Week of January 9, 2022 – The Baptism of the Lord

January 9 – 16, 2022

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

 

“Many hands make light work,” and we need an instant replay on Monday evening, January 10. Believe it or not, it is already time to dismantle the seasonal decorations of Christmas, and we are asking for volunteers to repack them away for another year. We must also prepare the church for a return to “Ordinary Time” before the Diocesan Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King which will be celebrated this coming Sunday at our church. Please lend on hand on January 10 beginning at 6:30pm. Enter through the side door near the wheelchair ramp.

The Annual Diocesan Celebration of the Life of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be celebrated at our 10am Mass on Sunday, January 16. Those planning the celebration are requiring reservations and e-tickets to attend, and we hope you will call 716-847-2212 by Wednesday, January 12, to obtain yours. You may also view the Mass as it is livestreamed on our parish Facebook page (CLICK HERE) or later in the day on YouTube (CLICK HERE).

Many thanks to Mickey Dick, Rafael Rondon, Gary Weber, and Nancy Yager – members of our parish docent team – who shared their knowledge of our church as a repository of faith, art, and history with 35 WNYers on Wednesday, December 29. The visitors were participants in Explore Buffalo’s holiday tour, “Inside blessed Trinity.” Earlier that same day, Mickey provided an hour-long tour for a pastor from the Diocese of Johnson-Altoona, PA, and two others, including a church musician from the Pittsburgh area. Earlier in the week, a priest from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Irondequoit, NY, stopped by with a group of young adults from his parish’s St. Kateri Tekakwitha Latin Mass Community. Welcoming tourists is an important form of parish outreach, e.g., a local person who enjoyed Wednesday’s tour returned to worship with us on Sunday and brought a friend. Our tours and open houses are also income generating, resulting in sales (think guidebooks and coffee!) and donations – sometimes quite generous – to our Under This Roof Fund. If you would like train as a docent or help as a greeter at an open house, please contact Mickey (716-832-2540) and become a member of our building heritage committee.

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.

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.