For the Week of December 1 to December 9

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ( - A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION - )

8:30M Viola Hall, John Hall, Jr., and Arline Dietle (Don & Jerrine Dietle)

4:00H Claire Dreissen and Domenico Carabetta (Brzozowski & Dreissen Families)

9:00H Paulo Monteiro, Domingos Monteiro and Germana Fernandes (Maria Cruz)

in prayerful memory of Edward Fanfesti at the request of Dr. Weins’ office staff.

Thomas Ferrari, Jaime Cunha, Trina Lyod, Franc Nasznic, Margaret Tanch, and Gratia Parete

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; Let Your perpetual light shine upon them forever.

“NEW DAY” / OUR PARISH BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP meets in December on Wednesdays, December 5 and 19. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the Parish Center . If you are experiencing the loss of a loved one, who has passed away recently, or even years ago, please join us in prayer and consolation. Call Eva Colon 294-9398, Chick Kelman, 265-4546 or Lise Clavette, 238-7288 for more information about the group.

THE NEW AUTOMATIC DOORS IN THE CHURCH

The glass doors leading into the church from the elevator now have a new automatic door opening system. This gift to our parish has been generously donated in memory of Beverly and Eleanor & David C. Durgan by a special long time friend. We are very grateful for this very generous donation to our parish.

Reminder: If paying monthly, having your payment in each month helps keep our records accurate, and keeps you eligible to be the monthly “Lucky-1” ! ! !

THERE WILL NOT BE BINGO ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 21, OR 28 DUE TO THE HOLY DAY SCHEDULE.

Gift certificates for bingo are available for your Christmas giving! Certificates can be purchased on Bingo nights in the hall.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be given to Grades 3,4, & 5 on Monday, December 3rd. Grades 6,7, & 8 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday, December 4th. Both sessions will be done at the school.

The School Board meeting will be at 7:00 PM in the faculty lounge on Monday, December 3rd. The Finance Committee will meet the same day beginning at 5:30 PM.

Cookie Dough pickup will be on Wednesday, December 5 from 2:30 to 3:30 PM and at 5:30 to 6:30 PM at the school.

The celebration for the feast of St. Nicholas will be in the church hall on Thursday, December 6 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK 2008 MAKES A GREAT GIFT THAT LASTS ALL YEAR! The Home and School Association is sponsoring this annual book sale, offering up to 50% off savings from local and national merchants. The New Haven Edition is $25 and the Hartford Edition is $30. Both are available at the rectory or at Holy Trinity School . Your ENTERTAINMENT BOOK will include a certificate for a free 2 week subscription to Entertainment On Vacation online.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION All students and parents are urged to participate in the CCD Christmas Toy, Food and Gift Drive by making donation of food, gifts, and NEW unwrapped toys to the needy of our parish! Items may be brought to the Religious Education Office. The Drive will run until Tuesday, December 4.

SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL will be in session on Sunday, December 2, 9, & 16 during the 9:00 AM Mass. Please remember to register your child at 8:45 AM in the church hall, or call the Religious Education Office during the week at 265-6300.

CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING will be in the church hall on Monday, December 10 at 7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to join in the Spirit.

MOUNT 2000 RETREAT FOR YOUTH: “SEEK THE FACE OF CHRIST” FEBRUARY 8-10, 2008 Mount 2008 is a Eucharist-centered annual retreat hosted by Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, designed for high school and college-age Catholics. With the theme “Seek the Face of Christ, Mount 2008 will encourage participants to come to know Jesus as a friend, and to encounter His love and mercy in prayer, the Word of God, and the Holy Sacraments of the Catholic Church. The speakers for this year’s retreat include Father Peter Mitchell and Todd Lemieux. The cost is $99 (checks payable to Most Holy Trinity Church ), and the deadline to register is Friday, December 21. Registration and permission forms are available at the rectory office during office hours, Monday through Friday, 9AM to 4 PM. For more information on the retreat, please contact Father Jeff at 269-8791.

FEAST CELEBRATING OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: THE PATRON SAINT OF THE AMERICAS will take place on Tuesday, December 11 through Wednesday, December 12. On Tuesday, December 11, we will have the traditional Serenade to Our Lady of Guadalupe from 10 PM to 12:30 AM in the church. There will be a special rosary recited, followed by a re-enactment of the apparition of Our Blessed Mother as witnessed by St. Juan Diego. Light refreshments will be served in the hall following this service. On Wednesday, December 12 the ceremony begins at 5:00 PM with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by the Procession of the Flags and the Aztec Dancers at 5:30 PM. Mass begins at 6:00 PM. Everyone is invited to the reception afterwards in the church hall. NOTE: These services will be mostly in Spanish but they can be enjoyed an appreciated by all. Come & celebrate!

REMINDER REGARDING TAX LAW CHANGES THAT WERE MADE FOR 2007 – Beginning with contributions made in 2007, parishioners (those who itemize their tax returns) will no longer be able to deduct contributions to the parish unless they maintain a bank record or written contribution statement from the parish. If you wish to ensure deductibility of your contributions to the parish, please use a check, direct deposit from your bank account, or use your parish envelopes. The parish will track contributions made using parish envelopes, and will produce a written statement of contributions made during 2007 by the end of January 2008. Canceled checks and other bank records are also sufficient documentation. The parish cannot track cash contributions not in parish envelopes. Thank you for using your envelopes or checks.

HOLY TRINITY PARISH WOMEN’S RETREAT Ladies, everyone relies upon you to nurture and nourish them and their needs. It’s no wonder you feel tired and drained of your resources and your spirit. It’s time for you to put yourself on top of your “TO DO” List by registering for our parish women’s retreat. Forget the Calgon bath!... Experience a weekend filled with rest, relaxation, and spiritual renewal in the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere of Our Lady of Calvary Retreat House in Farmington , during the weekend of February 8-10, 2008. The retreat’s theme is “Who Do You Say That I Am?”. For more information or to register call Joan Morico at 269-0517.

LADIES SOCIETY OF HOLY TRINITY CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON will be served at 12 Noon on Gaetano’s Tavern on Main , Downtown Wallingford, on Monday, December 10. Ladies are asked to RSVP with their entrée choice to Jeanette Connery, 269-5839. Your choice of entrée is chicken, fish, or beef. The cost is $20. Ladies are also asked to bring along a wrapped grab bag item at a value of about $5. Call Jeanette with your RSVP or with any questions about this activity. New members are always welcome!

MASS AT REGENCY HOUSE will be celebrated on Monday, December 17, 10:00 AM. Volunteers who assist the residents to and from Mass are asked to please be at the home no later than 9:45 AM.

WINTER WARNING!!! We cannot stress enough the fact that during the winter months the north side (parking lot) entrance to the church can become extremely dangerous. This is due to the fact that the sun does not shine on that side of the church.

FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY we encourage you to enter through the front three entrances… and those of you who have difficulty walking … PLEASE USE THE ELEVATOR. We do our best to keep the stairs, walks and parking lots as safe as possible. But PLEASE understand that sometimes (depending on the time and severity of the storm) it is impossible to keep up with all of the stairways. Please do not assume or expect your “usual” or “favorite” entrance will be passable. We try to concentrate on the center door and elevator entrances and the walkways leading to them. Please head for these entrances when the weather is inclement. We ask that you not only be CAUTIOUS but PATIENT as well! Thank you.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CHRISTMAS PARTY will be held in the church hall on Monday, December 17, 7:00-8:30 PM. Volunteers and students are reminded to please be in the hall no later than 6:30 PM to help set-up and to greet our guests. Anyone having any questions is asked to please call Ann Votto, coordinator, 265-6061.

THERE’S STILL TIME! ……To make your reservation for the Trinity Ladies Club Christmas Dinner

Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. 95 Gathering Place Restaurant 865 North Colony Street

All entrees include pasta, garlic bread, salad, baked potato and vegetables, dessert, coffee, tea.

Mail your check for your reservation (made payable to Trinity Ladies Club) to Barbara Sousa, 93 Christian Street , Wallingford , CT 06492 .

A QUIET CHRISTMAS: A SERVICE OF HEALING is being presented by the Connecticut VNA on Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 PM at the Cheshire United Methodist Church , 205 Academy Road , Cheshire . This service of healing is to remember and acknowledge those who have had losses over the past year. Refreshments provided after the service-courtesy of Aldersons/Slater Funeral Homes. RSVP to Joyce Yeske, 203-679-5313.

“HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS” FOR THE DIVORCED AND BEREAVED – This program will explore some ways to move through the holidays in a simple, peaceful way after going through a loss. There will be time for prayer, input from the facilitators and discussion. Sr. Mauryeen O’Brien, OP and Vincent Marquis, both facilitators of the Divorced and Bereaved Ministries will facilitate the program for the Archdiocese of Hartford. The evening will be at the Caritas Christi Center , Hamden on Thursday, December 6 from 7-9 PM. For directions and registration call 281-2569. Requested donation: $10.

THE ANNUAL CREDO ADVENT EVENING OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER, on Saturday, December 15th at 7:00 PM at St. Christopher Church in East Hartford . Come, bring a friend or two and let your heart and soul be filled with the peace of our Lord. Following the service, there will be a gathering in the hall for refreshments, conversation, and carols. $10 per person. In the spirit of the season, donations for Birthright will be accepted. For more Credo Catholic Single events check the web at www.credocath.com

THE YOUTH GROUP (for high school students) will meet on Sunday, December 2nd at the Parish Center from 7-8:30 PM. The PPC meets from 6-7 PM. This will be a special Advent Prayer and Penance Service. Please come with a heart open to make room for the coming of Christ this Christmas. Plans will also be made for the St. Nicholas Day Babysitting Event on Thursday, December 6.

ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING – Parish families wishing to light the Advent wreath at a weekend Mass during Advent are kindly asked to call Rachel at the rectory to schedule their date and Mass time. Please call during office hours, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM, 269-8791.

KNIGHTS CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR ST. AGNES HOME – The Knights of Columbus Pinta Council #5 invites all members to their Christmas Party for the benefit of St. Agnes Home for unwed mothers on December 12th at 7:00 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall Quinnipiac Street. Members are asked to bring baby items or school supplies. Call Andy Gagne if you have any questions, 269-0174.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER ANNOUNCES ITS CONNECTICUT 2008 SCHEDULE. The dates are as follows: January 25-27; April 25-27; July 18-20, September 19-21 and November 7-9. Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to improve their relationship. The weekend provides an environment for couples to spend time together, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, while encouraging them to focus on each other and their relationship. For more information about Worldwide Marriage Encounter or to register for an upcoming weekend, please contact Joe and Jane Staszowski at 1-860-644-7260 or meweekend@gmail.com or visit www.wwme.org.

67TH CRECHE DEDICATION, sponsored by the Greater Meriden Council of Catholic Women, will be held on Sunday December 2nd at 2:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church , 159 East Main Street , Meriden . The St. Joseph Youth Ensemble (9-15 years of age) will perform under the direction of Chris Balanda. Refreshments will be served. All are invited to attend to keep Christ in Christmas.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING THE MOVIE THE GOLDEN COMPASS ! This new movie, being promoted for children, opens on December 7th. The movie is expected to be fairly innocuous BUT it is based on the first of three books: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. The books are anti-God, anti-Christian and blatantly anti-Catholic. The author of the books, Philip Pullman is a militant atheist (someone who does not believe in the existence of God) –“I want to kill God in the minds of Children…I want them to decide against God and the Kingdom of Heaven. ” . The movie may be an enticement for children to read the books. The Catholic League strongly urges parents and children to avoid the movie and the books, in which Pullman is out to destroy all levels of authority: parental, government, church, and God. As a trilogy they are called His Dark Materials. Please make it a point to choose better entertainment and protect your child’s mind and faith!

On this Feast we celebrate our belief that Mary was conceived without original sin. God had chosen this Immaculate Virgin to be the Mother of His Divine Son. The glory of Mary is that she freely accepted the will of God in her life with the words to the Angel: “Let it be done to me as you say.”

OUR GIVING TREE BRINGS CHRISTMAS CHEER TO ALL……of our needy parish families and community organizations. Each tag represents a special gift and a blessing to someone on Christmas Day who might not otherwise have one. HELP MAKE SOMEONE’S CHRISTMAS A LITTLE BRIGHTER THIS YEAR! Suggestion tags will be hanging from the tree boughs, for the purpose of helping to meet the needs of the less fortunate. We ask everyone willing to participate to go up to the tree and remove a tag (or tags) that best describes a Christmas gift for a needy parishioner, convalescent home resident, resident of St. Agnes Home for unwed mothers and their babies, and for organizations such as Birthright, the Spanish Community of Wallingford, Wallingford Emergency Shelter, Catholic Family Services, or Regency House. Please bring the gift, WRAPPED, WITH THE SUGGESTION TAG taped to the outside of the package (you can make a note as to what is in the package!), back to the church and place it under the GIVING TREE. The deadline this year is Sunday, December 9th. It is necessary for the drive to end early in order that time be given to the Christians In Action Committee and friends to sort and bundle the gifts for families on Thursday, December 13th, and deliver them on Saturday, December 15th. Help us give a Merry Christmas to all God’s children.

4th ANNUAL ST. NICHOLAS DAY – FUN FOR KIDS 5 TO 13 & A NIGHT OUT FOR PARENTS – Children ages 5-13 will enjoy this special celebration of the feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, in the church hall on Thursday, December 6 from 5-8 PM. While the kids enjoy pizza, Christmas carols, games, arts & crafts, treats, and a special guest appearance by St. Nicholas himself; parents can use the time to do their Christmas shopping or settle down for a short winter’s nap. The cost is a free-will offering of at least $5 per child- proceeds go to BIRTHRIGHT… helping pregnant mothers and their children. Or you can bring in a bag of disposable diapers. Please register by calling the rectory at 269-8791. This event is sponsored by our parish Youth Group and our Christians In Action Committee.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TWELVE WAYS TO KEEP “CHRIST” IN CHRISTMAS - Join us for a Holy Trinity’s Women’s Advent Evening of Reflection. Advent meditation, practical ways to help focus on the birth of Christ in the midst of the hustle and bustle, raffles and refreshments on Thursday, December 6th from 7-9 PM in the Parish Center (next to the school). For more information contact Michele Desjardins at 679-0437.

CANDLELIGHT FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 5:00 PM IN THE MOST HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Enjoy this afternoon in serene enjoyment as our Adult Choir brings to you this concert presentation of songs and stories of the Christmas season. Afterward, come down to the church hall for light refreshments offered by our Hospitality Committee. This is an annual treat nobody should miss!