Detail, terra cotta baptismal font
Photo credit: Char Szabo-Perricelli
November 3 – 10, 2019
Weekly Activities
Sunday, November 3, following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Meeting & Service of Remembrance in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, November 6 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall (Food Pantry operates every Wednesday from Noon-4pm)
Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day. Remember to exercise your right to vote.
Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Saturday, November 9 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, November 3 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Deceased Members of The Ladies Sodality (Requested by Blessed Trinity Ladies Sodality)
Monday,November 4 ~ St. Charles Borromeo ~ No Service
Tuesday, November 5 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, November 6 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Thursday, November 7 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, November 8 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Lois Knapp Gillen (Her sisters)
Saturday, November 9 ~ Dedication of the Lateran Basilica ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Sunday, November 10 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Edward F. Schroeder (Connie Aquino)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, November 9/10, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Gary Kelley; Eucharistic Minister: Lorna Cameron
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Mary Kresse, Avery White; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Toni Maus, Bernice Bradley; Choir – Maggie Gatson
Rev. Charles T. Kraehn was the fourth pastor of Blessed Trinity, and served the parish from 1945 until his death in 1959. He named the new social hall, dedicated in 1958, St. Charles Hall in honor of his patron saint,
St. Charles Borromeo, whose feast day is November 4.
News from our Parish Community
The Ladies Sodality will hold a Service of Remembrance for all deceased members immediately following Mass on Sunday, November 3. Our focus this year will be on 20 women who served as president beginning in 1906. All women of the parish are invited to join us in remembering our “founding mothers” and those who have honored our Blessed Lady and sustained our sisterhood for more than 100 years. A brief meeting will precede the service; light lunch will be served.
Italian Dinner, Sunday evening, November 17. Tickets for our in-house Italian dinner with homemade pasta and specialty sauces prepared by Cugino’s Restaurant in Williamsville will be available following Masses this weekend and next. Since the restaurant has requested a final number by November 10, none will be sold after that. Dinners will be served from 5-7pm and include entrée, salad, beverage and dessert. Tickets for adults are priced at $15; children 12 & under are $8. See Kathy Press or Cathy Cummings for yours.
Gifts for The Home Bound ~ Starting now through December 1, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting 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 ~ We continue Sr. Karen’s message of hope to prisoners. Please remember to shop for instant hot chocolate packets and place them in the back pew of the church by December 1. The price of chocolate has increased and the committee hopes to economize by buying in bulk. Therefore, your cash donations are most welcome. You may place your donation in an envelope marked “Prisoner Gifts” and drop it in the collection basket. The gift bags will be assembled on Friday. December 6. “For I was…..in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25: 35-36.
Special collection for the Catholic University ~ There will be a second collection on the weekend of November 2/3 for The Catholic University of America, located in Washington, DC. Distinguished as the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, its Schools of Religious Studies and Philosophy are internationally recognized. Quality education and financial aid programs are also available in the following areas: music, nursing, arts and sciences, law, social service, library and information science, and engineering and architecture.
So Much to be Thankful For ~ Our October 25 Fall Wine Tasting was a tremendous success, and there are so many people to thank for this all-around team effort: the shoppers; the folks who obtained business donations and auction items; the team that cleaned corners and transformed our familiar dining room into a restaurant-worthy event space; the wine stewards, oven-watchers, food servers and dishwashers; and of course, our parishioners who – once again – provided an incredible variety of hors d’oeuvres and desserts to the amazement of our first-time guests and the satisfaction of the “regulars.”
We give prayerful thanks for everyone who supported our Fall Wine Tasting, to benefit the “Under This Roof Fund.”
We are extremely grateful to members of the local business community who supported our fundraiser with their donations. In Buffalo: The Martin House (125 Jewett Parkway), Just Pizza (3172 Main Street), Lone Star Grill (1853 Hertel Avenue), Raymondo’s Pizzeria (1580 E. Delavan Avenue), and Wegman’s Markets (601 Amherst Street); Salvatore’s Hospitality, 6461 Transit Road in Depew; Paula’s Donuts, 2319 Sheridan Drive in Tonawanda; Russell’s Steaks Chops and More (6675 Transit Road) and Share Kitchen & Bar Room (5590 Main Street) in Williamsville; and – from across the worldwide web – casemates.com and gourmet.WOOT.com. We ask that you remember to return that support with your patronage.
Special recognition is also due to those “Friends of the Wine Tasting” who contributed auction items and/or invaluable advice, assistance, and musical entertainment: The Sisters of St. Francis of the Newman Communities, Bill Warren, Don and Bonnie Williams, Bud and Mickey Dick, and Elizabeth Clay.
Adding Some “Soul” ~ The first weekend Mass in November is a great opportunity to remember both All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, or Solemnity of All Saints, is celebrated in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. All Souls’ Day or the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, that is, of the souls of all Christians who have died, follows All Saints’ Day. Observing Christians typically remember deceased relatives on this day.
The Blessed Trinity Choir often comments that we should “add some soul” to our meditations. This week’s offering, Grayson Warren Brown’s Holy, Holy certainly fits the bill – so much so that singing this piece warrants a trip downstairs to the piano.
Grayson Warren Brown is an internationally known composer, author, recording artist, and speaker who has published many collections of liturgical compositions. He began his ministry in the late 1960’s in a small inner-city parish in New York City. It was there that he learned how significant an authentic and spirit-filled experience of worship can be to those in need of hope. Forty years of experience working with multicultural parishes throughout the United States and abroad have given him a unique insight into the power that good liturgy can instill in people of all races and cultures.
Grayson is now dividing his time between writing, composing, and traveling the country presenting workshops, speaking at conventions and conducting parish missions and revivals. His down-to-earth approach to liturgy and scripture, coupled with his dynamic speaking style, have made him one of the most sought after presenters in the United States today.
Did you know that singing is praying twice? Do you have suggestions for hymns? Don’t hesitate to let a member of the choir know, or, better yet, join us up in the loft and help enhance our Liturgies. Choir practice continues on Wednesday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend.
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 homebound 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
Chesterton Academy of Buffalo, a joyfully Catholic, classical, coed high school, is hosting their Experience Chesterton Open House on Thursday, November 7 at 6:30 pm at 25 Mansion Ave., Cheektowaga. Meet faculty and find how faith and reason are intertwined into every class. More importantly, meet our articulate, critical-thinking and joyful students! Come experience why Chesterton may be an answer to your high school prayers. Visit buffalochestertonacademy.org or call Call 716-674-8101 to RSVP today.
Chris Wilson Concert, Saturday November 9 at 7:30pm at Church of the Annunciation (7580 Clinton Street in Elma). Join singer and songwriter, Chris Wilson, for a free concert featuring songs of faith, popular songs, and a touch of Christmas. A New York native, Wilson has gained celebrity status for his vocally driven songwriting and passionate live performances. This event is open to the public; a free-will offering would be appreciated to help defray expenses. For more information call 716-683-5254 or visit annunciation.cc.
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).