December 15 – 22, 2019
Weekly Activities
Sunday, December 15 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Anointing of the sick and well-aging in church.
Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, December 18 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall (Food Pantry operates every Wednesday from Noon-4pm)
Wednesday, December 18 at 6:40 p.m. ~ Parish Council social and meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Saturday, December 21 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Sunday, December 22 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Help needed to retrieve Christmas decorations from church basement.
Monday, December 23 at 6:00 p.m. ~ Open invitation to help decorate church for Christmas
*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, December 15 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Lucille Venezia (Requested by Bingo Workers) and Blessings for Nicholas Orlando (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse)
Monday, December 16 ~ No Service
Tuesday, December 17 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 18 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Thursday, December 19 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Friday, December 20 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 21 ~ St. Peter Canisius ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Eternal Rest for Lucille Venezia (Nancy DeBoy)
Sunday, December 22 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Blessings for Elmer Kirst and Elvira (Bob and Mary Kresse)
Tuesday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve Mass at 10:00 p.m., preceded by choral prelude by the Blessed Trinity Choir
Wednesday, December 25 ~ Christmas Day Mass at 10:00 a.m.
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, December 21 & 22, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Fran Cahill, Bernice Bradley; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Toni Maus, Fidelia Ejimadu; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan
Please help decorate the church for Christmas on Monday, Dec. 23, at 6pm.
News from our Parish Community
The Parish Council will hold it’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 18, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall. Council President Palma Zanghi and Veep Colleen Schroeder are promising holiday goodies if you make an appearance by 6:40pm. Don’t miss out on this special treat.
Church Decorating ~ With Christmas Eve falling on a Tuesday, there isn’t much time for decorating. Immediately after Mass on December 22, the 4th Sunday of Advent, able bodied volunteers are needed to carry up the decorations from the church basement. Then please reserve some time on Monday evening, December 23, to help put the finishing touches on our Christmas decorating effort. Volunteers are asked to assemble on Monday at 6 p.m. Please use the side entrance near the wheelchair ramp. As we all know, “many hands make light work,” but if we are not finished by 7 p.m., you’ll get a preview of the Christmas music selections as the choir rehearses in the loft.
Blessed Trinity Annual Christmas “Giving Tree” ~ Please don’t forget to take an envelope from the Giving Tree. This year’s chosen charity is Family Promise of WNY, an inter-faith, volunteer-based charity providing temporary housing to families who have experienced a crisis and have no place to live. Your cash donation, gift card, or check payable to “Family Promise,” will assist Family Promise guests as they transition into more permanent housing. Recommended stores include Target, Walmart, Tops and other area grocery chains. Whatever form your donation takes, please place it in an envelope from The Giving Tree and drop it in the collection basket. DO NOT return the envelope to the tree. For additional information about Family Promise, please visit https://fpwny.org/.
Anticipation ~ The Advent season takes me back to my childhood, every single year. The theme of the four Sundays of waiting vacillates between a mature, steady expectation to a child-like urgency – When are we going to get there? Selecting liturgical music that reinforces this varied waiting is a fun challenge – and this week’s opening and closing hymns hopefully reinforced this dichotomy. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus exemplifies adult anticipation:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
What a contrast to our closing hymn, Alleluia! Hurry the Lord is Near. I can feel the excitement of child-like anticipation for Christmas morning in every verse:
Alleluia! Hurry the Lord is near. Alleluia! Alleluia! Hurry the Lord is near.
Sound the trumpet, the Lord is near. Hurry the Lord is near.
See, He comes to save us all, hurry the Lord is near.
Earth has longed for his approach. Hurry the Lord is near.
Straighten the road, smooth the path. Hurry the Lord is near.
Go out to meet and shout his name. Hurry the Lord is near.
His mighty Kingdom shall never end. Hurry the Lord is near.
He is the mighty one, He is the Word. Hurry the Lord is near.
God everlasting, Prince of Peace. Hurry the Lord is near.
So privileged to be waiting for our Savior’s birth together! May Christ’s peace continue to bless this Advent season – hurry! Our Lord is near! Join us up in the loft and help enhance our Liturgies. Choir practice continues on Tuesday, December 17, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend.
Personal Prayer Requests ~ During Advent, you are invited to submit your personal prayer requests. Just write them out and place your prayer petitions in the basket on the communion rail in front of the baptismal font. There is no need to provide your name. Your intentions will be remembered at Masses throughout Advent.
Thank You to all of the volunteers (Vera Andrew, Judy Casassa, Elizabeth & Luis Clay, Mickey & Bud Dick, Ellen Duffy, Dorothy Manuppelli, Sue Trabert and Pam Zanghi) who helped with the Freudig Singers Concert last Sunday. The music was great and the pies were delicious!!
Holiday Double-Bill on Sunday, December 29! Blessed Trinity will host a tour as part of Explore Buffalo’s Sacred Spaces Tour Series from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Our excellent BT docents will explain to all the participants the architectural and symbolism features of our Landmark church. This is a marvelous opportunity for WNY residents to bring their out-of-town holiday visitors to a place of light, warmth, and beautiful Christmas decorations! Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 with an Explorer Pass, and $5 for students. Explore Buffalo is sponsoring the tour and you may make a reservation by clicking HERE or calling 716-245-3032. Walk-ins are welcome as well. On this same day (December 29) at 3 pm, the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum will present “Catholic Treasures of Advent and Christmas”, a concert of sacred choral masterpieces of the season from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Schola Cantorum will perform works by Elgar, Byrd, Palestrina, Bach, Victoria, Gallus, LeJeune and others. The concert will be followed by a singalong of traditional Christmas Carols. There is no charge for the concert, but a free will offering will be taken. Come for the tour, come for the concert, or come for both!! It promises to be a most enjoyable afternoon!
Gifts for Home Bound Parishioners – Christmas gift bags for our parish home bound and those in senior care facilities have been delivered, and we are receiving many positive comments from grateful recipients. Thank you to members of the Ladies Sodality who spearheaded the project, everyone who contributed gifts or money to purchase them, and all who took the time to deliver a gift bag and visit with someone who is no longer able to attend services on a regular basis.
Report on the 2019 Prisoner Package Project ~ Sister Karen Klimczak’s message of hope, love, peace, and forgiveness to the imprisoned continues. A Big Thank You is extended to all the friends and supporters of Sr. Karen who donated cocoa and books, decorated bags, and helped package the gifts.
On the evening of 12/3, goods and books were delivered with the help of men from the ancient Order of Hibernians. On Friday morning 12/6, volunteers from churches, schools, social agencies and friends of Sr. Karen unpacked, sorted and counted supplies for 1900 gift bags. Cartons and boxes were flattened and plastics bagged for recycling. Working very efficiently, they then filled 900 gift bags for the women at Albion and packed them into shipping boxes. A big evening crew of 95 volunteers packed 1000 gifts for the men at Wende Correctional Facility. Each gift bag contained: 2 books, a pair of socks, ramen noodles, a granola/snack bar, a bag of candy, 2 hot chocolate packs, and a note of peace and encouragement. On Tuesday 12/10, “Paint of WNY” donated their truck and 20 workers who loaded the boxes for delivery to the prisons.
Blessed Trinity’s Cocoa Challenge exceeded its goal and donated 4000 packets. Cash donations totaled $335. We spent $178 to purchase 1600 cocoa packets, leaving $157 to fill shortages and donate to Peaceprints of WNY. Thanks and appreciation to our BT parishioners who decorated and arranged for friends and children to decorate over 200 gift bags. Thank you to our parishioners who shopped for cocoa at BJ’s and Sam’s Club, and to those who worked to pack the gift bags and help clean up.
We thank Dennis, our maintenance man, for setting up tables and supplying cart and extension cord. We are grateful and thank Fr. Victor for again making Blessed Trinity Church available for this yearly project.
We acknowledge and thank Janice Burns, project coordinator, for her hard work bringing this project to another successful end. Hopefully, we have left some peace prints.
Father Victor’s Travel Schedule ~ Due to the death of a member of his extended family in Nigeria, Fr. Victor will be away from December 10 – January 14. We pray that God will watch over his travels and bless his time with family and friends.
Emotional Support During the Holiday Season ~ If you are struggling with depression, grief or anxiety, the holidays can be an especially difficult time. If you are experiencing these feelings and think counseling could help, call Catholic Charities. We offer counseling in every county in the Diocese of Buffalo and are ready to assist you. In Erie and Niagara counties, call 716-895-1033.
Please notify the Rectory Office with your current email address if you wish to receive a PDF version of the weekly church bulletin. You easiest way to do that is by using the contact feature at the bottom of this page.
Anyone interested in coordinating a prayer group, such as Pious Society, Sacred Heart, St. Jude, Altar Rosary, etc., please see Fr. Victor or email the church office at blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com.
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!
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 home bound parishioners who may wish to receive a visit and the Eucharist on the last Friday of each month.
The St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum will perform “Catholic Treasures of Advent and Christmas” at 3pm on Sunday, December 29, 2019.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Concerts For The Soul: The Wonder of Christmas, Friday December 20 at 7pm. Cory James Gallagher presents Concerts For The Soul: The Wonder of Christmas at St. Michael’s Church (651 Washington Street in Buffalo). Another performance is set for Saturday, December 21 (7pm) at St. Mary of The Lake Church (4737 Lakeshore Road in Hamburg). Come join tenor-vocalist Cory James Gallagher and writer-poet Amy Gallagher as they take you on a musical-poetic journey through the wonder and nostalgia of this sacred season. All concerts are by donation. To dedicate a song and have your loved one included in our “Christmas Angels” segment, contact concertsforthesoul [at] gmail [dot] com or 716-868-2047.
Seeking Volunteer Opportunity? The Station of the Cross Catholic Radio (6325 Sheridan Road in Williamsville) has a need for call-screeners for the Mother Miriam Live program that airs 10am-11am, and also volunteers for administrative duties (labeling, sorting/stuffing envelopes, addressing envelopes, etc.). Call Dana Mielke at 716-839-6114, ext. 105. Find out more at thestationofthecross.com.
Free Legal Advice by Volunteer Lawyers Project, Wednesdays, 12-2pm at Adult Education Center (368 Virginia Street in Buffalo) and Thursdays 3:30-5:30pm at East Community High School (820 Northampton Street in Buffalo). Visit ecbavlp.com or call 716-828-8491 for more information.