St. Cecilia
November 22
In this photo of the dome, ten figures representing Virgins and Widows appear to the right of the winding path. St. Cecilia is the kneeling figure holding organ pipes at the far right of the group of women. Photo credit: Gary Kelley.
November 17 – 24, 2019
Weekly Activities
Sunday, November 17 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. ~ Italian Dinner in St. Charles Hall
Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, November 20 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 20 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.* (There will be NO BINGO on Thanksgiving Day).
Saturday, November 23 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Sunday, November 24 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour 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 17 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Edward F. Schroeder (Requested by Amy Johnson)
Monday,November 18 ~ Dedication of Basilicas of Ss. Peter & Paul, Apostles; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne ~ No Service
Tuesday, November 19 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Lucille Venezia (Fr. Victor Ibhawa)
Wednesday, November 20 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Betty Maul (Judy Casassa)
Thursday, November 21 ~ Presentation of the Bl. Virgin Mary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Lucille Venezia (Fr. Victor Ibhawa)
Friday, November 22 ~ St. Cecilia ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, November 23 ~ St. Clement I; St. Columban, Abbot; Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Eternal Rest for Lucille Venezia (Fr. Victor Ibhawa)
Sunday, November 24 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Blessings for Jeannie S. and Laurance Milano (Bob and Mary Kresse) and Eternal Rest for Lucille Venezia (Fr. Victor Ibhawa)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 23/24, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: John Curtin; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Bob Heicklen, Bernice Bradley; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Pat Hartinger, Mary Kresse; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Join us at a special 10AM Mass
News from our Parish Community
The Parish Council meets on at 7pm on Wednesday, November 20, in St. Charles Hall.
Sunday, November 24, after Mass, please bring Breaking Bread books from your pew to the front of the church. They will be replace with new editions for the 2019-20 liturgical year. then join us in St. Charles Hall for our monthly coffee hour.
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.
“Life at the Poverty Line. Every day is about hanging on.” The second collection on November 23/24 benefits the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Please give generously. Your gift supports programs that:
Bring people together to solve community problems;
Create affordable housing for low-income families;
Teach new skills and create jobs:
Help those in poverty achieve self reliance and self sufficiency;
Educate Catholics about poverty and Catholic social teaching.
Friday, November 22, is the Feast Day of Blessed Cecilia, the patron saint of all musicians. St. Cecilia appears in the rose window in Blessed Trinity’s choir loft, so she is always close to your music ministers. St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married, and is represented in art with an organ or organ-pipes in her hand. In 1942, Benjamin Britten composed a beautiful choral setting of Nobel Laureate W. H. Auden’s poem, Anthem for St. Cecilia’s Day, which was Britten’s birthday. The text is one that is prayed often in the loft, for obvious reasons:
Photo credit: Bridget Blesnuk
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
Did you know that Blessed Trinity Church has one of the most beautiful acoustics in Western New York? Be inspired! Join us up in the loft and help enhance our Liturgies. Choir practice continues on Tuesday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend.
Our Thanksgiving Day Mass will be at 10am on Thursday, November 28.
Gifts for Home Bound Parishioners – Only 2 weekends remain to help the Ladies Sodality in their annual effort to prepare Christmas gift bags to be delivered to our home bound parishioners and those in senior care facilities. Why not make a note to yourself and bring your contribution when you come to Mass next weekend. That’s the latest we can accept monetary contributions in order to shop and have gift items ready for delivery on December 7/8. Items you have purchased will be accepted through Sunday, December 1 (Thanksgiving weekend). Please leave your new, unwrapped items in the designated basket at the far left end of the communion rail. The basket also contains “take one” slips with gift suggestions. As of now, we will be delivering to 16 different locations from W. Seneca to Clarence, so if you can help by delivering a gift bag and visiting with one of our 18 recipients, please contact Vera Andrew (716-704-2944) or Mickey Dick (716-832-2540
Cocoa Challenge 2019 ~ Thank you! We are at 40% of our goal, but we still need 2,400 cocoa packets by December 1—just 2 weeks away. With this momentum and your continued support we will reach our goal of 4,200. Put it on your “to do list” today! Your cash donations are being used to buy in bulk at reduced prices. The Gift Bags to be decorated are available in the back pew. Completed bags can be returned by Dec 1 to the same pew. Help assemble the gifts on Friday, Dec. 6 here at Blessed Trinity. There will be two gift packing shifts: 10am to1pm and 6:00pm to completion. These packages are a small token of inspiration and give hope to men and women incarcerated through the holiday season.
Would you like a prayer for a special intention? Beginning Sunday December 1, the first Sunday of Advent, you will be provided an opportunity to submit your personal prayer requests. These requests will be prayed for at each Mass. You may submit your request by writing it on a slip of paper and placing it in the basket on the rail in front of the baptismal font. There is no need to provide your name. These written prayer requests will be in addition to the petitions shared during the Prayer of the Faithful.
Sodality Christmas Dinner ~ The Sodality’s annual Christmas dinner is Tuesday, December 3 at 6pm, at The Family Tree Restaurant, 4346 Bailey Avenue in Amherst. The management has been very congenial, allowing us to offer five dinner choices to choose from: broiled fish (lemon, butter, garlic sauce), pot roast, lamb shank, honey fried chicken, or Gyro Souvlaki (lamb & lean beef). Each dinner is served with salad, potato and pita or French bread and will also include rice pudding dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. Wine or beer is available at cost. We are tax-exempt, and our all inclusive price of $25.00 includes gratuity. Friends are welcome. Amy Johnson (716-836-4694) will be accepting reservations until Wednesday, November 27; payment is due by Sunday, December 1.
Save the Date ~ Blessed Trinity is serving up musical treats on Sunday, December 8, at 3 p.m. when The Freudig Singers of WNY return for their annual “Christmas Pie” performance. Come for the music; stay for the pie.
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!
Blessed Trinity would welcome regular prayer groups such as Sacred Heart, St. Jude, Altar Rosary, etc. Anyone interested in coordinating a group, please see Fr. Victor or email the church office at blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com.
Holiday Tours of Blessed Trinity ~ Explore Buffalo is again bringing their seasonal tours to Blessed Trinity Church and inviting the public to see our beautiful structure and its festive decorations. The Thanksgiving Weekend tour will be on Saturday, November 30 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. The Christmas Weekend tour will be on Sunday, December 29 from 12:30 – 2:30 PM. Cost: $15 per person. Reservations can be made by contacting Explore Buffalo at explore [at] explorebuffalo [dot] org or 716-245-3032. Walk-ins are also welcome. Either weekend presents a wonderful opportunity for local folks to invite their visiting relatives for a pleasant and educational holiday experience. At 3:00 PM on Dececember 29, we will also host a musical presentation by the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum. A double bill – a gorgeous Christmas gift!!
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.
“We believe in … the communion of saints.” The November Feast of All Saints and Commemoration of All Souls remind us of these tenants of our Faith, expressed in The Apostles Creed and depicted in symbols on the right side of the main doors to our church. Photo credit: Margaret Dick
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
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.
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.
Concerts for The Soul Presents Remembering Our Loved Ones: A Musical-Poetic Journey (7pm, by donation) ~ 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.
37th Annual Multi-Faith Thanksgiving Celebration, Monday November 25, 7-8pm at St. Joseph University Parish (3269 Main Street in Buffalo). Donations of non-perishable food items are requested. Reception after service.
Annual Craft Show, Friday, November 29, 10am – 4pm and Saturday November 30, 10am – 3pm at St. Gregory the Great Ministry Center and School (200 St. Gregory Court in Williamsville). The craft show will consist of over 140 Western New York crafters offering unique, handmade gifts.
Kitchen Crew 6 Christmas Concert, Saturday, November 30, 6-7:30 pm at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine (Shrine Dining Room – 1023 Swann Road – off Rt. 18E – in Lewiston). KC6 is a dynamic young singing group from the Greater Toronto Area and has been singing at festivals throughout the GTA for 3 years. Come enjoy some great Christmas music amidst the Shrine’s beautiful Festival lights. Festival lights on every evening 5-9 pm through January 6. Admission and parking are free; handicap accessible. Gift shop open daily 9 am-9 pm. Cafeteria will be open extended hours this evening. For more information, 716-754-7489 or email office [at] fatimashrine [dot] 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.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).
St. Gregory the Great Adoration Chapel is in need of adorers for all times and days. The Chapel is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. You do not need to be a parishioner of St. Greg’s to be an adorer; all are welcome. Contact Kathy at 716-759-7149 or Barbara at 716-634-7478 with a time that is convenient for you to come and adore, as the Blessed Sacrament cannot be left alone. The Chapel is located inside St. Gregory the Great Church, 200 St. Gregory Ct., Williamsville.