Dear Friends,

That old Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, has a special meaning this year for it’s been 12 years of Christmases for me here at Holy Trinity Parish. I look back on all the events you and I have celebrated, worked on, suffered with, put up with, and laughed and cried through.

Perhaps some numbers will illustrate what this past decade has brought to this parish. Starting July 1, 2011 and going to this Christmas Day, Holy Trinity Parish has:

• Baptized 533 children and adults.
• Confirmed 331 teens
• Married 114 couples
• Buried 509 parishioners
• Welcomed 66 adults into the Catholic Faith
• Renewed the interior of the church.
• Replaced the church roof and many other unseen projects.

All this, while enduring a worldwide pandemic, 2 years of social distancing and masking, the at- tempted over throw of a presidential election, a war in Ukraine causing food shortages and millions of refugees.

So here we are, Christmas 2022. Have you changed over these years? Of course you have! Our children have become young men and women (no longer cuddling on the couch).

Parents, you’ve had to develop different skills to help these young adults. Spouses, your love for each other has had to dig deep to find the fountain of love that still flows but in a quieter, more powerful way.

Perhaps you’ve lost a parent, spouse, child, friend or mentor. Your love misses them. What will life be without them? Of course we’ve changed. The stream of life carries us on.

But some things don’t change. You are the same person your parents held in their arms. You have the name they gave you at birth. You still look for love and give it to others. You are and always will be a Child of God.

God had a great idea one day. He made you. He knows your joys and sorrows. He made you with a hunger to love and be loved. This hunger was given for the purpose of drawing you to Himself who is the source of love itself.

And just so we don’t get lost wondering through all life’s changes, God revealed His plan to bring us to the Kingdom of Love. It has already begun here on earth. It’s tiny. It’s a baby. He’s sleeping in a manger. It’s Jesus Christ, God’s love for us in human flesh.

A Blessed Christmas to you and all who hunger for this love.

Fr. Tim

Let’s get ready. Let’s make this place shine. You see there’s going to be a great celebration. Everyone in Webster and beyond is invited. Let’s celebrate Christmas here in our house at Holy Trinity. Let’s make it a total GIFT to everyone. We’re going to need everyone’s help to make this a proper celebration

So how shall we get ready?

• Music. The choirs have been practicing.
• Church decoration. Poinsettias everywhere.
• Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, ushers . . . ready.
• The homily? Ready Father Tim/John?

How about you? Are you ready to welcome 2,000 people to the Christmas masses? This is your home. Those who join us are our welcomed and honored guests. Holy Trinity needs you to be ready to host this great Feast. What’s your role? You are the voice and smile and handshake of our parish. Sooooooo…

What NOT to do:

• Glare at people who’s children are fussing and cranky. We’ve all been there.
• “You’re sitting in my pew.” Is not the way we want to welcome people.
• Make people climb over you so you can keep the aisle seat (No, move in! It’s a gracious way of saying “glad you are here.”)
• Roll your eyes when people’s talking bothers you.
• Feel superior when something happens that lets you know “these people never come to mass”. Give them a look that tells them “I’m here every week and you’re NOT!”
• Leave church right after you receive Holy Communion. Chew the host in the parking lot. (No, stay with us.)
• Be in a hurry to get out of the parking lot. It’s Christmas! Take your time. Enjoy even the inconveniences of the day

What to do:

• “Merry Christmas!” is totally appropriate before mass begins. Say it to everyone, not just your family.
• Expect total strangers to be sitting all around you. Think of them as your cousins whom you’ve not seen for a while. Let them know somehow how glad you are for their being there. Compliments before and after mass . . . “Oh your children look wonderful. What a nice family you have.” Or more general, “That hat! Christmas come early?” . . . you’ll think of something.
• Give up on sitting for mass. That’s right, let someone take your seat . . . a Christmas gift to a total stranger. It’s what we do.
• Expect things to be a little different than a usual Sunday at Holy Trinity. More people (yea!), more congestion, more standing, more of everything. It’s Christmas!!
• As was said, be the face of Holy Trinity for those around you. Your smile, your handshake, your readiness to give up your pew, your singing, are all part of the gift this parish wants to be for those who join us that day. Who knows what your kindness might begin in them.
• We want people to experience Christ. Chances are it may be through you.

Ready, set, here we go.

God bless you very much this week.

Fr. Tim

“Keen, delicately skillful, penetrating . . .”

That’s how Webster defines “subtle”. I love that word, that concept. It’s a way of communicating a meaning, an emotion, a truth. But it merely points, it doesn’t shout. It can come with a spoken word, a gesture, a look. Often times a subtle look can speak much more than dozens of words.

Let’s mention a few moments of subtle to see if you can recognize this lovely way of communicating.

• You take a child’s hand (or they take yours) as you walk through the mall. It says, “I’m with you; you and me together.”
• A smile. A genuine smile, with eyes full of friendship can literally change someone’s day for the better.
• A kiss. A subtle kiss says what? “Not just a friend . . . you’re a good friend.”
• Look for sadness in people you see. Say a secret prayer for them.
• Words too can be subtle. Things like, “How nice”, “Take care”, “Well done” or cautionary words like, “Be careful”, or “Please don’t” are brief and to the point. Subtle words are few.
• Music, theatre, novels, so many things, convey a quiet secret meaning.

The point is, are we alert to the subtle messages all around us? Unfortunately; our culture favors the laud and frenetic. (Have you noticed the television commercials are louder than the program you’re watching?) The squeaky wheel gets all the attention, right?

The season of Advent is all about the “subtle”. It applies (if we let it) long forgotten practices our grand- parents knew so well . . . waiting, expecting, helping others, remembering. It avoids the loud and noisy. Why? Because God speaks in a whisper. Quickly and subtly the Spirit touches our minds and hearts.

Let this holy season teach you to see and hear God’s gentle promptings. Listen to the music . . . Oh Come Oh Come Emanuel. See the need of the total stranger in the checkout line. Watch the children. See their innocence. Protect their young hearts.

God will show you.

Fr. Tim

A few years back I was having coffee with a friend in a family restaurant in town. In the back ground was the, oh so familiar tune of Jingle Bells, playing slightly louder than was comfortable. “Oh what fun it is to ride . . . “ This was followed by that new classic of recent years, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. . . “Oh Rock’n around the Christmas tree at the Christmas Party Hop . . .”

Somehow my ”holiday spirit” sank pretty low. Why do they do that to us? Why do they start the Christmas music five weeks too early. Because it’s beautiful; one of a kind music and fresh every year . . . for awhile.

Did you know the Church encourages us to avoid flagrant displays of Christmas prior to Christmas? Rather, she encourages us to enter into that beautiful and subtle season we know as Advent. Ask any expectant mother . . . we can’t hurry the birth of the child.

Advent gets us ready for Christmas. It builds expectation and longing. It makes us hungry for the Feast Day, increases our anxiousness to celebrate its power and beauty. The world would rather have Christmas without the wait. Sort of like the cake before the potatoes. Ever get sick of Christmas before Christmas?

How can we keep the proper order? Advent first, then Christmas? Here are some suggestions . . . and I mean suggestions. Each family has to make their own decisions here.

• Christmas carols. You’ll hear them everywhere, but fill your home with Advent music. Gregorian Chant has wonderful Advent hymns. (Google “Advent Gregorian Chant”; you’ll find beautiful restful music.
• Greet people with “Happy Advent”, instead of “Merry Christmas” until the feast.
• Let decorations be around the Advent Wreath with Advent colors of Purple and Rose.
• Christmas Parties? Of course. But closer to Christmas please.
• Keep Santa sightings to a minimum.
• Advent is a season for Hope. Christmas is a season for Joy.

I know this sounds “elitist” and out of touch with the world around us. But try it. I think you’ll find this slower pace and softer sounds starts an “Advent Spirit” in you. One that will be ready to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

By the way, Christmas is celebrated for three weeks!! All the more reason to not be sick of Christmas before Christmas. I hope these beautiful Advent Days help your spirit to appreciate the small humble things that God will send you.

Things like:

• Seeing Christ in the young, the vulnerable, the poor.
• Experiencing a desire to give and help situations that need a gentle touch.
• Remembering times when you were helped by the unexpected kindness of others.
• Moments of sadness and compassion for others (even strangers) in your daily travels.

Bless you.

Fr. Tim

This “Thank You” was written a couple years ago; but in this week where we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving I think it bears repeating. (All the ministries you see here are in full operation to this day. God bless you all!)

You need to know how this parish runs and the people needed to make it happen. What follows is a shout out to all who make it Holy Trinity a special parish. (No names. You know who you are.)

Thank you for:

• Whoever puts the morning paper outside the rectory door!
• For sacristans setting up the wine and water, chalice and candles for mass. Lectors, Cantors, Altar Servers.
• For our Choirs and Choir Directors who help us pray at mass.
• For our Ushers who help us find seats (and take our money every week!)
• For the Greeters who smile and welcome us to mass.
• For all who sit on the committees that do such critical advising and stepping up. Parish Council, Finance, Facilities, Liturgy, and Cemetery Committees, Senior Advisory Board, Legion of Mary, and the Maplewood Ministries, Men’s Spirituality Group, the Shawl and Knitting Ministries.
• For the meals that parishioners drop off each week to keep Fr.’s John and Tim alive.
• For our Catechists teaching the children, our Pre-Cana Team for soon to be marrieds, The RCIA and RCIC journeys of faith.
• For the Parish Staff that does such a fine job ensuring the day to day care of the parish: The religious education of children, parent baptismal preparation, the office management, ministry co-ordination, the Parish Office that processes hundreds of calls each week, our maintenance co-ordinator and assistant who keep our campus beautiful, for our regional and diocesan finance connection.
• For Webster Hope that feeds and comforts hundreds and hundreds.
• Had enough? Wait, there’s more.
• Sanctuary Care (linens and flowers), Office Volunteers, Videographers, Money Counters, Bereavement Ministry, Martha Committee, Corpus Christi Ministry, Cursillo, CYO Coaches, Parish Picnic.
• Vacation Bible School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word,

Whew!!! Thank you all. You make this place hum. (I’ve tried to include everyone but I bet I missed someone. Sorry.) And you know the best part of all of this? It’s a joy. “My yoke is easy. My burden is light.”

Happy Thanksgiving.

Fr. Tim

Many of you have heard the term Eucharistic Adoration (or Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament) but need a bit more explanation of this centuries old prayer experience.

First a little history. Our Catholic Faith in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist began that first night when Jesus gathered with the apostles at the Last Supper. “This is my body.” Jesus said. “This is my blood.” From that time on, our unbroken Faith tells us, “He is there.”

By the third century the Eucharist, consecrated at mass, was afterwards reserved in a place of beauty and honor (what today we have reserved in the Tabernacle). Centuries later (1264) there developed in France the tradition of “exposing” the consecrated Host (Blessed Sacrament) on special commissioned altars there.

There’s lots more to say about the evolution of Eucharistic Adoration. What’s most interesting is that this desire to “see” the Host was fostered by the simple Faithful. It was the people who hungered for this prayer experience. The Pope and bishops had to catch up!

Fast forward to today. What happens during Eucharistic Adoration? The priest or minister takes the large consecrated Host (the Blessed Sacrament) from the tabernacle and places it in a beautiful receptacle called the “monstrance” (from the latin monstrare – “to show”).

This is accompanied by a hymn and introductory prayers. Incense is usually used to further signify the holiness of what is now present on the altar.
And then? Silence.

Jesus Christ, the entire person, born of Mary, nailed to the cross, and now in the Resurrection, is present to us on the altar under the visible appearance of bread.

So what does one do with that stark statement of Faith? That’s the question Jesus asks in the silence of the church. “I am truly with you. Do you believe?”

Your answer may take some time. You’ve just come from the business of the world. Your ears may be still ringing from the traffic outside, an incident on the phone, a personal worry you’ve been carrying. It takes time to silence the world and get down to being with the Lord.

Over time something happens. The quiet becomes a blanket around you. The beautiful monstrance dramatically shows forth its precious content – – Jesus. You can begin to speak to him from your heart. There is no script to follow. It’s you and the Lord. What do you want to say to Him? Your fears, your joys, sadness, hopes . . . yes even your doubts. The Lord wants to hear it all.

St. Theresa of Lisieux, when asked what she did during Eucharistic Adoration, responded – it’s really very simple, “He looks at me. And I look at Him.” It’s a look of love. And Jesus wants you to experience it. It’s a moment of grace.

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St. Theresa of Lisieux, when asked what she did during Eucharistic Adoration, responded – it’s really very simple, “He looks at me. And I look at Him.” It’s a look of love. And Jesus wants you to experience it. It’s a moment of grace.

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Please join us each third Thursday of the month for Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Trinity Church. Exposition begins at 3:00 pm. and closes with a holy hour (7-8 pm) when a spiritual reflection and Benediction (incensing) will occur.

Friends, this is a powerful way to increase or restart your relationship with Christ. It’s an intensely personal en- counter with graces just for you and where you are in your life.

We begin November 17. I recommend you come for the 7-8 pm. hour to hear the spiritual reflection.

Bless you.

Fr. Tim

This will be the third year that Holy Trinity’s STAR Christmas program has collected monitory donations rather than gifts and food items. COVID made us think about the health and availability of our recipients and volunteers. I miss the comradery that this program brought to our Holy Trinity family. Do you remember setting up a “grocery store” in the old gym, picking out stars at weekend Mass and lovingly filling the sanctuary with gifts for our recipients? Not to mention the numerous other tasks that enlisted hundreds of volunteers each year? I miss that, it was fun! But there is a new joy discovered. We have been delightfully astounded the past few years with the generosity of our HT family. You should be too! YOU, the parishioners of Holy Trinity contributed just over $30,000.00 in 2020 and just over $32,000.00 in 2021. That is joyful!

Oh, come on, let’s do it again! Would you be able to give the same amount you gave last year, perhaps a bit more? Help create and celebrate the true joy of Christmas that is found in giving. In this small, small way, we can reflect the love of Jesus who gave everything…….for us.

Who are we helping?

Holy Trinity assists families at Nativity Preparatory Academy, ROC Love Will End Abortion, St. Monica’s Church, St. Michael’s Church and Corpus Christi Church. That is approximately 70 families or 360 individuals. We have also been able to provide some extra food to Sr. Regis Food Ministry and Webster HOPE. As a reminder, Webster HOPE has a Christmas Program that helps families from Webster that are in need of extra support. Please give Webster Hope a call for more information about their program @265-6694.

What is being asked of me?

We are asking everyone to take some time to consider all the ways you have helped STAR in the past. Did you bring in a bag of groceries each week? Maybe each one of your family members chose a star gift. Was your contribution a Christmas turkey or ham? Can you add that all up this year and put it in the form of a monetary gift to help bring Christmas to so many? Perhaps you are new to Holy Trinity in the past few years and you don’t remember “how it used to be”. To you dear friend, welcome! Welcome to this wonderful tradition at Holy Trinity and please join in with all the generosity you can muster!

How do I help?

There are three ways to donate:

Mail a check to Holy Trinity with “Star 2022” in the memo line on or before Sunday, November 27.

If you already donate online, login to your account and select the option for Star 2022.

In-person donations can be dropped in the Penny Sunday STAR Collection baskets the weekend of November 12th & 13th.

Please know how much your donations are appreciated and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions. Contact Helen Sleeman at 265-1616 x 337 or helen.sleeman@dor.org.

God gave us the sense of hearing. We share with the animal world a sense that alerts us to the world around us. We hear thunder and we know rain will soon fall. Sirens tell us of some emergency situation. Music soothes our soul or stirs emotion. A whisper gives us someone’s secret thought. To live without hearing is like eating a sugar free cookie. We lose the gusto and subtle meanings of life.

But, we take it for granted, don’t we? These days we are over loaded with sound. Our brains have to choose whether to merely “hear something” or to really “listen”. Remember Musak? It was that bland orchestra music that played on elevators to keep everyone calm waiting for their floor. Did you ever give it a listen? Of course not. No one ever said, “Oh, they’re playing my favorite song!”

It’s only when we LISTEN that we receive creation around us. To hear a bird’s song is different than listening to it. That bird . . . is singing . . . its song! How lovely.

Our brains make that same choice with people; whether to merely hear them, or to really listen to them?

We’ve all developed skills that give the impression we’re listening. We nod at the right times; we comment as appropriate. But, many times we’re simply waiting for our chance to start talking. Or hearing one or two sentences we think we already know what someone is going to say. And rather than listen, we’re preparing our response to them while they’re still talking.

That’s why, to truly listen is a gift to the one who is speaking. Have you had the experience of being listened to? What did it do for you?

I bet it touched you; gave you the feeling that you had connected with someone. Being listened to (especially with a friend) can lighten our burden – – Finally! Someone else knows what I’ve been carrying. Now you both carry it.

By the way . . . that’s one of the healing powers of telling your sins to Christ in Confession.

Yes, God gets in here too.

Sometimes, when we really listen, we hear something from the Holy Spirit. Something God wants us to hear. I’ve had that experience. A friend came to me at a very busy moment as I prepared for an important interview. “Tim, listen to me” he said. “I have to tell you something. They’re going to push your buttons. Stay calm and don’t be a wise guy.” I listened; and it was just what I needed at that moment. The Holy Spirit used my friend.

So husbands/wives. Listen, really listen to each other. You don’t have to fix things right then. Your full attention to what she’s saying is a gift. You might even reflect her feelings with words like, “that must have really surprised/ shocked/bothered/helped/made you happy.”

To be listened to is wonderful. Try it with your children. Withhold judgement for those moments . . . just listen. They’ll know you are with them in whatever they are going through. Scripture tells us, “bear one another’s burdens.” Galatians 6:2.

As you develop your listening skills, it will improve your prayer as well. You will look back over your day to see those moments when you heard something God wanted you to hear.

. . . . If you were listening.

Bless you.

Fr. Tim

Growing up idolizing Rocky Colavito of the Cleveland Indians and inspired by the greatest rock and roll ever written (Beatles forever!), like any young person, I hoped to make my mark on the world in a memorable way.

I would be a journalist, a writer, a teacher, a lawyer (if not a judge!), and later in life maybe I’d go into politics and make laws and stuff. Something big.

Well as you know, that’s all changed. I’m a priest who says your morning mass, hears your confession, and visits you in the hospital. Simple, but there’s a life there. (I smile at the headlines on People Magazine as I wait to check out at the grocery . . . “Be Your Passion”, “Don’t Let Anyone Stand in the Way”, “You Can be Anything You Dream”.)

Well dreams are good. They can light a fire in us. But most often we have to settle for less than we hoped for. Life comes in and best laid plans get put on hold – – – elderly parents need special care, money just isn’t there to support the dream, or . . . we find we just don’t have what it takes to do it right.

So what do we do? It’s a critical moment really. Some people can be embittered at life not turning out how they had imagined. Some people think that Plan B (or C or D!) for their life is second or third best. Sadness or disillusion can follow. We’ve all experienced it.

But there’s some help here from the Gospel. Jesus tells the story of The Ten Gold Coins. (Lk 19: 11-19. Read it!) In it three servants are charged with different amounts of money to watch over during the master’s absence. When he returns, he calls them one by one to see what they’ve done with the money.

Two of them had increased their master’s holdings and were equally praised for what they’d done. The third did nothing. He buried the little money he’d been given and handed it back to the master.

The point is, God doesn’t care how big the return on his investment is. What He wants is that we try. “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones.” Lk 16:10. God will increase our own faithfulness in the “small things”.

Let me give you an example. I stopped into a store to get a piece of foam rubber (I’m making rubber duckies for Fr. John’s Christmas present).

The young salesperson was there to help me find just the right piece. He crawled over shelf after shelf to find what we were looking for. Finally we got it – – but it needed cutting. “I can do that. No problem.” He said.

Cutting the foam rubber required a band saw which he carefully lined up. As the cut was almost through, the band jumped forward and nicked his hand drawing a little blood. I was mortified. “I’m sooo sorry”, I said. Washing his hand and putting a bandaid on his hand he said, “Don’t worry it’s just a little nick.” He smiled as he wrote up the order and handed me my foam rubber.

Simple, eh? No big woop. But something was visible in that young man that touched me. It was his simple kindness and desire to help. He wanted no praise and my going on about his great service only embarrassed him. I wrote his manager to tell him what a prince he had in the Foam Department.

That’s how it is with the “little things” – – – they mean a lot.

Let’s do the little things just right. God will help us when the big things come around.

Bless you.

Fr. Tim