The Good News

This season of Lent is a time of preparation for many of our parish children, youth, and adults to receive one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation. In our parish, we have 32 children preparing to receive the gift of Jesus himself in the Eucharist for the very first time; 38 High School youth preparing to be strengthened and sealed with the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation; 4 Catechumens and 6 Candidates in our RCIA journey readying their hearts to become full members of the Catholic Church; and there are several parents preparing to accept the responsibility of raising their child in the faith when they recite the Baptismal Promises for their little one.

Just as the entire Church prepares for the Paschal Mystery at Easter during Lent, these individuals are preparing for their own commitment to Christ. They are not alone. Let us take this time to renew our own commitment to Christ as we keep them, and each other, close in prayer this season.

Loving God, pour out your blessing upon our beloved, that during this time of Sacramental preparation they may grow closer to you and come to know your special love for them. May this time of preparation be a time of blessing for our families and our community and unite us all in your great love. Amen.

As part of our Faith Formation curriculum, Fr. Jorge will be holding a very special "Teaching Mass" for all of our students and parents. All are invited to join us on Wednesday, March 20 at 6:30pm.

Fr. Jorge will share with us all about the various parts and aspects of the Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for our children and families to have a better understanding of the liturgy which is at the heart and center of the Christian life. Please note that this is what is known as a "Dry Mass" and will NOT include the receiving of the Eucharist, so you should still plan to attend a regular Mass that weekend.

After Jesus was baptized, he followed the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. He stayed there for forty days and forty nights. Like Moses on the mountain. Like Noah in the arc. Like the Israelites’ years in the desert.

Like them, Jesus wanted to come close to God. In the wilderness, there is no one and nothing, except for God. Not even food. So Jesus fasted. He ate nothing. Not one crumb of bread. Not one grain of salt. And he prayed. Jesus talked to his Father, and he listened, too.

When we pray, we become closer to God and we grow in our friendship with him. It is important to talk with God every day...he wants to talk with us and hear all about what we are up to, what we need, what we are thankful for, even what we are mad or sad about! And we pray for others as well, especially during Lent. This type of prayer is called "Intercessory Prayer" otherwise known as our "prayer intentions" because our prayer is intended for someone else and their needs.

Learn about prayer intentions by watching this very short video together.

Fasting is one of the three pillars of the Lenten season. Traditionally, most Catholics choose to give up something for all 40 days of Lent. It can often be difficult for people to keep that commitment and halfway through Lent they have abandoned their Lenten fast. However, it is never too late to start...or start again!

Here are some ways you can FAST and SERVE OTHERS:

• Give up fast food or coffee shop stops your family makes and put that money toward Operation Rice Bowl instead!
• Refrain from drinking anything but water for a week or the whole Lenten season and donate to a water charity such as the Ugandan Water Project or a similar organization.
  
• Eat simple meals and use your extra grocery money to support soup kitchen needs.

Did you know that FASTING is also a form of PRAYER?? Check out this video...

Growing in our own holiness is the goal during Lent. How can we serve others in a way that helps us to draw closer to Christ? Think about stretching yourself in a way in which you are giving to someone in need without just giving from your excess. Often this means sharing our time, which for many is a priceless asset!

Here are a few ways to consider Lenten almsgiving in a new way:

• Offer free babysitting to a family at church or a neighboring family who seems to be overtired, overstressed or overworked. Even an hour of time to get something done without tending to children could be an amazing gift to that couple!
• Work at a soup kitchen or clothing closet instead of just dropping off goods; get to know the people in need and listen to their stories.
• Offer to share a skill you have mastered, free of charge, to the local senior center or nursing home.
• Make a healthy meal for an elderly friend who lives alone; bring it over and share the meal and company with them!
• Help a single parent with yard work or home maintenance.

Catholic Relief Services organizes a program each year called Operation Rice Bowl, which is a great way to practice almsgiving during Lent. The idea is that you keep a cardboard bowl in your home and put in spare change to help those in need throughout the world. During this holy season, it is especially important to come together as a family and reflect on those in our community and beyond who are in need.

A small box was sent home with every Faith Formation family at the beginning of Lent. For those who choose to participate, you are invited to drop your CRS Rice Bowl off at any time to the Faith Formation Office through Sunday, April 7. Thank you for your generosity!

Novenas are beautiful devotions and are a wonderful addition to your home prayer life with your family. The word “novena” is derived from the Latin word “novem,” meaning nine. The tradition of a Novena prayer is derived from the nine days that the Apostles and the Virgin Mary joined together in prayer between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. One of the benefits of saying a novena with your children is that it naturally encourages a devotion to frequent prayer.

A novena is a prayer, typically with a petition, that is repeated nine times. Usually, it is said nine days in a row, but you can also say a nine week novena or a quicker nine hour novena in one day.

How do you properly pray a novena? Praying novenas is simple! You can use a pre-written novena or you can simply say your own prayers over the course of the nine days. Typically, you conclude novena prayers with an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, but that is optional.

As March is the Month of St. Joseph in our faith tradition, here is a Novena to St. Joseph:

Blessed St. Joseph, You welcomed the Christ Child into your home, provided for his daily needs, and helped him to grow in wisdom, age, and grace. Hear the prayers of all children who are awaiting a loving home, and intercede for them before your adopted Son and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. St. Joseph, Guardian and Protector, pray for us.

And then conclude together with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be prayers and repeat for nine days! Enjoy this time of prayer together as a family this Lenten season. God Bless!!

Stations of the Cross for Children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0qv7c4PsrA

Stations of the Cross for Teens

https://youtu.be/oT6gkBu-APA

Holy Trinity Vacation Bible School (VBS) July 8-12, 2024

Kids entering Grades K-5 (fall 2024) are invited to join our fun-filled week of stories, puppet shows, music & motion, indoor and outdoor games and activities, art projects, and snacks to explore the Bible, Church teaching, and the Saints!

Registration will open in April.

Volunteers in Grades 6+ and adults are also invited to join us!!

Email Tricia.Kull@dor.org for more information.

Attention families! Give your campers between the ages of 5-10 a memorable and fun-filled April break by registering them for Camp Stella Maris' upcoming April Break Camp. For one week, from April 1st to April 5th, campers will take part in a range of thrilling activities such as scavenger hunts, team building, gaga, arts and crafts, carpetball, dancing, and much more! Our friendly and experienced counselors will guide campers through every activity, ensuring their safety and that they have the time of their lives. The cost is $300 and will run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm each day and includes two snacks a day and an amazing chance to make lasting memories and new friends. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to give your campers the adventure they deserve. Financial assistance is available. You can find more information and register by visiting our website. https://www.campstellamaris.org/year-round-kids/

Mark your calendars and get ready for a thrilling morning at Camp Stella Maris’ 3rd Annual Stella 5K & Kids Fun Run. Join the excitement on April 27, 2024, at Mendon Ponds Park for an unforgettable experience. This event is an excellent opportunity to support CSM’s Campership program, which provides scholarships to help many campers experience the positive impact that spending time at camp can have on their social, physical, and emotional growth. By participating in this event, you not only get a chance to exercise and have fun but also support a great program that helps children grow and flourish. Register now for the 5K race for just $35 or Kids Fun Run for only $15 and join CSM on their mission to make a positive impact on children's lives. https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/HoneoyeFalls/CSM5KFamilyFunRun

Jesus calls us to serve others!

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:40

The Church is the people of God all gifted by the mystery of God’s presence and empowered by the Holy Spirit to share these gifts with others. This call to ministry, or service, is an integral part of living the Good News and is an important part of our preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Service work should reflect the command Jesus gave us, that we loved God and our neighbor. Therefore, we need to do more than just read and talk about love: we must practice it daily.

See the links below for information on the 2023/2024 service expectations for Middle and High School students as well as links to volunteer organizations in our community.

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/