Children’s Faith Formation News

First Sacrament Preparation | Confirmation | Sunday Program | Family Program | NCYC | Good News


Calling all High School Students!!
YOUTH LEAD

On Friday – Monday, November 811 at Camp Stella Maris, you are invited to experience Youth LEAD Weekend!!

Youth LEAD (Leadership Evangelization And Discipleship) is a weekend retreat experience for high school youth (grades 9- 12). The experience shares practical skills and a clear vision of leadership that allows youth to follow the call of our Church to be the Body of Christ in the world.

Why Teen Leadership? In a world where youth are trained to be leaders in every aspect of their life, we as a Church would be failing them if we did not encourage them to be leaders in their faith life. Youth LEAD will empower and train youth to be those leaders, giving them practical skills and a clear vision of leadership that will let them follow the call of our Church to be the Body of Christ in the world.

Reach out to our Faith Formation office for more information, or visit our diocesan website.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

(Pre-K through Grade 3)

This special opportunity is offered Sunday mornings during our 10:30 am Mass, September through June, for our parish children in Pre-K through Grade 3. This program was developed to give younger children a chance to listen and pray at their level of understanding. Children are dismissed from the church and go with leaders to have the scriptures read and explained to them in an enjoyable and interactive environment. Parents are always welcome to attend with their children. Registration is not required for this program.

New Leaders Welcome!

Do you love sharing your faith with others? Would you like to learn more about Jesus’ message to us in the Bibles stories we hear in Mass? Do you enjoy working with children, and would you like to experience these Bible stories through their eyes?? You may be just the person God is calling to help in this special ministry.


Children’s Christmas Pageant

Sunday, December 17 at 12:15 pm

We are very excited to announce that we will be presenting our Children’s Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 17 at 12:15 pm. All are invited to come and experience the retelling of this very special story of the birth of our Savior. Please mark your calendars…and join us afterward for light refreshments in Trinity Hall!

Children of all ages are invited to participate! Rehearsals will be held on Sundays from 11:45 am ˆ 1:00 pm on Nov. 26, Dec. 3, and Dec. 10 with the final production on Sunday, December 17.

Please sign up at the Welcome Desk, stop by the Faith Formaon Office, or email Mrs. K (Tricia.Kull@dor.org) by November 22nd if you/your child are interested in participating.


FOR ALL YOUTH ENTERING GRADES 8-11 THIS SCHOOL YEAR…

SAVE THE DATE for 2025 NCYC
NOVEMBER 20-22, 2025 // INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Let’s get excited!!

NCYC Interest meeting:

November 10th, 2024 at 9:45 am
Gathering Space

If you cannot attend the interest meeting, please reach out to Michelle Schultheis to request additional information at Michelle.Schultheis@dor.org or (585) 265-1616 x328.

What is NCYC?

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a powerfully unique threeday experience of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers (of high school age) and their adult chaperones.

NCYC is the premiere Catholic youth event on a national scale that gathers people from all across America for a lifechanging encounter with Christ.


First Sacrament Preparation

Students in Grade 2 and above may register to begin their First Sacrament Preparation if they have completed at least one full year of Faith Formation either in a parish or in a Catholic School and are currently enrolled in their second year of Faith Formation.

Full Program Details

First Sacrament Preparation Registration

Please email Tricia Kull
(Tricia.Kull@dor.org) to register

Confirmation

Confirmation Preparation ( I & II)

As the third and final Sacrament of Initiation into the church, the Sacrament of Confirmation can be seen as an interior movement that effects a more mature and active participation in the life of the faith community.

Full Program Details

Confirmation Registration

Registration Form

Register by downloading the pdf form above
or by filling out our online Google Form


We offer a variety of Faith Formation (Religious Education) options for your family. All programs are designed to invite you and your child to find God every day in relevant and relatable ways. In addition, parish-wide “Family Events” are offered throughout the year to encourage participation in our parish community, foster service to others, help us learn about the liturgy, and engage deeper in our relationship with Christ as we grow in our faith.

SUNDAY CLASSROOM PROGRAM

(Grades 1-7)
A traditional classroom setting with a catechist (teacher) for each grade level that meets on Sundays between our two Masses for your convenience from 9:30am until 10:20am.

Full Program Details

FAMILY FAITH PROGRAM

(Grades K-7)
Once each month all families will come together for a monthly Family Gathering to introduce that month’s Faith Topic in a fun and interactive way for the entire family.

Full Program Details

Faith Formation Registration 2024/2025

Registration Form

Register by downloading the pdf form above
or by filling out our online Google Form


Youth Service Opportunities

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

All Middle and High School Faith Formation and Confirmation students are expected to complete a few hours of Christian Service as part of their faith curriculum.

There are many opportunities for youth to get involved, not only here with Holy Trinity, but also in your community. Ideas are included each month in our monthly Faith Formation newsletter, The Good News. Outside of our parish, students can do many different things to serve others such as simply helping a neighbor who could use assistance with raking leaves or shoveling a sidewalk! Volunteering at the public library, the local nursing home, the hospital, or the animal shelter are other great ways to give back to your community. Ever think about volunteering at your school? There are always new activities and fundraisers happening as well as great service organizations such as Best Buddies, Key Club, or Builders Club. Check out your PTA or school’s website for more information.

As you are serving others, consider not only how you may be affecting the person or group you are helping, but also how this experience affects YOU! Be sure to complete a Christian Service Hours form and submit it to your classroom catechist or directly to Mrs. K!

Here are some ideas to help in our parish (times and dates vary each month; commit to one or several based on your schedule; email Mrs. K to learn more):

  • Youth Assistant for Faith Formation Family Program (help lead small group activities, as well as set up and tear down)
  • Children’s Liturgy of the Word Assistant (10:30am Sunday Mass; commit only to those Sundays that fit your schedule.)
  • First Sacrament Preparation Youth Assistant (help lead small group activities, as well as set up and tear down)
  • Special Family Events occur each month (assistance needed in a variety of ways, as well as set up and tear down)
  • Youth in Mass Ministry…you are invited to join our liturgical ministries to serve as an Altar Server, Liturgical Greeter and/or Lector in our Mass celebrations.

The blue CHILDREN’S ENVELOPES are now available at the Welcome Desk and in front of the Faith Formation office for those children who would like their own.


Vacation Bible School – GOD is GOOD

WHERE GOD GUIDES…HE PROVIDES!!

Thank you to all campers, volunteers, families, parishioners, and staff who helped make our 2024 VBS ~ God is Good!! A blessed experience for everyone!!

Our gymnasium was transformed into a beautiful garden last week with walls featuring murals of several Bible stories as we enjoyed discovering that WHERE GOD GUIDES…HE PROVIDES! Our days were full of fun and faith as we created Rainbow Art to learn God’s Promises, God’s Blessing Spy Bottles to help remember all that we are thankful for, played Moses Croquet in the Wilderness collecting Manna, made Stained Glass with our Blessed Mother, challenged ourselves with an Obstacle Course learning how we can Trust God in All Things, and created a beautiful Monstrance as we discovered the peace of spending quiet time with Jesus in Adoration.

A special word of thanks to all those who gave their time and talents before and during VBS…we have an AMAZING team of adult and youth volunteers who brought this year’s VBS to life. And we thank our entire parish family for the generosity with donating materials for our activities, enthusiastically responding to our Wish List needs, and for being a Church who believes in the importance of loving and educating our children in faith. We are blessed to be a part of such a community.

Thank you to all who donated to our VBS “Military Care Packages” to help fill the loving packages to be sent by the Rochester Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America to our deployed men and women in our US Military overseas.

Vacation Bible School Registration

Registration Form


VBS Wishlist

Donations
  • Gift Cards for Grocery Stores: Aldi, Walmart, Wegmans, BJ’s
  • Gift Cards for Craft Stores: Hobby Lobby or Michaels
  • Baby Wipes
  • Ball Pit Balls
  • Fabric Markers
  • Felt 9”x12” Sheets in white, gold, yellow, or any color
  • Foam Board
  • Food Handling Gloves (powderfree, nonlatex)
  • Glitter Glue
  • Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil (must be heavy duty for our craft)
  • Miraculous Medals (you might get these through the mail, with or without chains)
  • Paper Towels
  • Stick-On Jewels
  • Tissues
  • Tissue Paper in all colors
Additional Items
  • Cardboard (drop off to the gym stage in Murphy Hall!)
Items to BORROW (We will return them)
  • Hand Puppets (18” or larger; people or animals we can work with any!)
  • Artificial plants (any size is appreciated!)

2024 VBS Leaders and Assistant Leaders

To ensure a safe and fun environment for all we are searching for both Adult Volunteers and Youth Leaders in Middle School and High School (Grades 6 and over) willing to share their time with our littles this summer!

WE CAN NOT make this week a success without YOU!! Safe Environment training is required for all volunteers over 13 years of age.

VBS Volunteer Opportunities include: Group Leader, Assistant Leader, Activity Leader, Snack Helper, and General Helper.

Email Tricia.Kull@dor.org for more information on how to get involved!