Second Sunday of Lent – Week of February 25, 2018

February 25 – March 4, 2018

Weekly Activities

Sunday, February 25 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall

Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, February 28 at 6:45 p.m. ~ Lenten Program in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, March 1 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, March 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, March 3 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, March 4 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Sodality “Prayer Tour” in Church

*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, February 25 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Dorothy Clough (Requested by Judy Casassa) and Allen M. Andrew, Sr. (Requested by Wife, Daughter and Grandchildren)

Monday, February 26  ~ No Service

Tuesday, February 27 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m.  – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Wednesday, February 28 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. –  Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Thursday, March 1 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, March 2 ~ First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction ~ 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Friday, March 2 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, March 2 ~ Stations of the Cross at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 3 ~ Seven Holy Founders of Servite Order ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Allen M. Andrew, Sr. (Requested by Wife, Daughter and Grandchildren)

Sunday, March 4 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Mary Frances Danner (Judy Casassa) and Morris Heicklen (Bob Heicklen)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4:

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

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Sharon Dunnigan, Grace Iheke;  Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky; John Curtin, Choir

 

News from our Parish Community

February Birthday Blessing will take place in church following the 10am Mass on Sunday, February 25.

Coffee Hour ~ The Ladies Sodality will host our monthly coffee hour in St. Charles Hall following the 10am Mass on Sunday, February 25.

Together We Are Strong! The beautiful Tellers-Kent organ at Blessed Trinity is magnificent as well as a bit “temperamental.” You may notice that there are times when the organ is quite strong (for the opening and closing hymns), and moments when it is a quiet accompaniment to the choir’s voices. That is because the organ is meant to support congregational singing. The point of our music program is to help the members of the parish participate in the Eucharist. Lent is tough for church musicians: it is certainly an earnest season and the music is historically sad and slow. The National Association of Pastoral Musicians shows us that there are many songs for the liturgy that are appropriate for Lent that are not sad and slow, yet assist us with preparing our hearts for the coming of our Savior. You will notice new music throughout  this somber season, and some of it is actually lovely. The texts are beautiful – and certainly in keeping with our intentional preparation. Please know that the organ is there to support your voices, and the choir members know that He is pleased when we unite them in song. We sing to the Eucharist when we are up in the loft – and you can, too! Pick up your Breaking Bread hymnal and give it a try – God is pleased even if your vocal offering is wrong as well as strong! Choir practice continues Tuesday at 7:00 in St. Charles Hall.  All are welcome! Elizabeth

Lenten Journey Mass ~ Thanks to all who attended Monday’s Journey Mass, prepared food items for the social, and helped in the kitchen. This Monday, February 26, Mass will be celebrated at 6:30pm at the St. Monica Campus of Nativity/Miguel School, 26 Wright Ave. (behind St. Lawrence Church). A CCCB social will follow. Click HERE for the complete schedule of Journey Masses.

Our 3-part Lenten series begins on Wednesday evening, February 28, at 6:45pm with light refreshments in St. Charles Hall. Starting at 7pm, Sr. Liz Savage will lead us in the prayerful consideration and discussion of two meditations (“Suffering in Communion with the Lord” and “As Those Who Serve”) from Joseph Cardinal Bernadin’s book, The Gift of Peace. Copies will be provided at that time. Click HERE for details of all three programs.

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

First Friday is March 2. Please sign up to participate in Adoration during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 8-11am.  Mass will follow Benediction at 11am.

“Making a Difference – One Family at a Time”: 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. Help us continue to “feed the hungry and shelter the homeless.”  If you are able to donate a food dish for our next dinner on March 3, please contact Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694.

The Ladies Sodality’s monthly program will take place after Sunday Mass on March 4. Participants are invited to meet and pray with the women who accompanied Jesus to the cross and the tomb as they are depicted in the art work and symbols within our church. Our walk will be entirely inside, so don’t worry about the weather. Anyone is welcome to join us. Please assemble near the first Station of the Cross immediately after Mass.

The March 7 Lenten program will be preceded by a soup supper served from 5:30-6:30pm. Our speaker that evening is Father Peter Drilling. Amy Johnson is counting on our parish soup chefs to step up to the stove with their savory specialties. Contributions of dinner breads and desserts are also needed. Please help us avoid unnecessary purchases or last-minute shopping trips by specifying your contribution on the soup supper sign-up sheets no later than Sunday, March 4. If you have any questions, give Amy a call at 716-836-4694.

March 14 Seder ~ Please return the reservation form from the bottom of the 2018 Lenten Journey insert if you are attending the program on March 14. Extra copies can be found on the tables near each entrance to the church. The reservation deadline is March 4.

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.

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 .

Bible Study will resume at 7pm on Monday March 19 in St. Charles Hall and continue on Monday evenings through April 16. 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 716-316-8395 to obtain the booklet and participate in bible study.

Gerard Place ~ We received a nice thank you letter from Gerard Place for our Advent Giving Tree donation of $633. Thank you again to all who made this possible.

Sodality Dues Reminder for 2018 ~ Sodality membership runs with the calendar year. Have you renewed? Dues are still only $5 and Mickey Dick, our membership chair, will be happy to accept your payment in cash or check payable to “Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.” You may also drop your dues in the collection basket in an envelope marked “Sodality Dues.”

Sunday TV Mass. For those who are unable to physically attend Mass, the Diocese of Buffalo provides a televised Mass from the Our Lady Chapel at St. Joseph Cathedral that airs each Sunday on WUTV-Fox channel at 7:30am. The broadcast on February 18 features celebrant Rev. Cole Webster.

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

Buffalo Employment Training Center has new classes March 1 – June 30. For information, or call 716-856-5627.

Catholic Charities’ 2018 Appeal. Jesus was entrusted to and raised lovingly by his earthly parents, Mary and Joseph. Catholic Charities gives ordinary citizens the opportunity to raise an extraordinary child through our Foster Care and Adoption programs. Catholic Charities provides foster care for children of all ages in Erie County who cannot safely live in their own homes. Catholic Charities also works with the birth families toward reunification, all while providing referrals for needed services and support. To support our mission of providing happy and safe homes for children across Erie County, please donate to our 2018 Appeal by calling 716-218-1400 or visit ccwny.org/donation.

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.

Join Bishop Richard Malone as he visits the sacred sites of England and Scotland! Pilgrimage includes Walsingham, Canterbury, Lindisfarne, St. Andrews, London, Edinburgh, York, and Cambridge. October 26 to November 5 – 11 days. $3,999 from Buffalo/Toronto. For information and reservations, contact Marianna Pisano at 800-777-7432, mpisano [at] unitours [dot] com, or book online at bit.ly/BishopPilgrimage.

A Gathering Place ~ Are you an older adult who is looking for a social program? Or do you have a loved one who could benefit from one? Try Catholic Charities’ A Gathering Place, a program designed for adults age 60+ who may need assistance with activities of daily living, in addition to physical and cognitive activities and socialization. The program is held in a supervised and safe environment at 128 Wilson Street in Buffalo. Services include individualized program options, nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day, and shower services. For more information, call 716-896-6388.  For more information on Catholic Charities and other services and programs we provide, visit ccwny.org.  Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.