Week of December 19, 2021 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 19 – 26, 2021

We have made an important change to our web site, adding a “Bulletins” page where visitors may view an exact copy of the weekly bulletin and inserts in PDF format. The “Bulletins“ link will be found at the top of the home page. (For your convenience as you adjust to this change, we have added the link here as well). Because, going forward, it will no longer be necessary to repeat information found in the bulletin, this weekly post will be greatly abbreviated. Our web administrators hope you will enjoy the convenience of the “Bulletins” page as much as they do.

The most recent Diocesan Interim Guidance for Parishes with respect to COVID precautions appears on the Bulletins page of this web site. It is dated June 15, 2021.

LIVESTREAMING: In keeping with the latest diocesan guidelines, we are livestreaming only one Mass (usually Sunday Mass) each weekend on our Facebook page: Blessed Trinity R. C. Church. Click HERE to view. (If you “Like” and “Follow Us” on Facebook, you should receive notification when future Masses are posted). Later in the day, a recording of the Mass is available on YOU TUBE.

News from our Parish Community

His Excellency Bishop Michael Fisher will celebrate the 10am Mass at Blessed Trinity on Sunday, December 19. The parish will host a reception in his honor immediately following the Mass.

Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 2pm, the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum returns for an Advent Service of Lessons and Carols. Works by Byrd, Handl-Gallus, Hassler, Praetorius, Rheinberger, Victoria and others will be performed. Lessons and Carols is a service of scripture readings and sung responses that tell the story of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. It takes you on a journey through time that begins in the Garden of Eden with the fall of man, and leads up to the coming of a Savior. The journey does not end with the coming of Christmas, however. It is an ongoing journey that continues every day of our lives until Christ comes again in glory. Join us for this beautiful preparation to welcome Jesus into our hearts! The St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum is an “a cappella” choir dedicated to preserving, promoting and performing sacred choral works from the great treasury of music of the Catholic Church. Their repertoire ranges from Gregorian Chant to masterpieces of sacred polyphony from the Middle Ages to modern times. For more information, follow them on Facebook @JP2Schola.

Many thanks to Father Bob for opening church on Saturday morning, December 11, and joining parish volunteers in a cleaning blitz of the church in preparation for Christmas services and Bishop Fisher’s visit next Sunday. Prayerful thanks as well to Susanne Bordonaro, Tom Brodfuehrer, Louis & Elizabeth Clay, Cathy Cummings, Bud & Mickey Dick, Tom Dinder, Ellen Duffy, Shammy Dunnigan, Pat Dyer, Alan Frank, Amy Johnson, Dan Korchowsky, Dorothy Manuppelli, Kathy Press, Rafael Rondon, and Colleen Schroeder who all found time in their Saturday schedules to lend a hand. Volunteers were treated to breakfast goodies courtesy of Pat, Dorothy, Kathy & Ellen. They also got a chance to whistle while they worked as Elizabeth treated all to some holiday tunes on both the piano and organ. More help will be needed beginning at 6:30pm on Monday, December 20,  when we will gather to decorate the church for Christmas. Please enter by the ramp side door.

Project Welcome!  Afghani Families Relocate to Buffalo – In an extension of Christian love of neighbor and our City of Good Neighbors hospitality, assistance is needed to help Afghani families who are relocating to Buffalo. Immediate needs include:

Winter Wear:

Winter Shoes & Boots
Shoe/Boot Sizes:  Men, sizes 7, 8, and 9; Women sizes 6, 7, and 8
Jackets/Coats: Medium and Large
Fleece leggings for women: Medium and large

Laundry Detergent
New flatware and cookware sets (may be lightly used, prefer new)
Tea kettles (not coffee pots)
New sheets and pillows/pillowcases in twin and full size
Gift Cards: Price Rite, Aldi’s, Walmart.

Drop off at church on the weekend or the rectory office Monday-Wednesday 10:30am-2:30pm.

Church tours resumed on Saturday, October 30, when Blessed Trinity welcomed 35 visitors – many for the very first time – as part of Explore Buffalo’s Sacred Spaces tour. We are happy to announce that Explore Buffalo will return for a holiday season tour on Wednesday, December 29, at 2pm. Invite your friends to experience our landmark with its Christmas décor. To make a reservation for “Inside* Blessed Trinity,” click HERE. (*Weather permitting, we’ll be outside, too). A portion of each ticket price is returned to Blessed Trinity.

Pantry Expands Hours of Operation ~ The Catholic Central Helping Hands Food Pantry, which operates from our St. Charles Hall at 350 Dewey Avenue, is now operating EVERY Wednesday from 9:30am – 1:30pm. Individuals living in Zip Codes 14214 and 14215 who are in need of supplemental food supplies may stop by and receive pre-packaged bags of groceries from a pantry volunteer.

If mobility issues or illness are preventing you from joining us in person, you can watch our Sunday Mass LIVE on Facebook at 10:00 AM, as well as all Holyday Masses.  If you miss us LIVE, you can check out the recording later on YouTube.

FAMILY PROMISE OF WNY: Feed the Hungry, Shelter the Homeless. Family Promise offers us the opportunity to perform these acts of charity in a very direct and personal manner. Since September, Blessed Trinity parishioners have purchased and delivered groceries on five days to the Family Promise shelter at Ss. Brigid-Columba Parish. With a few more volunteers we hope to continue this at least one day a month. We are working in pairs so that you can expect your turn to be every third month. We hope you will join us. If you want more background information go to the web site, www.fpwny.org, or contact Amy Johnson (836-4694).

• Family Promise is certified by NYS and can house up to six families.
• It is one of only two emergency shelters in Erie County that allow fathers and teenage sons to stay with their family.
• Families are referred by the Dept. of Social Services and receive case management in finding employment and permanent housing, security deposit assistance, day care, school transport, and follow up support upon leaving the shelter.
• In 2020, the Homeless Alliance of WNY rated Family Promise with the best success rate for moving families into permanent homes.

Is it time to update your contact information? During the past year when COVID-19 Protocols prevented many from attending church services, the ability to keep in touch by telephone, mail or email took on increased importance. Because not everyone has computer access, really important information is sent in a letter. Even though you are now able to attend Mass in person, 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 receive the bulletin electronically via email, register as a parishioner, or request envelopes. You can also submit the requested information by phoning our secretary at 716-833-0301 any Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday 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.

Enjoy a virtual tour of our Landmark house of worship, courtesy of Buffalo Rising and Explore Buffalo. By Clicking HERE, you will be treated to both exterior and interior photos and more than a little history.