Adult Faith Formation

Every disciple of the Lord Jesus shares in this mission. To do their part, adult Catholics must be mature in faith and well equipped to share the Gospel, promoting it in every family circle, in every church gathering, in every place of work, and in every public forum. They must be women and men of prayer whose faith is alive and vital, grounded in a deep commitment to the person and message of Jesus. (Our Hearts Were Burning within Us:  A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, USCCB, 2001)

Adult Faith Formation at Holy Trinity aims to form adults in the fullness of the faith through scripture study, lectures, and sacramental preparation to increase knowledge of the faith, encourage a life of prayer, and promote active involvement in the parish community.

For more information, contact Ian Mitchell, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation, at [email protected] or 202-903-2816.

Parish Dialogue on Mental Health and Wellness

Saturday, October 17 | 3:00 p.m., McKenna Hall (please register below)

You are invited to join fellow Holy Trinity parishioners and staff on Saturday, October 17 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in McKenna Hall for an in-person Parish Dialogue on Mental Health and Wellness. The gathering will be an opportunity to engage in a facilitated process to listen to one another's experience of helps and challenges to mental health and wellness.  All adult parish members are welcome.  The gathering will begin  at 3:00 p.m. (light refreshments will be available) and the dialogue will conclude by 5:00 p.m.  After the dialogue, participants may want to attend the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass in the church to pray together.  Please register in advance.  Questions can be directed to Ian Mitchell, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation, at [email protected].

This gathering is especially timely as Pope Leo XIV is this month inviting the world to join him in his prayer for mental health ministry, “that we may learn to welcome and integrate care for mental health into the life and ministry of our communities and of the whole Church.” The U.S. Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have designated October 11th as Mental Health Sunday (2nd national observance). The bishops have also developed an annual Novena for Mental Health, which Catholics across the country will be praying together from October 10 to 18.  Visit USCCB's National Catholic Mental Health Campaign to learn more, and The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network for additional resources.

Weekly Book Discussion Group

Thursdays, October 1 - November 12 | 7:15 p.m., via Zoom

The parish's Book Discussion Group begins conversation on its second book of the season on Thursday, October 1 - parishioner Annie Selak’s The Wounded Church: Tending to the Harm within Catholicism.  Visit our page for the Holy Trinity Book Discussion Group for details on how to join the discussion, to find a schedule of the readings, or to sign up for updates on further book discussions this season.

The Vatican and Women Deacons: A Conversation with Dr. Phyllis Zagano

Saturday, November 7 | 10:00 a.m., McKenna Hall (please register below)

All are invited to join Dr. Phyllis Zagano on Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. in McKenna Hall for a presentation and conversation on her recently published book The Vatican and Women Deacons (Orbis, May 2026).  Dr. Zagano is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on women in the diaconate.  In 2016, Pope Francis appointed her to the Papal Commission of Study on the Diaconate of Women.  Light refreshments will be available.  Please register in advance.  Questions can be directed to Ian Mitchell, Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation, at [email protected].

Magnifica Humanitas: A Study & Conversation

Tuesday, October 20 | 7:00 p.m., via Zoom (please register below)

Since June 2026 the parish has been holding monthly online conversations to learn and share about Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.  Each conversation focuses on one chapter or section of the document.  Our next conversation will focus on Chapter 4, "Safeguarding Humanity in a Time of Transformation: Truth, Work, Freedom."  The presenter will be Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J., Senior Analyst at Religion News Service (RNS).  Please register in advance to receive a Zoom link to participate.  Click here to read Chapter Four of the Encyclical.  Videos of our previous sessions in the series can be found below.

For more information, please contact Ian Mitchell at [email protected].

Additional Resources on Magnifica Humanitas:

• Magnifica Humanitas text from the Vatican
• Infographic summaries from the Vatican (by chapter)
• Pastoral Kit from the Vatican that includes chapter outlines with brief syntheses, selected citations, relevant biblical texts, questions for reflection, and a closing prayer.  The kit also includes proposed activities for young people and children.
• Magnifica Humanitas resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Women in Ministry in the Church - Listening Session

On Saturday January 24, Holy Trinity parishioners and staff held an in-person parish listening gathering on Women in Ministry in the Church. The gathering was an opportunity to listen to one another on this important topic in a facilitated process.

Following the session, two documents have been released:

• A Final Report issued after the listening session.
• A compendium of notes taken during the listening session.

The Catholic Church and Slavery

Holy Trinity - Getting to Know Pope Leo XIV

Gateway to Discipleship: The Sacrament of Baptism

Our Shared Baptism, Synodality, and Ecumenical Momentum

The Legacy of Pope Francis

Children's Mental Health and Wellness

Bridget Tansey, School Counselor at Holy Trinity School, and Anne Marie Kaufmann, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation, discuss building resilience in children, creating real life (non-screen) experiences, and helping children develop responsibility from both counseling and faith perspectives.

50 Years of the Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice

The first panel discussed the history, theology, and spirituality of the Decree on the Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice, with panelists Fr. David Hollenbach, S.J., Pedro Arrupe Distinguished Research Professor at Georgetown University; Anne Marie Kaufmann, Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation at Holy Trinity Parish; and Fr. Kevin Gillespie, S.J., Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish.

The second panel discussed the fruits of the decree in a variety of Jesuit institutions and ministries, with panelists panelists Kelly Ryan, President of Jesuit Refugee Services; John Carr, Founder of the Initiative for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University; Annie Selak, Director of the Women's Center at Georgetown University; and Nicholas Napolitano, Provincial Assistant for Justice, Ecology, and Reconciliation, USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.

Do I Need a Priest or a Therapist?

Theologies of Mental Health

Fr. James Martin, S.J. discusses his book "Come Forth" at Holy Trinity