St. Albert the Great, whose feast day we celebrate on November 15, was the patron saint of Blessed Trinity’s second pastor, Rev. Albert Fritton. St. Albert appears in ceramic relief on the door of the church’s Ambry.
Photo Credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News
November 10 – 17, 2019
Weekly Activities
Wednesday, November 13 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, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Sunday, November 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. ~ Italian Dinner 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, November 10 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Edward F. Schroeder (Requested by Connie Aquino)
Monday,November 11 ~ Veterans Day ~ St. Martin of Tours ~ No Service
Tuesday, November 12 ~ St. Josaphat ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, November 13 ~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal rest for Lucille Venezia (Blessed Trinity Church)
Thursday, November 14 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, November 15 ~ St. Albert the Great ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal rest for Lucille Venezia (Blessed Trinity Church)
Saturday, November 16 ~ Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. for Lucille Venezia
Saturday, November 16 ~ St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Gertrude ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Blessings for Francis X. Hezel (Judy Casassa)
Sunday, November 17 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Edward F. Schroeder (Amy Johnson)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 16/17, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Joe Nwogu; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Alice Davis, Fidelia Ejimadu; Choir – Mary Kresse
Veterans Day
November 11
News from our Parish Community
Dinner Reservations ~ This is the final weekend to obtain tickets for the Italian Dinner, on Sunday evening, November 17. Our in-house Italian dinner featuring homemade pasta and bolognese sauce prepared by Cugino’s Restaurant in Williamsville will be served from 5-7pm, and includes entrée, salad, beverage and dessert. Tickets will be available following both Masses this weekend. They at priced at $15 for adults and $8 for children 12 & under.
Gifts for The Home Bound ~ Through December 1, the Ladies Sodality will be accepting items for their annual Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our home bound parishioners and those in senior care facilities. We face a greater challenge this year as there are already 18 potential recipients (5 men; 13 women). Our goal is to have presents ready for delivery on the weekend of Dec. 7/8. If you would like to contribute, please bring your new, unwrapped items to church and leave them in the designated basket at the left end of the communion rail near the statue of St. Joseph. If you prefer to donate money, please do so BY NOVEMBER 21 so that our volunteers have time to shop. To share information about someone you think should be included, please contact Vera Andrew (716-704-2944) or Mickey Dick (716-832-2540).
Cocoa Challenge 2019 ~ Did you notice? Instant hot chocolate donation are filling up the back pew. Please help us reach our goal of 4,200 packets by December 1 (only 3 weeks away). Busy? Shopping inconvenient? Consider a monetary donation. Just use the envelope marked “Prisoner Gifts” and place it in the weekend collection.
Help personalize the gift bags to be filled with items for our prison inmates. No special talent is need to decorate the bags — keep it simple. Bags with instructions are available in the back pew near the cocoa donations )or call Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694).
Books — Donations of soft cover pocket-size books (5×8″ max) ar also welcomed and can be left in the marked back pew.
All are Welcome! The Blessed Trinity Choir is welcoming new members to enhance our Christmas Eve Liturgy. Choir practices are most Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. We are currently beginning preparations for our Prelude on Christmas Eve and are learning some beautiful settings of The Huron Carol, Silent Night, Infant Holy, and a new piece by Liam Lawton, Nowell, Nowell.
While listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving may be tiresome, singing Christmas music is uplifting, and helps us prepare our hearts for the beautiful advent and holiday season. No previous singing experience is necessary, nor is the ability to read music. All interested singers are welcome to join us in St. Charles Hall for camaraderie and a little holiday cheer – with no long term commitment. Please speak to any choir member about your interest, and help make our Christmas Eve Liturgy one to remember!
Did you know Blessed Trinity Church has one of the most beautiful acoustics in Western New York? Join us up in the loft and help enhance our Liturgies. Choir practice continues on Wednesday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend.
The second collection on November 9/10 is an archdiocesan collection to support religious services for those in the military services. Please be generous.
Sodality Christmas Dinner ~ Please note that the date of the Ladies Sodality Christmas dinner party has been changed to Tuesday evening, December 3. It will take place at The Family Tree Restaurant on Bailey Avenue in Amherst. Additional information about dinner choices and pricing will follow.
So Much to be Thankful For ~ Our Fall Wine Tasting committee is pleased to announce that the October 25 event raised $4,100. Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way!
Bridget Blesnuk
Music Director
1991 – 2010
From Hurt to Hope — a service of healing and hope for our diocesan family – Sunday, November 24, at 3 PM at St. Peter & Paul Church, 5480 Main St., Williamsville. In light of recent events surrounding sexual abuse in our diocese, members of the Church Musicians Guild of Buffalo (the “CMG”) are offering an outlet for sorrow and a way to express hope for our Church through their gift of music. The service will be meditative in style and feature music of Taize in a program conceived around the theme of “only in God can my soul find rest.” The choir will be drawn from the host church and include Guild members and members of our own choir. It was made possible through a bequest in honor of our late music director and CMG member, Bridget Blesnuk. All are welcome to attend, and we hope you will join us.
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.
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, … in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise.” Ps 138:1
Angels in Vincent Mundo’s murals on either side of the Sanctuary express attitudes one should have toward the Eucharist, including praise, thanksgiving, and petition.
Photo credit: Duane Held
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
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.
Concerts for The Soul Presents Remembering Our Loved Ones: A Musical-Poetic Journey (7pm, by donation) ~ Friday Nov. 15 St. Andrew’s Church (1525 Sheridan Drive in Kenmore); Saturday Nov. 16 at Blessed Sacrament Church (1035 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo); Friday Nov. 22 at UB Newman Center (495 Skinnersville Road in Amherst); Saturday Nov. 23 at St. Francis of Assisi (4263 St. Francis Drive in Hamburg). Come join Tenor Vocalist Cory James Gallagher and Writer-Poet Amy Gallagher as they take you on a musical-poetic journey through loss and grief, to the light of hope and inspiration. This evening will be a meaning-filled opportunity to remember those that we hold most dear in our hearts. You may request to have your loved one included in the concert with a song dedication or a written message in the program by contacting Cory at concertsforthesoul [at] gmail [dot] com or 716-868-2047.
Handling the Holidays will be presented Tuesday November 19 at 7pm at Mt. Olivet Cemetery (4000 Elmwood Avenue in Kenmore). The holiday season is not always greeted with happy anticipation. Grief may make it difficult to carry on as usual. Practical tips and strategies will be discussed for handling the holidays, to help you find your way through the season. Presenter is Cindy Tichenor who has served for over 20 years as a facilitator of her parish Bereavement Support Group. Open to the community; no charge. For more information or to reserve a spot, call Marianne Hubert, Director of Grief Support, at 716-873-6500.
Weekend Retreat “JUST MEN” at Stella Niagara Center of Renewal in Lewiston, Friday November 22. Led by Fr. John Graden, OSFS, Director of Embraced by God. Space is limited. Visit stellaniagararetreats.org or call 716-754-7376, ext. 2 to register (preferably 2 weeks prior to event).