God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life. John 3:16
(Tympanum over main door of Blessed Trinity Church)
Photo credit: Gary Kelley
February 16 – February 23, 2020
Weekly Activities
Sunday, February 16 at 9:30 a.m. in church ~ Meeting for adult Confirmation candidates
Sunday, February 16 following 10:00 a.m. Mass in church ~ Anointing of the sick and well-aging
Tuesday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, February 19 from 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. ~ NEW HOURS ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall (Food Pantry operates every Wednesday from Noon-2pm)
Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, February 20 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Saturday, February 22 at 3:45 p.m. ~ Group discussion in St. Charles Hall regarding new faith formation programs
Saturday, February 22 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.*
Sunday, February 23 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour and group discussion in St. Charles Hall regarding new faith formation programs
*To check the Bonus Ball and Progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts and Progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.
Mass Intentions
Sunday, February 16 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Blessings for Ella and Joe Loibl (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse)
Monday, February 17 ~ Seven Holy Founders of Servite Order ~ No Service
Tuesday, February 18 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Blessings for Joan and Francis Silver (The Partyka Family)
Wednesday, February 19 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – For the intentions of our parishioners, both living and deceased (Blessed Trinity Parish)
Thursday, February 20 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Friday, February 21 ~ St. Peter Damian ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Blessings for Max Sturzlebach (The Partyka Family)
Saturday, February 22 ~ Chair of St. Peter the Apostle ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m.- Blessings for Margaret Clonan (John E. Curtin)
Sunday, February 23 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Blessings for Gerald Cahill (Blessed Trinity Bingo Workers)
Ministry Schedule for Saturday and Sunday, February 22 & 23, 2020:
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Reader: Michael Ogoh; Eucharistic Minister: John Curtin
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Readers: Joe Nwogu, Mary Kresse; Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Korchowsky, Fidelia Ejimadu, Pam Zanghi; Choir – Maggie Gatson
News from our Parish Community
Adult Confirmation Candidates ~ There will be a meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the church on Sunday, February 16 for all adults (out of high school) who have been baptized and have made First Communion and are interested in being confirmed. If we are able to work out some meeting times, Confirmation could take place at the April 11 Easter Vigil service. If not baptized at Blessed Trinity, please bring your baptismal certificate. If you do not have one, please find out where you were baptized so that we can obtain one for you. Contact Pat Dyer at 716-256-2598 if you have any questions.
Anointing of the Sick and Well-Aging will take place immediately following Mass this Sunday, February 16.
Piano! ~ We are lucky at Blessed Trinity to have the beautiful Tellers-Kent organ in the loft as well as a baby grand piano in our sanctuary for use during the liturgy. It’s fun for the choir to stay connected with the congregation and come down from the loft to share in the liturgy from time to time. This week’s hymns were selected because they sound great with piano. Please let a choir member know if you enjoyed this week’s offerings as we prepare for Lent. Did you know Blessed Trinity Church has a congregation that supports Musical Ministry in Western New York? Join us up in the loft to help enhance our Liturgies – and feel the love. Choir practice continues this week on Tuesday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. in St. Charles Hall. All are welcome to attend. … Elizabeth
The Parish Council meets on Wednesday, February 19, at 7pm in St. Charles Hall.
Faith Formation Programs for All Ages ~ A general meeting (for all) will be held on Saturday, February 22 at 3:45 p.m. and Sunday, February 23 following the 10 AM Mass to discuss Faith Formation Plans. All are welcome. Come to hear the plans in the works and let us know what you’d like to see here at Blessed Trinity for youth as well as adults. Pat Dyer will have activities for the kids during this time to keep them busy.
Birthday Blessing for everyone born during the month of February will take place at the end of Mass on Sunday, February 23. Our monthly coffee hour will follow in St. Charles Hall.
All women of the parish are invited to participate in the Ladies Sodality March program, “Celebrating Women Witnesses.” The subject of our group discussion and prayer service on Sunday, March 1, will be Saints Perpetua and Felicity, two early martyrs of the Church whose feast day we celebrate on March 7. A handout summarizing the lives and deaths of the women will be available in church beginning February 15. Look for “Perpetua and Felicity, Courageous unto Death” on the tables inside each church entrance. Please take a copy home and read it in preparation for our faith sharing discussion.
Prayer Partner Information ~ Lent is just around the corner. February 26 is Ash Wednesday. That means it is sign-up time for prayer partners. We hope you will participate this year. Praying for another in need is one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. If you haven’t experienced being a prayer partner yet, we hope you will this year. During the Lenten season you will be given a name of someone from one of the participating parishes to pray for during Lent and Easter and they will have your name. Signup sheets are located on the tables near the church doors. You may also submit your request for a Prayer Partner using the contact form below. Please be sure to mention “Prayer Partner” in your message.
Just for Kids ~ Handouts and activities to occupy children during Mass are now available in church. They can be found on the table at the (wheelchair ramp) side entrance. Please call Pat Dyer (716-256-2598) if you see that she has not left enough copies for everyone who would like to have one. Themes for the month of February are: The Mass, Helping Others, Commandments, and Lent.
Congregation Book Read ~ As part of our Parish Lenten Journey, Blessed Trinity is happy to host a “Congregation Book Read.“ All members of our parish are invited to participate. The book is entitled Rediscover Jesus by author Matthew Kelly. It is perfect for Lent as each day there are a few pages to read along with a scripture verse, a point to ponder, and a question to personally reflect on along with a prayer. It will be a good and interesting way to continue developing our relationship with Jesus as we move through the Lenten season. Copies of Rediscover Jesus will be available after Mass on Sunday, February 23, and everyone is invited to St. Charles Hall to discuss the book after Mass on Sunday, March 22.
Family Promise “Thank You” ~ The parish has received a heartfelt thank you letter from Luanne Firestone, Executive Director of Family Promise of Western New York for our $915 contribution. The combination of cash and gift cards were donated through the Christmas Giving Tree Project and will help numerous families recovering from homelessness.
Personal Prayer Requests ~ We are continuing the practice started during the Christmas season of remembering your personal prayer requests at daily Masses. Just write them out and place your prayer petitions in the basket on the communion rail in front of the baptismal font. There is no need to provide your name. Your intentions will be remembered at Masses throughout the week.
The Buffalo Urban League Scholarship Program application deadline is March 13 and is open to high school seniors or recent HSE/GED recipients who plan to attend college in the Fall 2020. Please contact the church office (716-833-0301) if you wish to have a copy of the application.
The Diocese of Buffalo has joined other faith communities and civic organizations in partnering with the Census Bureau to help encourage all people in our community to participate in the 2020 Census. The census is a once-in-a-decade chance to inform how billions of dollars in funding are allocated for critical public services. Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state receives in the U.S. House of Representatives, and will also have an impact on planning and funding for health clinics and highways, fire departments and disaster response, education programs such as Head Start and college tuition assistance, and so much more. You can inspire others. Tell everyone – your friends and family, your neighbors and co-workers – that you will complete the census, and tell them why it’s important that they respond too. For more information, contact 2020census.gov.
Please notify the Rectory Office with your current email address if you wish to receive a PDF version of the weekly church bulletin. You easiest way to do that is by using the contact feature at the bottom of this page.
Anyone interested in coordinating a prayer group, such as Pious Society, Sacred Heart, St. Jude, Altar Rosary, etc., please see Fr. Victor or email the church office at blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com.
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.
Photo Credit: Sean T. Brodfuehrer
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Help for Seniors and Caregivers ~ Information about housing options, healthcare, insurance, and other important topics of aging may be found at caring.com, a leading resource, featured by AARP, The Administration for Community Living, The National Legal Resource Center, and Forbes.
Lenten Parish Mission: “The Healing Effects of the Psalms” ~ Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday March 2, 3 & 4 (12:30pm and 7pm) at St. Gregory the Great Parish (200 St. Gregory the Great Court in Williamsville) with international conference speaker, Dr. John Bergsma, a former Protestant Pastor; he has authored many books and is currently a professor of Theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH. No cost – all are welcome. For more information, contact Brian Ruh at 716-688-5678
Chesterton Academy of Buffalo (125 Mansion Avenue in Cheektowaga) Presents: “A Taste of Chesterton,” Saturday, March 7, 6-10pm. The Reds, Whites & Brews Auction and Gala is a casual fundraising event that includes local Buffalo cuisine, beer & wine tastings, raffles, silent and live auctions, and a lot of fun! Ticket prices are $40 pre-sale up to February 29. Phone: (716) 674-8101). Chesterton Academy of Buffalo is a private, co-educational, Catholic secondary school in West Seneca, New York.
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.