Young people assist the priest during the celebration of the Mass, adding to the beauty and dignity of the service. In doing this, they also learn to experience more deeply the Mass, the "pinacle and perfection of our Faith", strengthening their personal faith as they grow.
Any young person in 4th grade or above, who has made their first Holy Communion, is eligible to enroll as an altar server. Contact the parish office to sign up and arrange training and scheduling.
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The Marian Cenacle meets every week after Wednesday morning Mass. We discuss the messages that Our Blessed Mother gave to Father Gobbi, by his own description "a fat little Italian priest from a small parish." He received these messages from 1973 to 1997, and at Our Lady's request he had them printed up in book form: To The Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons. The 'formula' for the Cenacles is simple: we pray an Invocation to the Holy Spirit, for guidance; then we read the message, with each person reading only one paragraph at a time. We then discuss the content of the message, with each person contributing only once; and we close with the Consecration to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. After the Consecration, we are free to discuss the message, or other matters of interest.
We are always open to new members enriching the weekly experience. We have extra books available, so anyone is free to drop in on a meeting.
For more information, contact Su Wright.
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DCCW ministries within the parish are many and varied, serving the needs of the parish as they arise. Among the regular activities are:
Scholarship Committee: We value our younger parishioners and Holy Trinity emphasizes this by recognizing our graduates, providing the younger students with a teen role model, and offering scholarship funds to those who are pursuing education beyond high school graduation, whether through a trade school or college. Scholarship funds are awarded based on the student’s involvement within the parish, school and community, along with their academic achievement.
Holy Trinity is a member of the Lampasas / Marble Falls Deanery Council of Catholic Women. One of eight deanery councils in the Diocese of Austin, we are affiliated with the Province of Galveston-Houston and the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW). We seek to bring toget her women of the Catholic Faith by providing examples of spirituality, leadership, and service within our community and beyond. Quarterly meetings are held at the parishes throughout the Deanery, where ideas are exchanged, guest speakers educate, and food and fellowship abound. To join, or for more information, contact Carole Williams.
Ethincs in Ministry is the Diocese of Austin program promoting safe environments for children and youth protection and ethical behavioral in all ministries. All adult volunteers serving in a ministry must be EIM compliant, and attend an EIM Workshop every 3 years. An application is necessary and a background check is performed every 3 years.
For more information, click consult the diocese of Austin website: www.austindiocese.org/eim.
EIM update (as of May 9, 2022)REPORT ABUSE
Report abuse of a minor, elderly adult, or an adult with a disability to local law enforcement or to the Texas Abuse Hotline at: www.txabusehotline.org or (800) 252-5400 and to the diocese at www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse or (512) 949-2447.
REPORTE EL ABUSOReporte el abuso de un menor, un adulto mayor o un adulto con una discapacidad a las autoridades locales del cumplimiento de la ley o a la Línea Directa del Abuso de Texas en www.txabusehotline.org o llamando al (800) 252-5400 y a la diócesis de Austin en www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse o llamando al (512) 949-2447.
HAVE YOU, OR HAS SOMEONE YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCED ABUSE?Bishop Joe S. Vásquez and the Diocese of Austin are committed to providing compassionate care to persons who have experienced abuse, particularly if committed by clergy or a church representative. If you or someone you know have experienced such abuse, contact the diocesan Coordinator of Victim Assistance and Pastoral Support at (512) 949-2400.
¿Ha usted, o alguien que usted conoce, experimentado abuso?El Obispo José Vásquez y la Diócesis de Austin están comprometidos a proveer de cuidado compasivo a personas que hayan experimentado abuso, particularmente si éste fue cometido por clero o un representante de la iglesia. Si usted, o alguien que usted conocer ha experimentado dicho abuso, contacte a la Coordinadora diocesana de Asistencia a las Víctimas y Apoyo Pastoral, llame al (512) 949-2400.
REPORT UNETHICAL BEHAVIORReport unethical behavior by a person serving in ministry to the diocese at www.austindiocese.org/report-other-concerns or (512) 949-2447.
REPORTE COMPORTAMIENTO NO ÉTICOReporte comportamiento no ético por parte de una persona sirviendo en ministerio a la diócesis en www.austindiocese.org/report-other-concerns o llamando al (512) 949-2447.
EIM COMPLIANCEEIM Policies require all clergy, religious, seminarians, employees and adult volunteers serving in any EIM compliance-required ministry to submit an EIM Application for Ministry (www.austindiocese.org/application) (one-time only) and attend an in-person EIM Workshop (www.austindiocese.org/initial-eim-training) within 60 days, and update/renew compliance at least once every three years. Online EIM Training (www.austindiocese.org/onlineeimtraining) is available for existing applicants who have previously attended a workshop and are due to update/renew their EIM compliance.
CUMPLIMIENTO CON EIMLas políticas de EIM requieren a todo el clero, religiosos, seminaristas, empleados y adultos voluntarios sirviendo en cualquier ministerio que requiera el cumplimiento con EIM a entregar una Aplicación de EIM para el Ministerio (www.austindiocese.org/application) (una sola vez) y asistir a un Taller de EIM en persona (www.austindiocese.org/taller-de-eim) dentro de los primeros 60 días, y a actualizar/renovar su cumplimiento al menos una vez cada tres años. El entrenamiento en línea de EIM (/www.austindiocese.org/taller-de-eim) está disponible para aplicantes que ya han asistido previamente a un taller y que necesitan actualizar/renovar su cumplimiento con EIM.
Parishioners from Holy Trinity minister in several prisons in the TDCJ system throughout Texas. We teach a "Catholic class" weekly at the women's prison in San Saba, "sharing the Christian faith from a Catholic perspective", at which all are welcome. In addition, men and women both take part in presenting KOLBE retreats at prisons in central and west Texas. These three-day retreats are based on the ACTS parish retreats, and have led many offenders to a new or deeper faith in Christ and His Church.
Anyone is welcome to apply to become a member of these ministries. TDCJ training, background check, and certification are required, but easily obtained.
Persons interested in a "try it and see" experience are invited to come along with our team on a Tuesday evening to San Saba women's prison. TDCJ rules allow for these trial visits as a way of encouraging new volunteers. See any of our team to discuss a visit: Rayburn and Jeanette Houston, Rich and Jan Pedersen, Bernice Crabtree.
The Thrift Store is a project of the parish run totally by volunteers. The store accepts donations in good condition of clothing and shoes, kitchen items, bedding, tools, toys, books, etc. Parish volunteers sort, organize, and sell these items to the public.
Currently the store is open three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The store serves and supports the entire Llano community and other surrounding communities.
Volunteers are always welcome and needed.
Ushers serve at Saturday, Sunday and special event Masses, welcoming people to the church and assisting them with seating and any other need they have during the service.
Ushers represent the first impression visitors and newcomers have of Holy Trinity; theirs is a vital ministry of welcome and hospitality.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction encourages you to explore a closer relationship with God. In spiritual direction, you reflect deeply on the experiences of your daily life and seek to recognize God’s presence and grace in your life. Spiritual direction is really not about being “directed”. Rather, it is about being helped to explore or discern the direction God is leading you. The privilege and responsibility of a trained spiritual director is to journey with you as you deepen your relationship with God in the context of a confidential one-on-one session, which is usually once a month and 50 minutes in length.
You might seek spiritual direction for a variety of reasons, including:
- Identify and trust your own experiences of God
- Integrate spirituality into your daily life
- Discuss and/or expand your way of praying
- Discern and make difficult choices
- Share your hopes, struggles, and losses
- Develop a sensitivity for justice and concern for those who are poor
- Live the essence of your spiritual affiliation with integrity.
Spiritual directors have extensive training and formation and tend their spiritual life with ongoing education, confidential supervision, and meeting regularly with their own spiritual director.
If you are interested in learning more about spiritual direction please contact Jeannette Houston, or call the church office at 325-247-4481.
In line with Catholic teaching, Holy Trinity parishioners support pro-life issues from conception to natural death. This includes advocating for the pre-born; the immigrant (whether legal or undocumented); the human trafficking victim (today’s slavery); Criminal Justice ministry to theoffender, the victims, and their families; the poor and disenfranchised; and those with serious illness and those facing end of life issues. Holy Trinity holds a monthly Respect Life Mass, generally the third Friday of the month, in which we intercede for the respect of all human life.
Gabriel Project: We have a group of parishioners who have been trained in providing counselling to those facing unplanned pregnancies. Gabriel Angels are able to provide information on community resources and can help educate the client on nutrition and early childhood development and care. Angels utilize the “Love Approach” in their counselling, emphasizing the love and caring for the parent facing an unknown future.