Dear Parishioners,

It is with great pleasure that I announce our new facility is almost fully operational! Last week we began celebrating daily Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel and, over the next few weeks, we will gradually move more and more parish activities into the new building. Stations of the Cross and Eucharistic Adoration moved over this past Friday, and we will soon begin making use of McDonough Hall. The first Fish Fry will be held there on March 12th and we’ll celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in grand style on March 17th at the Wednesday Night Dinner. You may sign up for either event online. On behalf of all the clergy and parish staff, I cannot thank you enough for your patience over the past 15 months during the construction.

Holy Week offers many opportunities for our parish family to come together as we commemorate the passion and resurrection of our Lord. Please take a few moments to review the schedule for Holy Week and plan on attending as many events as you are able.
 

Centro Católico, our Hispanic Outreach Mission has a number opportunites during Holy Week to reflect on the Passion of our Lord. All Holy Spirit parishioners are invited to join the parishioners of Centro Católico as we prepare for the resurrection of the Lord.

Sunday, March 7th - NO CLASS due to the Spring Break holiday

Sunday, March 14th - Msgr. Dillon's Spring Pastor's Forum. We hope to have moved into our new classroom, downstairs in the new building by then…stay tuned!

Sunday, March 21st - "The Mass as a Work of Art" Dr. David King, Associate Professor of English and Film Studies at Kennesaw State University. Drawing on the discussion from his last Adult Ed class, Dr. King will explore the various art forms which exist within the Mass itself.  

The Women’s Club Spiritual Committee is incorporating the Corporal Works of Mercy—the seven practices of charity toward our neighbors—into our Lenten season with works benefitting Holy Spirit’s Community Outreach ministry programs.

Although the Knotted Rosary group may be a relative newcomer in Holy Spirit’s ministries, they have nonetheless formed a solid apostolate for the hundreds of Catholic soldiers for whom they provide rosaries. Mary Ellen Vollarth and Eileen McCormack are two active parishioners in the Church. These two women can clearly see the Holy Spirit at work in both how the ministry began, and how it came to fruition.

Women of Holy Spirit enjoyed fellowship, good food and inspiring speakers at the Mother’s Retreat in January. The morning began with Daily Mass and was followed by a delicious breakfast and time of fellowship. The agenda for the morning included praying the joyful mysteries of the Rosary, a Gospel reading and reflection of two passages from Luke. Attendees had the opportunity for silent reflection or group discussion.

In December of 2009 I had the rare privilege to spend a week with the Mercy Centre in Klong Toey, Bangkok. You know, the place Father Joe Maier has called home for over thirty years. The Mercy Centre is a shelter for street kids, four orphanages, a hospice, a home for mothers and children with HIV/AIDS, a 400-pupil kindergarten, a community meeting place, and a serene haven in the slums with small gardens and playgrounds. Originally built on a former Buddhist Temple site on port authority property, Mercy Centre has stood in some shape or form for 30 years. In 2000, it was rebuilt through a generous gift to accommodate it's expanding services to orphans, street children, and children with HIV/AIDS.

It’s Lent, and I have a problem. I hate seafood. It hasn’t always been this way, though.  I have vivid memories as a child of eating salmon croquettes for supper. Also, our family shared a small cabin on a near-by lake with another family for part of my youth. There we often ate lots and lots of shrimp. Unfortunately after one incident in which I indulged in practically an entire bucket, I got violently ill. Since then I  haven’t been much on shellfish or fish in general. It’s all so – you know – fishy.