In the First Reading for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Amos 8:4-7 [135C]), the prophet Amos warns Israel that the final day will be a day of judgment and justice against those who “trample upon the needy.” Iconography on our church façade (lower symbols, l. to r.) include symbols for The Last Four Things. Death: skull; Judgment: scale, book of life, sword; Heaven: crown, palm, stars; and Hell: head of man in lion’s mouth.
Photo credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News

September 22 – 29, 2019

Weekly Activities

Sunday, September 22 at 9:30 a.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in the loft

Sunday, September 22 from 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ~ Drop off for White Elephant Sale (Downstairs in St. Charles Hall).

Wednesday, September 25 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, September 25 from 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m. ~ Drop off for White Elephant Sale (Downstairs in St. Charles Hall)

Wednesday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir rehearsal in St. Charles Hall — New rehearsal night

Thursday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*

Friday, September 27 from 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m. ~ Drop off for White Elephant Sale (Downstairs in St. Charles Hall).

Saturday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ~ White Elephant Sale, downstairs in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, September 28 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 , September 22 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal rest for Margaret Stiffler Schimpf and Alexis Farrar (Requested by Family)

Monday, September 23 ~ St. Pius of Pietrelcina – No Service

Tuesday, September 24 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal Rest for Mary Ann Bruno (Pat Pendleton and Friends)

Wednesday, September 25 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Blessings for John F. Curtin (Family)

Thursday, September 26  ~ Ss. Cosmas & Damian ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Healing for Lucille Venezia (Nancy DeBoy)

Friday, September 27 ~ St. Vincent de Paul ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Healing for Lorna Cameron (Nancy DeBoy)

Saturday, September 28 ~ St. Wenceslaus; St. Lawrence Ruiz & Companions ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Eternal Rest for Mary Anne Andrade (Family & Friends)

Sunday, September 29 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal rest for Edward Schroeder (Madonna Hartzell)

Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, September 28/29, 2019:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.  Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin

Sunday, 10:00 a.m.  Readers: Maggie Gatson, Richard Plunkett; Eucharistic Ministers: Fran Cahill, Bernice Bradley, Pat Hartinger; Choir – Dan Korchowsky

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

News from our Parish Community

First drop-off opportunity for parish “White Elephant Sale” is Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:15am-1pm. The sale will be held 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; Wednesday, Sept. 25, 12 Noon-3pm; and Friday, Sept. 27, 12Noon-3pm — and on the day of the sale. Please find time in your schedule to drop by on any of these days/times to lend a hand. 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.

Parish Council President Palma (“Pam”) Zanghi

The Parish Council has elected the following officers for 2019-2020 from among their members: President Palma Zanghi, Vice President Colleen Schroeder, and Secretary Nik Brodfuehrer. We thank them for their willingess to assume these leadership roles and ask that you support their efforts on behalf of the parish.

Paying it Forward ~ In the Gospel last week, we learned of a son who squandered his inheritance and this week we heard of a clever servant who did the same with his master’s money. This week’s Gospel Acclamation from 2 Corinthians guided the musical selections for this week’s liturgy: Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Our opening hymn, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise has a text that is firmly rooted in 1 Timothy (today’s second reading), urging us to respect the dignity of all and preach truth and justice. Because The Lord is My Shepherd  and Shelter Me, O God both proclaim God’s love and mercy, guiding us in times of trouble and protecting the poor and hungry – in ways of this world or spiritually. If we remember that The Spirit Sends Us Forth, we are protected through the trials to come and become “wealthy.” Do you enjoy the music at Blessed Trinity? 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 a new night: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend.

Christ the King Seminary: Equipping God’s people for ministry ~ Jennifer Kreutzner will visit our parish on September 28/29 to familiarize us with all the programs offered at Christ the King Seminary, including a master’s degree in pastoral ministry for women and men. Your contribution to the Seminary collection on that weekend will aid these members of the laity who will serve as future administrators in our parishes. You may also donate on line at www.cks.edu. Please be generous.

Birthday Blessing ~ At the end of Mass on Sunday, September 29, Father Victor will bestow a birthday blessing on everyone born during the month of September. Please join us.

Wine Tasting ~ Friday evening, October 25, marks the return of a favorite fundraiser, BT’s Fall Wine Tasting featuring a variety of wines to sample and savor, accompanied by a dizzying array of hors d’oeuvres and desserts. This is a “21 and over” event from 5-7pm in St. Charles Hall. Advance priced tickets for a donation of $30 are now available from Bud Dick (716-832-2540) and at the rectory during regular business hours.

SAVE THE DATE! Sunday evening, November 17, bring the whole family to an Italian Dinner in St. Charles Hall. With pasta and specialty sauces prepared by Cugino’s Restaurant (Main St., Williamsville), this will be no ordinary spaghetti dinner. We will fill you in on the details as they become available, but mark your calendar now!

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” in honor of 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. With decorative work on the pedestal now completed, the century-old bell is 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.

Young Readers Update ~ Congratulations to Miles James, the first candidate in our “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.  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.

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.

Parish Council Vice President, Colleen Schroeder

Parish Council Secretary, Nik Brodfuehrer

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Employment Opportunities at Nativity Miguel St. Monica Campus for Girls ~ nativitymiguelbuffalo.org.

Friday September 27, 11am – 1:30pm ~ Food Truck Friday: Chiavetta’s BBQ at St. Francis Park (5229 South Park Avenue in Hamburg). Join us for award winning Chiavetta’s BBQ chicken! Cash and all major credit cards accepted.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees: a rosary and prayer vigil at Ss Columba Brigid Parish (75 Hickory Street in Buffalo), Sunday September 29 at 6pm.

“The Ordinary IS Extraordinary: Our God-Given Gifts” ~ Women’s Enrichment, a ministry of St. Gregory the Great Church, presents this day of spiritual renewal at the Great Ministry Center (220 St. Gregory Court in Williamsville). Saturday October 5, 10am – 2:30pm. Guest speaker: Kimberly Cook, M.A.T.S. writer, podcaster, and Catholic Apologist; music by Nancy Erdman. Registration cost includes catered buffet lunch, desserts, morning and afternoon refreshments. Prior registration required as seating is limited. Register no later than September 30. For more information, contact Joycelyn (Joy) Bila at 716-834-0128 or jbila [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Open House at Canisus High School,  Sunday October 6, 9:30am-12:30pm, and Monday October 7, 5:30-7:30pm. (1180 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo). For more information, call 716-883-1870 or visit canisiushigh.org.

Healing Mass in honor St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer patients, will take place Monday October  7 at 7pm at St. Aloysius Gonzaga (157 Cleveland Drive in Cheektowaga). For more information, call 716-283-0011.

Saturday October 12 at noon ~ Annual Public Square Outdoor Rosary at St. Rose of Lima Parish (Parkside & Parker Avenues in Buffalo). Join us at the outside statue of Our Blessed Lady for the annual public square outdoor rosary sponsored by America Needs Fatima. Our Lady’s healing graces, once again, shower down upon everyone present just as when she appeared 100 years ago in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Don’t miss this opportunity to be touched deep in your soul as you receive her love and show your devotion to the mother of our Church.

Revive-Refresh-Renew Revival at St. Martin dePorres (555 Northampton Street in Buffalo). Mon. Oct. 14, Tues. Oct. 15 (Youth Night), Wed. Oct. 16 with Rev, Roy Lee, PhD. Call 716-847-2217 for information.

“$’BRUCE-ing Up the Windows” with Springsteen! Friday October 18 at 7pm ~ Concert fundraiser at St. Martin of Tours (1619 Abbott Road), featuring Badlands, a  Bruce Springsteen tribute band. Funds raised will go to help pay for new windows at Notre Dame Academy. Tickets are $20 at the door or in advance at st.martinbuffalo.com.

Griefsharing Support Group at Our Lady of Pompeii (9129 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). Wednesday October 23 at 6:30pm. A second session will follow initial session. For more information, visit olpparish.com or call Sister Joyce to register at 716-683-6522, ext. 103.