Fifth Sunday of Easter – Week of May 19, 2019

May 19 – May 26, 2019

Weekly Activities

Sunday, May 19 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Anointing of the Sick and Well-Aging in church

Sunday, May 19 from 12 Noon – 3:00 p.m. ~ Sacred Sites Open House and church tours

Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, May 22 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall (Food Pantry operates every Wednesday from Noon-4pm)

Thursday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*

Saturday, May 25 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*

Sunday, May 26 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ 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 , May 19 ~ Peace and Healing for Roy and Sionen Laciura (Requested by Your Friend, Seta)

Monday, May 20 ~ St. Bernardine of Siena ~ No Service

Tuesday, May 21 ~ St. Christopher Magallanes & Companions ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, May 22 ~ St. Rita of Cascia ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Thursday, May 23 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Friday, May 24 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Saturday, May 25 ~ St. Bede the Venerable; St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi; St. Gregory VII ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Sunday May 26 ~ Peace and Strength for Tina Chapman and Family (Mom)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, May 25/26, 2019:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: John Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lucille Venezia

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Bob Heicklen, Maggie Gatson; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Bernice Bradley, Pat Hartinger; Choir – Dan Korchowsky

News from our Parish Community

Anointing of the Sick and Well-Aging will take place in church this Sunday, May 19, immediately following the 10am Mass.

We are the “medieval” ~ On Sunday, May 19, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm, Blessed Trinity Church will participate in the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Open House Weekend.The theme of this ninth annual statewide event is “Medieval to Modern: Celebrating New York’s Religious Art and Architecture.” Special emphasis that afternoon will be on the “medieval” (12th Century Romanesque) features of our church and the Italian churches on which our house of worship is modeled. Free docent-led tours will be available. Click HERE to read more about this opportunity to learn about the history, art and architecture of our Landmark house of worship.

Your patience and courtesy are requested ~ The planning phase took much longer than expected, but restoration work — partially funded by a grant from New York State — has begun on the front steps and plaza area of our church, as well as the roof. Please remember that we need to keep two driving lanes in the church’s east (ramp) side driveway. Our church is fortunate to have ample off-street parking places for everyone attending religious services. In the interest of safety, please use only marked parking places and do not create a parking lane parallel to the church building or park on the sidewalk near the garden and wheelchair ramp. Thank you.

A Heart Full of Music ~ This past week has reminded me how music can be a powerful mechanism for healing and how humans seek music to cope with life’s trials. There is inherent music in the human body created by our God, be it the lilt of a voice, the creak of an aching joint, or the rhythm of a beating heart. There is the song we hum aloud or just hear in our head in moments of sheer joy or extreme trial. Liturgical musical selections are made after reviewing the weekend readings and the overall theme for the week or the season. Music can reinforce important texts by setting them to a beautiful melody, provide comfort with a gentle accompaniment, or even exclaim resounding joy with a cacophony of trumpets. All are appropriate, especially during the Easter season. Our hope is that you carry beautiful music in your heart throughout the week that keeps you engaged in the Liturgy. Whether it’s the joy of “Lift High the Cross,” the comfort of “In My Father’s House,” or the peace of “Shall We Gather at the River,” may the music at Blessed Trinity help you navigate whatever you encounter until we meet again. Choir practice resumes Tuesday, May 21, at 7:00pm in St. Charles Hall.  All are welcome….Elizabeth

Birthday Blessing and Coffee Hour ~ The birthday blessing for everyone born during the month of May will take place on Sunday, May 26, at the end of Mass. It will be followed by a coffee hour in St. Charles Hall, hosted by our bingo workers.

Collection for the Church in Africa ~ There will be a second collection for the Church in Africa on the weekend of May 25/26. Please give generously.

Women’s Tour ~ Sodality members have chosen a Forest Lawn Cemetery Tour, followed by a luncheon in St. Charles Hall, as our season ending activity. The trolley tour, “Famous Women of Forest Lawn,” leaves from the cemetery’s Visitor Center on Main St. (opposite Jefferson Ave) at 10am on Saturday, June 8, and returns at Noon. (If there is sufficient interest, we will make arrangements to carpool from the church parking lot). It introduces visitors to famous women and historic heroines of WNY and includes stories of suffragettes, writers, social organizers, and even some early entrepreneurs. Tour tickets are $20. All women of the parish are invited to join us; friends are welcome. As of Tuesday, May 14, there were only 12 seats remaining so please don’t procrastinate. You may make an on-line reservation at: www.forest-lawn.com/events/2019/06/08/-women-of-forest-lawn-trolley-tour or contact Treasurer Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694. We are also collecting $5 for the lunch, so checks for $25 should be payable to Ladies Sodality of Blessed Trinity.

Wedding Bells ~ Osaze (Ozy) Ibhawa and Bethany Anderson will be married at Blessed Trinity Church on Saturday, June 22, Many parishioners know Fr. Victor’s younger brother who once resided in the Rectory and has served as both an usher and bingo worker. He and Bethany are inviting members of the parish to add to the joy of the occasion and celebrate with their family and friends by attending the 1pm ceremony.

Prayerful Thanks for Our Parish Chefs ~ We extend thanks and compliments to the men who continued the Parish Holy Name Society’s tradition of serving a wonderful Mother’s Day Brunch following last Sunday’s 10am Mass. The women of the parish were treated to a buffet featuring egg dishes, fresh fruit and pastries and received souvenir roses. Kudos go to Bud Dick, Jerry Gallisdorfer, Bob Barnes, Dan Korchowsky, David Folmer, and Don Williams.

Eucharistic Minister Training ~ If you are interested in serving as an Eucharistic Minister, please talk to Father Victor so that you can be included in the training session which is scheduled to take place in the near future.

Choir to Participate in Festival Mass ~ Members of the Blessed Trinity Choir will participate in the Church Musicians’ Guild of Buffalo’s season-ending festival Mass at 7pm on Thursday, May 23, at St. Andrew’s Church in Kenmore. The Mass provides an opportunity for church music directors, cantors, and choir members to come together in praise and thanksgiving at the end of the Easter season. The Guild will also be presenting its Cecilia Roy Kenny Award to Frank Scinta and its Young Adult Music Ministry Award to Victoria Erdman. Regina Doherty will be recognized with a 50-Year Membership Award.

Blessed Trinity featured on Channel 2 ~ WGRZ-TV’s Kevin O’Neill and Channel 2 photographer, Charles, visited Blessed Trinity very early Thursday morning April 25, for a live “Daybreak” feature. They also did a much lengthier Facebook Live session with members of our docent team. [Click HERE to view their video]. We invite you to gain a greater understanding of the inspiration and meaning behind our church’s art and architecture on Sunday, May 19, from 12 Noon-3pm, when we will be participating in the NY Landmarks Conservancy’s state-wide Sacred Sites Open House Weekend. In fact, we are — without a doubt — the “medieval” in their 2019 theme, “Medieval to Modern: Celebrating New York Religious Art and Architecture.” Parishioners will be on hand to greet you, and members of our docent team will share even more information than we were able to give our friends from Channel 2. You don’t have to travel to Europe to see amazing church architecture, and you can start your tour right in your home parish. Tours are free and open to the public, so please invite your friends and neighbors.

Your local Victim Assistance Coordinator is available to help you or anyone who has been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church. We will listen and make a formal compliant. Report Hotline: 716 895-3010 Diocese of Buffalo Victim Assistance Coordinator: jacqueline [dot] joy [at] ccwny [dot] org

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.

Presentation of Offertory Gifts ~ For those who have requested a Mass and would like to present the Offertory gifts, please see Head Usher, Ed Marien, prior to Mass. This also applies to those whose family members are being remembered during the Liturgy.

Blessed Trinity Needs Your Help! We’re not asking for money, but for something 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!

Is it time to update your contact information? We know that not everyone can attend church every weekend, so when there is important information to be shared, we often mail it.  If you have not received some of our recent mailings, please make sure that we have your correct contact information by completing this form. This is also a chance to let us know if you: wish to be included in our online email list, register as a parishioner, or request envelopes. You can also submit the requested information by phoning our secretary at 716-833-0301 any Tuesday-Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm; sending an email to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com; or Clicking HERE to use the contact feature of our web site to submit the information. If you choose either of the last two, please use “Contact Update” 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.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

A Spiritual Year of Prayer & Healing: Consecrate Yourself to Jesus through Mary! Thinking of a way to pray in the Year of Healing? The linked parishes of St. Martin of Tours / St. Thomas Aquinas, Buffalo will offer the 33 Days to Morning Glory Program (Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary) on six Wednesday evenings beginning on Wednesday, May 22, at 7pm at St. Martin of Tours (1140 Abbott Road in Buffalo. The consecration Mass will take place on the Marian Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Saturday, June 29). Visit stmartinbuffalo.com, call 823-7077, or email    diacono [at] stmartinbuffalo [dot] com to register.

Eucharistic Adoration & Holy Hour for Life, Thursday, May 30, 6-7pm at St. Andrew Church (1525 Sheridan Drive in Kenmore). All invited to come and adore our Lord, Jesus Christ! Come for the hour or for ten minutes; our doors will be open! After Holy Hour, we will pray the rosary for our nation. Deacon Mike Ficorilli, presiding.