stiffler (Family)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: John Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Michael Ogoh

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Mary Kresse, Avery White;  Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky; Sharon Dunnigan, Choir

 

Stations of the Cross
Fridays at 6 PM

News from our Parish Community

In stewardship, you give off the top; not what is left over.
Consider the apple. If you have some and give just what is left over,
you give just the apple core.

Amy Johnson

Our Award Recipient ~ Every year the diocese acknowledges parishioners who have made significant contributions on the parish level with the Lay Award of  St. Joseph the Worker. This year, Amy Johnson has been chosen for this honor in recognition of her stewardship at Blessed Trinity Parish. The award will be conferred on Amy and other diocesan recipients at a special 12pm Mass on Sunday, March 11, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We congratulate Amy and pray for God’s abundant blessings on her.

Lenten Journey Mass ~ This Monday, March 12, Mass will be celebrated at 6:30pm at St. Martin dePorres, 555 Northampton St. Please note that the sites have been changed for the remaining 2 weeks. St. Lawrence, 1520 E. Delavan Ave., is hosting on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph. You are invited to their 5:30pm St. Joseph’s Table, which will replace the social after 6:30 Mass. The Reconciliation Service scheduled for March 26 will take place at Ss. Columba-Brigid, 75 Hickory St. near Clinton.

Our 3-part Lenten series concludes Wednesday evening, March 14, at 6pm with “Connections: Reflection on Passover and the Lord’s Supper.” Bob Heicklen will narrate a brief ceremonial Seder meal, explaining its symbolism and similarities to our Eucharistic celebration. Assisted by Dan Korchowsky and his wife, Jacquie, their presentation will incorporate a simple supper featuring symbolic foods which are an integral element of the Passover festival.

Stations of the Cross will be prayed in church at 6pm each Friday of Lent.

Intentionally Preparing for Holy Week ~ We have made it through a large portion of Lent, and our eyes and hearts are drawing ever nearer to the cross. The choir members glimpse the glory to come every week at practice as we prepare for Holy Week. This week’s liturgical musical selections are readying us for what is to come – intentionally propelling us through these final days of Lent.

Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see Your face.
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see.

Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear Your voice.
Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear.

Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love like You.
Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love.

I live within You; Deep in Your heart, O Love.
I live within You. Rest now in me.

May our eyes, ears, heart and life be open to the glory to come – our Salvation is at hand! There is no choir practice this week. Plan to join us March 20 at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. Elizabeth

The liturgy committee will meet following Mass on Sunday, March 18, in St. Charles Hall, in preparation for Holy Week.

The parish council will meet on Wednesday, March 21, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall.

Child and Youth Religious Education Program is scheduled to resume in the fall, but we need to know the number and ages of prospective students. If you are interested in enrolling a child or young adult preparing for Confirmation, please call Father Victor at 716-833-0301 .

Family Promise of WNY is one of only three local agencies that keeps homeless families together in emergency shelter. Ss. Columba-Brigid Parish is a host congregation and shelters families for a week, several times during the year. As a support parish, we at Blessed Trinity provide one dinner during the hosting weeks. Special thanks to Judy Casassa, Vontrese Draper, Amy Johnson and Palma Zanghi for preparing dinner for the guests at Ss. Columba-Brigid on March 3. If you are able to donate a food dish for a dinner on April 21, please contact Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694.

Statement of Contributions ~ If you need a record of your 2017 contributions for tax purposes and have not yet received it, please call Pat at the rectory during office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm.

Bible Study will resume at 7pm on Monday April 16 (not March 19 as posted earlier) in St. Charles Hall. This will be a two-hour meeting to determine future plans. The first assigned reading is from the booklet, Genesis 12-23  Abraham and Sarah’s Journey, by Kevin and Louise Perrotta (Loyola Press, 2002), pages 4-23. Please contact Althea Porter at 316-8395 to obtain the booklet and participate in this group.

Catholic Charities ~ St. Clare of Assisi, our patron saint of the 2018 Appeal, believed that “we are to become the vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.” Today, Catholic Charities shows that same compassion and love for others by offering counseling, and mental health and chemical dependency treatment. Your gift to our 2018 Appeal helps us to continue these services in Western New York. To donate, call 716-218-1400 or visit ccwny.org/donation.

Save the Date—May 20 is a celebration for Fr. Roy Herberger’s fiftieth anniversary of priesthood. There will be a 3pm Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul (5480 Main Street in Williamsville), followed by a 6:30pm dinner at the Grapevine Banquet Facility (333 Dick Road in Depew – the former Hearthstone Manor). If you wish to attend, please mail your name and address to Fr. Roy by March 25 (15 Greenwish Drive, #2, Amherst, NY 14228).

Home Visits ~ Please notify the church office if you know of aged, sick, or homebound parishioners who may wish to receive a visit from Father Victor on the last Friday of each month.

Openings for Mass Intentions ~ Do you know that Mass is the highest and greatest form of prayer? Contact the church office (716-833-0301) to request a Mass for your loved ones for any intention. Office hours are: 10:30am-2:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday. The Mass Stipend is $15.

New parking spaces have been added to the wheelchair ramp side of the church to compensate for losing ten spaces behind the old school building (FLARE) with the sale of the building. The new owner plans to rehab the structure into twenty apartments, a project that will certainly benefit the neighborhood.

Important Deadlines to Remember ~ As we begin the new year, please remember to contact our secretary, Pat Pendleton, with dates (even tentative ones) that should appear on the parish calendar. Our bulletin is printed on Thursdays, so announcements should be submitted no later than Noon on the Wednesday prior to the weekend you wish it to appear. Announcements to be read at weekend Masses are due on Thursday. You may contact Pat at blessedtrinitychurch@gmail or 716-833-0301 any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm.

Parish Record Keeping ~ We have created a parish group email to be used for notification of time-sensitive information; e.g., a mid-week funeral service. If you would be interested in receiving such messages, please make sure that the church office has your email address. If you need to update your contact information or would like to register as a parishioner, please call the church office (716-833-0301) on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday during office hours: 10:30am-2:30pm, email your contact information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com, or use the CONTACT feature of this web site.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Sunday March 11 at 2pm is Diva by Diva: A Celebration of Women at St. Martin dePorres (555 Northampton in Buffalo). This O’Connell & Company award-winning original show of songs, readings, humor, and quotes marks the one hundredth anniversary of women’s suffrage in New York State. Free will offering at the door.

Steve Quebral, left, and the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum

Tenebrae: A Lenten Service of Shadows is Friday March 16 at 7:30pm at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church (75 Hickory Street in Buffalo). Presented by St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum, this service of increasing darkness dramatizes the increasing sadness of Holy Week and the seven shadows that represent the seven stages of the passion of Jesus.

Movie Night featuring Risen! Is March 16 at 6:30pm at Franciscan Guest House at St. Lawrence (1520 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo). The film travels along with the Roman Centurion assigned to find the body of Jesus. This evening is for adults only. Wine and cheese will be served.

Stations of the Cross Meatless Soup Suppers at St. Lawrence Church (1520 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo) will continue on Fridays March 16 and 23 at 4pm. Bring a meatless soup (preferably in a crockpot) to share. In an effort to minimize dish washing, guests are asked to bring along their own place setting and cup. Bread, butter, crackers, and drinks will be provided.

Magnificat Ministry to Catholic Women present a morning of prayer, testimony and praise, helping women to experience the power of the Holy Spirit on Saturday, March 17 at the Millennium Hotel, Cheektowaga. Guest speaker, Marge Fetterman, will share how living a Life in the Spirit has set her heart on fire for Jesus! Registration opens at 9:30am and breakfast program begins at 10am. For tickets or further information, call 716-632-0646 or visit magnificatbuffalo.org.

Catholic Health hosts an Osteoporosis Support Group the third Wednesday of every month in the Beechwood Residence Auditorium (2235 Millersport Highway in Getzville) 10-11:30am. This month’s meeting is March 21. New members and walk-ins welcome. Call 716-447-6205 for more information.

Annual Lenten Homemade Pierogi & Placek Sale from February 17-March 25 at St. John Kanty Parish (101 Swineburne Street in Buffalo). Kanty’s Kitchen is open Saturdays 3-5pm and Sundays 9:30am-12pm. Farmers cheese or sauerkraut pierogis; sold frozen and 6/package. Lunch available on March 25 (Palm Sunday) and large basket raffle. For further information, call 716-893-0412 or visit saintjohnkanty.com.

Lenten Day of Reflection, Saturday, March 24, from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, will direct our 26th Lenten Day of Reflection at Kloc’s Grove, 1245 Seneca Creek Road in West Seneca. Register with The Catholic Biblical Studies. Call 716-871-9180, email info [at] cbstudies [dot] org, or visit cbstudies.org.

Palm Sunday Buffet Brunch at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine (1023 Swann Road in Lewiston) is Sunday, March 25 from 10am-3pm. Tickets are available in advance by calling 716-754-7489 or at the door. Come join us for a spirit-filled day, with great food, Easter bake sale, raffle and 50/50 split. Proceeds to benefit Our Lady’s Shrine.