“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Lk. 2:11). This is the announcement of the angels when the Son of God finally was born through our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in a manger. Christmas means the joy of celebrating that Jesus is in our lives because God loves us very much. Because of this joy is that all of us have special decorations in our homes, we have delicious food such as cookies, chocolate, or ham.

The angels invite not only the shepherds to go and adore the newborn baby, but also to each one of us. We cannot forget that the main reason of Christmas is Christ. Look at that fragile boy. Look at him, his innocence, tenderness, and all of love that God made man has for all of us. Our mission is not only to feel the love of God who is given us through this child, but to transmit the same love in our society who is living in crisis because of violence in many places, such us Ukraine, Israel, South America, Africa, Asia, and of course, our country.

Pope Francis in his Message on Christmas 2023 called Urbi et Orbi (December 25, 2023) invites us to proclaim this message of joy. “What kind of joy? Not the passing happiness of this world, not the glee of entertainment but a joy that is “great” because it makes us great. For today, all of us, with all our shortcomings, embrace the sure promise of an unprecedented gift: the hope of being born for heaven. Yes, Jesus our brother has come to make his Father our Father; a small child, he reveals to us the tender love of God, and much more. He, the Only-Begotten Son of the Father, gives us “power to become children of God” (Jn 1:12). This is the joy that consoles hearts, renews hope and bestows peace. It is the joy of the Holy Spirit: the joy born of being God’s beloved sons and daughters” (Urbi et Orbi. You can read the complete message from Pope Francis).

Let us celebrate Christmas with love and joy. Let us eat delicious food with our family and friends, let us sing Christmas carols and enjoy the snow in company of our children. Let us rejoice because the Emmanuel is among us. Let us keep Christ in Christmas through an amazing action that we can do for our relatives, family, friends, and strangers. Let us live Christmas the whole year because the baby Jesus is always in our hearts and came to us in the wonderful sacrament of the Eucharist

I, as the Pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity and on behalf of our staff, wish you Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad! May the Baby, who was born in Bethlehem, be born again this Christmas in your hearts and homes and be with you always. Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas, my brothers and sisters. Enjoy these wonderful Holy Days in the company of your beloved ones and, of course, the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramírez

Each year Americans gather to celebrate one of the most traditional holidays they have. I am talking about Thanksgiving. According to The History Channel, “Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2024 occurs on Thursday, November 28. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.” (history.com)

However, Thanksgiving celebration is not celebrated only once a year, but every day of the year. Why? Because each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are having a Thanksgiving celebration. The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eukharistía), which means “gratitude” or “giving of thanks”. Therefore, we come to the Eucharist not because it is an obligation and is part of the Ten Commandments, but because we want to have a personal encounter with the Lord. We want to say to God “thank you” for everything He has done for each one of us. The Lord God has given us many things, and our way to express our gratitude to Him is through the celebration of the Eucharist.

Let us celebrate the Eucharist always in attitude of Thanksgiving. What do you have to say ‘Thank you” to the Lord for?

— from The Catholic Prayer Book, compiled by Msgr. Michael Buckley

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build. God Bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always.

Fr. Jorge Ramírez

My dear family of Holy Trinity Church.

As I said to you in my last weekend bulletin, October is the month of the Rosary. Our mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary is very special for all of us because Jesus gave her to us when he was on the Cross, “When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26-27). We pray the rosary because we believe that Mary, our mother, always is showing us Jesus and, at the same time, she is leading us to Jesus.

Our Lady of Rosary is not the only advocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are more than 30,000 Marian advocations of Mary. Some of them are: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Rosary, Our Lady of las Lajas, Our Lady of Coromoto, Our Lady of Chinquiquirá, Our Lady of the Snow, Our Lady of the Milk, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and so on. Depending on the place of the apparition of our mother, she receives a different name. One of these places is Medjugorje. Probably, some of you have heard this place before, and even some of you have been there.

On September 19, 2024, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued “The Queen of Peace,” a note about the spiritual experience connected with Medjugorje. According to Bishop Matano, “The Dicastery, with the approval of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion linked to Medjugorje, but at the same time withheld making any declaration on the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions.” That means that having a pilgrimage, a spiritual experience in Medjugorje is an act of devotion which will help us in our relationship with the Lord by the hand of our mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. I am always available to explain what the Church says about Medjugorje in case that you have questions.

Some of you know that I will go to Medjugorje this coming May 2025. I am very excited for this wonderful opportunity to travel and have a closer relationship with the Lord in this place. Some of you will go with me! I hope we have a delightful pilgrimage. If you are also interested to join me in this fantastic adventure, you can contact me to know more about it. Moreover, in the parish boards you can find information about this pilgrimage.

The Blessed Virgin Mary helps us always to be closer to the Lord. Regardless of what is your favorite advocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, through her intercession, let us always worship the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His mother to be with us, so let us love and honor her always.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build.

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje

May 22-31, 2025

with spiritual leaders:
Fr. Jorge Ramirez & Dcn. Leo Flynn

Learn More

My dear family of Holy Trinity Church,

During years, the Roman Catholic Church, and of course our parish, has been evangelizing and making disciples for the Lord. For this reason, Holy Trinity Church has had the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, which commonly was called RCIA. Probably some of you participated with love and enthusiasm to become Catholics or to receive the fullness of the Sacraments through RCIA during Easter Vigil.

RCIA has been a wonderful experience for all of us, including for our parish who with love and dedication has been preparing and teaching all candidates and catechumens of our parish family. However, we do not have RCIA anymore. Why is the reason for this? Well… the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), after several meetings and guided by the action of the Holy Spirit, concluded that the Sacraments of Christian Initiation cannot only be limited by the rites, but they should be a continued and intimate relationship with the Lord. Hence, the USCCB changed the name from RCIA to OCIA, which means the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults. So, what is OCIA? It is a process leading conversion of the heart and a closer relationship with Jesus who invites us to follow Him.

OCIA brings the opportunity that any adult joins us in our faith through the sacrament of Baptism or through the reception in our faith if the person was already baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit in another Christian faith. In addition, OCIA brings the opportunity to those adult people who are already baptized Catholic to receive the other sacraments such as Confirmation, Communion, and Reconciliation.

If you know someone, or even yourself, who has questions about our Catholic faith and how they (or you) can receive these sacraments, please invite them to an informative meeting on September 8 at noon in the Marian Room in our parish, which is the office level below the church. You can also call Mary Kramer, our OCIA coordinator, at (585) 265 1616. She will be happy to answer your questions. I am also here to help you in this discernment in this journey to our Catholic faith.

Finally, I encourage all of you to pray for all people who are discerning to join us.

Remember, “The Parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build.” God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

St. Paul writes in the Letter to the Romans that the love of God poured forth on us by Christ brings a Hope that “Does not disappoint.” God’s promises made to humankind will not fail. It’s a sure thing.

Paul contrasts this one hope with all the other things that have disappointed us in life. He was familiar with constant disappointment and hardship. You and I have also seen our hopes come to nothing. Careers, relationships, health and finances can all go sour. There can develop a cynicism or even despair. “Don’t start hoping it hurts too much”, we tell ourselves.

Look at our children and the young generation called “Millennials”. Their eyes are bright, their hopes and dreams burn in their hearts. Parents smile . . . perhaps a sad smile, as they imagine the disappointments that inevitably come. We want to protect them or warn them of the hurt that awaits. Why? Because it happened to us.

Think of what you’ve hoped for:

• True and lasting spousal love – Good friends for life
• Healthy, happy children – Success and recognition of one’s efforts
• Rewarding work – Some financial security
• Good health – Peace of heart about the life you chose

I’m sure these are on your list in some fashion. What else?

We’re old enough by now to have made our peace with many of life’s disappointments. In fact with age, there’s a certain sweet sadness for what might have been. (Watch the movie “Babette’s Feast” for that beautiful message).

But do we stop hoping? What is this hope that will not disappoint? What can I bet my life on? Christians believe It lies in the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. He tells us he is the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Resurrection and the Life. “I am going to prepare a place for you . . . I will come back and take you with me.”

But how do we know for sure he is all these things? We don’t want to hope in vain. St. Paul goes on to say, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us . . . while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son.” Romans 5:10.

There is no love like this anywhere else in the world   only in God through Christ. It gets better. “I have told you these things that might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

So what should we hope for? Again Jesus gives us the key . . . “If God so clothes the grass of the field, will he not much more provide for you. Seek first His Kingdom and these other things (life sustaining things) will be given you as well.” Luke 12:31

In other words, our hope lies in the promises of Christ. He promises to dwell in us here on earth and then in the fullness of the Kingdom forever. It will not disappoint.

But we must do our part. Do what Goodness tells you to do. And you will see His plan.

Gaudete!

Fr. Tim

Do you remember some of the things you used to do over and over as a kid? Little, personal and sometimes quirky activities that you’d do when things got boring or you started getting nervous?

Some children would suck their thumb. Some might bite their finger nails. Maybe you had a special blanket you would take everywhere. (Later in life my father and I battled cigarettes (I still struggle!). We call repeated actions habits; we do them without thinking. They relieve tension or anxiety and bring a mild pleasure or calming effect.

Some habits are healthy and benefit people whenever they do them. “That’s a good habit to get into,” we say. (Brush your teeth/eat your vegetables.) Other repeated actions can hurt us or others. These are bad habits. Some are bad (e.g. Lying) because the act itself is bad. We call these “sinful habits”. Others are bad because they go too far (“Too much” of anything is a bad habit) or not far enough (sloth, or carelessness) in doing the right thing.

So . . . what’s the point? It’s simple. Get in the habit of doing good things. How? All habits begin with Repetition. Doing something again and again will bring a certain ease of performance. A good thing, once rather hard to perform (choosing not to gossip) can, with repetition, become easier. Parents, I can’t stress this enough for your children. “Repetition” of good actions is essential to finding a path to true happiness in life.

Our bodies themselves bear witness to this. Sit-ups/push-ups (yuk!) become easier with repetition. It’s really no different for our spiritual lives. Repetition makes for habit. Habit makes for virtue (an abiding strength). Virtue leads to happiness. Want to be happy? Keep on doing good. Simple eh?!

Let’s take matters of sexuality. I don’t think anyone of us is immune to the “sinful habit” that can develop in our thoughts or actions as we confront lustful images or impulses that exist within us and around us.

There is a “good habit” that can defeat this lustful impulse. It’s called “custody of the eyes”. It refers to a mental readiness to turn away from seeing things that we know go beyond “just seeing” to become “lusting”. It’s kind of like being nosy . . . with our eyes.

Here’s how it goes. Our eyes want to see everything. Some things are not ours to see (or show). We need to have a mental readiness to turn away from things we “ought not see”. (Be ready to change the channel, look away, find something else to focus on.) We do this because it carries a respect for that person. Repeated ways of acting in this way we call “modesty” and become a habit leading to the virtue of “purity”.

(Purity has gotten a bad wrap in our culture. It’s seen as prudishness or a “holier-than-thou” attitude, or even a certain fearfulness of sex. Not so! Purity is a veneration of the person as a vessel of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in each of us and therefore we are each worthy of love . . . not lust.)

The point here is to make clear these virtuous states don’t “just happen”. In fact, when left to nature, the opposite happens. Lust grows, not purity. Rumor, not truth. Selfishness, not generosity. It’s part of our fallen human nature that this tendency exists.

Let’s develop “habits of love”, actions of reverence for others and ourselves motivated by the knowledge of who we are . . . God’s beloved children. This friends is the way to JOY.

Everyone of us, God’s Children – no exceptions.

Bless your heart.

Fr. Tim

PS. A great habit? Morning prayer.

Welcome Home

Pope Francis has invited Catholic people around the world to participate in the 2021-2023 Synod with the theme of “Journeying Together”. Here at Holy Trinity, we will explore the themes of Listening and Dialogue in Church and Society.

II. Listening

Listening is the first step, but it requires having an open mind and heart, without prejudices.

To whom does our Church “need to listen to”? How are the Laity, especially young peo- ple and women, listened to? How do we integrate the contribution of Consecrated Men and Women? What space is there for the voice of minorities, the discarded, and the excluded? Do we identify prejudices and stereotypes that hinder our listening? How do we listen to the social and cultural context in which we live?

VI. Dialogue in Church and Society

Dialogue requires perseverance that includes silence and sometimes discomfort.

In the end it proves capable of gathering and understanding the experience of peoples.

Where do you find dialogue happening in the local and in the worldwide Catholic Church? How are differences of vision and their resulting conflicts addressed? Do we collaborate with neighboring dioceses or the religious orders in the area? Are there experiences of dialogue and shared commitment with believers in other religions? With nonbelievers? How can the Catholic Church dialogue with and learn from: the world of politics, economics, culture, civil society, the poor? How does the Church respond to social trends that challenge and conflict with the Faith of Jesus Christ?

All are welcome to join us on Tuesday, March 1, 7:00-8:00 PM or Saturday, March 5, 10:00-11:00 AM. Both sessions will be held in the Gathering Space.

Source: Welcome Back to Mass at HT