#1

I am extremely pleased to provide this reference for Terri. I first introduced myself to Terri as a new parishioner to Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City in August of 2018. At that point my wife and I had been attending Holy Trinity for over a year; but now it was time to ‘give back’ some of my time and talent to our Church.

I reached out to Terri and she immediately set me up with the That Man is You (TMIY) program which was just commencing. Today I continue to be part of that program. Additionally, it has driven me to engage in several other Holy Trinity men’s and ‘kids’ programs. Which takes me back to Terri.

I have had the opportunity to watch Terri drive Faith Formation at Holy Trinity for both men and women’s programs. Here are the things that have always stood out for me:

HUMBLE SERVANT: I have watched Terri bring value to both men and women’s programs including TMIY, Welcome (former CHRP), Rooted Men’s retreat, the women’s Walking With Purpose Program to name just a few. Terri just gets stuff organized and done. She assisted me specifically with driving the Men’s Welcome Weekend in 2022. Any time I got stuck (who drives video programming, Church bulletin messaging, English - Hispanic translation, brochure creation - there was Terri leading the way - is some cases just ‘doing the stuff’ I had intended on taking on myself.

STRONG WITNESS: I’ve been able to hear Terri deliver a few adult formation courses. Her humility, understanding of our faith, make her a very credible witness for Christ and our Church.

ORGANIZED / STRUCTURED: I have seen in our own Church individuals who give of their time and talent - and I will always be grateful for those individuals. But the ability to organize and structure programs from start to finish - I have met very few in our Church who can take a program that is as broad as ‘faith formation’, get their arms around it, think strategically, and deliver something that is able to bring value to our parishioners. This is a gift that is lacking for many staff members in the Church’s I’ve been associated with; Terri clearly possesses this gift.

SHE CARES: you will not meet a more caring, empathetic person than Terri. I know the several programs I’ve been involved with, the variety of opinions around execution from the core team leaders I’ve dealt with. No matter how busy Terri was, you never had the impression she didn’t have time for you. These are just a few of the things that I’ve been able to witness from Terri these past several years.

I can be reached at 678-524-9826, email AquinoMike635@gmail.com .

- Mike Aquino Holy Trinity Catholic Church Peachtree City, GA

#2

I attended several events organized by Terri Thomas. I never regretted the time spent at any of them! I always left feeling more loved by our God, more at peace with myself, my family, and this world, and always thirsting for more.  The events were very well organized, thoroughly thought out, and included wonderful inspirational speakers. I tried to get these annual events on my calendar as early as possible to make sure that I could attend.

~ Mary Plant - Holy Trinity Parishioner

#3

Over several years since 2008 it has been my pleasure to assist Terri Thomas with several key events and courses that brought the souls at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and beyond closer to Our Lord and Our Lady via deeper conversion.  Terri maintains a professional disposition at all times. For every event or course offered, the first task was always prayer: for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide,  for the souls that would attend, for the team, and for God's glory.  Key to her success was her ability to take inventory of the talents and gifts in others around her and make use of same in the projects she spearheaded.  The end results were always beautiful with high attention to every detail and, most important of all, conversion of heart in those attending.

I have worked alongside Terri on the following initiatives:

Living the Sacrament

Nurturing the Nurturer

Date Night Series: Popcak Videos

Advent by Candlelight

Walking with Purpose

Mighty to Save

~ Monique Davis - Holy Trinity Parishioner

#4

I've been blessed for more than 20 years to attend retreats, events and classes organized by Terri Thomas. Her knowledge of our Catholic faith is superb and her gift of hospitality is unsurpassed. The social activities she organized and directed at our parish, including Advent by Candlelight, attracted large crowds from all walks of life and raised significant funding for our Parish School of Religion. The retreats I attended, including the Blossom women's retreat and the Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) weekend, led to life-changing deepening of my faith. My husband and I also attended an adult faith formation class that Terri taught on the meaning of purgatory that greatly improved our understanding and appreciation of Catholic teaching on this important belief.

In every instance, these experiences were engaging and incredibly well organized, and they were also fun! Terri's attention to detail and her personal warmth are tremendous assets to every organization that she encounters. 

~ Marie Powers

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Peachtree City, GA

#5

I recommend Terri Thomas wholeheartedly for the planning of any Catholic event. My husband and I have been parishioners of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City for 36 years and we were so blessed to have Terri become our Adult Faith Coordinator. We took several Adult Faith classes and attended many Parish Missions and Advent by Candlelight under her tenure.

Everything that Terri coordinated was so organized, well executed, enlightening, and offered so much guidance in our spiritual journey in a thoughtful and fulfilling manner.

~ Marta Orraca

#6

My husband, sons and I have attended many events Terri has organized and hosted over the past 10 years.….Advent by Candlelight,  CHRP weekend, Blossom Retreats, prayer breakfasts, parish missions and consecrations to the Immaculate Heart and Sacred Heart, and Adult Faith Formation studies. The content, speakers, hospitality and fellowship of each and every event was always excellent and has been an important part of helping our family focus on Christ by more fully learning our beautiful Catholic faith better and developing a deeper prayer life as individuals an in forming our domestic church.  

~ Phyllis Trocquet

#7

Terri Thomas loves a sharing the Good News and God’s love for us through various faith formation classes and events. She is an amazing leader, bringing people with different strengths and talents together and building a team that can’t fail!  Terri leads by example and brings out the best in others. She recognizes and addresses any issues or problems quickly and handles them efficiently.  

I have had the opportunity to work along side Terri many times over the last 10-12 years. I was part of the planning team several years for a one-day women’s retreat held at our church.  Terri created the retreat, recruited, guided and led the committee over several months. She planned the speakers and the agenda for the day. Hundreds of women at our church have attended Nurture the Nurturer/Blossom retreats, strengthening their faith and growing closer to Christ.  

More recently, I worked with Terri planning our parish’s first Welcome Weekend. We spent eight months preparing for a two-day retreat that was held at a local retreat center.  Terri brought together women of different ages and walks of life to create an opportunity for the women of our parish to come together and grow in their faith.  

Terri Thomas was instrumental in bringing Walking with Purpose to Holy Trinity Parish.  This women’s Bible study has strengthened my faith and brought me closer to God than any other program I’ve been involved in. Terri was the program coordinator and introduced it to the women of our church about 11 years ago.  Participation has grown every year. Most of the ladies in my group have been together since that first year. We are friends and Sisters in Christ. We pray for each other and support each other. WWP provides a prayerful, loving and supportive community for the women of our parish.

~ Robin Huggins - Holy Trinity Parishioner

#8

“This is a review of all the events that were organized by Terri while she was the adult faith coordinator at Holy Trinity.  A large part of our presence and participation in church events and in this wonderful, caring community, has a lot to do with the work that Terri has put in; all with love and prayers.

I remember very clearly in 2018 joining Walking With Purpose in the Fall. I was welcomed by all the beautiful ladies in the parish and the weekly meetings sustained my growth in the faith as our family grew closer to God.  Together with Howard and Elliott, Terri and the whole adult faith formation team provided studies that really grew our knowledge of scriptures.  Her zeal, as she once put, met with my hunger to grow closer to Christ. Every talk, every prayer and every bible study were chosen with care and I have no doubt God had his hand on everything.  FORMED also played a significant part in our spiritual journey. 

I have been to almost every event that Terri has put together and we cannot express our gratitude and appreciation enough on the wonderful fruits that have come out from our family being in church. We have felt loved, appreciated and cared for.  The knowledge and wisdom that you all shared with our family has spilled over to our children. I am so very thankful that my two children get to be raised in this faithful community.

My husband attends the weekly TMIY and he returns home a better man

Our close family and friends are miles and miles away and we only have you all to depend on.  The zoom meetings over COVID sustained my sometimes "lonely" job as a mom. I always felt that our spiritual needs were met and some more.

Terri is the perfect example of how God can transform our human suffering into something beautiful. If there is someone who exemplifies our Catholic Faith, it would have to be Terri.

Thank you. Holy Trinity for organizing the events. The Holy Spirit is always present.  God always works powerfully. We were drawn in for many reasons. ”

— Holy Trinity Parishioner

#9

I've sinced moved out of state, and I adore my new parish; but if there's one thing I really miss about Holy Trinity in Peachtree City it's the professionalism and competence of the lay staff management. From top-notch adult formation classes (you could be in a different class seemingly every night of the week) to staged special events, the culture at that parish can't be beat. My favorite event had to be the annual Advent by Candlelight. Beautifully decorated banquet rooms great food and festive atmosphere....and when the featured speakers are Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins and Dr. Edward Sri, what else is there to say?

- George Spiers, Former Parishioner

#10

It gives me great pleasure to offer a few words of commendation for my friend in Christ, Terri Thomas. For the most recent 15 years, she has been the go-to person at Holy Trinity Catholic Church to seek, coordinate, organize and teach classes, give lectures and provide courses in topics relating to spiritual growth, issues within the Catholic Church and historical currents affecting the Church in the contemporary world.

From personal experience I can say that she is most keenly aware of the most troubling trends in our era—namely, rampant godlessness. So palpable is this in our everyday life that the words Jesus spoke in Luke 18:8, “do you think that he will find faith on earth?”, shake our very existence.

I appreciate that Terri was on to this well before cancel culture became so much a part of our consciousness. As a result, we at Holy Trinity profited greatly from the courses she helped make available, such as: Finding God Through Faith and Reason, a course on Atheism, and one on finding meaning in todays’ world.

Thanks, Terri, for helping me (us) grow in and keep what we started in our Baptism and Confirmation.

Yours in Truth and Christ,

Sal Benigno//770-375-0513

Email: salbenigno@bellsouth.net

#11

My spiritual journey has surely been enhanced under the instruction of Terri Thomas. Her devotion to our Catholic Faith is very evident through her words and actions.

I have attended various programs she has presented, and all were in a simple, concise language. Especially nice was that you feel very welcomed; not intimidated. Additional hand outs and websites were always made available if you wanted to pursue the topic.

She truly is an inspiration to everyone she meets.

- Barb Anderson - Former Parishioner

#12

Advent by Candlelight

This is a wonderful annual event for the whole parish: good food, great friends, fabulous speakers, perfect atmosphere. People invite their family and friends to join them for a home cooked meal at the church. The church provides rooms with tables and chairs plus decorations, and each table host decorates their own table(s) for those they have invited, and prepares the sides for a meal for them. Many people also bring wine to share with their table.

Each table, or set of tables, becomes a private party nestled among, and sharing the excitement of, the other parties around them; and since most are from the same parish, the fun at each table is shared with those around it. But the event is more than a party. It is also a Faith Formation event with a rebound guest speaker who usually makes their presentation between dinner and dessert. In fact, during dessert the speaker often visits individual party tables so that they can actually meet those attending. In some ways it is like a Faith themed dinner theater with back stage passes to meet the actors. It is a great parish fellowship and faith formation event.

But that’s not all. Parish Faith Formation classes also get involved. Each class puts together a themed gift basket to be auctioned of during the dinner by silent auction. The baskets are named and pictures of them with their descriptions are published in the parish bulletin each week. This not only enhances the advertising of the event, it also generates another level of excitement during the dinner and enhances the parish involvement of faith formation classes. This is truly a whole parish event.

Parish Missions

These are multi evening parish renewal and rekindling events. Usually a single guest speaker will give an 1.5 hour presentation each night for several nights, with each presentation building on the previous one. This allows some real depth to be offered on the selected topic, in a way that allows time for lessons to soak in before moving on to the next level. Of course they also generate interaction between parishioners before and after the presentations and bring the parish closer together.

Rooted Men’s Conference

This is a single evening event for the men of the parish and it consists of several phases. There are presentations, prayer, discussion, singing, and Eucharistic Adoration; all in a 2 to 3 hour event. Authentic Christian Masculinity is a favorite topic, but this lends itself to many sub-topics. Of course, other topics can be covered as well such as the rosary, the liturgy of the hours, Eucharistic Renewal, and many more.

The beauty of this event is it’s several parts which form an atmosphere of learning and living the faith. Discussion is as important as presentations, and the prayer, singing and Adoration heighten and deepen the impact. The men rave about it afterwards.

Men’s Breakfasts

These events usually include a guest speaker after the breakfast, so it is a Faith Formation event, but the beauty of this format is the fellowship time during the breakfast. Here Men make new friends and renew and strengthen old friendships. By starting with a meal, it also lends itself to small group sessions after the breakfast. The men are already in groups and are involved in discussion. Transferring this ethos to the classroom is pretty simple. The breakfast also gives the men another reason to sign up. This is as much about fellowship as it us about learning, so it easily gets beyond the reluctance an individual may have putting his knowledge, or lack thereof, on display in the classroom.

Welcome and CHRP Retreats

These are powerful retreats, but they are also either for men or for women, not both. This has two benefits: topics can be gender specific; and if the women’s retreat precedes the men’s, it has the added benefits. By having the women’s retreat first, it allows the women to rave about it to their husbands or boyfriends, and push them to sign up for the men’s retreat. This worked every time at our parish. The great strength of the retreat is that each one is hosted by the participants of the previous one, and that these people plan powerfully sharing their own faith journeys with those who attend the following retreat. The retreat also incorporates sessions which foster ever deepening reflection and commitment. In our parish, the people who attended these retreats quickly became involved in multiple parish ministries and could be counted on to be serious about making a difference.

These retreats renew the faith of those who attend, and they renew the focus and impact of the parish as a whole.

Alec MacDougall - Holy Trinity Parishioner

#13

Terri Thomas along with her strong Catholic faith and leadership skills can organize, plan, and lead a Catholic Event or retreat committee with the Holy Spirit guiding her. In the past, I have attended the Women’s Prayer Breakfasts that were successfully organized and staged with the committees that Terri guides. Terri is a humble, experienced, and thought-provoking leader. The large eventful prayer breakfasts showcased well with the guest speakers, music, table settings, volunteers, music, ceremony, and booklet content. We were sent home with holy experiences that provided us with greater insight and tools to be used in our daily Catholic Christian Faith. 

I recommend Terri Thomas for helping you plan your parish's event and providing you with guidance so that you may repeat the event in the future.   

I personally was involved in the 2023 Welcome 1 Retreat at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, GA. Let me note that this was the first WELCOME retreat being put on. Terri guided our giving team from beginning to end. She allowed our team to explore and have discussions without ever putting herself in commandment mode. She simply would add her expertise and thoughts, which often ended up being implemented in our plans. Terri, on several occasions, called the Dynamic Catholic office to check in for the weights and balances we were seeking. Terri certainly provided guidance for this retreat. The WELCOME 1 Retreat was a success, and it now is continuing.   

Terri has years of Catholic Leadership experience. I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with her at H.T. She has shown me how diversified, knowledgeable about the Catholic faith, and organized she is at implementing programs such as the Annual Women’s Retreat and Advent by Candlelight. Terri herself exemplifies Christian values and deep love for the Catholic Faith.

#14

It's my pleasure to write about my experiences attending some of the events that Terry organized. Each event was well organized, lovely, and high quality. I highly recommend Terri.

- Sandra Habach - Holy Trinity Parishioner

#15

I attended and helped with CRHP and Blossom retreats and I was so blessed by both. Terri’s direction, oversight and ideas helped ensure the success of both retreats and all the activities of Faith Formation at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. 

- Nancy Barham - Holy Trinity Parishioner