April 7 – April 14, 2019

Weekly Activities

Sunday, April 7 following 10:00 a. m. Mass – Sodality Meeting and Spring program in St. Charles Hall

Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, April 10 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, April 11 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. ~ Stations of the Cross in Church

Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. ~ Tenebrae Service in Church

Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, April 14 following 10:00 a. m. Mass – 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.

Click HERE for a complete listing of our Lenten services and programs.

Click HERE for a schedule of 2019 Holy Week Services.

Stations of the Cross will be prayed in the church on Friday, April 12 at 6PM and on Good Friday at 12 Noon.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, April 7 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Requested by Blessed Trinity Parish)

Monday, April 8 ~ No Service

Tuesday, April 9 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, April 10 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

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

Friday, April 12 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, April 13 ~ Memorial Mass at 10:00 a.m. for Martha Collier Wagner

Saturday, April 13 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – William Pernick (Family)

Sunday, April 14 ~ Palm Sunday – Blessing of Palms and Holy Mass at 10:00 a.m. – 20th Anniversary Memorial for Carl Schmelzer (Mary Karlis)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, April 13/14, 2019:

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

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Joseph Nwogu, David Iheke; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Alice Davis, Pat Hartinger; Choir – Dan Korchowsky

Detail, terra cotta baptismal font
Photo credit: Char Szabo-Perricelli

News from our Parish Community

Give Me Jesus ~ Today’s meditation is an African-American spiritual that has regained popularity in the past few years due to settings by contemporary musicians such as Jeremy Camp.  The lyrics perfectly state what we need most during Lent and throughout our Christian life.

In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus.
When I am all alone, give me Jesus.
When I come to die, give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus;
You can have all this world but give me Jesus.

Choir practice and preparation for Holy Week resumes Tuesday, April 9, at 7:00 in St. Charles Hall.  All are welcome. … Elizabeth

Lenten Reconciliation Service for CCCB Parishes is Monday, April 8, 6:30pm at St. Lawrence Church, 1520 East Delavan Avenue. God is good. God wants to forgive, heal and make us one with him again. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) provides a special opportunity to experience the goodness and mercy of God. Join others from our churches to encounter a loving god embracing you and welcoming you back home. The service will be followed by a social gathering.

St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum

Tenebrae Service ~ An adaptation of the Good Friday Liturgy of Tenebrae will take place in our church this Friday evening, April 12, at 7:30.

What is Tenebrae? Tenebrae (meaning ‘darkness’ or ‘shadows’) is a prayer of the church during the Triduum or 3 days leading up to Easter. It includes seven readings relating the story of Jesus’ passion and death. After each reading a candle is extinguished, followed by a prayer and sung response. The service ends as the “Christ candle” is carried out, leaving the church in darkness. As Our Lord is symbolically hidden from view, a loud noise is heard, recalling the earthquake or disruption of nature at the Crucifixion. The clergy and the faithful leave the church in silence, with no hymn.

We are privileged to have been chosen by the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum to collaborate with them for their revival of Tenebrae, and we encourage you to be with us for this moving prayer experience. The readings will be done by our own parishioners with sung responses by the Schola. Established in the fall of 2017 by Steve Quebral, the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum is a local “a cappella” choir dedicated to performing, promoting, and preserving the great treasury of sacred choral music of the Catholic Church. Its members include our own Elizabeth and Luis Clay.

Congratulations! ~ Our parish has reached the half-way point in our goal to raise $15,000 for the Catholic Charities Appeal. If you have not yet sent in your pledge or contribution, please do so during this Lenten season. Donations may be mailed directly to Catholic Charities or you may place your Catholic Charities envelope in the collection basket. You are now able to choose from three options and direct how your Appeal gift is used: give to the Appeal as in previous years, benefiting Catholic Charities and the Fund for the Faith (which supports ministries and programs of the Diocese); to Catholic Charities only; or to the Fund for the Faith only. For more information about the Fund for the Faith, please visit www.ccwny.org/appeal-programs. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Thank you (on behalf of Fr. Victor and the entire Blessed Trinity Parish) to Vera Andrew, Jessie Wells, Bob Heicklen, and Bud Dick for all their work in making the “Bring Your Friend to Church” celebration and reception such a beautiful, delicious, and enjoyable event. And to our Super Soup Chefs, Judy Casassa, Colleen Schroeder, Sr. Liz Savage, Cathy Cummings and David Folmer. We enjoyed Pizza soup, Turkey-Rice, Beef-Vegetable, Black-eyed Pea with Kale, and Northern Bean with corn bread at the March 27 Soup Supper. Thank you to the volunteers who supplied an abundance of breads, butter, and cookies. We did not go hungry! Much appreciation for the set-up help of Maggie Gatson, Kathy Press, and Ellen Duffy, our cook/servers, and all who helped clean up before viewing “The Way,” a film provided by Bonnie and Don Williams.

Membership in the Ladies Sodality runs with the calendar year. If you have not yet paid your $5 dues for 2019 and submitted your preferred method of contact (phone or email), please do so as soon as possible. Membership Vice Pres. Mickey Dick will be revising the organization’s telephone tree based on your updated information. She can be reached at 716-832-2540. If you are not a member but would like to know more about the Sodality, please contact Mickey or President Vera Andrew (716-704-2944).

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

Thank you to the Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Community, located in Williamsville, for their recent generous donation of altar candles to be used at Blessed Trinity throughout the coming year. Please keep the Sisters in your prayers.

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.

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 or call the church office, Office hours are: 10:30am -2:30pm, Tuesday – Thursday.

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.

Blessed Trinity’s baldachino and stained glass skylight
Photo Credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Estate Planning Services available on Wednesdays from 3-5pm at Dr. Blackman School of Excellence (2358 Main Street @ Leroy Ave. in Buffalo). Estate Planning Services (Wills, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy) offered by Volunteer Lawyers Project and Say Yes Legal Clinic. Pre-registration required to determine income eligibility. Contact Marci Wiseman at 716-847-0662, ext. 300 or mwiseman [at] ecbavlp [dot] com

Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua will be performed on Saturday, April 13 at 8pm and Sunday, April 14 at 2:30pm by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and members of the UCLA Chorus, conducted by JoAnn Falletta. Visit bpo.org or call 716-885-5000 for ticket information.

Congrega Society of Buffalo Biannual Mass & Breakfast in honor of the Crowned Virgin is Saturday, May 11, at St. Lawrence Church (1520 E. Delavan Ave.). The 9am Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Chris Okoli; members of the the St. Lawrence Chamber Choir will provide the music. Please contact Mary J. D. Steinhauser at 716-656-7195 to be added to the breakfast count.