Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Beginnings
The Tertiaries of the Holy Trinity (THT) was conceived when the Adorers of the Holy Trinity of the Good
Shepherd Parish ( now the Cathedral Shrine of the Good Shepherd) in Fairview, Quezon City, Philippines
in the year 2000, headed by Ate Carol Dimaano *desired to learn and experience a more contemplative
way of life under the guidance of Msgr. Fidelis Limcaco, founder of the Trinitarian Family. The good
Monsignor, who was then Parish Priest, was only too happy to help found a Third Order of his Trinitarian
Congregations in the parish.
* Ate is a respectful title given to an elder sister or member of a religious
association in the Philippines. Men are addressed with Kuya.
The THT shall be given their order of services from the Parish Priest who will be their Spiritual
Director as well.
Who may join?
Any baptizes Catholic eighteen years old and above, male or female, married or unmarried are
welcome to join.
What are the requirements for admission and training?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Evangelical Counsels of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity are a gift of the Holy Trinity, the source of
holiness. By the Profession of the Evangelical Counsels, a Trinitarian follows Jesus Christ who is poor ,
chaste and obedient.
A. Obedience
1. Let all Trinitarians be of one mind and one heart with the Triune God through an unconditional
submission to the divine will in imitation of Christ.
2. Let all members out of love, respect and obey their superiors who have authority over them.
3. Let those in authority show good example by their loving concern for the welfare of the
community that the members may be encouraged to obey cheerfully and promptly.
B. Poverty
1. The vow of poverty is rooted in the Gospel value of joyous dependence on God through the
community and of sharing Gods gifts especially to the poor. Let all Trinitarians live a simple life
with full trust in the Divine Providence, sharing things in common and always mindful of the needs
of others.
2. Let your poverty be lived as an individual and as a community both in spirit and in reality.
3. Let each one realize the value of work as means to contribute to the needs of the community.
C. Chastity
1. By the vow of Chastity let Trinitarians dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to God. It is
a reflection of the infinite love which has its ultimate origin in the life of the Most Holy Trinity.
2. Let each one joyfully embrace the vow of Chastity for the sake of the kingdom of God and
thereby become a source of holiness and growth for the community and for the Church.
3. A Trinitarian must avoid inordinate attachment to any person that impedes ones growth to a
genuine love of God and neighbor.
4. Let continence be observed by each one through the purity of mind, heart and body.
CHAPTER IV
COMMUNITY LIFE
Secretary Ate Carmen Borja; Assist. Servant Secretary Ate Rose Castro; Servant Treasurer Ate Letty
Rollan; Assist. Servant Secretary Ate Lilia Laigo; Servant Auditor Ate Lourdes Neri.
The succeeding Servant Elders who served for 2 years each are the following: Ate Salve Castelo, Ate Didi
Neri, Ate Carmen Borja, Ate Rose Castro, Ate Masit Dagot, Ate Regina Saculo (current).
Formation
Msgr. Fidelis, bent on forming the spirituality of the Tertiaries, patiently gave them weekly conferences
on the Trinity, on Leadership, and on Discipleship. The Missionary Servants of the Holy Trinity were
tasked to give the 2 day Seminar on the Most Blessed Trinity. In addition, a Theology teacher of the
Loyola School of Theology, Mrs. Teresita Magno, gave a twice a week session on the Theology of the
Trinity. All these gatherings inspired the Tertiaries to know more and more about the most beautiful
Mystery of the Trinity.
The Tertiaries, being parish-based, became members of the Education Ministry of the Parish Pastoral
Council since they gave talks and seminars in other parishes. But later on, as the THT initiated the
Adoration of the Holy Trinity, Morning Prayers, Prayers for the Sanctification of Priests, and since their
devotion was clearly the daily Masses and Eucharistic Adoration, the association became part of the
Worship Ministry.
In their prayer meetings, the THT share that they are slowly being transformed and are really Trying
Hard Talaga! ( a coined acronym of the group which means really trying hard!) to be worthy
members of a Third Order who seek Christian perfection while living in the world.
Membership
Each year, on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity or Trinity Sunday, new members are accepted and
inducted, wearing the THT uniform and imposed with the Trinitarian Cross by the Parish Priest
who is their Spiritual Director. These members have done six (6) months of regular attendance
of meetings and activities before the Acceptance Ceremony for Novitiate on the Trinity
Feastday.
They will then be called Novices. The Novices will then undergo two (2) years of formation. At the end
of two years, the candidates shall be voted upon by the Council of Elders on their worthiness to
do the Spiritual Profession of Simple Vows as full-fledged members. The Novices shall undergo
a two-day retreat prior to the Spiritual Profession. The Simple Vows of Obedience, Poverty and
Chastity are made in the presence of the Parish Priest and the Servant Elder and the THT
Congregation. Each Novice shall have two sponsors or Godparents during the Profession.
Members of the Trinitarian Federation and guests may be invited as agreed upon and invited to
a simple Agape after the Ceremony.
The Simple Vows are renewed every year. These simple vows may be dispensed with by the Parish
Priest/Spiritual Director.
Spiritual growth
Family
Integrity
Honesty
5. Competence
6. Fairness
7. Perseverance
8. Self-Control
9. Acceptance
10. Respect
VISION
We are a Parish-based community of prayerful, Eucharistic-centered men and women inspired and
bounded by the love of the Most Holy Trinity. As Christians living the Word of God, by His boundless
grace, we are committed to an active and generous service of the Parish and the living Motto of
Studio, Devotio et Servicio.
OUR MISSION
We are zealous in learning more about the Mystery of the Holy Trinity, and we exert untiring efforts in
Promoting devotion and adoration of the Triune God so that all may be imbued with that allencompassing Trinitarian Spirit, so help us, God.
b) To love and pray for the Sanctification of the Parish Priest and all Priests.
c) To be more loving and caring to their families.
Section 3. Serving the Most Holy Trinity (Servicio)
According to the will and wishes of their Parish priest who is their Spiritual Director, the THT
shall serve as a community of church helpers, promoters and teachers and render assistance to those
who need spiritual services by establishing THT Chapters in other parishes within the Diocese and
someday outside the Diocese and country. ThT members are encouraged to be Adorers first, then serve
as they are called in anyway as Catechists, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, Choir
members and in other church organization but as much as possible limiting their involvement to just two
(2) other organizations.
SAMPLE MEETING (frequency of meetings may be adjusted to once a month in other Chapters)
Every Wednesday after the 6:00 AM Mass:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
The Servant Elder will call out the names of the Candidates and they line up before the Altar.
Parish Priest:
Candidates (kneeling): I wish to be received as a Novice of the Tertiaries of the Holy Trinity.
Parish Priest:
Do you believe you can live the life of a tertiary of the Holy Trinity for a
period of two (2) years?
Candidates:
Parish Priest:
May the Holy trinity accept the offering of yourself to God. Strive to live a
holy life, persevere in prayer, fidelity to the Church and love for one another.
Candidates:
Amen!
Parish Priest:
(Blessing the Trinitarian Necklaces) Bless, O Most Holy Trinity, these Trinitarian
Necklaces which your servants will wear as a sign of the crosses they will carry
In life, and a sign of the love and blessings You give to those who love and
serve You, Amen.
Parish Priest:
(Imposing the Necklaces upon each candidate) Receive the Cross of the Holy
Trinity as a sign of the crosses you will carry throughout your life, but with the
Amen!
Priest:
Novices:
Priest:
Having received the unanimous approval of the Council of Elders, and as Parish
Priest, I accept you for your First Profession of Vows. May God be gracious to you.
Novices:
Amen!
Notes:
2. If the group is small, each Novice will recite the Profession individually ; if the group is
more than five (5), the Profession will be recited together.
3. Each Novice shall have two (2) sponsors or Godparents standing behind them and who will
watch over their spiritual welfare.
Priest:
Tertiary:
Priest:
Do you believe that you can carry on with the life of a Tertiary of the Holy Trinity?
Tertiary:
Relying on the graces and blessings of the Triune God, I will do my best to continue
with my duties and responsibilities as a member of the Tertiaries of the Holy Trinity.
Priest:
May the Holy Trinity accept your renewal of vows. Strive to live a holy life,
persevere in prayer, fidelity to the Church and love for one another.
Tertiary:
(kneeling) I, ____________________, solemnly renew my vows of Obedience, Poverty
and Chastity to Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and in your presence (Msgr., or Rev
Father) and in the presence of our Council of Elders. I rely completely on the love and mercy of the
Most Holy Trinity for my worthiness and capabilities to know, love and serve the Most Holy Trinity all
my life. So help me God!
Priest:
May the Most Holy trinity bless you for your faithfulness, in the name of thre Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Tertiary:
Amen.
The Logo
The Logo shows the hand of the Father, the flame to mean the Holy Spirit and the lamb to signify the
Son, Jesus. The year 2000 signifies the year when the THT was founded in Fairview, Quezon City,
Philippines.
The Uniform
The Ladies Uniform was designed by Ate Carol Dimaano and approved by Msgr. Fidelis in the year 2000.
It is of brown shade, in keeping with the Carmelite spirit of the Founder/Formator, Msgr. Fidelis who
was a Carmelite and will always be a Carmelite in spirit. The blouse has an apron - like overlay to mean
service. Red piping around the apron means love. There are three (3) red buttons sewn over the chest
side to show the Trinity held close to the heart of the THT. A belt or ribbon ties around the waist to
mean continence. The skirt is 6 inches way below the knee. Brown or red shoes may be worn. A short
white veil goes over the head.
Mens uniform is short sleeved shirt of light brown with red piping on the sleeves and some red buttons.
The pants may be brown or black.