The Good News
Holy Trinity Faith Formation Newsletter - Advent 2022
Happy Thanksgiving from Faith Formation!
Faith Formation is Thankful...
At Holy Trinity, we Thank God for you! We wish you the very best of family and friends for your Thanksgiving celebration and be assured of our prayers for a peaceful and safe holiday season.
advent is coming!
Advent begins four weeks before Christmas, and the First Sunday of Advent is next week, November 28. Advent is a time of preparation, waiting and hope. The primary sanctuary color of Advent is purple, the color of royalty to welcome the coming of our King!
Why do we celebrate Advent for a full four weeks before we celebrate the birth of Jesus? Because, our story doesn't start on the day Jesus was born. Before the wise men or the star, before the miracles and parables, the family line of Jesus stretches waaaay back. In fact, the entire story of Jesus was a long time in the planning. So, we start the countdown to Christmas four weeks before, with Advent, which means "coming". We get ready to celebrate Jesus, reminding ourselves of the bigger plan he is a part of, and of how much the world was anticipating him long before Mary and Joseph.
To celebrate His presence in our lives, we can let our love shine every day...just like the candles on our Advent Wreath shine so brightly! If you don't have an Advent Wreath, it is very easy and inexpensive to make your own, click HERE for a DIY Advent Wreath you can make as a family using materials from the Dollar Store!
Next weekend, we light the first purple candle on our wreath. Click HERE for the meaning of the Advent Wreath and each of the four candles it holds, along with a special prayer for each week of Advent.
Preparing the Manger
This year, our Holy Trinity parish children and families will come together once again to adopt the custom of Preparing the Manger for Christmas. This is originally a French custom that quickly spread to other countries. It is the tradition of making Baby Jesus' bed soft by adding straws in the manger.
The manger, or crib, is a symbol of our hearts. Advent is the time to prepare one's heart for Christ's coming at Christmas. The straws in the manger reflect the extra good deeds, the prompt obedience, the kindness to others, the well-said prayers, the sacrifices, and the help given to others all Advent long. In doing these things, we are preparing our hearts for Christ to enter on Christmas.
Everyone is invited to take a small piece of straw and place it in the manger near the sanctuary. As you place your straw into the manger, consider what is in your heart such as prayers of praise and thanksgiving; prayers for the needs of others; an act of service you have done for another; loving choices you have made. These things we do to prepare our own hearts to receive Jesus.
The manger bed will begin to form and fill as we celebrate the Advent season. The manger will become part of our nativity scene in our church, and we will look to welcome the Baby Jesus at our Christmas Mass celebrations at Holy Trinity where he will be laying safe and sound on the soft bed of our straws…all the prayers, good deeds, kindness to others, loving choices we have made.
This tradition will culminate at our Christmas Masses as we celebrate the efforts that we have made as a parish family to Prepare the Manger, as we prepared our hearts. We will ask God's blessing upon us as we renew our invitation to him each day to reside in our hearts always.
Advent Wreath Lighting
2022 Children's Christmas Pageant
We will once again celebrate the story of the miraculous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with our Children’s Christmas Pageant at Holy Trinity! ALL AGES are welcome to participate!! We are also in need of ADULT and YOUTH helpers behind the scenes!
Rehearsals will be held on Sundays from 11:45am – 1:00pm on Nov. 27, Dec. 4, and Dec. 11 with the final production on Sunday, December 18 at 12:15pm followed by light refreshments and “Special Guests” in Trinity Hall.
Please RSVP to Mrs. K if you/your child are interested in participating in this year's production of “Journey to the Manger”! We could still use a few sheep, shepherds, a donkey for Mary, cows and other animals...and parent help behind the scenes!
John Dady and Friends Concert
Come join our parish in celebrating the season of Advent with music and song on Sunday, December 11 at 3:00pm in church with John Dady and Friends.
youth service at holy trinity
Middle and High School Faith Formation students are asked to serve others in their school, parish, and community for a specified number of Christian Service Hours each year:
- Grade 6 = 6 Hours; Grade 7 = 7 Hours.
- Click for the Christian Service Form for GRADES 6 & 7
- Confirmation Year 1 = 8 Hours; Confirmation Year 2 = 10 Hours
- Click for the Christian Service Form for CONFIRMATION YEARS 1 & 2
Family Program Helper
Once a month our Faith Formation Family Program comes together for class. For each session, a few Youth Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, tear down, and assistance during the event. Email Mrs. K to signup for the following dates/times coming up:
- Sunday, December 4 (6pm - 8pm)
- Sunday, December 6 (6pm - 8pm)
First Sacrament Preparation
Our children enrolled in First Penance/Reconciliation Preparation come together with their parents and catechists to learn more about the powerful love and forgiveness of Jesus! For each session, a few Youth Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, tear down, and assistance during the event. Email Mrs. K to signup for the following dates/times coming up:
- Saturday, December 3 (9:30am - 12:30pm)
- Wednesday, December 14 (6pm - 8pm)
BOTTLE & CAN COLLECTION
November / December EVENTS
Faith Formation Sunday Program
- Nov. 27, Sunday...No Classes (Thanksgiving Weekend)
- Dec. 4, 11, 18...Sundays at 9:30am
- Dec. 25, Sunday...No Classes (Christmas Weekend)
Faith Formation Family Program
- Dec. 4 Sunday at 6:30pm...Faith Formation Family Gathering in Murphy Hall
- Dec. 6 Tuesday at 6:30pm...Faith Formation Family Gathering in Trinity Hall
Confirmation Years 1 and 2 Sessions
- 27, 29...Sunday & Tuesday...No Classes (Thanksgiving Weekend)
- Sunday, Dec. 4 at 6:30pm....ALL STUDENTS YEAR 1 and 2 in Trinity Hall for a witness speaker from The Margaret Home, Mrs. Paula Belemjian
- Tuesday, Dec. 6...No Classes
- Dec. 11, 18...Sundays at 6:30pm
- Dec. 13, 20...Tuesdays at 6:30pm
- Dec. 25, 27...Sunday & Tuesday...No Classes (Christmas Weekend)
Other Events
- Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11...Sundays at 11:45am Children's Christmas Pageant Rehearsals
- Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 11, 18...Sundays at 10:30am...Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Saturday, Dec. 3...First Sacrament (Penance) Retreat in Trinity Hall (10am-12pm)
- Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3pm...John Dady and Friends Concert
- Wednesday, Dec. 14...First Penance Reception at 6:30pm in church
- Sunday, December 18 at 12:15pm...Children's Christmas Pageant
- Dec. 24 at 4:00pm...Christmas Eve FAMILY MASS...a very special Mass designed for our CHILDREN & YOUTH
Holy Trinity Faith Formation
For more information about our programs you may contact Tricia Kull, Faith Formation Coordinator at (585) 265-4750 or tricia.kull@dor.org
Contact for Children's Liturgy, Faith Formation (Religious Education), Sacrament Preparation (Baptism, First Penance, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation), RCIC Program, Middle and High School Youth Ministry, Youth Christian Service Opportunities.
Email: tricia.kull@dor.org
Website: holytrinityweb.com
Location: 1460 Ridge Road, Webster, NY, USA
Phone: (585) 265-4750
Facebook: www.facebook.com/holytrinitywebster/