“God sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine, and soft, refreshing rain. All good things around us are sent from heaven above, so thank you, Lord…for all your love.”
Kevin Keil, 1993. Text: Matthias Claudius, 1740-1815.
Photo Credit: Sean T. Brodfuehrer
February 3 – February 10, 2019
Weekly Activities
Tuesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, February 6 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS
Thursday, February 7 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, February 9 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall* Sunday, February 10 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Meeting of Religious Education Volunteers in the Sacristy *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 3 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Sylvester Chapman (Angela Jost)
Monday, February 4 ~ No Service
Tuesday, February 5 ~ St. Agatha ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, February 6 ~ St. Paul Miki & Companions ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Thursday, February 7 ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, February 8 ~ St. Jerome Emiliani; St. Josephine Bakhita ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, February 9 ~ The Presentation of the Lord ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Sunday, February 10 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Franklin Edward Jost (Angela Jost)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, February 9/10, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Lorna Cameron; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Mary Kresse, Avery White; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Maggie Gatson, Pat Hartinger; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan
Violets: symbol of “Mary’s Modesty”
Terra cotta ornamentation in church narthex.
Photo credit: Steve Mangione
News from our Parish Community
Keeping Warm Spiritually ~ What a frigid week we have endured! When the temperature outside plummets, we bundle up and hunker down and make the most out of it. Whether it was a cup of hot cocoa, a fuzzy handmade scarf, or the world’s comfiest house slippers, we all found a way to stay warm in spite the cold. One of the ways we can choose to stay warm spiritually in a society that seems wintry and aloof is to seek music that feeds our soul. This week’s hymn selections were meant to boost your spirit and remind you of the greatest comfort of all – the love of our Lord. Perhaps during this week you will be reminded that “everyone who loves is born of God.” You will enjoy that cup of cocoa and remember “the greatest gift is love.” May “Alleluia be your song” as you bundle that scarf around your neck, and may those cozy slippers remind you of our “Beautiful Savior.” May you carry a song of Christ in your heart and may it warm you in the weeks to come. Choir practice resumes February 5 at 7:00pm in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome … Elizabeth
Religious Education Volunteers ~ We thank parishioners Palma Zanghi, Daniel Korchowsky, Cathy Cummings, and Patty Gallisdorfer for volunteering to help us begin a Religious Education Program. Fr. Victor will meet with this group after Mass on Sunday, February 10, in the Sacristy.
Bible Discussion Meeting for the new year continues on Wednesday February 13, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. The booklet for bible discussion meetings is Genesis 12-23 Abraham and Sarah’s Journey, by Kevin and Louise Perrotta. (Loyola Press, 2002). Copies are available from Althea Porter. The assigned reading for February’s discussion is the Week 5 reading, pages 54-63. For additional information please contact Althea Porter at 716-316-8395.
Sodality Raffle ~ By the end of this week, you should receive tickets for the Ladies Sodality March 3 Basket of Cheer Raffle in the mail. In addition to the Basket of Cheer, there will be second and third prize gift cards to Wegman’s and Dash’s. Please make your returns to our treasurer, Amy Johnson, whose address appears in the mailing. You may also drop them in the collection basket in an envelope clearly marked “Sodality Raffle.” Additional tickets will be available in church and from Sodality board members. Thank you for your support.
Vital Employment Opportunity ~ Blessed Trinity Church is looking to employ a person to work on an as needed basis to assist in shoveling the walkways and stairs to the church on Saturday and/or Sunday before Mass, only when needed due to snow. In addition, we are looking for a person to clean the church hall after the food pantry closes on Wednesday. This can be done on Wednesday afternoon or during the morning on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. This task takes 2-3 hours. If you are interested in one or both of these jobs, please contact Bud Dick at 716-998-7855 or Bob Heicklen at 716-881-3793. Please don’t hesitate to call; snow is in the forecast.
Blessed Trinity Needs Your Help! We’re not asking for money, but for some-thing maybe even more valuable: a little bit of your TIME. Just a bit. ONE or TWO nights a month that will really help your parish. Our last financial report (included in a recent bulletin) shows the importance of BINGO. Clearly, this fundraiser is essential for our parish’s financial health. Just as clearly, it needs broad parish support in the way of MORE workers. We have Bingo every Thursday and Saturday night. Can you PLEASE commit to one or two nights a month? You can start simply by helping to sell things and — as you learn the routine — cross-train for other essential tasks. Our friendly team of workers stands ready to help you. Please contact Kathy Press at 716-445-8160 for more information. Your Parish Bingo Team thanks you!
Know Your Faith: Are we supposed to make noise or have conversations in the church? We are not supposed to make noise in church, for Jesus encourages us to use the church for prayers: “My house shall be a house of prayers” (Matthew 21:13). There are some reasons why some make noise or engage in conversation in the church. Perhaps they might not know we are not supposed to make noise or engage in distracted conversation in church. Also the weather condition (winter season) of our geographical location and the way our churches are built. Our church building, like many others, does not have greeting rooms or space to allow for brief or long discussions before or after services. The church is a house of prayer. We are expected to show respect to God by being quiet and reflect on the different mysteries displayed through artistic paintings in the church to help us pray and praise God. We should also allow those who might be praying to have a quiet time to themselves and not be a source of distraction to them. May God help us to use his house for worship more effectively. Amen.
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.
A cherubic angel tops a column in the choir loft. Partially visible below it is the top of a “poor man’s staff,” symbolizing the Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit….”
Photo credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
The Great Meat Raffle, hosted by the Knights of Columbus at Madonna Council Hall (755 Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda) on Friday, February 8 at 7pm. Admission includes beer and pop. Side raffles, 50-50, and pizza slices available. Bring your own snacks, a cooler for your winnings, and dollar bills for the drawings. Doors open at 6pm. For further information or pre-sale tickets, email kofcmeatraffle [at] gmail [dot] com or call Tom at 716-570-0964.
Fiesta-themed Wine Tasting & Craft Beer Tasting, Friday, February 8, 6-9pm at Assumption Church (435 Amherst Street in Buffalo). Includes unlimited tasting and new Mexican food pairings. Taco in a bag and pizza available for purchase. Pull out your sombreros & ponchos and join us for some fun and games of chance as well. For tickets and more information, call 716-875-7626.
The Church Musicians’ Guild will host a conversation on Liturgy and the Disaffiliated on Sunday, February 10 at 2pm at the SUNY Newman Center (495 Skinnersville Road in Amherst). Discuss the role of ritual in 21st century life and the possibility of making it more welcoming. Whether our preferences are traditional or contemporary, our shared endeavor is worship in Spirit and in truth, aiming for the worship described in Nehemiah 8. For further information, contact Glenn Hufnagel at gphufnagel [at] hotmail [dot] com.
Choirs of Calvary Church and St. Louis Church present Evensong Concert, Sunday, February 10 at 4pm at St. Louis Church (35 Edward Street in Buffalo). Featured will be works of Hovland, Hogan, Durufle, Willan, Faure and others. Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, call 716-852-6040.
Barbecue Dinner on Wednesday, February 13, 3:30-7:30pm at Cardinal O’Hara High School (39 O’Hara Road in Tonawanda). The Chiavetta’s chicken dinner will include a half-chicken, two salads, roll and butter. Beverages and desserts will be available for purchase. Dine-in or take-out available. Proceeds will fully support the 2018-19 Msgr. Martin Class B Champion Football Team. For information or tickets, call 716-695-2600, ext. 312 or email sdudley [at] cardinalohara [dot] com.
Retrouvaille Lifeline for Marriage Program presents Help for Troubled Marriages 3-day weekend workshop in Buffalo beginning on Friday, February 15. Pre-registration required. Visit helpourmarriage.org or call 716-474-9371.
8-part Study on Mary, Queen of Heaven: Mary’s Battle for YOU! begins on Wednesday, February 20, in the Notre Dame Academy conference room (1125 Abbott Road in Buffalo). Join us February 20-April 17 as we embark on 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 or to register, email diacono [at] stmartinbuffalo [dot] com, call 716-823-7077, or visit stmartinbuffalo.com.