Open to all Parishioners! Understanding the history and differences between the Catholic and Protestant Bibles can provide deep insights into the development of Christian traditions and teachings. We often have many questions surrounding sacred scripture, which makes it challenging to have discussions about it. Most of us know that the Catholic bible has 73 books in it, while the Protestant bible has 66 books in it. But most of us don’t know why there are such differences and what this means for us as Catholics.

Join Fr. Joseph Nguyen, our newest parochial vicar, on Saturday, August 24, at 11:00 AM in McDonough Hall for an excellent opportunity for all parishioners to deepen their understanding of the history of the Bible and its profound impact on Christian faith and practice. RSVP if you will attend. For questions, contact Jewel.

Holy Spirit's Lector Ministry is offering training for parishioners who are interested in serving as a lector at our Sunday or weekday Masses. Upcoming dates include:

Tuesday, August 20

Thursday, August 22

Saturday, September 7

Wednesday, September 11

Saturday, September 14

Trainees MUST sign up online here. The times of the trainings vary; see the Sign Up Genius link for details. For questions, email lectors@hsccatl.com.

We have a critical need for several volunteers to join a team of 3 full-time catechists in one of the following classes:

• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 7th/8th Grade 

By joining one of these teams, you will have the opportunity to teach roughly once a month, while assisting your co-teachers on the Sundays you are not teaching. This 3-person team allows for teacher flexibility as well as greater continuity in the class for the students. In serving the children of our parish as a teacher, you will also deepen your knowledge and love of our rich Catholic faith.

Classes begin September 8 and run most Sundays through May, from 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM. The full calendar can be found on the parish website.

If you are available to serve as a full-time catechist on one of the above teams, please contact Aimee McDonald, our Director of Religious Education for more information and next steps.

All volunteers who wish to help with ministries with children or other at risk persons are required to attend a VIRTUS training class. Holy Spirit will offer a class on Saturday, August 24. In order to register for the training or check for alternative classes go to www.VIRTUS.org and click on the First Time Registrant button. Follow the prompts to create an account and select a class to attend. For questions, please contact Kimberly Chalavoutis.

In the coming weeks, Holy Spirit Catholic Church will launch our own app for iPhone and Android smart phones. This will allow us to better communicate with you throughout the week and keep you updated with relevant parish news or updates. The app is well designed and very intuitive. It will be a great resource for parishioners by providing daily Mass readings, Catholic news and prayers, convenient prayer and Confession reminders, our bulletins and more.

Our goal is that the App will foster stronger parish life at Holy Spirit and better engage the New Evangelization. Mark your calendar for September 8:  Download Sunday!

Please click here for an online version of the weekly parish bulletin.

Please join us as Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv. celebrates a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, September 4, in honor or our  60th Anniversary. Mass will take place in the Church and be followed by our first Wednesday Night Dinner of the year in McDonough Hall. Dinner will begin around 7:00 PM (or whenever Mass ends). As a gift to the parish, there will not be a charge for dinner, but RSVPs by noon on Tuesday, September 3, are requested to ensure we have enough food.

Get your passport ready for a trip around the world! We invite you to get to know the culture of your fellow parishioners as they serve food representative of their heritage. Join us on Saturday, September 14, at 6:00 PM in McDonough Hall. Kids will be able to collect passport stamps as they travel to each country. You won't want to miss out! RSVP online if you and your family plan to attend.

Volunteers Needed

Have a favorite dish to share from your heritage (or adopted heritage of choice)? We are looking for volunteers to showcase food/beverages from their heritage! We are also looking for volunteers to help with set up, clean up, handing out passports to children, and relieving the table volunteers so that they can sample food from around the world. Please sign up using this Sign Up Genius Link.

Please join members of our Respect Life and Walking With Moms in Need ministries, as well as our partner parishes in the Atlanta area, in celebrating life at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 29, in the Church. Together we will give thanks for the perseverance of prayer which led to the permanent closure of the Atlanta Women’s Center abortion clinic where many of our parishioners have regularly prayed. A party and dinner celebrating life will follow in McDonough Hall featuring balloon artists, face painting, and games for children. Also invited are some of the families who have been blessed with life. RSVP if you will attend the dinner.

Join Women of the Word as we study the book, Illuminate - Finding the Light of Faith in the Questions Jesus Asks.  Illuminate will help you see Jesus more vividly, as he reveals the truth to us through his questions. Sign up here.   

When:  Tuesday mornings 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM; Fall study September 10 through November 19 
Where:  McDonough Hall
Book:  Illuminate - Finding the Light of Faith in the Questions Jesus Asks by Katie Kibbe. Available now on Amazon.com.

Holy Spirit will offer a Grief Support Group on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM from September 11 – November 20 (no meeting on October 2), meeting in the parish office building. The program will be based on Dr. Wolfelt’s book Understanding Your Grief: The Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. A book and journal will be given at the first session. The group is closed once it begins; pre-registration is required and limited spaces are available. The group will be led by Ellen Cocks, a Holy Spirit parishioner and trained facilitator. Ellen has a certificate in death and grief studies, concentrating on “companioning others through grief.” Rob Adams will be the co-facilitator and is also a parishioner. If interested of if you have any questions, contact Ellen.

Love is certainly the top theme in literature. Our opening selections this year look at opposing views of love. In The Little Mermaid, Danish author Hans Christian Anderson (1805-1875) presents a view of self-sacrificing love. One hundred and fifty years later, British author Jane Gardam (1928-) wrote a sequel to Anderson’s story. In The Pangs of Love, Gardam’s character is openly critical of the love represented in Anderson’s telling.

The Great Books Discussion Group will meet on Thursday, September 12, at 7:00 PM in Malta Hall. Contact Patrick Carey at 770-241-2511 for further information.

“Love Within Reach” is a marriage retreat for young couples on September 27 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Bold Monk Brewing and September 28 from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM at Holy Spirit Prep. The cost is $120. Register using this link. Registration Payment via Venmo: @LoveWithinReach-RetreatATL; payment required to secure Attendance. Space is limited. For questions, contact 470- 667-1895 or admirolli@gmail.com.

In July, your contributions helped us offer vital assistance such as food, utilities, and rent to six vulnerable individuals and families in 30327 and a portion of 30342. (105 families thus far in 2024). Thank you for making it possible for us to respond with emergency assistance and compassionate support to these neighbors in crisis.  

Give your donation to one of the volunteers holding a basket, or donate by clicking here and scrolling to August 18.

We are very grateful to all our parishioners who have already joined together in pledging their gift to the 2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. The campaign goal is $9,350,000 and our parish goal is $283,900. A percentage of the money collected above our goal will be returned to the parish. If you have not yet made a gift to the 2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, you may use the pledge cards in the pews this weekend or you can easily donate online. Please be sure to designate Holy Spirit Atlanta as your parish. Every gift to the Annual Appeal is vitally important to assure the continued support of many important programs that help thousands in our archdiocese each year through the education of our children and seminary students, evangelization and Christian Initiation, on-going formation for our priests and so much more. Thank you, in advance, for your participation in this year’s Appeal.

Join the Women’s Club at our Thursday Social on August 29, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Bring a friend and meet other women of the parish at Cross Creek Cafe,1221 Cross Creek Pkwy NW. Donations appreciated for appetizers. RSVP online if you plan to attend.

Join the Women's Club on Monday, September 9, as they kick off a fabulous year with Jaye Watson as their featured speaker. Jaye will address "The Wonders of Female Friendships - The Power of Connections and Healthy Minds". This session will be offered at both 11:30 AM and 6:30 PM in McDonough Hall. The cost for the meeting is $20 and includes lunch/dinner. RSVP online. For questions email Susan Selman at women@hsccatl.com.

Morning Session RSVP Link

Evening Session RSVP Link

Jaye is with Emory Brain Health and host of the Emmy-award winning PBS television show Your Fantastic Mind. An Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning veteran journalist, Watson’s compelling storytelling and in-depth coverage on Your Fantastic Mind, combines powerful human stories and transformative brain health research to deepen the public's understanding of how scientific discovery shapes our daily lives. Her work on the show has explored pressing mental health-related topics such as the opioid epidemic, the adolescent mental health crisis, and the growing body of research for how to prevent cognitive decline as we age. Jaye will the impact of personal connections on healthy minds and the wonders of female friendships.

Support the Women's Club as they raise funds to continue offering Spiritual, Social, and Service opportunities to the women of our parish. What better way to help than by planting beautiful flowers? Order bulbs now through October 15 to plant in the fall. These would also make great gifts! Delivered for a flat fee anywhere in the country. Deliveries begin end of September. Visit hsccatl.com/flower to place your order. For more information, please contact Tara Headd or Susan Selman.