Memorial Day Observed
May 27
Remember and pray for all men and women who have given their lives in the
service of our Country.
May 26 – June 2, 2019
Weekly Activities
Sunday, May 26 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall hosted by Bingo Workers
Tuesday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, May 29 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 30 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Saturday, June 1 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played 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 26 ~ Peace and Strength for Tina Chapman and Family (Requested by Mom)
Monday, May 27 ~ St. Augustine of Canterbury ~ Memorial Day Observed – No Service
Tuesday, May 28 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Susan Downs (John E. Curtin)
Wednesday, May 29 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Thursday, May 30 ~ The Ascension of the Lord ~ Mass at 6:00 p.m. – For the special intentions of Jack Curtin (A Grateful Parish)
Friday, May 31 ~ The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, June 1 ~ St. Jude ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Sunday June 2 ~ Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, June 1/2, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Chris Porter, David Iheke; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Mary Kresse, Pat Hartinger; Choir – Dan Korchowsky
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 31
One of six large terra cotta oval reliefs in the church narthex representing Luke’s account of Mary’s visit to help her cousin, Elizabeth,
prepare for the birth of John the Baptist (Lk. 1:39-56)
Photo credit: Margaret Dick
News from our Parish Community
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.
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). The tour 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 Sunday afternoon, May 26, there was only 1 seat 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.
Sister Flavia Dampf celebrates 75th Jubilee ~ Many Blessed Trinity parishioners remember with affection Sr. Flavia Dampf, who worked in several capacities in our parish for more than 30 years. Since her retirement, she’s been living in the Sisters of St. Joseph residence in Clarence. Next Sunday, June 2, she will celebrate her 75th Anniversary as a Sister of Social Service at a special afternoon Mass at the Clarence residence. No doubt she would be delighted to hear from her friends at BT on this auspicious occasion. Her address is 4975 Strickler Rd., Clarence, NY 14031. For more information, see Judy Casassa.
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.
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.
Docent Tom Brodfuehrer (2d from right) takes a breather with one of the many visitor groups he escorted around the church perimeter while describing architectural details.
Thank you to the docents, greeters, salespeople, and other volunteers who helped with the Sacred Sites Open House on Sunday, May 19. Despite the fencing out front, we welcomed more than 70 people to our unique “medieval” edifice, a record number for a one-day Open House! Everyone seemed to have a good time. There were lots of recollections and positive comments about the church and the people in it. Kudos to our great team: Vera Andrews, Eleanor Ash, Tom Brodfuehrer, Judy Casassa, Mickey Dick, Tom Dinder, Susan Duval, Mary Karlis, Toni Maus, Marianne Pernick, Sr. Liz Savage, and Nancy Yager.
Choir Members Participate in Festival Mass ~ Members of the Blessed Trinity Choir participated in the Church Musicians’ Guild of Buffalo’s (“CMG”) season-ending festival Mass on Thursday, May 23, at St. Andrew’s Church in Kenmore. The Mass provides an opportunity for church music directors, musicians, cantors, and choir members to come together in praise and thanksgiving at the end of the Easter season. CMG awards were presented following the Mass and included the Cecilia Roy Kenny Award to Frank Scinta, the Young Adult Music Ministry Award to Victoria Erdman and the Msgr. Kawalec Organ Scholarship to James Bobak. CMG member Regina Doherty was recognized with a 50-Year Membership Award.
Know Your Faith: Why did Jesus call “love one another” a new commandment? In last Sunday’s Gospel Jesus told us that by our love for one another, we shall be called his disciples. He called it a new commandment because it is the Christian identity. Many people think love is only loving those who love us or who are related to us by blood. Jesus wants us to understand that true love is unconditional, it is selfless, and is shown to anyone without expecting back. It is not limited to relations, ethnicity, tribe, race or language. It cuts across all cultural differences as Jesus showed us when he encountered the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-26). Jesus went beyond the cultural barriers between the Jews and Samaritans at that time. Love is a new commandment because it seeks no revenge, it forgives hurts as Jesus prayed for his killers: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they have done….” (Luke 23:24). Love should forgive hurt done to us, it should be shown to everyone even those who do not deserve it. Love is a new commandment because it should be shown to every human being not only those who show us love or who are related to us. The song They’ll Know We Are Christians, written by Peter Scholtes expresses this new commandment that Jesus calls us to practice:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
May God help us to better understand this new commandment of love and practice it, through Christ our lord, Amen.
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].
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 most recent financial report 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!
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.
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.