Parish Announcements

First Friday Memorials Start Again in September

First Friday Memorial and intentions is a special offering made by parishioners, through which your intentions are remembered at a special Mass celebrated each month throughout the entire year. A yearly offering of $75 is asked for each listing submitted.  The new year of First Friday Intentions begins in September, and must be resubmitted every year.

To become a part of the First Friday Intentions, look for the form in the bulletin, or print a copy off below. Forms and complete payments are due Monday, August 19th to the Parish Center.

2024 First Friday Memorial Form

Important Announcement From the Pastor – July 21


Dear Holy Trinity parishioners:
Last Sunday, July 13, at 10:00 Mass, with Monsignor Doug Hennessy as witness, I made my Oath of Fidelity and Profession of Faith, thereby officially “sealing” Bishop Lou’s appointment of me as your pastor. It is good to be here with you in Bloomington. Because administration is part of a pastor’s duties, I bring the following issue to you.

This past March, the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission voted to recommend that Holy Trinity Church (built in 1933) and its rectory (built in 1896) become local historic landmarks. By doing so, the Commission wanted to establish a Historic Preservation District “S-4 Overlay”. This zoning overlay, if approved, would require city approval for any construction, alteration or removal of certain parts of the church and rectory, especially on the exterior. If the city approves the zoning overlay, it will affect the process that we must follow – and the cost to make repairs – to address current maintenance needs.

Just before the May 1 meeting before the Bloomington Zoning Commission (which is the next step in the preservation process), the parish hired an independent architecture firm
(Healy, Bender, Patton and Been) to assess the buildings, their needs and their costs for current maintenance and repairs. The Zoning Commission agreed to delay its vote until the firm could complete its review. The firm has been to the church several times and consulted with staff members and others.

We should receive this report on July 19th, and we want to share the information with you before we share it with the Bloomington Zoning Commission. I want all of us (including me, a newcomer) to hear what the architecture firm found. We will need to address both the repair of any current damage, as well as the cost of sustaining the buildings. We will not be making any decisions during this meeting. That will take place after much consultation. Already I have had parishioners recommended to me who know the buildings well, and who will be excellent advisors as we move forward.

I invite you to join me Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 P.M. in the lower level of Holy Trinity Church. This meeting is not for the public; it is for Holy Trinity parishioners. Msgr. Jason Gray – who is the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Peoria and who attended the meeting with the Zoning Commission – will speak. David Wochner, a parish trustee, will accompany Msgr. Gray in this presentation. Come, Holy Spirit!
Fr. Steven Loftus, pastor

Do you have a place in your heart for our youngest parishioners?

If you have a place in your heart for our youngest parishioners, we could use your help!

We would like to be able to offer childcare during our classes and give parents with young children the opportunity to attend classes. We’re looking for several adults who can coordinate and supervise teen volunteers when childcare is needed. Initially we do not anticipate needing childcare for every class and event. As we expand our offerings, we certainly don’t want to exclude anyone who desires to attend.

What I envision is a vibrant ministry where the adults coordinate with the office scheduler, class/event hosts, and the high school as needed allowing parents to attend an event that they weren’t able to do so prior. “IF”, for instance, there were enough adults no one volunteer would shoulder all the load.

We pray that this is the start of something greater. This ministry has more far-reaching benefits than keeping a dutiful eye on children. This ministry will nurture the children in their care, set the example for the volunteer students and make available an opportunity for the parents to enrich their faith with fellow parishioners that they haven’t been able to experience before. The children, the parents, other class attendees, and the volunteers themselves all bear witness to the importance of the event just by their presence. We have been missing out on this very important part of our parish family.

So, I ask, can you offer your time and talents for one event, class, or study a year? With approximately 1500 families in our parishes, we should be able to accommodate this important need and create a vibrant ministry. Please, take time to pray for this endeavor and consider offering your time and talents that others can experience Jesus through our examples as we take another step in Growing Disciples.

Please contact me at my office number 309 829 2197 X229 or
by email dliptak@holytrinitybloomington.org.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Have a blessed day.
David Liptak
Evangelization & Discipleship Coordinator

Why Catholic?


Every person entering RCIA/OCIA is asking themselves this question. The initial portion of the class is dedicated to discovery and studying the essential foundation of the church and its teachings. In a broader sense, to come to know, understand, and live the Creed, that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. They will come to believe in the Holy Trinity and the seven sacraments. They accept and adopt the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and learn to be a proud part of the Catholic Community.
The number one reason to be Catholic is The Eucharist. Jesus is our number one reason for being Catholic. We believe the Eucharist IS Jesus as we take seriously Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”

If someone were to ask you, “why are you Catholic?” What would your response be? Hopefully more than “I didn’t have a choice I was born into the faith.” Think that over. You should have an answer and it should be compelling. Compelling enough when you hand someone the invitation card you have an answer to “what’s this ?” If you don’t, I invite you to spend some of your Thursday evenings with us at RCIA/OCIA.

We’ve been hearing a lot about “Growing Disciples” and the many ways to grow as disciples. The best way is by personal invitation. It shows you care about the person and their spiritual development and have an interest in them. You want to share the very essence of what makes you passionate about your faith. They should be able to see in you that “something” that they themselves want to emulate.

There are many ways to evangelize, through your time, talents, and treasures, as I’ve mentioned, and the church needs all of these if we are to prosper. The point being Catholicism has always remembered that God looked upon his creation and pronounced it “good”. So, instead of being suspicious of human activity and the material world, the Church has often encouraged people to develop and use their abilities and to do all things for the greater glory of God.

Prayerfully consider whose life you may change by inviting, leading, or mentoring them to join us at RCIA/OCIA. Take a few cards to get started as we “Grow Disciples” together.

May your day be blessed
David Liptak
Evangelization & Discipleship Coordinator.