Angels in Vincent Mondo’s murals on either side of the Sanctuary express attitudes one should have toward the Eucharist, including praise, thanksgiving, and petition — attitudes beautifully expressed in Psalm 103.
Photo credit: Duane Held

February 24 – March 3, 2019

Weekly Activities

Sunday, February 24 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall

Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, February 27 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS

Thursday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, March 3 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Sodality Raffle & Mardi Gras Coffee Hour 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, February 24 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Morris Heicklen (Requested by Son, Robert) and Barbara Draper (Requested by Judy Casassa)

Monday, February 25 ~ No Service

Tuesday, February 26 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Rita Curtin (Family)

Wednesday, February 27 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Thursday, February 28 ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, March 1 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, March 2 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – James Clous (John E. Curtin)

Sunday, March 3 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Birthday Remembrance for Alexis Farrar (Bud and Mickey Dick) and James Brown (Judy Casassa)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, March 2/3, 2019:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Chris Porter, Simon Kesse; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Pat Hartinger, Mary Kresse; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan

Mardi Gras Basket of Cheer Raffle
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Come for the Coffee; Stay for the Cheer

News from our Parish Community

February Coffee Hour Includes Discussion ~ During our monthly after-Mass coffee hour in St. Charles Hall on February 24, there will be a meeting for all parishioners who wish to ask any questions or clarify items that were part of our annual financial report.

March 3 Mardi Gras Raffle ~ The Sodality’s Mardi Gras Raffle will take place next Sunday, March 3, at a special “Fat Sunday” coffee hour in St. Charles Hall immediately following Mass. The first-prize Basket of Cheer is valued at $225; second and third prizes are gift cards from Wegmans ($50) and Dash’s ($25). If you bring raffle returns next weekend, please DO NOT place them in the collection basket. Instead, take them with you to coffee hour or ask someone who is attending to deposit them for you. Extra tickets will be available at coffee hour for a donation of only $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. We are grateful to Wegmans (Amherst St.) and Dash’s (Hertel Ave.) for their donations and to Bill and Gwen Warren for providing the Basket of Cheer.

Instruments of Peace ~ Extra! Extra! The Blessed Trinity Choir is beginning to prepare for Easter as we move into the season of Lent and we could use your voice!  We understand that a weekly church choir commitment is difficult for many to fulfill – and that is why we have extras for Christmas and Easter.  An extra is a person who agrees to sing for special occasions – like Easter – and participates in rehearsals leading up to the Liturgy.

Choir practice is on Tuesday evenings in St. Charles Hall from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  When we have extras, we rehearse for the special occasion first and then for the regular liturgy.  That means extras are usually dismissed by 8:00 at the latest.  We welcome everyone in the BT Choir – an ability to read music is not a requirement – just a desire to glorify our Lord in song. 

“Choral music is not one of life’s frills. It’s something that goes to the very heart of our humanity, our sense of community, and our souls. You express when you sing, your soul in song. And when you get together with a group of other singers, it becomes more than the sum of the parts. All of those people are pouring out their hearts and souls in perfect harmony.” – John Rutter.

Choir Practice resumes Tuesday, February 26, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome! … Elizabeth

Attention Parents ~ Blessed Trinity is pleased to announce the renewal of our Religious Education Program for your children. Please sign up on the pink sheets located on the tables by the church entrances.

Confirmed Catholics interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister?  There will be a training session on Saturday March 16, 9am – 2:30pm at Catholic Academy of West Buffalo. Please see Fr. Victor for an application if you wish to attend.

Lenten Prayer Partners ~ We are about to begin sign-up for the CCCB Prayer Partner Program. If you haven’t experienced this yet, we hope you will try this year. During the Lenten season you will be given a name of someone from another participating parish to pray for during Lent. Praying in Jesus name seems so important in our world today. Why do we do this?  It’s rather simple. Jesus told us: “that if two or more agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my Father” (Matthew 18: 19, 20). This helps us see the importance of praying with and for one another. Each partner begins to pray for the other’s needs, concerns or special intentions. How do I do it?  It can be a simple prayer of remembrance for your prayer partner’s needs; you can include them in a decade of the rosary, at mass time, or during your own individual time of prayer. If they give their phone number, you can make a personal contact to introduce yourself and exchange intentions with one another but it is not required. It is up to the individual and how the Spirit leads them. Our shut-ins are also welcome to add their name to the sign-up sheet by telling the home visitor or calling the parish office to add their name. Look for the yellow sign-up paper on the tables by the entrances at weekend masses during February. The Prayer Partner Committee invites you to join us. Call, Sr. Maureen at 716-897-9948 x 114 with your questions.

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!

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.

Symbols of the Eight Beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11; Lk. 6:20-23) can be found in the church’s Corinthian Capitals.
The “pure in heart” are represented by the lily.
Photo credit: Derek Gee, “Buffalo News.”

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Camerata di ‘Sant Antonio performs Sunday, February 24,  7:00 pm at St. Anthony’s Church behind Buffalo City Hall. We’re celebrating “Carnevaldi” with the Women of Vivaldi in a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria as it was heard by the master himself, sung by an all-female choir including female Tenors and female Basses!  Also on the program, the WNY premiere of his overture to the opera Arsilda, and a solo aria from his recently re-discovered opera Farnace, sung by a female baritone. Other works from or about Venice include Pedrollo’s Concertino for Oboe and Strings, and Paganini’s variations Il Carnevale di Venezia! Stay afterward for the reception where we’re serving Bellini and Venetian hors d’oeuvres and sweets.  Masks optional, but encouraged! Tickets ($20) available at the door or by subscription. Free admission for ages 17 and under (accompanied by an adult). www.cameratabflo.com

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.

4th Annual Catholic Women’s Conference, “Nourished by Christ,” with speakers: Sonja Corbitt and Rev. David Richards. Saturday March 9 (8am – 12pm) at St. Mary’s High School (142 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). Registration starts at 7:30am. Mass, Continental Breakfast; Adoration. Visit catholicwomenofbuffalo.org or call 716-222-0622.

Taste of Italy Spaghetti Dinner, Sunday March 10, 12-4pm, sponsored by the Holy Name Society of Queen of Angels Parish (Electric Avenue and Warsaw Street in Lackawanna). The full course “all you can eat pasta” dinner includes homemade dessert and beverage. There will be bell jar tickets and a split club raffle to add to the fun and festivities. Tickets will be pre-sale only and may be purchased by calling the rectory at 716-826-0880.

Celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph with “La Feast Di San Giuseppe,” Sunday March 17 at 11am. St. Anthony of Padua Church (160 Court Street, behind Buffalo City Hall), followed by a traditional St. Joseph Day Table in the Parish Center Hall. Free parking. Seating is limited. Call the rectory at 716-854-2563 between 9am-1pm for tickets and information.

Polka Lessons, Wednesday March 20, 7-8pm and continuing on April 3 & 10 at St. Gabriel Parish Hall, (5271 Clinton Street in Elma) for anyone who wishes to learn how to dance for Dyngus Day. Sign up with your partner or single. This event is sponsored by the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association. Proceeds will support the youth group at the parish. Classes taught by Michelle Kisluk of the Polish Heritage Dancers and Lynn Zakowicz of the FCSLA. Space is limited. Call 716-983-5084 or 716-480-4370 by March 14 to reserve your spot.