All of this Sunday’s readings illustrate the value of intercessory prayer. They include the story of the Israelites’ victory over the Amalekites as Moses raised his hands in prayerful supplication and Aaron and Hur supported his arms for the duration of the battle. Moses appears as a symbol of the Hebrew Bible over the left portal of the church facade.
Photo credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News
October 20 – October 27, 2019
Weekly Activities
Monday, October 21 ~ Blessed Trinity hosts dinner for Family Promise guests at Ss. Columba-Brigid
Wednesday, October 23 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, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Friday, October 25 from 7 – 9:00 p.m. ~ Fall Wine Tasting in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Sunday, October 27 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall, hosted by Parish Council
*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 , October 20 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Bridget Blesnuk – Anniversary Remembrance (Requested by her parents)
Monday,October 21 ~ No Service
Tuesday, October 22 ~ St. John Paul II ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Wednesday, October 23 ~ St. John of Capistrano ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Mary Anne Andrade (Family & Friends)
Thursday, October 24 ~ St. Anthony Mary Claret ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Friday, October 25 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Saturday, October 26 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Eternal Rest for Mary Anne Andrade (Family & Friends)
Sunday, October 27 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Edward F. Schroeder – (Robert and Mary Riley)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, October 26/27, 2019:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Lorna Cameron; Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Bob Heicklen, Maggie Gatson; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Mary Kresse, Pam Hartinger; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan
Our long-awaited Fall Wine Tasting, THIS FRIDAY, October 25,
7-9 p.m. in St. Charles Hall.
Advance sale tickets: $30. ($35 at the door).
News from our Parish Community
World Mission Sunday will be observed on the weekend of October 19/20. On Mission Sunday, everybody remembers, prays, gives … but on EVERY DAY of the year, the Missionary remembers, prays and gives. Please be generous with your financial support, and remember to pray daily for the missions: one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and “St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.” The Propagation of the Faith … all of us committed to the worldwide mission of Jesus.
Blessing of the sick and well-aging will take place after Mass on Sunday, October 20.
Wine Tasting ~ This Friday, October 25, is our long-anticipated wine tasting. With live keyboard music to set the mood, guests will enjoy a variety of wines and an abundance of hors d’oeuvres. (Beer, non-alcoholic beverages and desserts are also included). Our “21 & over” event takes place in St. Charles Hall. Please bring your food donation ready to serve; serving dishes and utensils are available. Proceeds benefit the “Under This Roof Fund” which is dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of our Landmark church. Tickets are available for a $30/person donation ($35 at the door), and you can obtain yours after Masses this weekend or at the rectory this week during regular office hours.
Italian Dinner, Sunday evening, November 17. Tickets go on sale next Sunday, October 27, for our November 17 in-house Italian dinner with homemade pasta and specialty sauces prepared by Cugino’s Restaurant in Williamsville. Seating will be limited, so be an “early bird.” Adults: $15; Children 12 & under: $8. See Kathy Press or Cathy Cummings for tickets.
Deo gratias! We all have reasons to be thankful to our God, and composer Stephen Dean, a resident of Suffolk in the UK, listed many of them in our closing hymn. Dean works for Decani Music, the Oregon Catholic Press agent in the United Kingdom. He is editor and publisher of Laudate, a successful hymnal, and is also music advisor to the Diocese of East Anglia. He leads the music in the small parish where much of his music published by OCP was first performed.
Thanks be to God…whose love has gathered us this day
who helps and guides us on our way
who gives us voice that we may thank him
for all the gifts of life and light
whose care protects us day and night
who keeps in mind us who forget him
who knows our secret joys and fears
who when we call him always hears
our rock and strength ever sustaining
who never turns his face away
who heals and pardons all who stray
who welcomes us into the kingdom
who made our world and all we see
who gave his Son to set us free
whose Spirit brings warmth and rejoicing
Deo gratias, Deo gratias, Thanks be to God most high!
Did you know that, in the words of St. Augustine, “the one who sings, prays 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, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend.
Volunteers Needed for Parish Family Promise Team ~ Our Family Promise team will be preparing dinners for guest families Dinner at Ss.Columba-Brigid on Monday, October 21 and Monday, December 2. Family Promise of Western NY (formerly the Interfaith Hospitality Network) provides emergency shelter, meals and case management to local families who are temporarily homeless. While Ss.Columba-Brigid is a host site, Blessed Trinity is a support parish helping with meals. Additional volunteers willing to help prepare and serve meals with our team will be much appreciated. If interested, please contact Amy Johnson at 716-836-4694 or acjohnson4 [at] verizon [dot] net. Facts: 1 in 9 kindergarten students have already experienced homelessness. Forty per cent of Americans are just one unexpected $400 expense from financial distress. Family Promise offers many volunteer opportunities at fpwny.org.
Thank you to the many parishioners who contributed and worked on the White Elephant fundraiser. We raised $1,283 for the Under This Roof Fund. Remaining items were donated to St. Vincent DePaul.
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.
“St. Helena,” the bell which hung in the former church and school building (visible in background) from 1909 until 2018, is now permanently displayed in front of church. It was blessed and rededicated by Fr. Victor in a ceremony following the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Usher Ed Marien, a member of the school’s Class of 1944, rang the bell. Bud Dick, Parish Trustee and member of the Class of 1958 (left), coordinated the School Alumni’s Bell Project, which funded
the bell’s removal, restoration and relocation.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Anointing of the Sick Healing Mass in honor of St. Peregrine will be held on Monday, October 21 at 7 pm at St. Thomas Aquinas, 450 Abbott Rd., Buffalo. Fr. David Bellittiere and the Friends of St. Peregrine cordially invite those afflicted with cancer or in need special healing to attend this healing Mass and receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. For further information, call 716-283-0011 or visit stperry.org.
“Let’s Talk About Hope for the Future: The Voices of Young Priests,” Thursday, October 24 at 7pm, St. Leo the Great Church (885 Sweet Home Road in Amherst). Rev. Peter Santandreu of St. Amelia, Rev. Paul Cygan of St. Gregory the Great, and transitional deacon Rev. Mr. Denning Achidi will speak on their experiences and reasons for hope in the future of the Church. The audience will be invited to join their voices to the conversation as we share how hope is essential for us and for the Church.
Saints in Crisis: Following Christ in Troubled Times, Thursday October 24 at 7pm, with speaker and evangelist, Meg Hunter-Kilmer. St. John Neumann Shrine next to St. John the Baptist Church (1085 Englewood Avenue in Kenmore). Rosary at 7 pm; talk beginning at 7:30 pm. Meg is a nationally known speaker, evangelist, theologian, and “hobo for Christ” with an expertise in the lives of the saints. All are welcome. For more information, email Mary Haseltine at maryhaseltine [at] yahoo [dot] com.
Women’s Retreat, Saturday, October 26, 8:30am – 3pm, at Ss. Columba-Brigid, 75 Hickory St., Buffalo 14202. Why do we pray? To praise, to thank, to complain, to listen, to give God suggestions, to ask for help, to question, to connect with God? All of the above! Presented by Betty Reiter, graduate of Catholic Biblical Studies and Christ the King Seminary. $10 donation includes a light breakfast and lunch. Register by calling 716-575-4030 or emailing: leobettyreiter [at] gmail [dot] com.
Requiem for the Homeless, Friday November 1, 7:30pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church (724 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo). The Choirs of St. Joseph Cathedral, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Calvary Episcopal Church, along with a chamber orchestra directed by Garrett Martin, will present Bob Chilcott’s Requiem in its entirety. There will be a free-will offering with proceeds distributed among local agencies that seek to combat homelessness in Western New York. All are welcome.
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.