30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Week of October 25, 2015

Oct 26, 2015 | This Week

“I believe in … the Communion of Saints….”
The Feast of All Saints on November 1 and the Commemoration of All Souls on November 2 remind of this tenant of our Faith, expressed in The Apostles Creed and depicted by this symbol on the right side of the main doors to our church. In the words of Pope Paul VI: “We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers.”

October 25 – November 1, 2015

Weekly Activities

Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Thursday, October 29 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, October 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, November 1 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Sunday, November 1 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Meeting and Service of Remembrance in St. Charles Hall

*In response to requests from our players, we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo. As of  Thursday, October 15, we no longer admit children under 8 years of age.

We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, October 25 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the Intentions of the Ejimadu Family (Requested by Fidelia and Family) and Gregory Bobo (Requested by Pauline Rollek)

Monday, October 26 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, October 27 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. ~ Catherine M. Maher

Wednesday, October 28 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Thursday, October 29 ~ Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Winifred Enright (Estate)

Friday, October 30 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, October 31 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Ithrene Cameron (The Gallisdorfers)

Sunday, November 1 ~ All Saints Day ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Phil Heubusch (Ed Marien) and Vivian Jones (Blessed Trinity Ladies Sodality)

News from our Parish Community

Please welcome Rayana “Ray” Ralabate, who began working as our part-time parish secretary/ receptionist last week. A Kenmore resident, Rayana has a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo, and a bachelor’s degree from Bryant & Stratton College. She is already putting her answering service experience to good use and adapting our voicemail system to make it more responsive to our callers’ needs. With Rayana’s arrival, we have instituted new rectory office hours: Tuesday-Friday from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Please stop by to introduce yourself and welcome the newest member of our parish family.

The Church Musicians Guild’s 2015 Choral Music Festival is Sunday, October 25, at 5 PM. Members of our choir will participate as part of the Festival Choir and Nick DelBello will be there with his brass quintet. Please join them at St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main Street. There are no tickets, but a free will offering will be taken.

The Ladies Sodality Meeting is next Sunday, November 1, in St. Charles Hall, immediately following the 10 AM Mass. In honor of All Saints and All Souls Days, there will be a Service of Remembrance for deceased members Mary Reilly, Ithrene Cameron, Eula Mae Cooper, and Vivian Jones. The November program will also include a brief business meeting and light refreshments. All women of the parish are invited to attend.

Watches for St. Vincent de Paul ~ The Sodality wishes to thank everyone who has donated used watches in support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The drive continues through Sunday, November 8, which means there are only two weekends left to bring in your non-working timepieces. They will be repaired or used for parts and sold in the Society’s thrift stores with proceeds used to further the organization’s charitable work. Place your donation in the “No More Mister Nice Watch” container near the statue of St. Joseph.

World Mission Sunday ~ Thank you for your generous response to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith last weekend on World Mission Sunday. Some people are called to go to serve in other countries to develop the Church and serve its people, but all of us can pray and support the Missions from right here in the parish.

Please join us for a day of faith, prayer and remembrance by visiting one of our most sacred places, a Catholic Cemetery.  All Souls Day Masses will be held on Saturday, October 31, at 10:00 AM at Mt. Olivet in Kenmore, Holy Cross in Lackawanna, Holy Sepuchre in Cheektowaga and Gate of Heaven in Lewiston.  “…It is the pious traditon during these days for the faithful to go visit the graves of their dear ones and to prayer for them.”  Pope John Paul II.

The Vocalis Chamber Choir and director, James Burritt, in concert at Blessed Trinity on October 18, 2015.

Trinity Concert Series ~ We hope you were one of the almost 200 who enjoyed To Music, the opening concert of our 2015-16 Trinity Series featuring the Vocális Chamber Choir, under the direction of James Burritt. To view photos from the concert, click HERE. Next up: The Freudig Singers of Western New York and their Magnificant Pie, Sunday, December 6 at 3 PM. You’ll be hearing more about this event in the weeks to come, including the popular post-concert pie reception. You can pick up a schedule for the entire concert series in church or request one by clicking HERE and listing “Trinity Series” as the subject.

Updating Our Records ~ Thanks to all of you who completed the contact information form that appeared in the bulletin for several weekends. If you forgot, you can use the form at the bottom of the back page of the weekly bulletin to provide the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Alternatively, you may email the information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com specifying “Contact Information” in the subject line, or click HERE and use our handy template. Just remember to reference “Contact Information” when submitting information on-line.

School Alumni Gift ~ In 2006, the year of the Parish Centennial, alumni of Blessed Trinity School began what would become an annual tradition of reuniting for worship at our church. This year’s gathering took place on Sunday, September 27. In conjunction with this reunion the Alumni Committee also conducts a fundraiser, with graduates being encouraged to purchase tickets for a split club raffle held at a reception following the Mass. Our parish has benefited directly from the raffle, as the Alumni have generously donated a portion of the “split” to our Under This Roof Fund. This year’s gift totaled $1,425.00. The Alumni Committee’s solicitation also resulted in an additional $740.00 in individual member donations to the dedicated fund, which will be the primary source of funding for the three areas of major repair and restoration under the terms of our State grant. Since 2009, School Alumni have contributed a total of $9,205.00 in raffle returns and individual gifts and, in a October 13 letter to the Alumni Committee, Father Reger has expressed the appreciation of our entire Parish Community for their dedication and generosity.

Scholarship Opportunities ~ We just received the information and application forms for two scholarships. Please see Sister Barbara Horan for application forms.

• Martin Luther King Scholarship – to help an 8^th grade student attain a Catholic High School Education. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
• Albert Lenhard Family Scholarship Fund – to assist applicants who want to continue their formal education beyond high school at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Are you or is someone you know an out of work job seeker? Facing the challenge of being unemployed and working through this tough economy is tough enough. You don’t have to go it alone. Contact the Office of Family Life Ministries for your free packet containing practical resources, prayers, scripture support and programs designed to support you on your journey. Just email familylife [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org  or call us at 716-847-2210.

Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles
October 28
Symbols representing the apostles appear in the roofline corbels across the entire front of the church and in the capitals and the bases of the columns surrounding the angels on either side of The Main Portico. According to former pastor Rev. Walter Kern, “[t]he common way of representing [the apostles] is with the symbol of their martyrdom.” (Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R. C. Church, page 15).
St. Simon is symbolized by this saw;
St. Jude is symbolized by a knotted club.

African All Saints Day Celebration ~ Auxiliary Bishop Fernand J. Cheri will be our guest Presider at St. Martin De Porres on Sunday, November 1, at 9:30 A.M. for a Mass celebrating All Saints. It will be jointly sponsored by Saint Martin De Porres and the African and African American Commission of the Diocese of Buffalo to give special recognition to our African and African American Saints. Please join us as we welcome Bishop Cheri and congratulate him on being named Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans this past January.

OLP Homemade Spaghetti Dinner ~ Sunday, November 1 (12 noon – 4 PM) in Our Lady of Pompeii Ministry Center, 129 Laverack Ave, Lancaster, NY 14086.  For tickets and information, call 683-6522.

Seventh Annual Friendship Dinner and Award Ceremony sponsored by the Peace Islands Institute and Turkish Cultural Center at Buffalo is November 11 at Daemen College, 4380 Main St., Amherst, beginning at 6 PM. The event will bring political, academic, religious, and other community leaders in the Greater Buffalo Area together to promote diversity, peace, and mutual understanding in our community through dialogue and education. The dinner theme will be “On Whose Shoulders? Violence and Extremism,” and the opening address will be delivered by Daemen College President Gary A. Olson. Kindly RSVP by Nov. 6 to rsvp [at] tccbuffalo [dot] org or by calling 716-575-5822. The cost is $25 per person, payable at the door.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Week of Oct. 18, 2015

Oct 18, 2015 | This Week

Our Altar of Sacrifice (foreground) contains a relic of St. Isaac Jogues and is dedicated to the Jesuit martyr and missionary to NY State
and his companions. The Church commemorates their lives in a single celebration on October 19. Photo credit: Duane Held.

October 18 – October 25, 2015

Weekly Activities

Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Sunday, October 18, following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St. Charles Hall, hosted by the Parish Council

Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 p.m. ~ The Vocális Chamber Choir performs To Music in Church

Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, October 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

*In response to requests from our players, we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo. As of Thursday, October 15, we no longer admit children under 8 years of age.

We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, October 18 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – William Blesnuk (Requested by Family) and David Karnyski (Requested by Pauline Rollek)

Monday, October 19 ~ St. John de Brebeuf; St. Isaac Jogues & Companions ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, October 20 ~ St. Paul of the Cross ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. ~ Anna Snyder (Estate)

Wednesday, October 21 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Winifred Enright (Estate)

Thursday, October 22 ~ St. John Paul II ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Friday, October 23 ~ St. John of Capistrano ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Bridget Blesnuk (Parents)

Saturday, October 24 ~ St. Anthony of Claret ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Sunday, October 25 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the Intentions of the Ejimadu Family (Fidelia and Family) and Gregory Bobo (Pauline Rollek)

The Vocalis Chamber Choir in concert at Blessed Trinity on Sun., October 18, at 4 PM

News from our Parish Community

♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯  MUSICAL NOTES  ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫

To Music, the opening concert of our Trinity Series, is this Sunday, October 18 at 4 PM. The Vocális Chamber Choir, under the direction of James Burritt, presents texts in tribute of music – its beauty, power, meaning, and emotion. Please join us for a celebration of the greatest of all art forms and help guarantee a successful 2015-16 concert season! Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Our Choir has “road game” at 5 PM next Sunday, October 25, and they are counting on support from you, their fan base. Together with Nick DelBello and his brass quintet, organist Peter Gonziarz, and the St. Joseph University Choir, choristers from Blessed Trinity and other church choirs will be performing at the Diocesan Choral Festival under the direction of Ron Martin. The gala at neighboring St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main Street, is sponsored by the Church Musicians Guild of Buffalo. There are no tickets, but a free will offering will be taken.

♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫

The Parish Council is our host for Coffee Hour following Mass this Sunday, October 18. 

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 PM in St. Charles Hall.

October 18 is World Mission Sunday!  In Scripture, we read that St. Paul asked the Gentile Churches to take up a collection to support the Church in Jerusalem.  Now we are asked to reach out and support the young churches throughout our world. Your prayers and generous gifts to the Society for Propagation of the Faith in the collection to day will help missionaries offer the poor of these areas practical help as they share the mercy of God.  It will ensure the development of local dioceses, and support the work of priests, religious and lay leaders who serve those on the margins and in most need.  Go out to the whole world through your gift in this weekend’s collection!

Watches for St. Vincent de Paul ~ The Sodality is continuing to collect used watches through Sunday, November 8. These watches do not have to be in working order. They will be repaired or used for parts and sold in the Society’s thrift stores with proceeds used to further the organization’s charitable work. Place your donation in the “No More Mister Nice Watch” container near the statue of St. Joseph.

School Alumni Gift ~ In 2006, the year of the Parish Centennial, alumni of Blessed Trinity School began what would become an annual tradition of reuniting for worship at our church. This year’s gathering took place on Sunday, September 27. In conjunction with this reunion the Alumni Committee also conducts a fundraiser, with graduates being encouraged to purchase tickets for a split club raffle held at a reception following the Mass. Our parish has benefited directly from the raffle, as the Alumni have generously donated a portion of the “split” to our Under This Roof Fund. This year’s gift totaled $1,425.00. The Alumni Committee’s solicitation also resulted in an additional $740.00 in individual member donations to the dedicated fund, which will be the primary source of funding for the three areas of major repair and restoration under the terms of our State grant. Since 2009, School Alumni have contributed a total of $9,205.00 in raffle returns and individual gifts and, in a October 13 letter to the Alumni Committee, Father Reger has expressed the appreciation of our entire Parish Community for their dedication and generosity.

The Sisters of Social Service will hold their Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 6:30 PM at the Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave. in Cheektowaga. The featured speaker is Sr. Denise Roche, GNSH, Ph.D., President of D’Youville College. In accord with the 2015-16 Year of Consecrated Life, her topic will be “Building God’s Kingdom: the Legacy of Women Religious.” For information and reservations, call 836-0685. Our former Pastoral Associate, Sister Flavia Dampf, is a member of the Sisters of Social Service.

Scholarship Opportunities ~ We just received the information and application forms for two scholarships. Please see Sister Barbara Horan for application forms.

• Martin Luther King Scholarship – to help an 8^th grade student attain a Catholic High School Education. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
• Albert Lenhard Family Scholarship Fund – to assist applicants who want to continue their formal education beyond high school at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Application deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Are you or is someone you know an out of work job seeker? Facing the challenge of being unemployed and working through this tough economy is tough enough. You don’t have to go it alone. Contact the Office of Family Life Ministries for your free packet containing practical resources, prayers, scripture support and programs designed to support you on your journey. Just email familylife [at] buffalodiocese [dot] org  or call us at 716-847-2210.

Help Stop Hunger. Catholic Charities’ eight food pantries in Buffalo, Franklinville, Getzville, Lackawanna, and Wellsville provide for individuals across Western New York in an emergency or when the food budget just doesn’t stretch far enough. Volunteers to help sort, stock, and prepare food for distribution are always welcome. If you are available for as little as four hours a week and are interested in helping our food pantries, please contact Catholic Charities Parish Outreach at 716-218-1400 ext. 2005.

Updating Our Records ~ Thanks to all of you who completed the contact information form that appeared in the bulletin for several weekends. If you forgot, you can use the form at the bottom of the back page of the weekly bulletin to provide the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Alternatively, you may email the information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com specifying “Contact Information” in the subject line, or click HERE and use our handy template. Just remember to reference “Contact Information” when submitting information on-line.

Our Altar of Sacrifice also contains a relic of St. Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821), the first U.S. born saint to be canonized. This woodcarving hangs on the left (east) transept wall of the church. It is a gift of the Southtowns Wood Carvers of WNY.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

A Lecture on the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy will be held on Tuesday, October 20, at 7 PM in the main dining room of Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Rd., E. Aurora. Rev. Robert Schreiter will speak on “Discovering the Face of Mercy: Prospects for the American Church during the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy.” Father Schreiter, a leading author and international speaker, is a professor of Theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The talk is part of the “Father Thomas Dailey Lecture Series in Christian Ethics and Spirituality.” No registration is necessary. Free-will offering welcome.

Marriage and Annulment in the Catholic Church Seminar on Thursday, October 22 at 7 PM at St. Martha Parish, 10 French Road, Depew. The marriage of a man and a woman is revered by the Catholic Church as a vocation ordained by God. It is both a reflection of God’s love and a manifestation of God’s love in the world. But our hearts go out to the many good people who have suffered the tragic breakup of their marriage. Anyone who finds themselves in this type of situation should not fear the Church’s procedures. Rev. Robert Zilliox, JCL, from the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Buffalo will speak about the Essence of Canon Law and the Sacrament of Marriage and he will explain the new procedures for annulments recently announced by Pope Francis. Many Catholics across the United States have welcomed Pope Francis’ annulment reforms, the most far-reaching in almost three centuries. All are welcome!

OLP Homemade Spaghetti Dinner ~ Sunday, November 1 (12 noon – 4 PM) in Our Lady of Pompeii Ministry Center, 129 Laverack Ave, Lancaster, NY 14086.  For tickets and information, call 683-6522.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Week of October 11, 2015

Oct 11, 2015 | This Week

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
October 16
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) is depicted on the left in this painting at The Sacred Heart Altar on the right side of our church. “Christ appeared to her in 1673-75 to request efforts to spread devotion to his Sacred Heart to overcome the ‘coldness, neglect, and indifference’ of so many people to God’s message of love revealed in Christ.” Although her name is unavailable, the model who posed for this painting of St. Margaret was one of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught at Blessed Trinity School at the time. (Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church, page 28).

October 11 – October 18, 2015

Weekly Activities

Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Thursday, October 15 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, October 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, October 18, following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Coffee Hour in St Charles Hall, hosted by the Parish Council

*In response to requests from our players, we are instituting age restrictions for admission to Bingo. Beginning Thursday, October 15, we will no longer admit children under 8 years of age.

We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, October 11 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Robert and Ceil Marien (Requested by Ed Marien) and Joseph Kohn (Requested by Family)

Monday, October 12 ~ NO SERVICES

Tuesday, October 13 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. ~ Winifred Enright (Estate)

Wednesday, October 14 ~ St Callistus I ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Church (Blessed Trinity Church)

Thursday, October 15 ~ St. Teresa of Jesus ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, October 16 ~ St. Hedwig; St. Margaret Mary Alacoque ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Saturday, October 17 ~ St. Ignatius of Antioch ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Marshall Roach (Horan Family)

Sunday, October 18 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – William Blesnuk (Family) and David Karnyski (Pauline Rollek)

Readings for the Week of October 11

Sunday: Wis 7:7-11; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 or 10:17-27
Monday: Rom 1:1-7; Lk 11:29-32
Tuesday: Rom 1:16-25; Lk 11:37-41
Wednesday: Rom 2:1-11; Lk 11:42-46
Thursday: Rom 3:21-30; Lk 11:47-54
Friday: Rom 4:1-8; Lk 12:1-7
Saturday: Rom 4:13, 16-18; Lk 12:8-12
Sunday, October 18: Is 53:10-11; Heb 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

The Vocalis Chamber Choir in concert at Blessed Trinity on Sun., October 18, at 4 PM

News from our Parish Community

♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯  MUSICAL NOTES  ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫

Our Trinity Series opening concert, To Music, is next Sunday, October 18. The Vocális Chamber Choir presents texts in tribute of music – its beauty, power, meaning, and emotion. The a cappella choir, under the direction of James Burritt, will perform music of Vaughan Williams, Britten, Brahms, Lassus, McGlynn, Brubeck – and other surprises. Please join us for a celebration of the greatest of all art forms and help guarantee a successful 2015-16 concert season! The start time for this concert is 4 PM, which is an hour later than usual. Tickets are available only at the door, and are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Click HERE for additional information about the Trinity Series.

Never mind the Bills, our Choir has “road game” at 5 PM on Sunday, October 25, and they are counting on support from you, their fan base. Together with Nick DelBello and his brass quintet, organist Peter Gonziarz, and the St. Joseph University Choir, choristers from Blessed Trinity and other church choirs will be performing at the Diocesan Choral Festival under the direction of Ron Martin. The gala is sponsored by the Church Musicians Guild of Buffalo, and you’re invited! Save the date: Sunday, October 25, at St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main Street, Buffalo.

♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫ ♯ ♫

The Parish Council is our host for Coffee Hour following Mass next Sunday, October 18. 

The next Parish Council meeting is Wednesday, October 21, at 7 PM in St. Charles Hall.

World Mission Sunday ~ On Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, we will celebrate World Mission Sunday. This year we are invited to support 1,150 of the youngest dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin American and Europe. Please keep the Missions in your prayers and be generous in next weekend’s collection for the Society of the Propagation of the Faith.

Watch for Watches ~ Beginning on Saturday, October 3 and continuing through Sunday, November 8, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting old watches – with our without wristbands — for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The watches do not have to be in working order. They will be repaired or used for parts and sold in the Society’s thrift stores with proceeds used to further the organization’s charitable work. Here is a wonderful opportunity to “de-clutter” a dresser drawer, provide someone with a valued timepiece, and help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the process. Please place your donation in the “No More Mister Nice Watch” container near the statue of St. Joseph.

Revival 2015 is this week, Tuesday-Thursday, October 13-15, at Ss. Columba Brigid, beginning at 6:30 PM each evening. The African American Commission of the Diocese of Buffalo presents “Revival 2015: Cast the First Stone.” Fathers Charles and Chester Smith, the first African-American twins to be ordained as R. C. priests in the United States, are the featured speakers. They are “filled with the Holy Spirit, and can’t wait to share it with all of us here.” Everyone is welcome, so invite your friends, neighbors, and family. If you’ve never attended the Revival before, pledge to come on Tuesday. We’re sure you will be back. Thursday evening’s program will be followed by a reception. Donations of finger foods would be greatly appreciated.

Canisius students, l. to r. (front) Peyton Richmond, Lota Ofodile; (rear) Luke Topolski, Michael Panzarella.

Thanks to the wonderful Canisius College Community, which continues to include us in their Community Day volunteer projects. We are extremely grateful to Lota Ofodile, Michael Panzarella, Peyton Richmond and Luke Topolski, all members of the Canisius College Entrepreneurs Organization, who donated their time and youthful energies at Blessed Trinity on Saturday, October 3. The quartet washed the church floors and pews and even helped with emergency debris cleanup at St. Charles Hall. Thank you, Canisius, for coming to our aid once again.

Updating Our Records ~ Thanks to all of you who completed the contact information form that appeared in the bulletin for the past two weekends. If you forgot, you can use the form at the bottom of the back page of the weekly bulletin to provide the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Alternatively, you may email the information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com specifying “Contact Information” in the subject line, or click HERE and use our handy template. Just remember to reference “Contact Information” when submitting information on-line.

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

St. Joseph University Parish’s Social Justice Committee and Pax Christi of WNY are sponsoring a retreat on Saturday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Using the book, A Spirituality of Being Human by Hugh Brady, D. Min., the retreat provides a time to invigorate and restore our spirits on our individual spiritual journeys of confusion, grace and trial, by finding God and hope in ourselves and others.  To register, contact Tom Casey at caseytpc [at] aol [dot] com or 716-491-9172. The retreat will take place in the school cafeteria and space is limited, so register soon! There is a suggested donation of $20, which includes continental breakfast and lunch.

The Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary will hold their Bazaar and Rummage Sale at St. John Gualbert’s Parish gymnasium, 83 Gualbert Avenue, Cheektowaga, on Saturday, October 17, from 10 AM-5 PM. They offer handcrafted items made by the sisters, a craft fair, bake sale and more. Proceeds fund repairs and upkeep of the Dominican Monastery. To make a donation or for additional information, call 892-0066 or email monasteryworkshop [at] opnuns [dot] com.

A Lecture on the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy will be held on Tuesday, October 20, at 7 PM in the main dining room of Christ the King Seminary, 711 Knox Rd., E. Aurora. Rev. Robert Schreiter will speak on “Discovering the Face of Mercy: Prospects for the American Church during the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy.” Father Schreiter, a leading author and international speaker, is a professor of Theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The talk is part of the “Father Thomas Dailey Lecture Series in Christian Ethics and Spirituality.” No registration is necessary. Free-will offering welcome.

Marriage and Annulment in the Catholic Church Seminar on Thursday, October 22 at 7 PM at St. Martha Parish, 10 French Road, Depew. The marriage of a man and a woman is revered by the Catholic Church as a vocation ordained by God. It is both a reflection of God’s love and a manifestation of God’s love in the world. But our hearts go out to the many good people who have suffered the tragic breakup of their marriage. Anyone who finds themselves in this type of situation should not fear the Church’s procedures. Rev. Robert Zilliox, JCL, from the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Buffalo will speak about the Essence of Canon Law and the Sacrament of Marriage and he will explain the new procedures for annulments recently announced by Pope Francis. Many Catholics across the United States have welcomed Pope Francis’ annulment reforms, the most far-reaching in almost three centuries. All are welcome!

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Week of Oct. 4, 2015

Oct 4, 2015 | This Week

One of four angels on the church facade symbolizing the Four Marks of the Church: One, Holy [Sanctitas], Catholic, and Apostolic.

October 4 – October 11, 2015

Weekly Activities

Sunday, October 4 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Meeting in the rectory

Thursday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Saturday, October 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, October 10 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*

Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

*In response to requests from our players, we are instituting age restrictions for admission to Bingo. Beginning Saturday, October 10, we will no longer admit children under 8 years of age.

We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, October 4 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Margaret F. Schirmann ( Requested by Mary C. Stoddard) and Ithrene Cameron (Requested by Blessed Trinity Ladies Sodality)

Monday, October 5 ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, October 6 ~ St. Bruno; Bl. Marie Rose Durocher ~ Anna Snyder (Estate)

Wednesday, October 7 ~ Our Lady of the Rosary ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Thursday, October 8 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of the Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)

Friday, October 9 ~ St. Denis & Companions; St. John Leonardi ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Saturday, October 10 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Mary Horan Roach (Family)

Sunday, October 11 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Robert and Ceil Marien (Ed Marien) and Joseph Kohn (Family)

Readings for the Week of October 4

Sunday: Gn 2:18-24; Heb 2:9-11; Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
Monday: Jon 1:1–2:2, 11; Lk 10:25-37
Tuesday: Jon 3:1-10; Lk 10:38-42
Wednesday: Jon 4:1-11; Lk 11:1-4
Thursday: Mal 3:13-20b; Lk 11:5-13
Friday: Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2; Lk 11:15-26
Saturday: Jl 4:12-21; Lk 11:27-28
Sunday, October 11: Wis 7:7-11; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 or 10:17-27

News from our Parish Community

Our Ladies Sodality will meet in the rectory following the 10 o’clock Mass on Sunday, October 4, for a brief but important business meeting. The agenda will include committee reports, and a discussion of board positions and programs scheduled during the fall and winter months. Please be prepared to make a $2 donation to defray the cost of light refreshments. All women of the parish are invited to attend. We thank our October hostess, Amy Johnson.

The Vocalis Chamber Choir

The Vocális Chamber Choir opens our 2015-16 Trinity Concert Series on Sunday, October 18 at 4 PM with texts in tribute to music – its beauty, power, meaning, and emotion. The ensemble of dedicated professionals, under the direction of James Burritt, will perform To Music, featuring the works of Vaughan Williams, Britten, Brahms, Lassus, McGlynn, Brubeck – and other surprises. Please plan to be with us on October 18 as we celebrate the greatest of all art forms with the Vocális Chamber Choir. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at the door: $15 per person – $10 student.  Click HERE for additional information about the Trinity Series.

Watch for Watches ~ Beginning on Saturday, October 3 and continuing through Sunday, November 8, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting old watches – with our without wristbands — for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The watches do not have to be in working order. They will be repaired or used for parts and sold in the Society’s thrift stores with proceeds used to further the organization’s charitable work. Here is a wonderful opportunity to “de-clutter” a dresser drawer, provide someone with a valued timepiece, and help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the process. Please place your donation in the “No More Mister Nice Watch” container near the statue of St. Joseph.

Buffalo Underground Gardening Volunteers

Prayerful Thanks ~ We are extremely grateful to Buffalo Underground volunteers Melanie Chimento, Maria Blonski, Jeremy Edmunds, Mark Hammer, Thomas Zera, Cindy B., Linda, and Marie who dedicated last Saturday morning to the beautification of our gardens and planters. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that volunteer projects can’t succeed without direction. Thanks also to parishioners Drew Brodfuehrer, Tom Brodfuehrer, Judy Casassa, Bud and Mickey Dick, Dan Korchowsky, and Sister Liz Savage who worked along with them to complete the task.

Canisius students, l. to r. (front) Peyton Richmond, Lota Ofodile; (rear) Luke Topolski, Michael Panzarella.

Canisius Community Day ~ Our volunteer efforts turned inward on Saturday, October 2, when members of the Canisius College Entrepreneurs Organization made Blessed Trinity the focus of their Canisius Community Day. We are extremely grateful to Lota Ofodile (front rt.), Michael Panzarella (back rt.), Peyton Richmond (front left.) and Luke Topolski (back left). The quartet swabbed the floors and washed the pews in our Landmark church and even helped with emergency enclosures by hauling bricks! Thank you for coming to our aid.

Updating Our Records ~ Thanks to all of you who completed the contact information form that appeared in the bulletin for the past two weekends. If you forgot, you can use the form at the bottom of the back page of the weekly bulletin to provide the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Alternatively, you may email the information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com specifying “Contact Information” in the subject line, or click HERE and use our handy template. Just remember to reference “Contact Information” when submitting information on-line.

Blessed Trinity School Alumni ~ On Sunday, September 27, our parish welcomed alumni of our parish grammar school for their annual Mass honoring deceased classmates and teachers. Attendees included graduates from as long ago as 1930 through the 40th Anniversary and final graduating class of 1975. Parish docent and graduate of the school, Mickey Dick, provided early arrivals with a guided tour, and following the Mass attendees had an opportunity to re-connect with former friends and neighbors at an all-class reception in St. Charles Hall. The highlight of the reception was a split club raffle, with two lucky winners and our church’s Under This Roof Fund sharing in the proceeds. In addition to a $1,300.00 gift from the Alumni Association to the dedicated fund, their mailing also raised $740.oo in individual alumni contributions to the Under This Roof Fund. We thank the Alumni Association for their generosity and continued efforts in support of our parish community.

Jerry Powers, ’51, reads the names of the split club raffle winners as Clate Steinwachs, ’30, who drew the winning tickets, looks on.
(Mr. Steinwachs celebrated his 99th
birthday on September 3rd).

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Meat Raffle at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, 158 Laverack Avenue, Lancaster on Saturday, October 10. Doors open at 5 PM, first raffle at 7 PM. Huge grand prize, 50/50 drawings, basket auction, and door prizes. For more information, please go to www.wnymeatraffle.com, then click on Future Meat Raffles. If you would like tickets or to make a reservation (for 6 or more), contact Tim at 716-686-9559.

St. Joseph University Parish’s Social Justice Committee and Pax Christi of WNY are sponsoring a retreat on Saturday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Using the book, A Spirituality of Being Human by Hugh Brady, D. Min., the retreat provides a time to invigorate and restore our spirits on our individual spiritual journeys of confusion, grace and trial, by finding God and hope in ourselves and others.  To register, contact Tom Casey at caseytpc [at] aol [dot] com or 716-491-9172. The retreat will take place in the school cafeteria and space is limited, so register soon! There is a suggested donation of $20, which includes continental breakfast and lunch.

It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Catholic Charities Wants to Help. America sets aside October as the month to remember all those who have died at the hands of domestic abuse and celebrate those who have survived. At the same time, the community is called to take action against domestic violence and spread awareness of this issue. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger from domestic violence, call 911. If you are in need of counseling and help planning for the future, call 716-856-4494 or your nearest Catholic Charities office. Find us at www.ccwny.org.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Week of Sept. 27, 2015

Sep 27, 2015 | This Week

The Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael – whose feast day we celebrate on September 29 – are depicted in the stained glass windows of the skylight over the altar, on either side of the ten foot long central panel of Christ the King. In this photo, Gabriel is the partial figure at the far left, holding a palm branch. St. Michael appears in the third panel from the left holding a sword, and St. Raphael is the partial figure seen in the panel on the far right. Installed in 1953, the skylight windows contain 20,000 pieces of glass set in approximately one half mile of lead strips.
Together, the 15 panels weigh about 1,000 pounds. (Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church at page 44).
Photo credit: Jeannette Pikturna

September 27 – October 4, 2015

Weekly Activities

Sunday, September 27 at 9:30-10:00 a.m. ~ Church Tour for BT School Alumni

Sunday, September 27 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Blessed Trinity School Alumni All-Class Reception in St. Charles Hall

Thursday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall

Saturday, October 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall

There will be NO BINGO on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3.
Due to building damage, we have no heat.

Sunday, October 4 at 9:00 a.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in the Loft

Sunday, October 4 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Ladies Sodality Meeting in St. Charles Hall

We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, September 27 ~ Deceased Faculty and Alumni of Blessed Trinity School (Requested by School Alumni) and Max Link (Requested by Casey McNamara and Stephen Viscusi)

Monday, September 28 ~  St. Wenceslaus, St. Lawrence Ruiz & Companions ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, September 29 ~ Ss. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels ~ Catherine M. Maher (Estate)

Wednesday, September 30 ~ St. Jerome ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)

Thursday, October 1 ~ St. Therese of the Child Jesus ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Winfred Enright (Estate)

Friday, October 2 ~ The Holy Guardian Angels ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Deceased Members of Blessed Trinity Parish (Blessed Trinity Parish)

Saturday, October 3 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Frances Pernick (Children)

Sunday, October 4 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Margaret F. Schirmann (Mary C. Stoddard) and Ithrene Cameron (Blessed Trinity Ladies Sodality)

Readings for the Week of September 27

Sunday: Nm 11:25-29; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Monday: Zec 8:1-8; Lk 9:46-50
Tuesday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14 or Rv 12:7-12ab; Jn 1:47-51
Wednesday: Neh 2:1-8; Lk 9:57-62
Thursday: Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12; Lk 10:1-12
Friday: Bar 1:15-22; Mt 18:1-5, 10
Saturday: Bar 4:5-12, 27-29; Lk 10:17-24
Sunday, October 4: Gn 2:18-24; Heb 2:9-11; Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, France (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus) is honored by the Church on October 1. She was canonized in 1925 – while our church was being built – and remains “one of the most popular saints of modern times because of her ‘Little Way’ of seeking holiness through the everyday things in the ordinary circumstances of life. The beautiful ceramic decorations around the shrine niche [in the right transept] are some of the most beautiful in the church.” (Rev. Walter Kern’s Guidebook to Blessed Trinity R.C. Church, page 27.)
Photo credit: Margaret Dick.

Rev. Charles Kraehn and a contingent of
BTS “Patrol Boys” in the 1950s.

Welcome Blessed Trinity School Alumni ~ This Sunday, September 27, we extend a warm welcome to alumni of our parish grammar school as they honor their deceased classmates and teachers at an annual Memorial Mass. Graduates from as long ago as 1930 through the last class of 1975 are expected to attend. We hope that you will find peace and renewal within our worship community and joy in re-connecting with former friends at your reception following the Mass. We also invite you to return throughout the year for parish liturgies, concerts, tours, volunteer opportunities, or other events.

Our Ladies Sodality will meet in St. Charles Hall following the 10 o’clock Mass next Sunday, October 4, for a brief but important business meeting. The agenda will include committee reports, and a discussion of board positions and programs scheduled during the fall and winter months. Please be prepared to make a $2 donation to defray the cost of light refreshments. All women of the parish are invited to attend. We thank our October hostess, Amy Johnson.

Watch for Watches ~ Beginning on Saturday, October 3 and continuing through Sunday, November 8, the Ladies Sodality will be collecting old watches – with our without wristbands — for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The watches do not have to be in working order. They will be repaired or used for parts and sold in the Society’s thrift stores with proceeds used to further the organization’s charitable work. Here is a wonderful opportunity to “de-clutter” a dresser drawer, provide someone with a valued timepiece, and help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the process. Please place your donation in the “No More Mister Nice Watch” container near the statue of St. Joseph.

Fall Gardening at BT ~ Saturday, September 26, marked the return of Melanie Chimento and those wonderful folks from Buffalo Underground who did such an amazing landscaping job for us in June. A number of them “dug in” Saturday morning and helped to beautify our Leroy side landscaping and Dewey side planters for the fall season. We also extend our thanks to the parishioners who worked along with them: Drew Brodfuehrer, Tom Brodfuehrer, Judy Casassa, Bud and Mickey Dick, Dan Korchowsky, and Sister Liz Savage.

Updating Our Records ~ We are requesting your cooperation in updating our parish records and contact information. If you moved recently and forgot to notify the rectory office, this is your reminder to do so. If you have an email address, we would like to include you in our parish group email. This is a way of providing you with time-sensitive information; e.g., the death of a parishioner or the unexpected cancellation of some event due to weather or illness. Please help smooth the way for our new office staff by providing the following information: your name and preferred phone number; your email address; and, if applicable, your new mailing address. Please email the information to blessedtrinitychurch [at] gmail [dot] com specifying “Contact Information” in the subject line, or Click HERE and use our handy template. Just remember to reference “Contact Information.”

The Vocalis Chamber Choir

The Vocális Chamber Choir opens our 2015-16 Trinity Concert Series on Sunday, October 18 at 4 PM with texts in tribute to music – its beauty, power, meaning, and emotion. The ensemble of dedicated professionals, under the direction of James Burritt, will perform To Music, featuring the works of Vaughan Williams, Britten, Billings, Purcell, Haydn, Schubert – and other surprises. Please plan to be with us on October 18 as we celebrate the greatest of all art forms with the Vocális Chamber Choir. This is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at the door: $15 per person – $10 student.  Click HERE for additional information about the Trinity Series.

Catholic High Schools ~ We are receiving information for current 8th Graders regarding their schedules for Fall Open House, Preparation Classes for Entrance Exams, and Entrance Exam dates, as well as other fall events. You will find this information on the table in the front vestibule.

Ministry to the Sick and Homebound ~ New York State law prohibits hospitals and nursing homes/rehab facilities from notifying a church when a member of its congregation is admitted. If such a situation arises with your loved one or family member, please contact the rectory to request visitation and administration of the sacraments. This also applies to someone receiving care in a home setting.

Give a Child a Safe Home. Catholic Charities works closely with birth families to provide a safe place for children, especially sibling groups, to stay and receive care when they cannot receive it at their own home. Interested in learning more about their Foster Care program? Call (716) 856-4494 ext. 360 or send an email to foster [dot] adapt [at] ccwny [dot] org.

Buffalo Underground volunteers
join our parish “grounds crew.”

News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community

Oktoberfest ~ On Sunday, September 27, from 5 – 9:30 PM, the Sisters of St. Joseph are sponsoring an Oktoberfest at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church, 157 Cleveland Dr. (corner of Century Dr.), Cheektowaga, NY, featuring the music of The Auslanders. German food, including Knockwurst, Bratwurst, Limburger cheese sandwiches and German Potato Salad will be served. Dancing, singing and raffles will be part of the event. Entrance fee is $5 ($6 at the door).

You Have Chosen to be Cremated. Now What? Hear from cemetery professionals about the trends and options with cremation on Tuesday, October 6, from 6:30-8 PM at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Pine Lawn Chapel, 2951 Harlem Rd., Cheektowaga. Father Fabian Maryanski will discuss the Catholic teaching on cremation, a question and answer format, with an optional tour of the crematory. Please RSVP by October 6 to 892-6600.

St. Joseph University Parish/Pax Christi WNY Retreat ~ A time to invigorate and restore our spirits on our individual spiritual journeys of confusion, grace and trial, by finding God and hope in ourselves and others. Saturday, October 17, 2015, 8:30 – 3:30. The retreat will use the book, A Spirituality of Being Human by Hugh Brady, D. Min. (Reading the book is not a prerequisite for participation). For information or registration, contact Tom Casey at caseytpc [at] aol [dot] com or 716-491-9172.