Week of November 8, 2020 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 8 – November 15, 2020

Weekly Activities

All in-person meetings and activities remain cancelled until further notice, with the exception of the Food Pantry.

Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. ~ ZOOM Bible Study

Wednesday, November 11, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ EXTENDED HOURS ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Now operating every other Wednesday (Nov 11, Nov 25, Dec 9, etc.) but with extended hours. Volunteers will distribute pre-prepared bags of groceries.

Mass Intentions

The regular schedule for weekend Masses is in effect, and the NEW schedule for daily Mass takes effect on Monday, November 9, 2020. The NEW schedule for daily Mass will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday at 11 AM. There will be no Mass on Thursdays.

Sunday, November 8 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Birthday Remembrance for William Francis Pernick (Req. by Siblings) and Blessings for Doris Knapp (Req. by daughters Mary Lou Knapp King and Joanne Knapp McGuirk

Monday, November 9 ~ Dedication of the Lateran Basilica ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Parishioners (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Tuesday, November 10 ~ St. Leo the Great ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Est. of Mary Reilly)

Wednesday, November 11 ~ St. Martin of Tours ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Blessings for Marcus Porter (John E. Curtin)

Thursday, November 12  ~ St. Josaphat ~ No service scheduled

Friday, November 13 ~ St. Frances Xavier Cabrini ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Est. of Mary Reilly)

Saturday, November  14 ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. –  Eternal Joy for Lucille Venezia (Family)

Sunday, November 15 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Blessings for Spencer Patrick Schroeder (Colleen Schroeder) and In Memory of Carol Schmelzer (Mary Karlis)

Lector Schedule ~ Nov 14: Michael Ogoh; Nov 15: Greg Gaglione

News from our Parish Community

Veterans’ Day ~ Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans’ Day. Please pray for the safety of those serving in our armed forces and remember those who have died in the service of our country.

Greeting Father Bob ~ On October 31 we welcomed Father Robert Gebhard, Jr., the newly assigned temporary administrator of our parish. We thank him for the meaningful All Souls Day service and look forward to getting to know him. Following Masses on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 and 11, Father Bob will attempt a “socially distanced” reception line. Please plan to stay after Mass and introduce yourself.

The Second Collection on November 7/8 benefits the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Please give generously in support of this institution whose Schools of Religious Studies and Philosophy are internationally recognized.

Zoom Bible Study ~ Our ZOOM Bible Study now meets every other TUESDAY at 7pm. The next session will be November 10. It’s not too late to join the conversation as we continue our study of The Acts of the Apostles and explore the beginnings of our Church and the Church of today. We are now reading Chapters 11 and 12. The same link will work for each meeting; click HERE to enter the discussion. If you encounter a problem with the link, use Meeting ID:762 8722 8149 (Pass Code: jLD8Gg). Each session lasts approximately 90 minutes. Those without computers might consider social distancing with a friend (wearing masks). Call Pat Dyer at 716-256-2586 for additional information.

Our Communion of Saints ~ Throughout the month of November, we will be remembering our deceased family members and friends at Mass. Take a moment to add the name of a departed loved one in the appointed basket in church.

For Children over age 7 Who Have Not Been Baptized, our first meeting will be on Sunday, November 29 immediately following the 10 am Mass. Parents who wish to register their children are asked to call Pat Dyer at 716-256-2598 so that we will arrange a space that is big enough to have social distancing in place and adequate materials. We will have a combination of in-person, Zoom and at home studies for an anticipated reception into the Church with Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion at the Easter Vigil 2021.

Reflection on Readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wisdom 6:12-16 (154A); Psalm 62:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; Thessalonians 4:13-18 or 4:13-14; Matthew 25:1-13

We use oil for many reasons – to protect our bodies, to cook food, to massage tired muscles. Jesus highlights oil in the lamp for the gospel today. Later in this chapter of the gospel he will speak of using wealth and talents well, and of care for the poor.

Prayer, no matter what its method, keeps our faith alive, and brings us into deeper relationship with the Divine in our lives. Every great faith (Christian or non-Christian) has its methods and way of praying. Like oil giving light to the lamp or protecting us from evil, prayer renews energy in the body and soul, and guides our steps in life on the way of Christ.

People pray in different ways. We pray with meditation, with the gospel, in silence. Alone or with others, in the Eucharis. Each of us find our own way of praying, and that is the best for us.

We need to refill at least daily the oil container of our lamp. We can do this particularly in the morning and evening. We can offer the day to God and thank God for it. This is the oil that will smooth our weariness and free us for our gospel way of life. 

I offer you Lord, this day with its joys and sorrows. I give thanks for what has been good in this day. Amen.

Know Your Faith: Adulting ~ If you use Facebook or Instagram you might have seen these decorating APPS that ask you if you can do a better job. What’s missing from this picture, they ask?

The apostles, having spent days and weeks huddled together in fear did not really yet understand what was missing even though Jesus had made them a promise (Jn 14:16 and 15:26). With the coming of the holy Spirit, they received the gifts of wisdom, fortitude, counsel, understanding, knowledge and fear of the Lord. (The foundations of this belief can be found in Is 11:1-2). In one of our recent Bible Study sessions we discovered that the apostles had developed a real understanding of just what the holy Spirit meant to them. They realized that the converts, though Baptized, had not yet received the holy Spirit and laid hands upon them (Acts 8:14-17).

In today’s Church, we call upon the holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Some families think of this as a sort of graduation because it typically comes near the end of high school. I like to think of Confirmation more in terms of accepting our role as Adult Catholic Christians and asking our Bishop (or his representative) to pray over us that the holy Spirit come to us with the strength we need as adults

Being an Adult Catholic Christian requires those gifts of the Spirit. It is not always an easy task to do what is right – even to know what is right. Let me tell you a short story. An older woman went to pay for her groceries and realized that she had left her wallet at home. She had ten dollars in cash in her pocket which was not quite enough money so she took a loaf of bread out of the order and told the clerk that she would just get bread later in the week. The clerk placed the bread in her bag without charging her. Was it right of the clerk? Should the woman accept it? Does it matter whether the clerk also owns the store or is an employee? Does the store have a policy on things like this? Such a simple act yet the answer is not so simple.

We encounter dozens of decisions every day – big and small – simple and complex. Call upon the holy Spirit given you in Confirmation. And pray for our Confirmation candidates who will receive the gifts of the holy Spirit next spring. Now, isn’t adulting a lot easier when you have an advocate?

~ Patricia Dyer, MAPM

We thankfully acknowledge the donation of services by Pure Green Cleaning Systems.They will be sanitizing the church in various times between masses to help us to keep safe during the ongoing Covid 19 Pandemic.

Music Ministry: “From the Loft” ~ I am delighted to be “back on the bench” at Blessed Trinity this week. As you may already know, the 1927 Tellers-Kent organ had a rough go of it during the COVID quarantine, but its repair in October means it is once again ready to enhance our liturgy – as it has for almost 100 years.

You will notice some changes as we all try to work through strategies to keep everyone safe every week. I will have to remain up in the loft for the foreseeable future. During the week, I am a pediatric physical therapist treating medically compromised children in their homes. In order to meet the requirements of my job, I have to avoid contact with anyone who has been around any infected individual. If I stay up in the loft during Mass, I can meet all of the necessary criteria to keep my job. As lonely as it can be up there, that’s where I will remain for now.

Music Ministers have a lot of challenges during these crazy times. How do we encourage congregational singing and participation with the established guidelines for safety? Over the next weeks, you will notice weekly congregational pages for you to use during Mass so you can read the texts aloud and participate more actively in the liturgy. We will be speaking the Gloria for now, but will be singing the other Mass parts, hopefully with you humming along inside your mask. I’ll be inviting one or two choir members up into the loft so you can hear some of Blessed Trinity’s beautiful voices – and will be providing preludes and postludes each week that may surprise you. If the music moves you, feel free to tap your toes, clap your hands, or speak the words – you won’t be putting anyone at risk by doing so!

I still hope to mold our liturgical music based on your concerns. There is now a notepad on the table at the bottom of the loft stairs. Please write me a note with your favorite hymn or any comments regarding our music program and I will do my best to make it happen. Let’s work together to think outside of the box and make Blessed Trinity’s music program better than ever.

“Over my head, I hear music in the air – there must be a God somewhere.”

~ Elizabeth Clay

Join Our Family Promise Ministry  ~ As a shelter for homeless families and recently certified by NYS, Family Promise of WNY is following new health and safety guidelines and cannot accept donations of home prepared meals. Instead, volunteers have become grocery donors in a food category assigned to the day of the week. Blessed Trinity volunteers did this on 9/15 and found it much easier than coordinating and cooking a full dinner. We signed up for a date on the meal schedule and delivered the requested foods during the day at our convenience. We hope more parishioners will be able to participate. Family Promise also needs volunteers in areas like tutoring and transportation. If you think you might want to help and need more information go to their web site at fpwny.org and click on “Get Involved” to find the grocery sign up schedule. Also, you may contact our parish coordinator, Amy Johnson, at 716-836-4694

Prisoner Gift Project 2020 ~ Project Coordinator Janice Burns has regretfully canceled the Prisoner Christmas Package Project for 2020 due to Covid-19 cautions and rules. A drop-off of post card greetings to the prisoners was considered, but approval by the administrations of Wende and Albion has not been received in time to organize the event. We can get a jump on the 2021 project by starting to decorate gift bags which will be available here at Blessed Trinity. Watch for future announcements. 

Religious education materials are available now. If you were not contacted please call Pat Dyer at 716-256-2598.

Do you miss being at church? Of course long-time parishioners can probably close their eyes and picture the view from a favorite pew. But if you are not yet able to be physically present, it is possible to make a virtual visit. Buffalo Rising and Explore Buffalo teamed up to give their online followers a “tour” of Blessed Trinity. You can join them, by Clicking HERE. You will be treated to both exterior and interior photos and more than a little history. Take the “tour” and test your knowledge about your house of worship

Is it time to update your contact information? During the past 4 months when the COVID-19 Protocols prevented us from attending church services, the ability to keep in touch by telephone or email took on increased importance. Even though we are now able to resume Mass attendance, this may be a good time to ask yourself: Does the church office have my correct mailing address and phone number? Have I shared my email address? Make sure that we have been notified of any changes in your 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, Wednesday, or Thursday between 10:30am and 2:30pm; sending an email to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com; or using the contact feature below to submit the information. If you choose either of the last two, please use “Contact Update” as the subject of the email or message.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Dreaming Without Sleeping, The Human Need for Leisure ~ Monday, November 16, 7-8pm, Our Lady of Pompeii Auditorium (129 Laverack Avenue in Lancaster). Father Peter Santandreu will explore what is meant by the concept of “leisure” and its value for the human person formed in God’s image. RSVP is required to accommodate social distancing planning. Call 716-683-6522.

Canisius High School ~ Entrance and Scholarship Examination will be given Saturday, November 21 at 8:30am ($20). If interested, call Office of Admission at 716-200-0208.

Help for Victims of Domestic Violence ~ Because of COVID-19, the Family Justice Center (“FJC”) is not accepting walk-in appointments or in-person meetings. In case of emergency, call 911. For help with safety planning or other services you may need during this time, call or text the FJC Safeline, 716-558-SAFE (7233).

Food Assistance for Seniors ~ The County of Erie advises anyone over the age of 60 who is in need of food assistance to call 716-858-8526.