Today we celebrated our children during the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Holy Trinity which took place on Sunday, November 23. It was a festive occasion enjoyed by all of our children who have such joyous spirits, & who are such an integral part of what we are building. It is not uncommon at all for our church to have upwards to 20 children and teens at church on most Sundays, and at other times there are more. That number can go as high as 28. To see them engaged with each other in service to the church is inspiring and to witness the bonds of friendship that has developed amongst themselves.

Our children are active participants in our church. Everyone is included; each has a role. The altar itself is quite full with up to eight to ten male altar servers weekly, yet what makes Holy Trinity community so unique is the role that young girls have assumed in our community. The girls who serve wear a white mophorion which is essentially a cape that help to identify their unique ministry at Holy Trinity. The girls know their roles and they are consistently on point. Most of our girls are also a part of our choir. In addition to singing in the choir and being involved the girls of Holy Trinity also hold the communion clothes during the distribution of the Holy Eucharist, and have begun to read the Post-Communion Prayers as well. To see young female teens mentoring the younger girls is beautiful to see. Their ministry warms our hearts. Another opportunity where families and children are involved is in the annual Advent Wreath where each family takes a turn on presenting the readings during the season of Advent and lighting the candles around the wreath.

All our young families and children have led to an incredible re-birth at Holy Trinity. Whereas recently upwards to 40 attendees was a strong number for Liturgy, we now routinely average between 60-65 each Sunday. And there will be more on the way. Over the past eighteen months we have had no less than six catechumens at one time. “We remain confident that what we are building at Holy Trinity in having the young people from other parish, perhaps most especially for the girls during their formative years, will increase the possibility that they will remain connected to the church during their life,” stated Very Reverend Marc A. Vranes. “There are no guarantees that will happen, but it does increase the chance that they will be involved throughout their life."

“The Saint Olympia Handmaiden Ministry has been pivotal for the involvement of our girls. I had a mother share with me a few months back that on one particular Sunday it was her daughter who reported that it was time to leave for church. She went on to add that Father Marc is expecting me, and that being with her church friends was important to her. Allowing any young boy to serve in the altar just has to make a difference in their spiritual formation. We remain hopeful that male altar servers will lead for vocations.”

Seekers visit Holy Trinity, who then become catechumens, who then become members at Holy Trinity. Even when our numbers were far less, Holy Trinity has always been a healthy community. Being in a small community allows for increased inter-personal relationships and we do that well.

We invite you to visit us at Holy Trinity one Sunday soon. You will be amazed at what you will see, and we know with certainty that you want to be a part of what we are building on the corner of Mansfield Avenue & Valley Street in Willimantic, Connecticut.