Second Sunday of Lent – Week of March 17, 2019

March 17 – March 24, 2019

Weekly Activities

Sunday, March 17 following 10:00 a. m. Mass – Anointing of the sick and well-aging in church

Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall

Wednesday, March 20 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall – NEW HOURS

Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.  ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Friday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m. ~ Stations of the Cross in Church

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

Sunday, March 24 following 10:00 a. m. Mass – Sunday Movie Matinee, “The Way,” showing 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.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, March 17 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – William Stiffler (Requested by Family) and Terrence Gress (Requested by John Curtin)

Monday, March 18 ~ St. Cyril of Jerusalem ~ No Service

Tuesday, March 19 ~ St. Joseph ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – In Memory of Alice Rose Schroeder (Colleen Schroeder)

Wednesday, March 20 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Thursday, March 21 ~ Mass at 11:00 a. m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, March 22 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, March 23 ~ St. Turibius of Magrovejo ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Forgiveness of Sins of Feyisara Arimoro (Victoria E. Abitogun)

Sunday, March 24 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Sara Dick (Family) and 14-year anniversary for Evelyn Schmelzer (Mary Karlis)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, March 23/24, 2019:

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

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Joseph Nwogu, Maggie Gatson; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky,  Mary Kresse, Alice Davis; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan

News from our Parish Community

Lenten Programming ~ A complete schedule of special Lenten services and program offerings planned by the parish council has been mailed to parishioners. Please save the schedule and make a special effort to participate as often as possible.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday, March 20 at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. If you are unable to attend, please contact Mickey Dick, 716-832-2540. Wednesday Lenten programming continues on March 27.

Where is the organ? The organ at Blessed Trinity has had a very difficult winter and has had great difficulty accommodating to the recent freeze/thaw cycles.  Abrupt changes in temperature cause old, brittle wires to come loose and even break apart, creating the unpleasant “blatting” sounds you may have noticed over the past weeks. This beautiful original instrument to the church was built by the Tellers-Kent Organ Company in 1927 at a cost of $9,500. It has three manuals (keyboards) and twenty-three individual sections of working pipes, known as “ranks.” To date, the organ has undergone three major renovations.  In the early 1950’s, the mechanics of the organ were pushed back and into the side walls of the church in an effort to increase standing space in the loft to accommodate more choir members.  In the early 1980’s, the original leather coverings to the wind chests of the organ were replaced as well as some of the electrical wiring.  It underwent its third major renovation in late 2012 with the complete reconstruction of the console.  In late 2018, the oboe rank was completely restored and debuted at our Christmas Eve Mass. Timothy Smith of Chesapeake Organ Service has been responsible for the most recent maintenance and restoration of the historic 1927 Tellers-Kent.  He has been contacted to address the most recent concerns and we hope to have the organ up and working again in time for our Palm Sunday Liturgy.  In the meantime, the baby grand piano will lead us in worship at BT throughout the Lenten season. Choir practice resumes Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 in St. Charles Hall.  Add your voice! … Elizabeth

Sunday Movie Matinee ~ Our 2019 Lenten programming includes a PG-13 rated movie, The Way, rated PG-13, which will be shown in two parts beginning on Sunday, March 24, following 10am Mass. Directed and written by Emilio Estevez, the movie stars Martin Sheen as an American father who travels to France to retrieve the body of his estranged son, who died while attempting the pilgrimage to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela (burial site of St. James the Apostle). He decides to take the journey himself, in an effort to understand both himself and his son. Pastry & beverages will be served; bring a “brown bag” lunch if you prefer. The second half of the movie will be shown at 7pm on Wednesday, March 27, following our Lenten Soup Supper and will conclude with a group discussion.

Lenten Soup Supper ~ Amy Johnson is seeking five “soup-er” chefs to simmer up and share their specialty on Wednesday, March 27, at our Lenten Soup Supper in St. Charles Hall. Volunteers willing to provide bread or bake cookies are also needed. Please take time to add your name to one of the Soup Supper sign-up sheets found on the entrance tables. If you aren’t sure, please take time this week to check your recipes and then give Amy a call at 716-836-4694. Supper will be served from 5:30-6:30pm, allowing for a quick clean-up before viewing the conclusion of our two-part movie at 7pm.

Catholic Charities Annual Appeal starts March 10. Donations to the Appeal in 2018 helped to impact the lives of over 152,000 people throughout Western New York with programs ranging from counseling and substance abuse services, education and job training, to specialized services for the elderly. 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.Your help is need to continue this important work. “Help your neighbor FIND HOPE.” If you did not receive a pledge card in the mail, extras are available on the tables by the church entrances. Our chairman, Bob Heicklen, will be happy to accept your pledge or check. Please give generously.

Invite a Friend ~ Sunday, March 31 is our annual Bring your friend, neighbor, or family member to church Sunday. An expanded coffee hour will follow our services. Details will be mailed in a letter to all parishioners.

Know Your Faith: Can Catholics listen to any gospel music outside the Catholic songs? Catholics are not bound to listen only to Catholic songs. They are encouraged to use Catholic songs for liturgical celebrations. Gospel music may be listened to, as long as it helps us to connect with God or helps us on our spiritual journey. When we sing, listen to, or dance to gospel music, the intention is to give praise to God. O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. (Psalms 95:1). We are told that David sang and danced at the temple in praise of God (2 Samuel 6:14-20). As we entertain ourselves, we should not forget that the creator, God, deserves the praise. We are told that he who sings well prays twice. Music is good for the soul–it can lift up our spirit and help us to relate to God and give praise to God. So listen to good music, pray with music, and keep enjoying God’s gift to us in music. Some scriptural passages that expresses the use of music in praising God:

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power (Psalms 150:1–6); Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16); Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19); Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands (Psalms 100:1-2); My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed (Psalms 71:23); Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise (Psalms 33:3); And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25); Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms (James 5:13); And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name (Romans 15:9); Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee (Hebrews 2:12); I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High (Psalms 9:2); And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20); Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp (Psalms 149:3); What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (1 Corinthians 14:15); Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs (Psalms 150:4); And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fire wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals (2 Samuel 6:5); And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30); But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him (2 Kings 3:15); God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

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).

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!

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.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Friday March 22, 4-7pm ~ Lenten Fish Fry at St. Margaret Rectory (1395 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo). Ticket includes haddock, two side dishes, roll, butter, dessert, and a beverage. Dine-in or carry-out available. Two seatings: first is 4-5:30 pm, second is 6-7:30 pm.  Also, 50-50 and theme basket raffles. For tickets, contact Diane at 716-876-5318.

Saturday March 23, 9am-3:30pm ~ Renewing Our Energy: Fostering Faith and Hope, a Lenten Day of Prayer offered by the Grey Nuns and Friends at Madonna Hall on the D’Youville College campus (320 Porter Avenue in Buffalo). Free parking. Bring your own lunch (cold drinks provided). Free will offering. Call Arlene to register at 716-440-9260 or email arlpez [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Christ the King Seminary Come & See Week, March 25 – 29. How can faith shape your future? Come and see! Discover the many ways a lay graduate degree from Christ the King Seminary can enhance your professional, personal, and faith journey while deepening your experience in work, life, and Observe a class, meet with faculty and students, and explore the campus. To learn more visit cks.edu/comeandsee or call 716-655-7081.

Friday March 29 at 7pm at St. Leo the Great (885 Sweet Home Road in Amherst) ~ Let’s Talk About…KEEPING THE FAITH in Crisis and Suffering. When crisis hits, how do you hold on? What role does faith play when suffering? Three Catholics will speak about the experience of faith and suffering in crisis, followed by a Q&A. Panelists include recently exonerated Fr. Roy Herberger; Jaqueline Joy, LCSW, Victim Assistance Coordinator; and Jean O’Brien, cancer victim and Catholic mother of 8. Msgr. Robert Zapfel will moderate the panel discussion; followed by light refreshments. Event is free with free childcare upon request by March 22. For more information, visit stleothegreatamherst.com or call 716-835-8905.  

Saturday March 30, 10:30am – 3:30pm is a Lenten Retreat: Praying for our Country at Fourteen Holy Helpers (Msgr. Ebner Hall, 1345 Indian Church Road in West Seneca). Registration starts at 10 am. There will be presentations, group activities, and lunch. No cost. To RSVP, call the rectory at 716-674-2374.

Saturday April 6 at 3pm ~ “Mark Twain Live!” with Mike Randall at Presbyterian Village / North Church (214 Village Park Dr.ive in Williamsville). RSVP to Lisa at 716-631-3430.

Saturday April 6 at 7:30 ~ Buffalo Choral Arts Society presents “My Spirit Sang All Day” – a concert of Sacred Lenten and Reflective Choral Music to soothe the soul and lift the spirit at St. Michael Church (651 Washington Street in Buffalo). Call 716-775-7664 or visit  BuffaloChoralArts.org.