www.holytrinitydm.org Rev. Mark Neal, Pastor 515 255 3162 X126 www.virtualclassroom.net/ht

2926 Beaver Ave DSM IA 50310 515.255.3162 www.holytrinitydm.org

December 20

4th Sundayof Advent

Taking the Journey TOGETHER

JOIN US IN PERSON OR WORSHIP ONLINE HERE

Love“Forever I will sing of the

goodness of the Lord.”Psalms 89:2-29

2020

F R O M FAT H E R M A R K D E C 2 0 2 0 2 0

Want more information? Go to www.holytrinitydm.org or call 515 255 3162

DONATE AT MASS OR ONLINE AT https://holytrinitydm.org/donate

GREETINGS. I just want to wish all of the Holy Trinity family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas! I’m very grateful for the opportunity to serve in my home parish; it makes Christmas all the more special each year.

I also want to take this opportunity to say thank you to our parish staff, and our school faculty and staff….please express to them your thanks; they do an outstanding job. We also have many tremendous volunteers; they are a great help. Thanks so much!

Christmas is a time when we especially gather with those who are so important to us; our families, our friends, our loved ones. As we know, this year will be different due to the pandemic. But, Christmas will still happen, God still comes into our world. Let’s take some time during this season to make sure those we love know how we feel about them.

Let’s also remember to keep all of our brothers and sisters around the world in our thoughts and prayers in this season of hope and celebration, especially those experiencing difficulties and unrest. As we reflect on Jesus in the manger after being told there was no room at the inn, let’s remember to welcome those we encounter at Christmas and all year. Let’s all try to make it clear there is room; in our hearts, in our lives, in our families.

Finally, as we wind down our centennial year, I know it was not what we had planned, but let’s all take some time to reflect on the blessing that Holy Trinity has been in our lives.

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Father Mark

______________________________________

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS Sun Dec 27 7PM Virtual Observance The DSM Faith Committee for Peace invites you to a Feast of the Holy Innocents Zoom service (link available later in Dec on the DSM Faith Committee for Peace Facebook page). Theme will be “Weeping for our Children”.

Want more information? Call the Parish Office 515 255 3162 X128 M-F 8AM-4PM

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___________________________________________

SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS! To advertise, contact Andy

Negrete 255-3162 ext. 129 or andyn@holytrinitydm.org

Budget - July 2020 - June 2021 $1,008,000YTD Actual Tithing through Dec 13 $438,279YTD Budget through Dec 13 $459,755

FINANCIAL BLESSINGS ENDING WEEK OF DEC 13 2020

YTD Overage (Deficit) $(21,476)Tithing for the week ending Dec 13 $13,588Number of Donations Received 78

WE STILL NEED HELP!! Ushers and cleaners needed for afterthe 8:30 and 10:30 Sunday Masses. Call Andy Negrete 255-3162 ext. 129 or email him at andyn@holytrinitydm.org

___________________________________________

PLEASE REMEMBER THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED... Evelyn Bisanti, Parishioner and Mother of Paul (Linda) Bisanti of our Parish

JOIN US FOR MASS in person or worship online on with us onFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/htschooldm. Pleaseclick on VIDEO on Facebook and you will be able to selectthe one you want to watch._____________________________________

ALTAR SERVERS NEEDED We can have 1 Altar Server atWeekend Masses. Eligible servers are studentsalready trained with Parental Permission. Parents—email

carolynr@holytrinitydm.org with student’s name and

Mass time availability. Monthly Server Schedule soon.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED THE SAINT VINCENT DE

PAUL CHRISTMAS PROJECT We are so grateful to be able to

help so many this year. Our bountiful food baskets and toyswent out on December 19 to families in need in ourcommunity. We appreciate everyone who lent a hand!____________________________________

ADVENT TAIZÉ December 20 6PM atHoly Trinity Catholic Church. Join usin Taizé prayer this Advent season.Our simple, short service lasts 30-40minutes and invites us to deepen

our faith in an environment of soft light, simple song,scripture reading and short periods of silence. (Note: TheDiocesan mask mandate will apply to this service.)

PATCH PROGRAM UPDATE-CHRISTMAS REQUEST

Our current PATCH family is doing very well. Mom had a baby boy in September and has adjusted to having a baby and started back to work. Her 6 year old daughter is getting along with virtual learning. Mom has a good extended family support system which has been vital to her making everything work. They’ve been very low maintenance and haven't asked for much support. We

can help the family with Christmas by providing a few

items from this list: https://signup.com/go/QAqrHUq

We will be supporting this current family through May so your continued donations to help pay rent are very much needed and appreciated. Donations can be made online through https://holytrinitydm.org/donate. Scroll down to select PATCH. Merry Christmas and thank you

again for your continued support of the PATCH

Program. If you have any questions or would like more info, please email Molly Pigneri at htpatch@gmail.com.

2020 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS LITURGY

CHRISTMAS EVE / DAY MASSES*Thursday, December 24 (4PM IS FULL) (6:30 PM IS FULL) 10PM Friday December 25 8:30AMPlease contact the Parish office M-T from 8-4 and F 8-12 to reserve your spot this week 515 255 362 ext 128

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY MASSESSaturday December 26 4:30PMSunday Dec 27 8:30AM 10:30AM

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GODFriday, January 1 9AM

Want more information? Go to www.holytrinitydm.org or call 515 255 3162

2 0 2 0 A D V E N T & C H R I S T M A S O V E R V I E W

2020

TAIZÉ SERVICES AT HOLY TRINITY

6PM Sunday - December 20

Join us this Advent season for Taizé, an ecumenical prayer service that invites us to find a quiet place of peace in the middle of the busy Christmas season. Taizé is a meditative prayer service that incorporates scripture, song and periods of silence in an atmosphere of soft lighting. Taizé will be held on December 20th at 6 PM at Holy Trinity and will last about 45 minutes.We hope you can join us.

TAIZÉ SERVICES

*Reservations required for Christmas Masses. Limited to 150 people. All Masses will also be online.

Want more information? Go to www.holytrinitydm.org or call 515 255 3162

2 0 2 0 A D V E N T G I V I N G T R E E

2020 ADVENT GIVING TREEAs we journey through the season of Advent, we once again have our annual Holy Trinity Advent Giving Tree. Please stop by the tree, located in the Sanctuary, after Mass to see what is needed.Donations from this year's Giving Tree will be supporting four of our local outreach organizations here in Des Moines:• St Vincent de Paul• Connection Café• Children & Family Urban Movement (CFUM)• Catholic Charities

If you are worshiping with us online, here are some gift ideas below (GC-denotes Gift Card):• St. Vincent de Paul: $25 GC Target, $25 GC Casey’s,

$25 Fareway & $25 GC HyVee • Connection Cafe: $25 GC HyVee, DARTS Round Trip Bus Tokens

($17.50 Value), Men's & Women's Stocking Caps, Men's & Women's Winter Gloves

• CFUM: $25 GC HyVee, $25 GC Walmart/Sam’s, $10 GC Barnes & Noble

• Catholic Charities: Mittens, Laundry Baskets, Laundry Soap, Hairbrushes, New Pillows, Twin Mattress Pads & Sheets, Diapers & Baby Wipes, Infant Toiletries, Trash Bags, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Shampoo, Deodorant, Feminine Hygiene Products, Tissue, Bar Soap, Dishwashing Soap, Women's Sweatshirt L- XL-XXL Men's Sweatshirt XL & XXL, Men's & Women’s Razors, Men’s & Women’s Underwear & Socks, Men's Winter Boots Sizes 10 & 11

We want to thank you for your continued generosity in helping make this Advent season just a little brighter for those in need herein our local community! Donations can be returned to the Giving Tree during any of our weekend Liturgies or they can be dropped off at the Parish Office by December 21. Please contact the Parish Office at 255-3162 if you have questions. _____________________________________

Holy Trinity Giving Tree Donation In ActionIt was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and the phone rang in the Parish Office. The woman caller, “Mary,” was upset because she wasn’t going to be able to feed her grandkids Thanksgiving dinner. Could Holy Trinity help? Our Saint Vincent de Paul conference responded promptly the next day, using grocery gift cards that Parishioners had purchased for last year’s Parish Advent Tree in December 2019. When Mary picked up her cards from the Parish Office, a staff member told her: “Have a good Thanksgiving!” Fighting back tears, Mary responded: “Thanks to Holy Trinity, it WILL be a good Thanksgiving now!” Holy Trinity’s Saint Vincent de Paul conference expects to help more “Marys” in 2021. Can you help by buying a Gift Card from a local grocery store for us? Thank you!

—the Holy Trinity Saint Vincent de Paul Society..

Merry Christmas!

Join the “Silent Night” Sing-a-long

Christmas Eve

7:00 pm

Go outside on your porch, deck, balcony, or curb.

Shine a light (candle or cellphone) and sing along to Silent Night (2 verses) as we stand together with a wish for a peaceful end to this crazy year.

Take a moment to reflect on the meaning of Christmas.

S C H O O L , P T O & C O M M U N I T Y D E C 2 0 2 0 2 0

Want more information? Call the School Office 515 255 3162 X116 M-F 8AM-4PM Fax 515 255 1381

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESPS3 Associate

Holy Trinity Catholic School is currently seeking a full time 3-year-old preschool associate for the 2020-2021 school year. This position reports Monday through Friday, 7:50AM – 3:20PM assisting a lead teacher. Paraeducator certification preferred but not required. Qualified candidates are able to assist in creating a supportive classroom atmosphere that nurtures students to recognize their gifts and talents through learning, faith, and collaboration.

4th Grade Teacher

Holy Trinity Catholic School is currently seeking a full-time 4th Grade Teacher for the 2020-2021 school year. This position will be responsible for teaching a class of 4th Grade students by creating a supportive classroom atmosphere that nurtures students to recognize their gifts and talents through learning, faith, and collaboration.

For more information about either job, please contact Monica Morrison at mmorrison@htschool.org orapply at www.teachiowa.gov

WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE…

‘Tis the season for gift-giving and there is no better gift than a high-quality, faith-based education! On behalf of our more than 6,100 students in the Diocese of Des Moines, thank you for your support and the gift of Catholic education. May your family have a blessed Christmas!

To learn more about Catholic education at Holy Trinity, visit holytrinitydm.org.

Con sincera gratitud ...

¡Es la temporada para dar regalos y no hay mejor regalo que una educación de alta calidad basada en la fe! En nombre de nuestros más de 6.100 estudiantes en la Diócesis de Des Moines, gracias por su apoyo y el don de la educación católica.

Para obtener más información sobre la educación católica en la Diócesis de Des Moines, visite www.dmdiocese.org/catholic-schools.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL THIS YEAR! The teachers, the staff, the parents, grandparents, guardians, students and YOU!!!

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Want more information? Go to www.holytrinitydm.org or call 515 255 3162

SPIRITUALITY OF THE READINGListening With the Heart

In the Gospel Reading for this Sunday, Luke and the Church are telling not the externals of the Advent narrative but the inside of it. “May it be done unto me according to your word,” Mary says.

Why?

Her “inside story” is dramatically significant to the whole human race, and her words issue from the center of who she is.

There is a parallel Annunciation account in Luke (Lk 1:18-25), hinted at by the the angel’s annunciation to Mary.*

In other words, Gabriel makes two Annunciations, one right after the other, not just the one. Each is about a child to be born. But, interestingly, as things stood, neither one was feasible. Elizabeth was barren, so she could not have a child. Mary had no husband and she had never had conjugal relations.

But after the Annunciation to him, Zechariah is struck deaf and mute, while Mary, initially fearful, accepts peacefully.

Compare the two:

Zechariah: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

Mary: “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

Ponder these responses for a moment.1. Zechariah’s reply, while realistic, is insulting. He is saying to the angel, “give me some reason to believe what you are saying. Just to hear you say it is not enough.”

This kind of doubt should never have occurred to him. God's voice had already spoken love into his heart throughout his whole life (like to David in the First Reading). His trust in God’s promise should have been the deepest meaning of his existence. In this sense, Zechariah was already deaf and mute when the Angel spoke to him! He could not receive the words (so was deaf), and therefore would not be able to tell his wife, Elizabeth (so was mute).

2. Mary on the other hand simply asks for clarification. She seemed to know already that “nothing is impossible to God.” Just tell me how this is going to happen and I will gladly do it.

Looking at both annunciations gives an insight, too often hidden from us. It helps us immensely to understand Mary’s “inside story”: how she listened with her heart.

How much do you and I listen to the voice of God's promise, which is written in our hearts too, if we let it be.

Do our own words just spout out of us without reference to that unwavering love deep within? If so, we may be like Zechariah: hard of hearing when it comes to the needs and beauties of those around us, and speechless when a word of love would make all the difference.

Let us ask humbly in these last few days of Advent for the grace to listen and to hear. The one who promised will not fail.

John Foley, SJ

Question for Children: If you were to tell someone one thing about Jesus’ mother, Mary, what would you say?Question for Youth: Gabriel's greeting to Mary was, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." This is God's greeting to each of us – he loves us just as we are. What are some of your personal strengths that God rejoices in?Question for Adults: Name one area of your life where God has surprised you with love, abilities, or even a pregnancy. How is God’s Spirit upon you in this dimension of life?

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Want more information? Go to www.holytrinitydm.org or call 515 255 3162

SAINT OF THE WEEK

Emily, Virgin, c. 550

St. Emily, known in her time as Emiliana, came from a family which included two popes and several saints. Pope St. Felix II was her grandfather (his wife died before he became a priest). His daughter, St. Silvia, was the mother of Emily and her older sister, St. Tharsilla, and the grandmother of Pope St. Gregory the Great through her son, Gordianus, a Roman senator.

Emily, together with her sister, Tharsilla, was able to live a monastic life without ever leaving the house of her brother. Encouraging each other by prayer and discussion, the two were joined for a time by a third sister, Gordiana. This sister found the austere life too rigid and left to marry her guardian. But Emily and Tharsilla found great peace and love in their lives and kept their self-imposed vows throughout their lives.

While little is known of their day-to-day lives beyond their holiness, the manner of their deaths is remarkable. Tharsillaexperienced a vision of their grandfather, Pope St. Felix II, who told her of a place in heaven prepared for her and invited herto come to him. Soon after, she became ill and passed away on Christmas Eve. Within a few days, Tharsilla appeared to Emily and called her to celebrate Epiphany in heaven. Emily then suffered a short, sudden illness and joined her sister in heaven on January 5, the eve of Epiphany.

Emily's message today: Few of us can follow the example of Emily and her older sister. In our world today, a life of constant prayer and reflection is difficult amid all of the distractions that we live with. Perhaps, like Gordiana, we can spend some time on retreat where we can thank God for all of his gifts to us and take a little time each day to reflect on what God is calling to do.

Do you try to take time for reflection each day? Have you considered joining your parish members in a retreat?

READING I: Samuel 7:1-16

PSALM: 89:2-29

READING II: Romans 16:25-27

GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

In a Christmas season darkened by disease, division and discouragement, you are invited to celebrate the joy and hope of the holiday by watching The Lessons, Reflections, and Carols of Christmas, a livestream Christmas concert presented by Umeri, the Drake University alumni choir.

This event, which features music, readings, and reflections written especially for this celebration, was recorded at St. Ambrose Cathedral (without an audience) and can be accessed anytime between now and January 6.

Please use the following link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd1rPwPhXYlWOod6Ln6npWg

Bishop Joensen is the presider and is joined by readers from Holy Family School, Dowling Catholic High School, and other members of the Drake and Des Moines communities.

A 25-minute prelude, played by members of the Des Moines Symphony precedes the concert.

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Want more information? Call the Parish Office 515 255 3162 X128 M-F 8AM-4PM or go to dmdiocese.org

SEE SANTA OVE

SUNDAY12/20

MONDAY12/21

TUESDAY 12/22

WEDNESDAY 12/23

THURSDAY 12/24

FRIDAY 12/25

SATURDAY12/26

HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL

Christmas Break

Starts

NO SCHOOL KC OPEN

NO SCHOOL KC CLOSED

NO SCHOOL KC CLOSED

FAITH FORMATION

Umeri Christmas

Concert Online

until Jan 6

HERE

NO Faith

Formation

All Grades

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED AT 11AM

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

Mass

8:30AM

Mass

10:30AM

Taizé

6PM

No Communion

Service

School Mass

8:30AMGrades K-2

NO RCIA

Mass

8:30AMChristmas Eve

Mass

(Reservations

Required)

4PM

6:30PM

10PM

Christmas Day

Mass

(Reservations

Required)

8:30AM

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

Mass

4:30PM

ANDMORE

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT:

Love

HOLY FAMILY of

Jesus, Mary and

Joseph

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CH: Church 101-106: Classrooms DC: Day Chapel K: Kitchen MC: Media Center PO: Parish Office SR: Social Room

NEXT WEEK LITURGICAL MINISTERS / ALTAR SERVERSSaturday, Dec 27 4:30 PM Holy Family

Altar Server Payton WolfeLectors Lorraine RiseleyEMHC Team 2Musical Coordinator Tom Quiner

Sunday, Dec 28 8:30 AM Holy Family

Altar Server Gabe PolichLectors Karen Quiner & Mark McAndrewsEMHC Team 1Children’s Liturgy No Children’s LiturgyMusical Coordinator Tom Quiner

Sunday, Dec 28 10:30 AM Holy Family

Altar Server Josh SpenceriLectors Hazel Helm & Peggy JonesEMHC Team 4Children’s Liturgy No Children’s Liturgy Musical Coordinator Dr. Kevin Allemagne

WEEKEND MASSES Sat 4:30 PM / Sun 8:30 & 10:30 AMWEEKDAY COMMUNION SERVICE Mon 8 AMWEEKDAY MASSES Tue, Wed & Fri 8:30 AM / Thurs 8AMRECONCILIATION Sat 3-4PM

Want more information? Call the Parish Office 515 255 3162 X128 M-F 8AM-4PM

MASS / LITURGY SCHEDULE AND INTENTIONSSunday Dec 20 Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:30 AM Mass Evelyn Bisanti10:30 AM Mass Delpha McCormick6PM Taizé

Monday Dec 21 NO Communion Service

Tuesday Dec 22

8:30 AM Mass Larry Scarpino

Wednesday Dec 23

8:30 AM Mass Sharon Kurns

Thursday Dec 24 Christmas Eve Masses

4PM Mass Joe Oertli6:30PM Mass David Michael Stehl10PM Mass Bonnie Fitzgerald

Friday Dec 25 Christmas Mas Day Mass

8:30 AM Mass Jim Cooney

Saturday Dec 26

3-4 PM NO Reconciliation 4:30 PM Mass Ron Dittmer

Sunday Dec 27 Holy Family

8:30 AM Mass For the Parish10:30 AM Mass Kathy Comito