Week of February 7, 2021 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 7 – February 14, 2021

COVID-19 Precautions: The Diocese of Buffalo has relaxed restrictions on capacity at worship services. See, Nov. 26 COVID-19 Update. It is NOT necessary to make a reservation to attend Mass at Blessed Trinity.

NEW: In addition to in-person worship, weekend Masses are now being livestreamed 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.

Personal copies of the Breaking Bread missal are available for each parishioner who would like one. You may claim yours at church and either take it home or place it in a zip-lock bag and reclaim it when you come again. Paper copies of the bulletin are also available. Look for them at the middle crossing of the church.

Keep in mind, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and on other Holy Days of Obligation remains in effect in our diocese.

Please pray for the health and safety of all in our community.

Weekly Activities

NEW: Our office is now open Monday – Wednesday from 10:30am – 2:30pm; closed Thursday and Friday.

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

Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. ~ ZOOM Bible study: the Acts of the Apostles (chapters 20-22)

Wednesday, February 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ~ EXTENDED HOURS ~ Catholic Central Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Now operating every other Wednesday (Feb 17, Mar 3, 17, 31 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, as of Monday, November 9, 2020 is: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday at 11 AM. There is no morning Mass on Thursdays.

Sunday, February 7 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Joy for Catherine Ball (Req. by Family) 

Monday, February 8 ~ St. Jerome Emiliani; St. Josephine Bakhita ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Eternal Joy for Sister Flavia (Req. by Naoma Allen)

Tuesday, February 9 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Betz Families (Req. by Our Lady of Victory Parish)

Wednesday, February 10 ~ St. Scholastica ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Req. by Estate of Mary Reilly)

Thursday, February 11 ~ Our Lady of Lourdes; World Day of the Sick ~ No Mass scheduled.

Friday, February 12 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Praying for All Souls (Req. by St. Theresa Parish)

Saturday, February 13 ~ St. Benignus ~ Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Members of the Benefactors Memorial Book (Req. by Our Lady of Victory Parish)

Sunday, February 14 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – In Memory of Sharon Darvil (Req. by John E. Curtin) 

Lector Schedule ~ Feb 13: Greg Gaglione; Feb 14: Mary Kresse

News from our Parish Community

A note from Father Bob ~ Let There Be LIGHT!….

This past week, we celebrated two important days of promise in the richness of our Catholic faith and tradition ~ The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day) and the Feast of St. Blaise (Blessing of Throats). On the Feast of the Presentation, it is always customary to bless the candles used throughout the entire coming year for worship. It is also customary that those present for this celebration hold a lit candle reminding us of the Baptism that enlightens each of us. As Simeon embraced Christ in the temple, we embrace Christ as the Light of the World. On the Feast of St. Blaise, one of the martyrs known as the Fourteen Holy Helpers (the name of the local parish in which I grew up!), we remember the legend of his healing of a boy choking on a fish bone. Thus, the Blessing of Throats reminding us of God’s ever healing presence and strength. Throats are blessed with crossed candles, again a symbol of the Light of Christ to be experienced in every healing of every kind!

In these days – that can sometimes consume us with dark, heavy, and dreary feelings and temperament – what better than celebrating LIGHT! Everyone needs at least a little light in their life. Blessed in the light of a sunny day; blessed in the light of someone’s smile or kindness, blessed in the light of a thoughtful gesture, blessed in every experience of the Light of Christ that shatters the darkness of gloom, evil, sin, cynicism…

Let there be Light!  Let each of us shine with the Christ that is in us!

From the Loft ~ To me, this week’s opening hymn is Blessed Trinity’s “theme song.” The musical setting, referred to as NICAEA, was composed by John Bacchus Dykes in 1861. Eighty-eight years later, the Tellers-Kent organ we hear every Sunday was installed into our beautiful church.

As a young child John B. Dykes (1823 -1876) took violin and piano lessons. At the age of ten he became the organist of St. John’s in Hull, England, where his grandfather was vicar. After receiving a classics degree from St. Catherine College, Cambridge, England, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1847. In 1849 he became the precentor and choir director at Durham Cathedral, where he introduced reforms in the choir by insisting on consistent attendance, more rehearsals, and music festivals to share ideas. He served the parish of St. Oswald in Durham from 1862 until the year of his death. To the chagrin of his bishop, Dykes favored the high church practices associated with the Oxford Movement (choir robes, incense, and the like) which later developed into Anglo-Catholicism. A number of his three hundred hymn tunes are still respected as durable examples of Victorian hymnody and have become musical mainstays of the Catholic liturgy.

Reginald Heber penned the text to accompany this majestic music, and the words do express the exuberance and love of Christ exhibited at BT.

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. 

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee
Though the eye made blind by sin Thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

As we watch the restoration of our church and hear the magnificent organ, the imagery in this hymn truly comes to life as we see and hear God in Three Persons – Blessed Trinity!

– Elizabeth Clay

2021 Lenten Schedule ~ Click HERE to view our Lenten Schedule.

This week our special collection supports the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. Your donation today helps restore the Church and build the future in more than 25 countries still struggling to recover from former communist rule. Funds from this collection support reconstruction, education, formation, and poverty outreach. Please be generous to the collection today. For more information please visit www.uscch.org/ccee.                                  

Covid19 vaccines will be available at Blessed Trinity and other neighboring churches. If you would like to register to be vaccinated, please complete the paper form available with the bulletins or the online form at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IFX5XWMK21z5jqCW7629dj84H1RdP2sHOqNWPA_CmKg/edit?usp=drive_web

Zoom Bible Study continues on Tuesday, February 9 at 7pm. We are now reading Chapters 20-22 of the Acts of the Apostles. 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.

If the weather or COVID or illness is preventing you from joining us in person, you can watch our weekend Masses LIVE on Facebook at 4:30 PM on Saturdays and 10:00 AM on Sundays as well as all Holyday Masses.  If you miss us LIVE, you can check out the recording later on YouTube.

Interior restoration ~ Now that repairs to the tile roof of the church – part of our grant project – have been completed, restoration of interior artwork and repairs to the ceiling of the church have begun. Master plasterer Josh of Mader Construction Co., Inc. helped parishioners to appreciate the process by setting up a display in church. In this photo, you can see the molds he makes to recreate deteriorated ornamental pieces. For additional photos, visit our Facebook page. The work is expected to continue through March 2021.

Job Opportunities at Blessed Trinity ~ We have several part-time positions now available. Are you or someone you know looking for work? 

Part-time General Housekeeping ~ General parish rectory housekeeping; cleaning responsibilities. Occasional laundry. 10-16 hours/month.

Part-time Maintenance Position ~ Jack-of-all-trades; general maintenance/cleaning. Familiarity with light plumbing, electrical, heating. Lawn maintenance, weekday snow removal. 1-2 days/week. Flexible hours/days. 

Send applications to Blessed Trinity RC Church, 317 Leroy Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214 (716-833-0301) or email blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com.

Members of the Ladies Sodality are reminded that membership runs with the calendar year, and 2021 dues are payable in January. They are still only $5 unless you are already a “Life” member (age 80 or above), in which case you are exempt. You may give them to our membership chair, Mickey Dick, or mail them to her at 2549 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14214. Membership is open to all women of the parish, and new members are always welcome.

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 twice during December, 2020 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 take advantage of this simplified protocol and become part of our Family Promise team. 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 and join forces with another member of the team.

Catholic Charities Appeal 2021 is underway! “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Jesus calls us to help and love our neighbors, especially those who are struggling. Catholic Charities of Buffalo offers several basic and emergency services, such as food, housing, medications and clothing. Your donation to Appeal 2021 can help us continue to give food to the hungry, clothes to the naked and shelter to the homeless. For more information about Catholic Charities and our other services and programs, visit www.ccwny.org or call our Helpline at 716-218-1419. Catholic Charities is: HOPE for all seasons. To make a secure online donation at www.ccwny.org/donation. In addition to supporting Catholic Charities, Appeal 2021also helps to support the Fund for the Faith. Established in 1937 by Bishop John Duffy out of concern for those in need of spiritual comfort due to hardships of the Great Depression, the Fund for the Faith continues to provide spiritual nourishment throughout our diocese today. Proceeds provide ministry support services that are instrumental to the vitality of our faith experience and enable us to more effectively spread the Gospel message of Christ’s love. With the COVID-19 Pandemic, donations to the Fund for the Faith are more important than ever as we extend comfort to all of God’s people – our family, friends and neighbors alike. Our hope and prayer is that a successful Fund for the Faith drive will help restore and support expanded ministries including Catholic education and formation programming for youth and young families. For a list of the programs the Fund for the Faith supports, go to www.ccwny.org/appeal-programs.

Important information for those having a claim against the Diocese of Buffalo:

United States Bankruptcy Court
for the Western District of New York
in re The Diocese of Buffalo NY
Case No. 20-10322

Please take notice that, on February 28, 2020, The Diocese of Buffalo NY, (“Diocese”) filed for protection under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The Bankruptcy Court has established August 13, 2021 at 11:59 pm (prevailing Eastern time) as the deadline to file proofs of claim, against the Diocese (the “Bar Date”). If you have a claim against the Diocese, including, without limitation, a claim related to sexual abuse committed by any person connected with the Diocese, you must file a claim on or before the Bar Date.

Please visit https://case.stretto.com/dioceseofbuffalo or call 855-292-7696 for more information on how to file your proof of claim.

IF YOU DO NOT TIMELY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM, YOU MAY FORFEIT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE ON ANY PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND TO SHARE IN ANY DISTRIBUTIONS TO CREDITORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DIOCESE’S CHAPTER 11 CASE.

Is it time to update your contact information? During the past 9 months when the 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 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? (Important, too, for contact tracing). 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 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.

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

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Virtual Wine Tasting, sponsored by St. John the Baptist, Kenmore, on Saturday, February 13 at 7 pm. Bundles include: three 750ml bottles of wine; sommelier-led seminar (via Zoom); blind tasting with bottle reveal and a special gift from our host, Addy’s Wine & Spirits. To learn more about this special event and to RSVP, contact Michelle Salemi at 716-877-6401 or msalemi [at] stjohnskenmore [dot] com.

Take-out Valentine’s Day Dinner on February 14 from 1-3 pm at St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville. Menu: salad, beef tenderloin, twice-baked potato, vegetable and dessert. Dinners will be packaged and tenderloin will be ready to cook, the remaining meal will be fully cooked with reheat instructions. Pick-up at St. Gregory the Great Parish Ministry Center, 100 St. Gregory Ct., Williamsville. Pre-sale tickets only; call 716-688-5678 or order online at  https://givebutter.com/bvAdi2.

Tuition Assistance for Private Grammar Schools. The BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund’s pre-application is now available for NEW families in the 8 counties of Western New York for the 2021-22 school year. The BISON Fund provides tuition assistance to economically eligible children entering kindergarten – 8^th grade. If selected, the scholarships can be used at any private grammar school in WNY. The deadline to apply is February 28. You can apply online at www.bisonfund.com. The average scholarship is $1,480 and the maximum award is $2,500. For more information, call 716-854-0869, ext.1.

Love Yourself this Valentine’s Day ~ Valentine’s Day Depression is real. It is one of those holidays that can trigger unwanted emotions and upset your mental health. Whether you are single or in a relationship, all is not lost. Click HERE for some simple tips from Mental Health Advocates of WNY, and have a great Valentine’s Day for your mental health.

Live-Streamed Daily Mass from Christ the King Church ~ Until further notice, all Masses from Christ the King Church in Snyder will be Live-Streamed at ctksnyder.org/camera-live-stream. Mass times are as follows: Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 pm, Sunday at 8 & 10 am, Monday-Friday at 8 am, Monday & Wednesday at 5 pm.

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.