Week of March 27, 2022 – Fourth Sunday of Lent

March 27 – April 3, 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). Because it is no longer be necessary to list weekly activities or 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 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

Lenten Journey Mass ~ The fourth Lenten Journey Mass for our family of parishes will take place at Ss. Columba-Brigid, 75 Hickory St. this Monday, March 28, at 6:30pm. This Friday, April 1, Blessed Trinity will be the site of bi-lingual Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm. 

Tenebrae Service at 7pm on Friday, April 8 ~ Please plan to pray with congregants from our Family of Parishes at this special prelude to Holy Week, an adaptation of the Liturgy of Tenebrae (meaning “darkness” or “shadows”). This sacred service features seven readings relating the story of Jesus’ passion and death with sung response by the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum. Candles and lighting are extinguished after each reading, with gradual darkness symbolizing the coming darkness of Jesus’ death. Choral works by Tallis, Byrd, Croce, Haydn, Farrant, Palestrina and others will be performed by the Schola, an “a cappella” choir dedicated to preserving, promoting and performing sacred choral works from the great treasury of music of the Catholic Church. Their repertoire ranges from Gregorian Chant to masterpieces of sacred polyphony from the Middle Ages to modern times.

Bible Study on ZOOM resumed on Tuesday, February 15, and has continued each Tuesday at 4PM. You can join us from the comfort of your home and not have to worry about inclement weather or rush-hour traffic. Click this ZOOM link and join us on Tuesday as we study the Gospel of Luke. There will be no Bible Study on April 12 (Holy Week) or April 19 (Easter Week).

Take the Survey! Father Bob is asking us to participate in a diocesan survey regarding the “Road to Renewal.” You may obtain a paper copy at church or participate on-line by Clicking HERE. The Disciple Maker Index Survey is quite comprehensive and will probably take you at least 15 minutes to complete.

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.