Week of July 17, 2022 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

July 17 – July 24, 2022

We have made important changes to our web site, adding 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 will be found at the top of the home page, and the calendar link appears under the “Worship” heading. (For your convenience as you adjust to this change, we have added the links here as well). Our web administrators hope you will enjoy the convenience of the “Bulletins” page and four-parish calendar as much as they do.

THE DIOCESE HAS LIFTED ITS MASK MANDATE for worship as of February 9, 2022. Please read Father Bob’s guidelines as they relate to this parish in the church bulletin dated FEBRUARY 20, 2022. For the comfort of all, we have reserved a section of seating for mask wearers in the center section of pews on the right side of church.

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

As an expression of solidarity with our East Buffalo neighbors most affected by the May 14, 2022 massacre at the Jefferson Avenue Tops Market, our sister parish of St. Martin de Porres is asking us to visit the reopened supermarket after Mass this Sunday, July 17.

On Sunday, July 10, our parish celebrated Father Gebhard’s 35th Anniversary of Ordination. Father and his family were very appreciative of the party in St. charles Hall which followed Sunday Mass. They couldn’t stop commenting on how nice everything was and how they enjoyed meeting our parishioners. Because of COVID restrictions, we were unable to host a welcoming reception when Father Bob arrived in the fall of 2020. Last Sunday’s gathering was our first major social event held indoors since his assignment to Blessed Trinity. Our thanks to everyone who shopped for and prepared the food and worked to make the reception run so smoothly.

Church Garden Walk ~ July is the month of Buffalo garden walks, and we invite you to take a stroll around our church to enjoy the colorful plantings in our gardens and planters. They are there due to the efforts of a few, who wish to thank those parishioners who have come forward and agreed to take responsibility for watering the gardens and planters for one week this summer. The next week in need of a volunteer is July 31. If you are willing to “walk the walk,” please call Mickey or Bud (716.832.2540) and select an available week. They will be happy to show you the 3 strategically located water hookups & hoses.

Sacred Sites Open House ~ On Saturday, July 23, from 2:00-3:30 p.m., Blessed Trinity joins the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Eleventh Annual Sacred Sites Open House. This year’s theme, Open Doors, celebrates the return to in-person programming and highlights the broad spectrum of historical periods, faith traditions, and styles of religious architecture found in communities throughout the Empire State. As a participating congregation, Blessed Trinity will showcase its Landmark building with a presentation on its architecture and parish history accompanied by a docent-led tour. Learn about this “made in America” replica of 12^th century Lombard-Romanesque architecture including: handmade bricks set in a style dating back to the Middle Ages, extensive use of terra cotta, fascinating medieval iconography, and display of more than 2,000 Christian symbols. Reservations are now open for this free event. Click HERE to join the tour.

Bible Study on ZOOM is taking a summer break. We will resume on Tuesday, September 13, and continue every Tuesday at 4pm.

Blessed Trinity Welcomed Slow Roll Buffalo ~ The Buffalo Architectural Foundation sponsored Buffalo’s 10-mile community bike ride on Monday, June 6. Starting at the nearby Darwin Martin House Complex. 515 participants cycled by selected architectural and historic sites, including Blessed Trinity. Two groups of riders were welcomed by Father Bob and several parishioners. Mickey Dick presented architectural highlights of the church to our visitors, before they continued on to the Richardson Complex.

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. Registration open thru June. Call (716) 800-1075 or write to ccfp14215 [at] gmail [dot] com for information.

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:

Seasonal clothing for all ages
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.

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.