Hello, my dear Holy Trinity Church family. I hope you are all doing well and experiencing the blessings of our Lord! I wanted to share something special with you. As I was looking for an inspiring article written by one of our former pastors, I came across this wonderful piece by Father Tim. I thought it would be a blessing to share it with all of you. May his words inspire us in our faith and remind us of the many ways God continues to work in our lives and in our parish community. I hope you enjoy reading it, and may God bless you and your families!

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!
God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!

When we study the Catechism, we learn that one of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to pray for the living and the dead. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), “Prayer is one of the most powerful ways we can support others. Joining together in prayer for the living and the dead entrusts us all into God’s care” (USCCB: The Spiritual Works of Mercy).

God always cares for us, whether we are living or have passed away. We often pray for people who are sick, unemployed, or experiencing serious difficulties. We also pray for those who have departed this life and rest in the peace of Christ. During Mass, we frequently pray for our family members and friends who have died.

Because we do not know with certainty the eternal destiny of those who have died, we entrust them to God’s mercy and pray for them. We pray that they may enjoy the presence of the Lord in His Kingdom, in the company of all the angels and saints.

What Is Purgatory Like?

Purgatory is more like heaven than hell because the souls there are not in the hands of Satan; rather, they are awaiting the fullness of the joy that comes from being in God’s presence. They experience suffering, but they also have hope. They know that God is close to them, and they long to see Him face-to-face. Although they cannot yet enjoy the fullness of the heavenly vision, they have the assurance that their purification will end and that they will enter into the joy of heaven.

St. Catherine of Genoa offers a beautiful reflection on the relationship between the suffering and the joy experienced by the souls in purgatory in her Treatise on Purgatory:

“I believe no happiness can be found worthy to be compared with that of a soul in Purgatory except that of the saints in Paradise; and day by day this happiness grows as God flows into these souls, more and more as the hindrance to His entrance is consumed.”

She compares sin to rust that prevents a soul from fully receiving God’s divine light. As this rust is removed through purification, the soul becomes increasingly open to God’s love, and its happiness grows. Although the soul continues to experience suffering, it is united with God’s will and trusts in His loving plan.

St. Catherine’s reflection reminds us that purgatory is not a place of despair. Rather, it is a state of purification for those who die in God’s grace and friendship but still need to be purified before entering the fullness of Heaven. The souls in purgatory have the hope of Heaven, and their purification prepares them to enjoy the fullness of God’s presence.

Let Us Pray for the Souls in Purgatory

Therefore, let us pray for the souls in purgatory. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who are awaiting the fullness of the joy of Heaven. We can offer our prayers for them during the Eucharist, while praying the Holy Rosary, or through a novena.

Let us pray not only for our faithful departed family members and friends but also for those who have no one to pray for them. They, too, are worthy of our prayers as we entrust them to the mercy and love of God.

Let us remember that our prayers are an expression of our love, which does not end with death. Through prayer, we remain united with our brothers and sisters in Christ and entrust them to the loving care of our Heavenly Father.

A Special Invitation

On November 6, Holy Trinity Church will celebrate the Mass of Loving Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Join us for this special Eucharistic celebration as we remember our beloved deceased and entrust them to God’s loving mercy. Let us come together in prayer, united in the hope of the Resurrection and eternal life.

Remember, The Parish that we dream is the Parish that I help to build!

God Bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!

Dear Holy Trinity Church Family,

It is always wonderful to see you participating in the various pastoral activities offered by our parish. Attending Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Confession, having our children baptized, preparing our children through various faith formation programs, and participating in OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) are all expressions of our commitment to the Lord and our faith in Him. Yet, is this enough for us to be truly called Christians?

We must conduct a sincere examination of conscience to discover—or rediscover—our calling to the Christian life, which consists of following Jesus Christ not only within the Church but also outside its walls. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the Lord Jesus tells us:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Matthew 7:21–24).

This raises an important question: Where does our commitment to the Lord truly lie? Christ calls us to follow Him by taking up our own crosses (cf. Matthew 16:24). Are we taking up our crosses and following the Lord? Are we the same people inside the Church as we are outside its walls?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), in paragraph 1324, states: “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life’ (LG 11). The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it.” It continues: “For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch” (PO 5).

This means that every time we celebrate the sacraments—especially the Eucharist—we unite ourselves with Christ and enter into communion with Him. This communion should transform our lives and lead us to bear authentic witness to our faith, publicly demonstrating that we are disciples of Christ. Such a witness allows us to stand confidently before the Lord, trusting in His promise to acknowledge those who acknowledge Him before others. As Jesus tells His disciples in the Gospel of Saint Luke: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8).

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us allow ourselves to be transformed by Christ. Being a disciple of Christ is not merely a matter of attending Mass; it is about allowing the Lord Jesus to change our lives. We come to Mass not only to receive God’s love but also to learn how to share it. May every Eucharistic celebration send us out into the world with renewed hearts, ready to make Christ present through our words and actions.

Remember, The Parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!
God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always.

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 Evangelizing!

Hello, my dear Holy Trinity Church family,

As we have done in previous months, I would like to share with you an article written by Father Tim Horan on this day in 2015.

I hope you enjoy reading it!

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!
God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!

May this month of October be a time of many blessings for our parish family as we grow closer to Our Lord through prayer, the Eucharist, the Holy Rosary, and our service to others.

Remember, The Parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 Evangelizing!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Each year, as a faith community, we have the opportunity to offer concrete support for the mission of our diocesan Church. For this reason, we are once again launching our annual fundraising campaign for the Diocese of Rochester, known as the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA). This year, the CMA theme is “All Things New: Embracing Our Mission in Christ.”

Our parish family is part of a larger family: the Diocese of Rochester. Through our diocese, we are able to carry out many initiatives and ministries that no single parish could accomplish on its own. Its work reaches numerous communities and individuals, offering pastoral support, faith formation, programs for children and youth, sacramental preparation, care for those most in need, and many other works in service of the Gospel.

For this reason, I invite you to participate generously in this campaign. Every gift, regardless of the amount, is a way to contribute to Christ’s mission and help our Church continue serving so many people.

I know that many families face various responsibilities and needs, and I sincerely thank you for any support you can offer. More important than the amount is the spirit of generosity with which we give, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God.

I also ask that you keep our diocese, our bishop, our priests, deacons, religious men and women, and all those who work to proclaim the Gospel and serve our neighbors in your prayers.

Last year, our goal was to raise $194,000. We reached that goal by the end of the year, raising a total of $217,741. This was all thanks to your participation and commitment—not only to Holy Trinity Church and the Diocese of Rochester, but also to helping the poor and those in need.

This year, our goal is to raise $204,000. Of the 2,030 families registered at Holy Trinity, 540 families contributed to the CMA last year. That is why I am convinced that if we all participate, we will achieve this year’s goal. I know that, just as we did last year, and thanks to your generosity and commitment, we will once again reach our goal by the end of 2026.

Thank you for your generosity, your commitment to our parish, and for being part of the great family that is Holy Trinity Church.

On the third Sunday of September, the Catholic Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday. This is a special occasion, not only because we begin our faith formation and catechetical programs, but also because we pray for the children and young people who will be receiving instruction and, of course, for our catechists.

We pray that they may all be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, so that they may not only learn the teachings of the Catholic faith but also live out their faith and grow in their relationship with God.

In observance of Catechetical Sunday, let us read what our beloved pastor, Father Hart, has to say about this important day.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!

My brothers and sisters, September is a month filled with important news and events for our parish family. I would like to share some of the most important updates with you.

Remember, The Parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always.

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 Evangelizing!

As you know, I am not from here. Maybe you noticed this from the first day that I came to our parish. Now I wonder, how could you know that I am an international priest? Is it because of my appearance? Do I look very Latino? Or, is it because you listen to me and hear that I speak with a different accent? There is something different about me. Maybe you know what it is or maybe not, but there is something, which makes me a little bit different from you. It was a similar case when the apostles started to preach the gospel. I am very sure that Peter was not Colombian, but he had something that made him and the first Christians different from other apostles and other people who preached pagan gods. It wasn’t their appearance, or their accent, or their nationality, but something else that motivated others to adopt the Christian life and following the Risen Christ, who died on the cross for the salvation of all humanity.

The question, my brothers and sisters, is what motivated the listeners to change their lifestyles and become Christians. This was a style of living that was (and is still today) characterized by love, which is the first and most important commandment of the Lord, just as we just heard in the gospel.

Love is the main characteristic of those who follow Christ because He not only commanded that we need to love one another, but through His sacrifice on the cross He demonstrated His love for us. Let us think for a moment, how can we demonstrate that we love our neighbor? Each time that a parent spends his/her time preparing the food for the family, when a child studies with responsibility, when a young man proposes matrimony to his girlfriend, all of them are demonstrating that they are truly disciples of Christ.… Through each act of love that we do, in our daily lives we are showing that we are disciples of Christ, because as Jesus said in the Gospel, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Jesus taught us that Love is the summary of the Ten Commandments given by God through Moses on Mount Sinai. Really, this commandment is not new, but the way that Jesus loves us renewed all the law that God gave us in the Old Testament through Moses and the prophets. We should love God and our neighbor, and this, my sisters and brothers, is the summary of the Ten Commandments. Love is the new commandment given by Jesus. This commandment is perfect because love has no limits. St. John in his first letter, in chapter 4 verse 8 says, “God is Love.” If God is Love, love is perfect. And we transmit this love if we are truly followers of Christ. We need to be united with Him through the Eucharist. The Eucharist celebrated in the Church is the expression of Christ’s love for us. Hence, we cannot leave the Eucharist being the same people who came into the Church, because through the Eucharist we can transform our world into a “new earth,” which is described by St. John in the book of Revelations.

Let us allow the love of God to be in us so that we can go to proclaim the gospel of the Risen Lord through our words and works. This is our task, to love one another as Jesus loves us.

Remember, The Parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 Evangelizing!