This Advent, may we listen to and internalize his words:

Repent. In all of the busyness of this season, make room for Jesus. In prayer, give
Him the first part of your day, your week, your Advent, your Christmas. Return to Him in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Allow His grace to overwhelm you with new life.

Make straight the paths. What is most essential right now? What could you courageously leave out of Advent, or intentionally bring into it so that it’s more about Him and less about anything else? What could you do differently to stand out from the world so that you can point to the Cause of our joyful hope when people question just what you’re doing? Turn your cards into messages of evangelization. Take time while shopping to pray for those for whom you’re buying gifts. Recognize traces of the Light of the world in the decorations fighting against December’s darkness. Notice echoes of the choirs of angels in the silver bells, jingle bells, sleigh bells and other sounds of the season.

Produce good fruit. The wonder of the season is wrapped up in the wonder of God’s love, wrapped up in a blanket, wrapped up in our humanity, wrapped up in God’s plan to save the world. Follow this example and give Him your finest gift: you. Honor God by giving yourself to others through acts of service, charity, and mercy.

It’s not about you or me or gifts or cookies or concerts. It never has been.

The kingdom, the power, and the glory are His now and forever.

~ copied from ACE Advent Reflections - 2nd Week of Advent newsletter

Week of December 2nd

Monday, December 9th

• Monday class schedule
  
• School starts at 8:15 and ends at 3:45
• Uniform: regular uniform
• Prayer Service: Faculty Reflection
• Senior Christmas picture (Seniors bring Christmas sweaters - worn for picture only)
• Boys Soccer Game: vs. St. Joseph @ HTCHS - 6:30pm
• Basketball Game: vs. Waco Live Oak @ HTCHS - Girls @ 6pm, Boys @ 7:30pm

Tuesday, December 10th

• Tuesday class schedule
• School starts at 8:15 and ends at 3:45
• Uniform: regular uniform
• Prayer Service: Praise & Worship (PWP)

Wednesday, December 11th

• Wednesday Mass schedule - Fr. Sang Quon from Christ the King Catholic Church
  
• School starts at 8:15 and ends at 3:45
  
• Uniform: Mass uniform
  
• Prayer Service: Rosary
• Diocesan Principal's Meeting - Diocese of Austin
• Informational Night for Prospective Parents @ HTCHS - 6pm - Fr. Charlie Chapel

Thursday, December 12th

• Thursday schedule
• School starts at 8:15
  
• Uniform: regular uniform
• Prayer Service: Rosary
• Faculty Meeting - 4pm
• Boys Soccer game @ Waco Vanguard - 6:00pm
• Boys Basketball Tournament @ Florence - 12/12, 13, 14th - times TBD
• Girls Basketball Game @ Austin Veritas - 6:30pm

Friday, December 13th - ADVENT RETREAT

• ADVENT RETREAT FOR ALL STUDENTS at Cedar Brake Retreat Center
  
• Retreat starts at 8:15 AT Cedar Brake and ends at 3:00pm.
• Uniform: spirit wear
• Boys Basketball Tournament @ Florence - 12/12, 13, 14th - times TBD
• St. Mary's Catholic School Christmas Concert - Temple College 6pm

Saturday, December 14th

• FORENSICS: Salado Invitational
• Boys Basketball Tournament @ Florence - 12/12, 13, 14th - times TBD
  

Monday, December 16th - Sweet Monday

• Friday class schedule - Mid-Term Study Day
  
• School starts at 8:15 and ends at 3:45
  
• Uniform: Spirit wear and optional CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY
• Prayer Service: Faculty Reflection
• Sweet Monday

Reagan and Faithann also earned enough points to achieve the National Speech and Debate Association's top degree--the Degree of Premier Distinction. This accomplishment places them in the top half of one percent in the nation. Full results are as follows:

Reagan Smith, Tournament's Top Reader

Theresa Lindberg—1st, Solo Acting

Hailey Lovelace—1st, Dance

Reagan Smith—1st, Senior Prose

Reagan Smith—1st, Friday Storytelling

Reagan Smith—1st, Auditioning

Danielle Brown and Reagan Smith—1st in Duet Improv

Faithann Go—1st, Impromptu

Faithann Go—2nd, Varsity Persuasive Extemp

Linda Enriquez and Wesley Dent—2nd in Duet Improv

Linda Enriquez and Chrysanthe Nikolaidis—2nd, Music Interp

Reagan Smith—2nd, Solo Acting

Dina Nikolaidis—3rd, Auditioning

Dina Nikolaidis—3rd, Impromptu

Dina Nikolaidis—3rd (semis), LD Debate

Faithann Go—3rd, Oratory

Linda Enriquez—3rd, Impromptu

Linda Enriquez and Jaewon Jang—3rd, Novice CX Debate

Dina Nikolaidis—4th, Varsity Informative Extemp

Linda Enriquez—4th, Solo Acting

Theresa Lindberg—4th, Storytelling

Nathaniel Enriquez—4th, Friday Storytelling

Margaret Linz—5th, Friday Storytelling

Theresa Lindberg—5th, Oratory

Faithann Go—5th (Quarters), LD Debate

Cate Barkis—5th, Solo Acting

Ann Marie Boone—5th, Novice Poetry

Ann Marie Boone—5th, Novice Prose

Linda Enriquez—6th, Oratory

Linda Enriquez and Chrysanthe Nikolaidis—6th, Duet Acting

Hailey Lovelace—6th, Storytelling

Samuel Mosmeyer—6th, Impromptu

Preparations are underway for the 2019 Celebrating Catholic Schools Awards Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020, at the Hyatt Town Lake in Austin. This annual semi-formal dinner honors the “unsung” heroes at each of our 21 Catholic schools and raises much needed funds for Catholic school families who would otherwise be unable to afford a Catholic education for their child. Over $1 million has been returned to schools to increase accessibility to Catholic education for so many families. We are so appreciative of the generosity and look forward to this year's celebration.

Holy Trinity Catholic High School is proud to announce that it has nominated Dr. Philip and Mrs. Donna Reilly as the 2019-2020 Catholic Education Service Award recipients. Philip and Donna are perfect examples of ones who serve our community with unfailing commitment and dedication to the mission of our school.

Philip and Donna were a key part of a formative group of parents who worked with Father Charles Davis (Fr. Charlie) to help start Holy Trinity Catholic High School.The desire for a

Catholic High School in Central Texas evolved from their Advent group in 1994, made up of St. Mary’s Catholic School families. They recall attending many of the early formation meetings where basically the “hat was passed” around to raise the very first dollars towards the dream of opening a Catholic high school in the Temple/Belton area. Since Holy Trinity opened in 1997, Philip and Donna have worked tirelessly to ensure that our school grew from that first class of 12 freshmen to the 110 students we are blessed with today. In that span of time, Philip and Donna’s 4 children, John, Austin, Sarah, and Rebecca all graduated from Holy Trinity. The Reillys are truly pillars of our school’s history and success. Please join us in celebrating these exceptional members of our Holy Trinity Catholic High School family.

EIM TRAINING FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS

Ethics and Integrity Ministry (EIM)

In an effort to protect our children, the Diocese of Austin mandates that all individuals who have contact with our children must be in compliance with the Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Policy, which equips each of us with the tools and knowledge to protect our children from possible abuse and perpetrators. All parents MUST complete this process to volunteer at the school.

Registration is required through the Diocese. In order to register for an EIM Workshop, you must first complete the volunteer application which is on their website. Once you have attended the workshop please submit a copy of the certificate to the school office. This workshop is for new parents and those who are in need of the refresher course.

For more information, go to: https://austindiocese.org/eim

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