Week of June 18, 2023 – 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 18 – June 25, 2023

Live-streaming of 10AM Sunday Mass has resumed. Click HERE.

This website also 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.

 

News from our Parish Community

 

On Sunday, June 25, our Ladies Sodality will be hosting a luncheon for women from our family of parishes. This is an opportunity to learn about the unique mission and goals of each of the women’s group and how we might assist each other. Reservations are due by Wednesday, June 21. Sign-up sheets are located at each door of the church.

Students from St. John the Baptist School in Alden, NY, visited with us on Flag Day, Wednesday, June 14. They were welcomed by members of our building heritage team: Eleanor Ash, Mickey Dick, Don Williams and Nancy Yager. The third, fourth and fifth graders and their teachers spent an hour examining the iconography on the church façade and some of the 2,000 symbols found in the nave and sanctuary of our church, with an emphasis on those that reflected what they had learned in religion class this past year. Father Bob invited their participation in the 11 o’clock Mass, with students serving as cross bearer, altar server and readers. Here are some of the things they remembered from their tour:

The outside images that showed the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and Apostles’ Creed,
The lions on the door handles representing courage/strength,
The outside images that showed the Ten Commandments,
The pictures on the terra cotta columns, like the bat,
The outside images showing the Apostles,
The zodiac symbols [in the floor tiles] that showed the passage of time, and
The window that was a ‘clock’ with Mary and the 3 children from Fatima.

We hope they enjoyed their visit as much as the docents enjoyed welcoming them.

“One is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.”  We will be looking for volunteers to experience this closeness on Monday and Tuesday evening, June 19 and 20, beginning at 6pm. Bring your favorite gardening tools and help plant our parish gardens. The weeds are waiting to make way for the plants that Father Bob has acquired. Our flowers need to claim their places in the sun before the East Side Garden Walk, which is only a month away on July 23/24. Even if you can only spare an hour, please spend it “nearer to God’s heart” in our parish garden.

Prayerful thanks for the people who worked to make Saturday’s chicken dinner a success, especially the women who spent days preparing the sides and dessert!

Our Bible Study class is taking a break for the summer. We will be welcoming you back in the fall and look forward to expanding participation in our Tuesday afternoon ZOOM sessions.

Pastor Emeritus, Rev. George L. Reger ~ The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Reger was celebrated at Blessed Trinity on Friday, May 26. Click HERE to view a recorded version of the Mass.

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 email 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.