Pick Up Your Monastery Goods Today!
All orders from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit are available to pick up today, Sunday, December 7, in the Pope's Room (corner of McDonough Hall) after all Masses. Thank you for your support of the monks at the Monastery.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Holy Day of Obligation
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is tomorrow, Monday, December 8, and celebrates Mary’s conception without original sin. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass, in honor of the Patron Saint of the United States, will be celebrated at 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 6:00 PM, and 7:30 PM (Spanish). There is NO Vigil Mass due to Sunday being the Second Sunday of Advent. All Masses will be held in the Church. We are excited to welcome the faculty and students of Holy Spirit Prep to our 8:30 AM Mass.
Parish Office Advent Retreat - Office Closed on December 12
The parish office will be closed this Friday, December 12, to allow our staff to attend an Advent Retreat at Ignatius House. Please be assured of our prayers for our parish family during the retreat.
Altar Server Training
All children who have received the Sacrament of First Communion are invited to become Altar Servers. Training for prospective servers is today,
Sunday, December 7, at 3:00 PM in the Church. For more information, contact
Deacon Allen Underwood.
Weekly Parish Bulletin
Please click here for an online version of the weekly parish bulletin.
Upcoming Events
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: A Parish Celebration
All parishioners are invited to share in the celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday, December 12! Catholics all around the world celebrate this feast, but it is particularly important in Mexico where she is the Patron Saint. Join our fellow parishioners from our Latino community in this festive Mexican evening in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
6:30 PM | Procession with the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Sts. Francis & Anthony Outdoor Chapel)
7:00 PM | Mass (Church)
8:25 PM | Food, Apparitions, and Folk Dances (HSP Gym)
Knights Pancake Breakfast
Join fellow parishioners on Sunday, December 14, for a parish breakfast hosted by Holy Spirit’s Knights of Columbus. Enjoy pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and their popular omelette station. Breakfast will be served after the 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, and 10:00 AM Masses. The cost is $8.00 per adult, $5 per child, or a family of 5+ is $25.
Advent Night of Praise & Worship for Teens
All teens, rising 9th through 12th grades, are invited to a special Advent Night of Praise and Worship on Sunday, December 14, from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. The evening will begin with dinner and fellowship (plus a Hot Chocolate Bar) in the Youth Center, followed by Adoration with praise & worship music provided by the RC Music collective, in St. Mary's Chapel where confessions will be available. The evening will conclude with a sharing of graces and prayer at 8:30 PM in the Youth Center.
Never been to a youth ministry event at Holy Spirit? No worries - you are most welcome! Bring your friends, and be sure to RSVP online so we will know how much food to prepare.
Women's Club - Christmas Coffee hosted by Nancy and Doug Bryant
Celebrate the season with the Women’s Club at our Christmas Coffee. Come enjoy delicious coffee, holiday treats and meaningful conversation as we celebrate the joy of the season. Take a break from the holiday rush to reconnect and share the spirit of Christmas with your church family. Join us on
Monday, December 15, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the home of Nancy and Doug Bryant, 3569 Dumbarton Rd, NW.
RSVP if you will attend.
Annual Hanging of the Greens
Volunteers are needed to hang the live greens around the parish property on
Tuesday, December 16, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Meet in McDonough Hall after the 8:30 AM Mass to enjoy coffee and some Christmas treats before heading outside to work. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as we will work - rain or shine!
RSVP if you are able to attend. For questions, contact
Kim Schulman.
"Forever Young" Senior Mass and Christmas Luncheon
All of our "Forever Young" parishioners are invited to a Mass and Christmas luncheon on
Wednesday, December 17. Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 AM in St. Mary's Chapel, followed by a festive luncheon in McDonough Hall catered by C. Parks Catering & Events. Enjoy baked cranberry chicken with rosemary and lemon herbed basmati rice, a Christmas salad and dessert. The cost is $15.
RSVP if you will attend.
Christmas Choir Concert
Please join Dr. Albert Ahlstrom and our Traditional Choir for a Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 17, at 7:00 PM in the Church. If you enjoy hearing them sing at the 10:00 AM Mass on Sundays, you won't want to miss out.
Faith in Action
Be A Christmas Angel with the St. Vincent de Paul Society
Our Christmas Angel program is underway, and we invite you to share the spirit of giving with our Latino community this holiday season.
Before the pandemic, we celebrated with wrapped gifts. Today, out of care and respect, we give cash gifts instead—so parents can choose the perfect presents for their children. Why cash? Because while Santa might know exactly what each child wants, we don’t. By empowering parents to shop for their own families, we give not only joy—but also dignity and grace—to our hermanos y hermanas.
This year, our goal is $35,000, with a suggested gift of $100 per person. Your generosity directly determines how many families we can bless with the magic of Christmas.
This is the last weekend you may donate in person, but online donations will be accepted through the end of this week at hsccatl.com/christmasangel. You may also drop off your contribution at the parish office. All checks should be made payable to Holy Spirit Catholic Church with “Christmas Angel” in the memo line.
Acoustic Guitarist Needed for Contemporary Choir
Our Sunday evening Contemporary Choir is in search of an acoustic guitarist who can accompany the ensemble each week at our 5:30 PM Mass. Rehearsals are from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on Sundays. For more information, please contact
Jeff Simpson.
Part of Something Greater: It's Not Too Late to Support Our Offertory Campaign
As a parish family, we are called to support one another and strengthen the mission of Holy Spirit. Your 2026 pledge is an act of faith, gratitude, and love for our community. Please make your pledge online at
hsccatl.com/giving. Every gift is used wisely and with great care to support our parish family and its ministries. Please contact Debbie Slinkard or Marcia Palcher at 404-252-4513 with questions. Thank you for your generosity, which helps us share Christ’s love and remain a community where all are welcomed and supported.
Help Us Reach Our Goal for the 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal
Thank you to all who have already supported the 2025 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. We are close to reaching our goal. Once the goal is met, 100% of additional Appeal funds return to Holy Spirit.
If you haven’t participated yet, you can still make a gift or complete your pledge by visiting
hsccatl.com/aaa. Please designate Holy Spirit as your parish. Please contact
Debbie Slinkard at 404-252-4513 with questions.
Every response makes a meaningful difference for our parish. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Answering the Call: Help Us Serve Our Latino Community
This week, as we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are reminded of her message of love, compassion, and service—principles that guide the work of St. Vincent de Paul. Our Lady’s example calls us to walk alongside our neighbors, sharing in their joys and struggles, especially those in need.
A significant number of our neighbors are Latino, and we are seeking Spanish-speaking parishioners to help us better serve this community. Your language skills and willingness to serve can make a powerful difference in reaching those who need it most.
To help, please contact us at
SVDP@HSCCATL.com. Together, we can make Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message of love and service come to life.
Faith Formation & Evangelization
Sunday Morning Adult Faith Formation Fall Schedule
Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Our Sunday morning Adult Faith Formation program is the perfect place to learn, share, and grow together. Mark your calendar and join us at 10:00 AM in McDonough Hall on select Sunday mornings throughout the Fall.
December 7 - St. Francis of Assisi: The Most Admired & Least Imitated Saint - Deacon McCarthy
December 14 - Nativity Narratives - Deacon Steve Demko
Considering the Faith? Enroll in the 2026 O.C.I.A. Program
We are now enrolling for the Easter 2026 session of our Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA) program which will begin on Sunday, January 4, and conclude on Sunday, May 17, with reception into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, April 4. The class meets on Sunday mornings in the parish office building from 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM, with Mass offered either before or after at 8:30 AM or 11:30 AM. The class will not meet on MLK, Easter, or Mother’s Day weekends. A nominal fee of $35 is required to register for the course; this fee helps offset the costs of books and other materials.
Because acceptance into the program requires pastoral approval, prospective OCIA participants should begin gathering sacramental documents now, including, if applicable, certificates of baptism and marriage. Remote and in-person interviews with participants are now being held; please e-mail Dr. David King to arrange registration. The deadline for registration is Sunday, December 14.
