Welcome to Our Parishes

Dear Holy Trinity & Historic St Patrick Parishioners,   

I pray this letter finds you doing well and growing in the grace of our loving God.  It has been a unique and difficult past six months!  By trusting in Jesus, by taking advantage of our parishes’ many spiritual (and other) opportunities, and by helping and praying for each other, we will grow stronger in our Faith and be better followers of Jesus Christ.  Hopefully, we are mindful when we are given a new and heavier cross, it is then we truly grow stronger. 

Liturgical Ministries 

Thankfully, we were able to re-start our music ministers and greeters and ushers soon after having in-person Masses inside our churches, albeit with limitations.  The other ministries (EMHCs, Lectors, Altar Servers) are considerably more difficult to re-start given the complexity of Covid-19 precautions set by the County and the Church.  In the coming weeks I hope to re-start additional liturgical ministries. 

Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) 

You may remember receiving an ADA pledge card in the recent mass mailing.  You likely recall the Annual Diocesan Appeal is usually done during Masses, along with the showing of a video, on a specific weekend---usually in the spring.  However, because of Covid-19 shut-down our Diocese thought it best to move it to this coming weekend, September 19-20.  The ADA is how our Diocese of Peoria operates its many essential and pastoral ministries for the year. You recently received in the mail an ADA pamphlet entitled, ‘Know, Love, Serve’, which explains the many great ways the Diocese of Peoria serves countless individuals in a wide variety of ministries. A link can be found on our parish website and Facebook page to view the 2020 ADA video.  

Holy Trinity’s 2020 Parish ADA Goal is $111,064; Historic St Patrick’s 2020 Parish ADA Goal is $40,569.  Please know whatever money we receive above that of the stated goals (“overage”), we keep as individual parishes.  I wish to use the overage for our respective parishes in the following ways: for Holy Trinity, we will put that overage money towards a new church Sound System; for Historic St Patrick, we will put that overage money towards Bathroom Renovations in HSP’s Parish Hall.  

Last year’s average ADA pledge by Holy Trinity’s parishioners was $404; last year’s average ADA pledge by Historic St Patrick’s parishioners was $467.  These average pledges from both our parishes last year were above average compared to that of the rest of the Diocese . . . and for that, I am thankful, and I am reminded of how generous you are who pledged to the 2019 ADA!  For your information, I will be pledging $600 (a mere $1.64/day) towards the 2020 ADA since I know how great the ministries are which the Diocese of Peoria offers for God’s people.  

In regard to filling out the 2020 ADA pledge card, please do the following: pray about the pledge you can make; fill in your name, address, email, and phone number; write your pledge amount, initial payment, and balance amount and, if you write a check, please make it payable to the ‘Diocese of Peoria’.  There are several additional payment options, found on the pledge card itself; feel free to take advantage of these options.  Please place your filled-out pledge card (and payment, if applicable) in the provided return envelope and either mail it or bring it to church and place it in the collection basket.  Thank you ahead of time for your generosity and making the 2020 Annual Diocesan Appeal successful! 

 Finally . . . Currently, there seems to be an unprecedented amount of disunity in our nation and world.  For my own well-being, I often find myself thinking of the Letter to the Hebrews where it states, “Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever.”  No matter what tribulations and triumphs we might experience now or anytime throughout our lives, let us always remember this passage and to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Remember: our salvation did not come through politicians or worldly wealth or by human ingenuity; it came to us through the divine person of Jesus Christ, our Brother and Savior! Let us seek to follow our Vision Statement: We are a Catholic community striving to be intentional disciples in love with Jesus, inviting everyone to experience the joy of the Gospel.  

Sincerely in the Lord, 

Fr Stirniman, September 14, 2020, Feast of the Triumph of the Cross