There are still a few Mass times available for any friends or families that would like to participate in the tradition at Holy Trinity of lighting the candles on our parish Advent Wreath as Mass begins. Call our parish office to sign up at (585) 265-1616.
And we could still use a few sheep and Kings (the 3 Wisemen) for our Children's Christmas Pageant! Reach out to Tricia.Kull@dor.org if your child (of any age) would like to participate in our show on December 15 at 3:45pm!
Joseph Schoene, a young person from Holy Trinity Parish in Webster, has been selected to serve on the National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC) for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). NYAC’s mission is to give a voice to the faith, hope, and love of youth by building bridges and nurturing safe spaces across generations, cultures, and backgrounds. It is a diverse group of young people that integrate their voices and gifts into all work and ministry of NFCYM.
Joseph is the first young person from the Diocese of Rochester to serve on this council. Joseph's one-year term began in October and it will conclude at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in November 2025.
Known affectionately as "Mr. Joey" by our Faith Formation youth, for which he serves as a Grade 5 Youth Catechist, he also serves our parish as a Youth Usher and Altar Server. In a recent interview with Joey, he expressed his excitement at being awarded the opportunity to serve as a voice for his peers. Once nominated, the selected youth take part in a thorough application and interview process before final selections are determined. Since his acceptance, he has already met with his fellow NFCYM Youth Advisory Council members twice and participates in regular discussions and idea sharing with this amazing group of teens. One responsibility in his new position that he is most looking forward to is to develop and execute a youth service project to benefit our local community. He also looks forward to attending NCYC 2025 with Holy Trinity and the Diocese of Rochester and connecting in person with his NFCYM peers from around the nation!
"I am very excited for this amazing opportunity and hope that as teens we can all have a voice to make our needs known to the Church and I am honored to help facilitate that voice." Please help us congratulate Joey and offer prayers of support for his work!
When is Advent?
Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The Advent season starts four Sundays before Christmas and finishes on Christmas Eve. Learn more with this great video from Busted Halo.
What is Advent?
Advent is a joyous season of preparation! The word itself actually derives from the Latin word meaning “coming.” During these four weeks, we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, with prayer, meditation, and more. Celebrating Advent is a meaningful way to prepare our hearts for Christmas. In the Old Testament of the Bible, we read that God promised to send someone to set us free and give us abundant life. In the New Testament, we are shown that Jesus fulfilled those promises! To learn more, open your Bible and read Luke 1 and then discuss it as a family.
How to Celebrate?
A great and practical way to celebrate Advent is with a family craft night! Spend quality time together to make an Advent wreath. Advent wreaths have five candles set on top: three purple, one pink, and one white in the center. Learn more about the Advent wreath and candles here. The Advent season is also a great time of year to share God’s love with others. Consider volunteering at a local homeless shelter, hosting a food drive, or donating food and supplies to an animal shelter.
As you teach your children about Advent, show them how we find joy in the Christmas season because of the birth of Jesus. Place less of a focus on material things surrounding Christmas, and do your best to leave some time open on your calendar. Slow down, and set aside time to think, process, and pray with your children during Advent. God Bless your Advent season!!
This year, our Holy Trinity parish children and families will come together once again to adopt the custom of Preparing the Manger for Christmas, a 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 displayed below our Blessed Mother 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, and loving choices we have collectively made as a faith community.
Similar to our monthly Third Sunday Family Mass, all children and youth will be invited up to join Fr. Jorge at the altar for the homily. But this Mass is VERY special...it is the Vigil Mass for the Nativity of the Lord! It is what we have been waiting for all Advent season...the celebration of the birth of our Savior! Witness a living proclamation of the Gospel with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus in this unique reflection. Please join us - all are welcome!!
Holy Trinity Faith Formation
For more information about Faith Formation (Pre-K through Middle School) and Sacramental Preparation (Baptism, First Holy Communion) reach out to Tricia Kull at (585) 265-4750 or Tricia.Kull@dor.org
For more about High School Programs (including Confirmation Preparation) and Youth Ministry reach out to Michelle Schultheis at (585) 265-1616 x328 or Michelle.Schultheis@dor.org
Location: 1460 Ridge Road, Webster, NY, USA
Website: holytrinityweb.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/holytrinitywebster/
