The Great Cookie Trail this Saturday

Don't have time to do your holiday baking? Craving some holiday sweets? Like to catch up with old friends over cookies and coffee?

If you said yes to any of the above questions, the Great Cookie Trail is your answer! Holy Trinity Catholic Church will be hosting its second annual Great Cookie Trail this Saturday morning, December 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the hall. Come by yourself or bring a friend or two and walk the aisle of cookie after cookie, selecting whatever you want to take home. The charge is $5 per cookie pound. There will be plenty of people available to assist you in picking out and carrying your box of cookies. Also, after doing your cookie shopping, take a few minutes to relax with a cup of coffee and complimentary hot cinnamon rolls provided by Holy Trinity.

We hope you take advantage of this fun, delicious event! It is a great time for all!!

There are MANY different types of cookies available...something for everyone on your list!

Christmas Play

Yesterday, on December 4, Holy Trinity hall was the scene for the 2011 children's Christmas play. This year's play included a poem reading by the first graders and a re-enactment of the night of Jesus' birth by the fifth graders. Also, several Christmas songs were sung by the jr. high students and a musical instrument performance by them as well. Little children even got a special visit by Santa Claus. Play attendees were treated to a breakfast of muffins, fruit salads, and breakfast casseroles.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Play continued

Open House

Last Sunday, October 30, Holy Trinity held an open house for parishioners, donors, and members of the community to come and view the newly remodeled church. The church was open from 10 am-2 pm where members of the project were on hand to answer any questions about the new look of Holy Trinity. There was also a slide show of the R & R project and refreshments in the hall for all to enjoy as well. The open house saw a great turnout.

Fr. Hunter not only celebrated the Open House on Sunday, but also his birthday!

Various parishioners gather around a slide show presentation that detailed the R & R project from its humble beginnings to the final result.

Travis Norville stands next to a 'before' picture of the interior of Holy Trinity during the Open House. Travis painted all 14 Stations of the Cross himself and did a remarkable, beautiful job.

Nancy Mateer packages leftover cookies after the Open House ends.

Open House continued...

Jack Curtin, Elizabeth Curtin, Susan Curtin and Sheryl Coady enjoyed drinks and cookies in the hall during the Holy Trinity Open House.

Holy Trinity's oldest parishioner Alba Wattelet (right) chats with Anna Belle Norville.

Head of the PSR program, Matt Peabody, was also at the Open House with 2 of his 3 children Lauren and Ben.

Cookies of all varieties were on hand at the Open House. Many different women of Holy Trinity donated the baked goods ranging from snickerdoodles to buckeyes to white chocolate grapes. YUM!

Sheryl Swigert donated her talents and decorated the tables for the Open House in a beautiful fall theme.

Open House continued...

Steve Curtin and Janet DeClerk talked together at the Open House over coffee and cookies.

Linda Curtin and Bill Curtin also attended the Open House.

Sue Ann Unser helps take down the decorations after the Open House ended.

Pat Back and Colleen Moultrey graciously offered to wash dishes after the last visitors left the hall on Sunday.

Interior Finished!

After several years of fundraising, planning, and much hard work, the R & R project of Holy Trinity Catholic Church interior is finished. The R & R committee has planned an 'open house' of sorts for October 30 at Holy Trinity. The church will be open for viewing and there are refreshments and a slide show of before, during, and after pictures of the project at the Hall. Holy Trinity thanks everyone for the outpouring support of the beautification of our church and hope you can make it October 30 to see what your donations have helped us do!

As the main, most important phase of the R & R project is finished, this will be the last post on this blog. Thanks for stopping by and checking on our progress!

Latest R & R minutes

The R & R committee recently held their monthly meeting and some very important items were discussed. As far as financial issues, it was announced that a total payout, as of March 9, was $158,859.36. That total represents all the expenditures for the R & R project that have been paid thus far. It has been determined that the mural Travis Norville was due to paint will not fit within the boundaries as needed to coordinate with the statue on the south side altar. Kevin Autenrieb will instead provide painted canvass symbols of the Holy Trinity to be placed at the appropriate height and proportion above the north side altar that will coordinate with the statue on the south side altar. Travis will continue to work on finishing the Stations as scheduled. The committee has estimated that the completion of the R & R project could be as late as June 2011, while further exterior work is anticipated to extend through the summer months. With that in mind, it was determined to not establish an "Open House" or Deciation date until near or after the Steak Dinner. Bids have been recieved concerning the exterior window repair. The bids include removing the old frame storms (protective glass), scraping all wood and resealing the glass to the frame and painting. Kneeler pad replacements is still pending. The bathroom will be constructed to ADA specifications. Tim Parks and Randy White have set the door and will be completing the work for the commode and vanity. Electrical outlets are to be added in hidden locations off of the middle aisle. New light fixtures are to be installed in the entryway and back of the church.

Bathroom still a work in progress

The bathroom in the cry room of Holy Trinity is still undergoing construction. It has already been expanded from its original size. While the facility is still operational, the committee is still striving to raise more money to complete the remodel.

Here are the details of 2 future fundraising events:

1. The R & R will be hosting an Easter Goodie Bake Sale at the Illini Bank in Stonington on Friday, April 22, 9:00-4:00 and Saturday, April 23, 9:00-noon. Cookies, breads, noodles, cakes, candies, etc.-anything to make Easter day a little more special-will be offered for purchasing. There will also be an Easter basket filled with goodies that will be raffled off. The fundraising team also needs volunteers to help work the event. If you can help at any time, for any amount of time, please call Anita Myers, 325-3780 or Sheryl Coady, 825-5247.

2. Another fish fry this Lenten season has been planned for Friday, April 15. Dinner will be served from 5:00-7:30 p.m. The menu will include fish, baked beans, coleslaw, appleasauce and dessert. Charge is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. The R & R committee wants to encourage all family and friends of Holy Trinity to attend!

Side views of altar