Baldachino, coffered ceiling and skylight in the Sanctuary of Blessed Trinity Church.
Photo credit: Sean Brodfuehrer
March 21 – March 28, 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.
Monday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. CCCB Lenten Penance Service at Ss. Columba-Brigid, 75 Hickory Street
Tuesday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. ZOOM Discussion study group, “Future of Parishes”
Also at 7:00 p.m. ~ ZOOM Blessed Trinity Choir Rehearsal for Holy Week
Saturday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m. All volunteers are called to prepare the church for Holy Week. Bring cleaning utensils esp. long-handled mops and dusters if you can.
Stations of the Cross, right side aisle. Photo credit: Margaret Dick
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, March 21 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Joy for Sara Dick (Req. by Bud & Mickey Dick)
Monday, March 22 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Sr. Anne Helene (Req. by Colleen Schroeder)
Tuesday, March 23 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – All Souls (St. Theresa’s Parish)
Wednesday, March 24 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds, and Pfeiffer Families (Req. by Estate of Mary Reilly)
Thursday, March 25 ~ No Mass scheduled
Friday, March 26 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Repose of the Souls of Arthur and Lillian Hildman (Req. by Our Lady of Victory.Parish)
Saturday, March 27 ~ No Mass scheduled
Sunday, March 28 ~ Palm Sunday ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Eternal Joy for James Foley (Req. by Bud and Mickey Dick)
Lector Schedule ~ March 28: Bob Heicklen
News from our Parish Community
A Note from Father Bob ~ Be Counted for the Journey ~ together!…
All currently registered parish families should have received a Parish Census letter in the mail this past week. Thank you to those who have already responded to it! This is a great opportunity for us to get a clear picture of our committed members and to thus have a better ability to plan toward our future. Further follow up will take place to acquire other important information from you such as emergency contacts, sacramental information, occupations, personal gifts and talents, information on how the parish can better serve you.
Thank you, also, to those who have responded generously to encouragements from me and our Finance Council to support our parish, as best as you are able, with your time, talent and treasure. Recognizing that the current pandemic has reduced in-person participation in our parish liturgies and parish life events/activities, your support is critical to our ability to meet the challenge of the Gospel, to meet expenses, to remain hope-filled. Thank you!!!
“Many hands make light work.” How You Can Help: Preparing our church for Holy Week presents several challenges not faced in previous years. Scaffolding is scheduled to be removed during the week of March 22, but dust and grime resulting from the restorative work will remain. Since the following Sunday (Mar 28) is Palm Sunday, we will need to do some serious dusting, vacuuming and floor washing on Saturday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m. Join us if you can, bringing pails, long handle mops and dusters if you have them. Please use the ramp side entrance.
New Virtual “Study Group” Continues on March 23 and April 13. We have finished Acts and have begun our study of the Pastoral Conversion of the Parish Community, a teaching on parishes from the Congregation of the Clergy in Rome. Join us in hearing about our pope’s vision of the parish of the future as they respond to the changing needs of people. You can review a copy of the document ahead of time by clicking HERE; join the ZOOM meeting HERE.
From the Loft: “Happy Spring!” –
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just [a]when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
Footnotes: Psalm 51:4 LXX, Tg., Vg. in Your words Create a clean heart in me, O God
Lenten Liturgical Schedule ~ Continue to watch the bulletin and Click HERE for a Lenten opportunities for prayer, worship, and reconciliation and our Holy Week schedule.
Palm Sunday Weekend Notice – In order to best celebrate this special day, and to keep in conformity with the rest of our parish Holy Week & Easter schedule (one mass or service per day), there will be only one parish celebration that weekend ~ Sunday, March 28, at 10:00 AM.
Traditional Good Friday Collection for maintenance and preservation of the shrines in the Holy Land. This is an especially difficult time for Christians in the Middle East, so please give generously on Good Friday, April 2.
New Opportunity to Memorialize a Loved One or Special Intention ~ The Sanctuary Lamp is a lamp that is continually burning near or before the tabernacle of every Catholic Church throughout the world. It signifies that the Blessed Sacrament, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, is present and reserved in the tabernacle. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal in the Catholic Church states: “In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ.” The glass encasing the candle or oil flame is often red in color. With a donation of $10, we are now offering the opportunity for you to memorialize a loved one or intention. The lit lamp, in remembrance of your intention, will burn throughout the week. If interested, please contact the rectory, 716-833-0301. Additionally, we will offer the same opportunity to memorialize a loved one or intention with a donation for the gifts of Bread (Hosts) and Wine used at each mass. If interested in providing for these gifts, please contact the rectory, 716-833-0301.
Our Parish Financial Picture ~ Every parish family should have recently received a letter in the mail Father Bob and our Finance Council keeping you informed of our current financial picture. I ask your prayerful consideration of the financial challenges we face in these difficult times. Thank you for any ways you can offer your generosity in prayer, time, talent and treasure!
Catholic Charities Appeal 2021 ~ As we approach the mid-point of Appeal 2021, we would like to remind you that your support of the Appeal enables us to continue our efforts to improve the lives of those we serve. All told, your gifts helped us bring hope to 149,000 lives last year through Catholic Charities and helped the Diocese to support spiritual care and compassion through 14 Fund for the Faith programs. In the spirit of thankfulness, we share our 2021 Appeal prayer to Patron St. Ignatius Loyola: “St. Ignatius, help us to be grateful and generous. To give and not count the cost. To labor and not seek reward. To share God’s love with our neighbors in need. To meet them where they are in life and let them know they are not alone. Help us to be poor in spirit – to realize our dependence upon God. And to do all things for the greater glory of God. We ask this in the name of Jesus through your intercession. St. Ignatius, pray for us!” (Imprimatur: Most Rev. Michael Fisher) Thank you for helping us be HOPE for all seasons. (If you have any questions, please feel free to ask Bob Heicklen, Blessed Trinity’s Campaign Chair. Thank you in advance for your support. Please make this a part of your Lenten almsgiving).
Job Opportunities at Blessed Trinity ~ Are you or someone you know looking for work? We have a part-time general housekeeping position now available. It involves general parish rectory housekeeping, cleaning responsibilities, and occasional laundry. 10-16 hours/month. Send applications to Blessed Trinity RC Church, 317 Leroy Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214 (716-833-0301) or email blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com.
If 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.
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 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 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.
Virtual Church Tour ~ 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.
Photo credit: Gary Kelley
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Virtual Lent Prayer Service: “Walking with the Saints During Lent” on Tuesday, March 23 from 7-8 pm; hosted and led by the African American Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo – Pastoral Ministries of Cultural Diversity. Zoom meeting ID: 704 569 6786; Zoom link: https://us02web.zom.us/j/7045696786; by phone: 1-929-205-6099. To receive an email with the Zoom link, contact althea [dot] porter50 [at] gmail [dot] com.
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.