The church bell which hung in the former church and school building
from 1909 until 2018 is now permanently displayed on Leroy Avenue.
Photo credit: Margaret Dick

September 1 – 8, 2019

Weekly Activities

Tuesday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsals resume.

Wednesday, September 4 from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall (Food Pantry operates every Wednesday from Noon-4pm)

Thursday, September 5 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*

Saturday, September 7 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*

Sat/Sun, September 7 & 8 ~ Election of parish council members at Mass

*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 , September 1 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Birthday Remembrance for Elizabeth Dick (Requested by Family)

Monday, September 2 ~ Labor Day Holiday Observance ~ No Service

Tuesday, September 3 ~ St. Gregory the Great ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Wednesday, September 4 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Thursday, September 5  ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Charlotte Casassa (Judy Casassa)

Friday, September 6 ~ First Friday Adoration, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel

Friday, September 6 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Saturday, September 7 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Sunday, September 8 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Peace and Harmony for Maxine Chapman and Family (Seta Chapman)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, September 7/8, 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, Maggie Gatson; Choir – Sharon Dunnigan

On September 2 we observe Labor Day and honor the dignity of labor. A carpenter’s tools, symbol of labor and St. Joseph, appear in the church narthex.
Photo Credit: Margaret Dick

News from our Parish Community

Parish Council elections will be held at weekend Masses on September 7 and 8. We are fortunate to have 5 candidates for 4 available three-year terms: Luis Clay, Cathy Cummings, David Folmar, Annette “Toni” Maus and Joseph Nwogu. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Press at 445-8160.

Welcome Home St. Helena ~ The first building constructed by Blessed Trinity parish was a combination church/school building completed in 1907 at 307 Leroy Avenue. Two years later, a bell manufactured by the McShane Bell Company in Baltimore, Maryland was installed in its steeple. It was customary for a church bell to be given a saint’s name, and Blessed Trinity’s bell – a gift of parishioner Helena Eckard — was named “St. Helena” after her patron saint. The 2017 sale of the former church/school building necessitated removal of the bell. This challenging task took place in October 2018 with the help of the building’s new owner, John Cozzarelli. Repair and restoration of the bell was entrusted to the Verdin Bell Company at its Cincinnati, Ohio facility, and on August 27, 2019 the refurbished bell was installed on a newly-built concrete pedestal located on the church lawn. The parish is grateful to alumni of Blessed Trinity School and two benefactors whose contributions preserved this important part of parish history, and to Mr. Cozzarelli who provided equipment and workers each time the 1,200 pound bell was moved. Although some decorative work on the pedestal remains to be done, the century-old bell is restored and ready to peal once more. Hidden from public view for 110 years, “St. Helena” is now available for all to see and a new Leroy Avenue destination, Please stop for a visit and photo-op.

What’s Your Anthem? A liturgist, composer and educator, Tom Conry is widely known for the themes of peace and justice in his work. Tom Conry holds a B.I.S. from the University of Minnesota and a master of divinity degree from Harvard University and composed this week’s closing hymn, Anthem.  He has presented workshops internationally as well as throughout the United States. He has spoken at numerous National Association of Pastoral Musicians and National Catholic Educational Association conventions, “Future of the Church,” and Call to Action conferences, as well as many events for dioceses, parishes and universities. He is a team member for the North American Forum on the Catechumenate and currently resides in Portland, Oregon. A variety of his compositions are included in OCP missals and hymnals including favorites at Blessed Trinity. His song Ashes offers this message of renewal, “We rise again from ashes, from the good we’ve failed to do/ We rise again from ashes, to create ourselves anew…. Give our stumblings direction, give our vision wider view/ an offering of ashes – an offering to You.”

Anthem, written in 1978, has a beautiful text that reverberates today – what legacy will we leave for our children?  What is our “Anthem?”

Refrain: We are called, we are chosen. We are Christ for one another.
We are promised to tomorrow, while we are for him today.
We are sign, we are wonder. We are sower, we are seed.
We are harvest, we are hunger. We are question, we are creed.

1. Then where can we stand justified? In what can we believe?
In no one else but he who suffered, nothing more than he who rose.
Who was justice for the poor. Who was rage against the night.
Who was hope for peaceful people. Who was light.

2. Then how are we to stand at all, this world of bended knee?
In nothing more than barren shadows. No one else but he could save us.
Who was justice for the poor. Who was rage against the night.
Who was hope for peaceful people. Who was light.

3. Then shall we not stand empty at the altar of our dreams:
When he promised us ourselves. Who mark time against tomorrow.
Who are justice for the poor. Who are rage against the night.
Who are hope for peaceful people. Who are light.

Choir practice resumes September 3 at 7pm at Elizabeth’s home.  All are invited to participate. … Elizabeth

Congratulations and prayerful best wishes to Father Victor Ibhawa on the occasion of his ninth anniversary of ordination, August 28.

Friday, September 6 is First Friday. Join in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Daily Mass Chapel from 8:00 – 10:45 a.m., followed by Benediction and daily Mass.

Our first every “White Elephant Sale” will take place on Saturday, September 28 from 10am – 4pm. The event is a fundraiser for our parish, and will take place on the lower level of St. Charles Hall. Help will be needed during drop-off days — Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:15am-1pm; Wednesday, Sept. 25, 12 Noon-3pm; and Friday, Sept. 27, 12Noon-3pm — and on the day of the sale. Please indicate your willingness to help on the pink sign-up sheets found on the tables near the church entrances. The following items will be acceptable for sale: books, lamps, toys, luggage, knick-knacks, bathroom accessories, clothing and material, pictures and art work, towels, linens, tablecloths, drapes, small tools (not power), pots, pans dishes, and kitchen items. No electronics please! All donated items are to be clean and ready for sale without price tags. Pricing will be done by volunteers prior to the sale. All proceeds will go to Blessed Trinity Parish, and items that do not sell will be donated to St. Vincent dePaul.

Young Readers Update ~ It is with gratitude and well wishes that the Blessed Trinity parish family congratulates Miles James, the first candidate in “young readers” program. Having graduated from Nichols High School in June, Miles has started his first year at Alfred University where he will study electrical engineering technology. He is the son of Cathy Cummings and the grandson of Richard and Joanne Cummings of our parish. And with the example of Miles and our other Young Readers of the Liturgy (David Iheke, Grace Iheke, Avery White and Simon Kresse) we encourage any other eighth through twelfth grader to participate. If interested, please call Mary Kresse at 716-885-6449.

Travel AND stay connected ~ Even when you are away on vacation, you can keep in touch with your parish family by visiting www.blessedtrinitybuffalo.org. It is optimized for use with mobile devices, so whether you check in with a cellphone, tablet or desktop computer, there is all kinds of information at your finger tips. Just click on the post with the current week’s date; e.g., “Week of September 1, 2019 ~ 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time,” to find scheduled activities, coming events, and Mass intentions, not to mention examples of church symbolism and artwork relating to the week’s readings or feast days.

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!

Our Kids Parent Education and Awareness Program (OKPEAP) is a Catholic Charities program available to families who are experiencing conflict related to custody issues. Visit ccwny.org/okpeap.

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.

“If God can cloth in such splendor the [flowers] of the field…, will he not provide much more for you, O weak in faith!” Mt 6:30
Photo credit: Margaret Dick

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

A Conversation with Bishop Malone ~ On Wednesday, September 11 from 5:30-7:30pm, all college students are invited to attend a conversation with Bishop Malone at Niagara University in the Russell J. Salvatore Dining Commons. A pizza supper will be served.

The Buffalo Chapter of Magnificat hosts on Saturday, September 14 (9:45am – 12:10pm) at Millenium Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga. Guest speaker, Susan Pivarunas. Call 716-683-2290 for info.

Help For Your Marriage ~ Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Retrouvaille helps couples through difficult times. For more information call 716-474-9371 or visit HelpOurMarriage.org. The next weekend is September 27-29. All calls are confidential and pre-registration is required.

Diocesan Information ~ News and information from the Diocese of Buffalo can be found at buffalodiocese.org, wnycatholic.org, on on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.