MOST HOLY TRINITY  CHURCH

FOR THE GREATER HONOR AND GLORY OF GOD The SANCTUARY LAMP burns this week in memory of Michael L. Musso and Nellie and Stanley Pongonis at the request of their family.

- FAITHFULLY DEPARTED – OUR SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF M. Catherine “Kay” Grana Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; Let Your perpetual light shine upon them forever.

“PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD” John the Baptist went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written.. “PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD…” Peace on earth begins within our hearts. Reconciliation helps us to make room in our hearts to welcome the peace of the Newborn King, Jesus Christ. We welcome and encourage you to receive the SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confession): Saturday, December 16 at 2:00 PM or on Monday, December 18, either AFTER 8:30 AM Mass or at 7:00 PM. Note: This will be the last opportunities before Christmas.

MASS AT REGENCY HOUSE will be celebrated on Monday, December 18, 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. 

THE HOLY TRINITY HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION BENEFITS FROM 2007 ENTERTAINMENT BOOK SALES-so that’s why we encourage you to give the gift of entertainment this Christmas season. Coupons and specials in the book can be used all year and can save you, your family, and your friends lots of $$$$$. They are especially great for that person on your gift giving list who seems to have everything. Pick up your copy at Holy Trinity School or stop by the rectory during office hours. The New Haven edition is $25 and the Hartford edition is $30. And thank you for your support!!!

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS SCHEDULE CHANGE -  Please be aware that the Masses on Christmas Day, December 25, have been changed from last year’s schedule. On Christmas Day there will only be 2 Masses: 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. Please pass on this change to your family members and friends who might be attending Mass here that day. Thank you!

CHRISTIANS IN ACTION HOLDS GIVING TREE “BOXING” DAY –The Christians In Action Committee members and parish friends are reminded that the sorting and packaging of the Giving Tree Gifts and the Christmas food baskets will be boxed on Wednesday, December 13. The gifts will be sorted after the 8:30 AM Mass and the food baskets will be done at 6:30 PM in the church hall. Christians In Action members should plan on helping out at one or both sessions. Please contact Rachel at the rectory to sign up for the morning or evening shift, at 269-8791.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE FOR THE HOLIDAY by being a donor at the American Red Cross Blood Drive being held on Friday, December 15^th at the First Congregational Church in Wallingford , from 1:00-5:45 PM. Blood supplies are low during the holiday time, so your donation is very much needed and appreciated. Donors will be given a special T-shirt. You can make an appointment or ask for more information about giving blood by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or online at www.bloodct.org.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RELICS TO COME TO HOLY TRINITY After completing a special tour of 50 major cities in the United States and Mexico over the course of last year, the relics of 6 Knights of Columbus canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II will be here at Most Holy Trinity from Saturday, December 9 through Tuesday, December 12. These six priests were martyred for their faith during religious persecution in Mexico in the 1920’s and stand as brilliant witnesses to the love of God in the world. If you would like to venerate the relics and ask these new saints for their intercession, you will have the opportunity after all Masses that weekend and at the charismatic prayer meeting on Monday, December 11 from 7:00-8:30 PM. Make plans to take advantage of this special, grace-filled opportunity!

CANDLELIGHT FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS DECEMBER 27 – 5:00 PM will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 17^th at 5:00 PM. This year we will again have as our special guests members of the Branford Cantare under the direction of our Tenor Soloist Kevin Buno, Jr. Last year they were received with much acclaim that we have invited them to join with our Adult Choir to sing again this year in our annual service of Lessons and Carols. Do plan to join us for this moving candlelight festival. The lessons and the music trace the story of God’s redemption from the prophecy of the Messiah to His birth as told in the familiar Gospel reading from John. A festive reception will be held in the church hall following the service, hosted by our Hospitality Committee

HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN for the 2007 -2008 school year. Our kindergarten program runs from 8:10 AM to 2:25 PM. Select openings also exist in Grades 1-7. Holy Trinity School offers children a quality, faith-filled education for a lifetime. For an application or to speak to the principal, kindly contact Sister Kathleen Kelly, RSM at 203-269-4476 or via e-mail at holy.trinity.school@snet.net.

Please bring your families to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Holy Trinity Church on Tuesday, December 12 at 6:00 PM.

Progress reports will be distributed on Wednesday, December 13.

RETROUVAILLE OF CONNECTICUT – If your marriage has become troubled and stressed, unloving or uncaring, or cold and distant, even if you are divorced or separated but you want to try again, then the Retrouvaille program can help you. The next Retrouvaille Weekend will take place January 19 through 21, 2007. For more information please call our confidential number 1-800-470-2230 or email us at 3001@retrouvaille.org.

DYNAMIC DISCIPLES meets Sunday, December 10 at 6:30-8 PM at the parish center. All junior high students are welcome to attend.

FEAST CELEBRATING OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: THE PATRON SAINT OF THE AMERICAS will take place on Monday, December 11 through Tuesday, December 12.

On Monday, December 11, we will have the traditional Serenade to Our Lady of Guadalupe from 10:00 PM to 12:30 AM in the church. There will be a special 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 Tuesday, December 12 the ceremony begins at 5:00 PM with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by the Procession of the Flags. Mass begins at 6:00 PM, which will be celebrated by Bishop Peter Rosazza, and will include the Aztec Dancers. Everyone is invited to the reception afterwards in the church hall. NOTE: These services will be mostly in Spanish but they can be enjoyed and appreciated by all. Come & celebrate!

 YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS ROAD TRIP - All high school students (and their families) are welcome to join the parish youth group members for a special Christmas field trip to Massachusetts . The trip will be on Friday, December 29^th from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The bus will depart form the church parking lot for Boston at 7:00 AM. After celebrating the daily Mass together at St. Clement’s Eucharistic Shrine near Fenway Park , you will be able to go out in different groups to enjoy the city of Boston . You can ice skate at Frog Pond in the Commons, shop ‘til you drop on Newberry Street, tour the historic sites on the Freedom Trail, enjoy a nice Italian meal in the North end, see the animals at the New England Aquarium, or any other number of interesting possibilities. At 4:30 PM, after spending the day in the city, we will board the bus to travel to the Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette in Attleboro , MA where we will enjoy the beautiful lights on display and a Christmas concert. The bus will return to the church parking lot at 11:00 PM. Thanks to a subsidy from the youth group funds, the cost for the bus and Shrine admission is only $10 per person. Please note: this does not include food, admission to destinations in Boston , or entertainment options in the city. If you would like to attend, your permission slip and fee are due by December 18. Space is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Fr. Jeff for more information at 269-8791.

JOHN THE BAPTIZER MADE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD. Who will make ready the way today? If God is calling you, call Father Al Fontana at the Archdiocesan Vocation Office, St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield at 1-800-286-7670 or visit us on the web at www.vocationshartford.org.

MOUNT 2000: YOUTH RETREAT SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2007 –The youth of the parish are invited to participate in our annual parish youth trip to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and College in Emmitsburg , Maryland for “Mount 2007-Do Whatever He Tells You”. This inspirational, educational and popular retreat is designed especially for Grades 9 through 12 and up to those who are 33 years of age. The cost is $95 (non-refundable), which includes coach bus transportation to and from Maryland . We’ll be leaving from the Most Holy Trinity Church parking lot on February 2^nd and will return on February 4^th. Registration forms can be picked up at the rectory, and returned there with the $95 fee and signed permission slip. Spaces are filling up fast (spaces are limited because of the popularity of this retreat); there are only 55 passenger spaces available… don’t miss out!!! The due date is December 11.

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS APPEAL- Next weekend’s appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious asks us to recall those women and men religious whose ministry has nourished our own faith, served our church, and strengthened our nation. Today, more than 37,000 women and men religious are past age 70. Their institutes face critical economic challenges as the costs of health care escalate and as the need for the handicapped-accessible housing increases. Please give generously to next week’s second collection

TRINITY LADIES CLUB is collecting PULL TABS, CANCELLED STAMPS, and 2007 CALENDARS for area charities. Please deposit these items in the TLC Baskets that can be found at the front entrance to the church or the side entrance to the right of the church. Your help with these worthy collections is much appreciated. Any questions, please contact Linda Houle, TLC Collections Coordinator, at 265-4496.

WOMEN OF THE PARISH! COME AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND- Sign up now for our parish retreat at Our Lady of Calvary Retreat in Farmington , Connecticut on the weekend of February 9-11, 2007. “We Walk By Faith” is this year’s theme; ‘Come Away to the Quiet’. For information call parish member, Joan Morico at 269-0517.

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR MARRIED COUPLES- Couples… want to give each other something really special this Christmas? How about a gift filled with Romance and Excitement? That’s just the beginning of what you will receive on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next weekend will be January 26-28, 2007. For more information about WME or to register for an upcoming weekend, please contact John & Bev Maley at 203-364-0836 or bikmaley@aol.com or visit www.wwme.org.

BINGO - THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 - CHURCH HALL 7:00 PM

COOKIES AND FRIENDS GO TOGETHER- YOUTH GROUP BAKE SALE NEXT WEEKEND

Santa knows what you want for Christmas. But do you know what Santa and his little helpers wish for Christmas? It’s COOKIES made by our parish Youth Group. And soon you will have your chance to stock up for the holiday. Next weekend our Parish Youth Group will be taking over the Holy Trinity ovens and baking up trays of cookies and treats for you to share with your family and your special guests this Christmas season. Please come and support them by making a purchase… and remember to save a few and put them out on Christmas Eve for St. Nick!

SPECIAL EDUCATION CHRISTMAS PARTY will take place in the church hall on Monday, December 18, 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 great our guests. Anyone having any questions is asked to please call Ann Votto, coordinator, 265-6061.

FLU SHOTS are available through the Visiting Nurse Association of Wallingford. But time is running out. Please make your appointment with them by calling 269-1475. There office is located at 235 North Plains Industrial Road . They accept Medicare, Health Net, ConnectiCare,, Anthem BC/BS.

 CREDO CATHOLIC SINGLES will meet on Saturday, December 16 at Metro North in New Haven at 8:00 AM to take the 8:50 AM train to enjoy beautiful Christmas decorations around New York City . The will choose one of the many fine restaurants for lunch and dinner, followed by Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 5:00 PM. Price of the one-way train ticket at the station is $14 or $19 if purchased on the train. For more information look up Credo on the web at www.geocities.com/credocath/.