Week of December 18, 2022 – 4th Sunday of Advent

December 18 – December 25, 2022

LIVESTREAMING of Sunday Mass is back. Click HERE.

Our website now includes a “Bulletins” page where visitors may view an exact copy of the weekly bulletin and inserts in PDF format, as well as a calendar for our Family of Parishes. The “Bulletins“ link is found at the top of the home page, and the calendar link appears under the “Worship” heading.

ALTHOUGH THE DIOCESE LIFTED ITS MASK MANDATE for worship in February, we have reserved a section of seating for mask wearers in the center section of pews on the right side of church. For the comfort of all, please remember to wear a mask when sitting in this section.

News from our Parish Community

We’ll be “decking the halls” – not to mention the nave, transept and Sanctuary on Monday evening, December 19, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please stop and lend a hand. It will make your Christmas experience at Blessed Trinity even more meaningful. Please enter by the ramp side door.

Christmas Choir Rehearsals, Tuesday, December 20 and Friday, December 23, at 7:00 p.m. in church.

Bible Study on ZOOM resumes on Tuesday, January 3, at 4pm. We are taking a brief hiatus on Dec. 20 and 27.

The annual “Giving Tree” is now in place on the left side of the transept. Please take an envelope from the tree, estimate what you think the grocery item might cost, and place that amount of money in the envelope. Then drop the envelope with your contribution in the collection basket. At the end of the Christmas season, the proceeds of the collection will be given to The Little Portion Friary, a homeless shelter serving Buffalo, New York.

Sodality’s Holiday Collection ~ Many thanks to those who have supported our endeavor to provide homebound parishioners with grocery store gift cards or Mass cards for Christmas. Thanks to your generosity, our drive exceeded it’s goal. Snowdrifts not withstanding, parishioners hope to personally deliver the grocery store gift cards before Christmas. Mass cards will be arriving in the mail.

2022 Prison Project ~ Special prayerful thanks for Amy Johnson and Dan Korchowsky who were our parish coordinators for the 2022 Prison Package Project. We are also very grateful to all the community volunteers who showed up on Friday, Dec. 9, to assemble the gift bags and prepare them for delivery to the inmates at the Albion and Wende Correctional Facilities. This Prison Package Project was begun by the late Sr. Karen Klimczak, SSJ, and has been continued by Peaceprints of WNY.

Food Pantry Returns to Shopper’s Choice ~ 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. Residents of 14214 & 14215 are welcome to help themselves, according to household size, to portions of carbohydrates, grains, proteins and canned vegetables. Bread and sweets generally available. Baby needs in stock also. Call (716) 800-1075 or write to ccfp14215 [at] gmail [dot] com for information.

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. As a support congregation, Blessed Trinity parishioners purchase and deliver groceries to the Family Promise shelter at Ss. Brigid-Columba Parish. With a few more volunteers we could continue this corporal work of mercy at least one day a month. Working in pairs, you could anticipate your turn to occur 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 (716-836-4694).

• 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 pandemic 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.