Are you an iPhone user? Even if you aren’t, you may be interested to know that, whenever it’s first turned on, it offers a brief glimpse of the root of all our problems—a glowing apple with a bite taken out of it. If you take a moment to think about it, the image is quite arresting. Considered properly, it reminds us of:
The paradise at the beginning of creation, our lost Eden.
The loss of perfect communion between God and man and between man and woman.
The heaven in our home that was meant to be an effortless gift, but which now requires such grace and intentionality.
The countless moments in the day ahead when we will be tempted to bite into some form of the apple and further damage our communion with God and others.
The Apple logo is, on the one hand, inexpressibly sad. Looking at that black, bitten space, we could all meditate on the universe of lost possibilities and dreams that could have been—if only. If only I had not [ ]. In that black space—that missing dimension of communion—we can see the wound of original sin and all the ways we haven’t loved and so perpetuated our alienation from God and each other.
And yet, by calling to mind our lost communion, that ever present apple can paradoxically remind us of our ultimate goal: to deepen the communion we have received from the Holy Trinity—with our spouse, children, extended family, friends, co-workers, and community. The tech giant’s icon doesn’t have to be just the spot-on visual metaphor that Steve Jobs crafted as a symbol of worldly knowledge. It can also be read as a reminder of God’s design for marriage, family, and all human relationships—communion in and through Him.
At Trinity House, it’s been such a privilege to work with families on restoring communion, one day at a time. 2025 was full to overflowing with graces for the ministry and the families we serve. We tried to capture some of them in this letter and report. One Trinity House couple’s testimonial from this year really stands out:
“There is a palpable peace and JOY in our home that we didn’t have before.”
We are only able to advance this mission to serve families through the generosity of our supporters. Thanks to a match grant, your gift through Dec. 31st will be doubled. We invite you to join us in this mission through your prayers and financial support of $50, $100, $250, $500, or more.
That’s it, friends. The world will continue to tantalize us to bite into the apple, but the happiness we seek has already been won for us by Jesus Christ, whose birth approaches in these sacred days. Palpable peace and JOY can be ours, by God’s abundant grace!
➤ This article titled “5 Family Advent Ideas” suggests ideas such as celebrating saints’ feast days, creating a “Giving Manger,” doing a “Bambinelli Sunday,” and bringing Christ-centered rhythms to home life. (National Catholic Register)
➤ This article “Family Advent Customs” describes traditional Catholic Advent customs: wreaths, prayers, music, the “Advent House,” blessings, nativity traditions, and more—a helpful guide if you want to introduce or revive older Catholic practices at home. (EWTN)
➤ This is a practical resource for families, including how to set up a prayer space at home, create or use an Advent wreath, establish regular family prayer or gathering times, and build traditions that nurture the domestic church. (Strong Catholic Family Faith)
➤ An article in Spanish titled, “Nueva catequesis: Poner a los padres al centro de la formación para que los hijos no dejen de ser católicos en EE.UU” (Asiprensa, translated from English article in National Catholic Register)
➤ Would you be willing to put us in touch with your pastor or director of religious education so we can explore if Trinity House might be a good fit? If so, just reply to this email so we can be in touch.
➤ Our 2025 year-end appeal to support the transformative ministry of Trinity House Community has begun! Read the year-end letter & impact report and make your gift here today! Thanks to generous supporters who have already pledged, we are excited to share that your one-time or monthly gift of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more will be doubled! You can make a tremendous difference in the lives of families who, Lord willing, will be blessed by the Heaven in Your Home Gatherings at their own parish in 2026! Thank you!
➤ Discover the joy of giving with our Advent gifts! If you’re near the Trinity House Café & Market, stop by to explore our special displays and find the perfect gift for the season.
➤ Ready to launch a Trinity House Community Group at your parish in early 2026? Discover all the details here, and easily schedule a quick 15-minute phone or Zoom call with our team here. Dioceses can benefit from a special offer: three subscriptions for just $999. Excited to get started? Take the first step toward building your parish community right here.
➤ In case you missed it last week, The National Catholic Register ran a feature that included an in-depth section on Trinity House Community Groups. Check it out here on the Arlington Catholic Herald‘s site as well, site as well, along with the article translated to Spanish!
“The sense of excitement about the domestic “things of God” within a like-minded community is rejuvenating, inspiring, and motivating.”
–Madelene, THC Group Participant
