Feature Article: Holy Trinity Chapel

Religious Ed at Holy Trinity Student Chapel

Even though Holy Trinity Student Chapel is the Catholic home for students at the nearby Eastern Michigan University campus, it boasts a thriving Religious Education and High School Youth Ministry program for children pre-K through 12th grade.

Set in the heart of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Holy Trinity was built in 1965, just prior to the stormy years of campus unrest. The diocese recognized the need for a student chapel to meet the needs of EMU students, and today it not only continues to meet those needs with an active student body, but also draws non-university members and families who have found a caring and involved community life at the chapel.

DRE Mark Bodensteiner, brings an energy and enthusiasm to his work and mission, reminiscent of college days at Iowa State not long past. "I try to involve all the kids in the parish as soon as possible," he says, "so I use the [ParishSOFT] database to print out blank registration forms and invite more Kindergarten and First Grade kids to come to Religious Ed." About 80 children participate in Religious Ed and 20 in the active High School Youth Group.

One of the Youth Group's highlights last year was a week-long mission trip in the Appalachian area of West Virginia. They drove 500 miles to join a lay order of Passionate volunteers to serve the poor building porches, tarring roofs, and helping out with Vacation Bible School and a Head Start program. "Mining is the only industry there...it was quite an eye-opener for our high school students who are used to this [university] area," says Bodensteiner.

To track all the details in these parish ministries, Bodensteiner relies upon his ParishSOFT Religious Education Module. Coming out of the winter lull, he knows events such as the Confirmation retreat and upcoming sacraments are quickly approaching. For all those letters to parents, he likes the Mail Merge and e-mail features. "The one-push e-mailing is fantastic!" he says. "I can e-mail parents or [high school] kids to tell them what is coming up." He noted that if he weren't using up leftover sacramental certificates, he would try the automatic certificates provided in the software.

August is the big month for setting up the upcoming classes, but Bodensteiner finds it quite easy, and even found time to help the new DRE at a nearby parish. "Cloning [classes] was fantastic," he says, "and grade promoting was just click...click. This is way too easy!"

Bodensteiner appreciates the reports feature, and uses the Class Attendance by Grade Level and Student Roster "so catechists would have the addresses and phone numbers of all the students." He also uses the Birthday report for the High School Youth Group. Eventually he wants to set up the Milestone report so he will know automatically who is ready for First Communion and Confirmation. He also likes to download many of the reports into Access and customize them himself.

As a former Boy Scout leader, Bodensteiner appreciates the thoroughness of the background screening as required by the diocese, and he does "make sure [catechists] are screened and go through the process." He agrees it is a lot of work to fill out the paperwork and contact the references, but he is accustomed to the process because of his previous work with the Scouts.

What does he like best about ParishSOFT's Religious Education Module? Bodensteiner says, "It's easy access to various grades, so I can find anything I need to know. Usually I have all the parent information right there." With the busy, full parish life available for students and families alike at Holy Trinity Chapel, ParishSOFT is glad to help keep the details straight, so there is more time for the important things - like ministry.

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