Proclaim the Good News
Formation Ministry at Holy Trinity includes Family Ministry, Youth Ministry, Religious Education (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Sacramental Preparation, religious education for children K5-7th grade, OCIA & RCIC (the communal process of spiritual and educational formation for adults and older children who seek to become full members of the Catholic Church), and Adult Enrichment.
Family Ministries
Holy Trinity’s Family Ministries serves as a dedicated hub for supporting and enriching the lives of families within our church. With a mission deeply rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, our office endeavors to provide guidance, resources, and programming tailored to the unique needs of families.
All events will be published in the bulletin. Direct communications are sent using the Flocknote messaging software.
For questions regarding Family Ministries, call or email Margaret Schay, Director of Family Ministries & Theology of the Body
Youth Ministry
Junior High Program:
HOLY TRINITY YOUTH MINISTRY welcomes all 6th through 8th graders to be part of our growing ministry. We meet most Wednesday evenings during the school year from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Please email Rachael Egger([email protected]) to join our communication list for updates and information.
High School Leadership Ministry:
Contact Rachael Egger if you are interested in learning ways you can lead ministry at Holy Trinity.
Vacation Bible School:
Each summer children 3 years old, potty trained, and up through incoming 5th graders are invited to participate in our Vacation Bible School. Jr. High and Senior High youth are welcome to assist. Adult volunteers are also necessary.
Fun, music, great snacks, exciting crafts, bible stories, games, and more are all part of the children’s learning experience.
Please contact Margaret Schay, Director of Family Ministry for additional information, to volunteer.
Click here to register for Vacation Bible School.
Adult Enrichment:
Events are planned based on interests and needs. The Faith Formation Office, Sunday bulletin, and this website inform you of current offerings.
Bible Study:
Bible studies are offered at Holy Trinity and meet on a variety of days and times. For more information, to join a Bible Study or begin a new one, contact Jacqui Rapp, Director of Adult Faith Formation.
Christ Renews His Parish:
A weekend retreat that allows you to examine, rediscover, and intensify your relationship with Christ, as you relax, pray, and rethink priorities and get to know other parishioners. It is a weekend of reflection and sharing of spiritual and real-life issues. There is an annual retreat for women (January) and for men (February). For more information, contact Jacqui Rapp (897-5207, X1119).
Faith Formation
The parish religious education program is for children in grades 1st – 8th who don’t attend the parish school and/or are home-schooled. It provides Catholic teaching for children and support to parents as partners in their faith formation.
Religious Education classes meet weekly on Sunday mornings between the Masses; from 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Classes begin the Sunday after Labor Day and end the last weekend of April.
Registration is required and can be accessed on the parish website.
Children must be enrolled in the parish religious education program for one year prior to receiving a sacrament so that they have a strong foundation on which to build their understanding of that sacrament before receiving it.
To register your child for Religious Education, please contact Pat Terry, Faith Formation Assistant in the parish office for the registration form and to submit payment.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
CGS is a Montessori hands-on approach to faith for children 0-12 years, which recognizes and nurtures the religious potential of the child in a prepared environment called the atrium. God is present to them in their deepest being and they are capable of developing both a conscious and intimate relationship with Him.
What is the Atrium?
The entrance space in the ancient Basilicas were called Atriums. This space had special significance in the preparation of catechumens before their full entrance into the Church. This name “Atrium” Dr. Maria Montessori chose for the prepared space used for religious education of children through her hands-on approach to learning. In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the atrium is a “dwelling place” of prayer designed specifically to meet the spiritual needs of children. By means of beauty, silence, and prayer fostered here, the mystery of the child encounters the mystery of God. Lovely handmade materials to work and pray with, proclamations of God’s Word, meditation and song; all are appropriate to the child’s way of approaching God. This invites them into a lifelong relationship with the Good Shepherd who gives “life to the full”.
How do we work with the children each week?
Each week the children meet at the prayer corner, sing, pray out loud, and silently receive presentations/mediations, and have their own work time to engage with the materials. Each presentation has specific materials designed to draw the child into the Biblical and Liturgical themes. These materials are always available to the children during their work time so they have additional opportunities to absorb the presentations and meditations.
Who is this program for at Holy Trinity?
CGS is offered during the school day, in after-school programs, and on Sundays for toddlers through fourth grade.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Processes are in place to prepare adults and children to celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
- Baptism: Families requesting the baptism of an infant or child under the age of 7 years may celebrate this sacrament at one of the scheduled weekends throughout the year.
- First Reconciliation: The sacrament of Confession is celebrated in the fall of the 2nd grade year.
- First Communion: The sacrament of First Communion is celebrated in the Spring of 2nd grade year.
- Confirmation: The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in the spring of 8th grade. Students preparing for Confirmation are required to attend religious education beginning in the fall in preparation for Confirmation in the spring.
To learn more about enrolling your child(ren) in religious education or to schedule a baptism, please contact Pat Terry in the parish office.