Please join us in wishing our Pastor, Fr. Luke Ballman, a very happy birthday!

We wish Deacon Bill McCarthy all the best as he begins his retirement from 25 years of service at Holy Spirit. We love you Deacon Bill!

Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you're from?
I was born in Atlanta and raised in Lawrenceville. I attended Gwinnett County Public Schools and received much of my Christian formation at Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church. I was raised Catholic but had difficulty connecting with my faith until college, when I encountered the person of Jesus through a small group Bible study. That encounter changed my life forever!

I am Vietnamese and the eldest son of immigrant parents. I grew up with my grandparents, and I believe my vocation is owed in large part to the prayers of my late grandmother. I also have one younger brother who is my best friend.

What are you most looking forward to during your time at our parish?
It’s providential that I have been assigned to Holy Spirit for pastoral year. I felt a particular closeness with the Holy Spirit develop this past summer when I was doing hospital chaplaincy. He was present with me, especially in my encounters with patients. I am looking forward to seeing how he has already been working the lives of parishioners, and I hope to support the work that he is doing.

How can our parish community best support you?
Pray! I am looking forward to how God will be forming me this year, but I also know that I will run into challenges. Please pray that I may be open to the challenges the Lord is offering me, that I may be aware of his presence in those moments, and that I may offer everything back to him for his greater glory. In simple terms, please pray that I may be a holy priest!

Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out even if it’s just to say hi! I want to get to know you as well as your relationship with God, no matter where you are in your journey. I’m convinced that God is walking with all of us on a great adventure.

What are some of your favorite hobbies or things you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, reading literature, and singing. In seminary, I really enjoyed being in the choir. I also love karaoke.

What advice would you give to someone who might be discerning a vocation?
"Do not be afraid." Pray and learn to encounter Jesus as a friend, especially in Eucharistic Adoration. Also, reach out to someone such as one of the priests, a vocations director, or a seminarian. One cannot discern alone, and one cannot discern without taking action. Ask Jesus what step he wants you to take next. He has a way of transforming our fears and revealing to us our deepest desires.

All new parishioners are invited to join us on Sunday, September 27, after the 10:00 AM Mass in McDonough Hall for brunch bites, mimosas, and fellowship with parishioners and staff as we welcome you to Holy Spirit. RSVP online if you would like to attend and meet our newest members.

Our monthly First Friday Adoration will take place in St. Mary’s Chapel on Friday, October 2, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and again from 6:30 until 8:30 AM. Additionally, a rosary will be prayed at 9:00 AM on Saturday, following Mass. Please consider stopping by St. Mary’s Chapel to spend some quiet time in prayer with the Lord. For those interested in serving as a guardian by committing to one hour each month, please visit hsccatl.com/myhour to sign up.

"Be not afraid." Every man carries something he's afraid to name — failure, doubt, the weight of leading a family or a team. Scripture's most repeated command isn't "do more." It's "fear not." Join the men of Holy Spirit on Friday, October 2, for an evening built around that call, led by special guest Jonathan Campbell from Hallow — Mass, dinner, and a retreat night digging into what it actually looks like to live unafraid. Mass is at 6:00 PM in St. Mary's Chapel, followed by dinner at 6:30 PM, and the retreat from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM in McDonough Hall. All men of the parish are invted. Bring a friend! The cost is $15. For more information, contact Aimee McDonald.

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

Tune in to AM 1160 The Quest for the Fall 2026 Pledge Drive, “Living the Peace of Christ,” September 29–October 1. Hear members of our Holy Spirit community throughout the drive:  Josh Harris on Tuesday, September 29, at 8:00 AM; Fr. Sean Lee on Wednesday, September 30, at 3:00 PM; and Catherine Fuss on Thursday, October 1, at 4:00 PM. Listen, view the full schedule, or make a pledge at TheQuestAtlanta.com, through The Quest Atlanta App, or on AM 1160.

A Healing Prayer Service will take place on Wednesday, September 30, at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM in St. Mary's Chapel. This service does not include the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Bring your furry, feathered, or four-legged friends for our annual Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 4, at 3:00 PM. NEW LOCATION:  due to the construction fencing, please join us in the parkling lot near the baseball field, in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue. We’ll gather rain or shine to give thanks for the animals that bring so much joy to our lives and ask God’s blessing upon them. For everyone’s safety, please make sure all pets are on a leash or properly secured. We hope to see you and your beloved pets there!

Next Sunday, October 4, the Knights of Columbus will host a parish breakfast. 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 in McDonough Hall. The cost is $8 per adult, $5 per child, or a family of 5+ is $25. All proceeds go to support the charitable works of the Knights of Columbus.

All men of the parish are invited to the October Men’s Club gathering on Monday, October 5, at 6:30 PM at Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House in Sandy Springs, 227 Sandy Springs Pl. Join us for a relaxed evening of good food, great conversation, and fellowship with friends old and new. RSVP online if you plan to attend.

Holy Spirit is joining Hallow’s Parish Week prayer challenge, “Rebuild My Church,” and we invite you to pray with us! Beginning Monday, October 5, we’ll spend seven days praying alongside the saints and reflecting on what it means to build up the Church through prayer, the sacraments, authentic communion, generosity, invitation, and missionary discipleship. The waitlist is now open! Visit Holy Spirit’s parish page in the Hallow app and join the challenge today. Together, let’s pray, grow in faith, and answer Christ’s call to “Rebuild My Church.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) was a gifted musician, writer, and philosopher whose ideas profoundly shaped Western political thought. Some of his writings were so controversial that France and Switzerland banned them as threats to civil and religious authority.

At the next Great Books Discussion Group meeting, we'll discuss Rousseau's The Social Contract (1762), in which he argues that sovereignty ultimately belongs to the people. The work would go on to influence generations of philosophers, thinkers, and revolutionaries. The group meets Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 PM in McDonough Hall, Side B. Future meetings will be held monthly, featuring selections from the Great Books Foundation series. For more information, contact Patrick Carey at 770-241-2511.

We invite you to join us for a fun and festive Friday Nite Bites Family Social on Friday, October 30, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM in McDonough Hall. Come enjoy an easy Friday evening with festive Halloween bites and treats, a small trunk-or-treat for the kids, and a showing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown while parents have a chance to connect and enjoy fellowship together — a fun way to kick off the weekend as a family. All ages are welcome! Our activities are generally planned with children 12 and under in mind, but we’d love to have the whole family join us. Halloween costumes are welcome but not required.

There is no charge to attend, but please RSVP if you think your family can make it so we can plan plenty of food, treats, and activities for everyone. We’d love to have you there! This event is hosted by our Young Families Ministry. If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact Sarah Savoie.

You may have noticed the construction fencing around the outdoor chapel and the area leading to the memorial garden. We are ready to break ground on the expansion of our Ameila Mary Garden. Please join us for a brief groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, October 10, following the 8:30 AM Mass as we mark the official beginning of construction. RSVP if you will attend.

After months of planning and preparation, we are grateful to have reached this important milestone and look forward to celebrating it together as a parish community. Please join us as we ask God’s blessing upon the work ahead and all those who will help bring this project to completion.

The  Holy Spirit Women’s Club welcomes parishioners and communication experts Pam Leinmiller, President of Vertical Vision (LinkedIn), and Kricket Harrison, Creator of First Class Leadership (LinkedIn) on Monday October 5, at either 11:30 AM or 6:30 PM in McDonough Hall! Together, Pam and Kricket will share practical tools to help better understand others, know what to say next, and communicate with greater intention and connection. 

“Say This, Not That” begins with understanding the person in front of you and ends with knowing exactly what to say. Pam will explore emotional intelligence in action, sharing strategies to create meaningful connections, reduce misunderstandings, and bring greater empathy to challenging conversations. Participants will learn to listen more effectively, better understand others, and build stronger connections.

Building on that foundation, Kricket will share practical language from the Exactly What to Say framework to build trust, reduce resistance, and navigate difficult conversations with greater confidence. Participants will leave with powerful phrases they can use immediately to influence without pressure, strengthen relationships, and create better outcomes.

Come join us and bring a friend! The cost is $20 and includes lunch or dinner.

RSVP for the Morning Session Here

RSVP for the Evening Session Here

All women are invited to the October Social at Ray's on the River on Thursday, October 29, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Enjoy a relaxed and joyful evening of fellowship at Rays on the River! Come unwind, connect with friends old and new, and enjoy a beautiful setting together. Rays on the River is located at 6700 Powers Ferry Rd., Sandy Springs. RSVP if you will attend.

Support the Holy Spirit Women's Club by shopping for gifts, home items, wrapping paper and more through the Charleston Wrap Fundraiser. Beginning October 1, visit hsccatl.com/women to shop. Orders ship directly to you, and every purchase helps support the Women's Club and its work at Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Women's Club is a self funded organization, which is why we are delighted to work again with Flower Power in raising money to support our mission of offering the women of our parish social, service, and spiritual opportunities. Fall bulbs are for sale now at Flower Power, until October 15. Bulbs will be delivered directly to you for a flat fee of $6.99 per order, with shipping beginning in early October. In addition to many beautiful spring flowers and happy customers, we have raised over $2,000 since 2024, and hope to grow more in 2026.

St. Vincent de Paul dedicated his life to serving people experiencing poverty, becoming an enduring inspiration to generations of Vincentians. In 1833, 22-year-old Frédéric Ozanam and his companions founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, placing their work in the spirit of St. Vincent’s commitment to direct, person-to-person service.

Today, that mission reaches 155 countries, with more than 800,000 Vincentians serving through approximately 48,000 local Conferences (parishes). Together, they assist more than 30 million people every single day.

Here at Holy Spirit, our Vincentians carry St. Vincent’s spirit of compassion to neighbors who need help right here in our own backyard. As we celebrate his feast, please keep our Conference members in your prayers as they continue this important work.

Parents of this year’s First Communicants—both 2nd graders and children in RCIC—are invited to join Aimee McDonald and Fr. Sean for an important, brief parent meeting TODAY, September 27, at 10:00 AM in the HSP Library. We’ll walk through what to expect during this special year of sacrament preparation, review key requirements and important information, and make plenty of time for your questions. Your participation will help ensure that your family is prepared and supported as we accompany your child toward First Holy Communion. For more information, please contact Aimee McDonald.

Our Neophyte (New Catholic) class meets the second Sunday of each month, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, in the ground floor classroom of the Parish Office Building. It's open to anyone who completed the OCIA Confirmation Class in the last two years. The next meeting will be held on Sunday, October 18, due to the Columbus Day weekend.

Our Inquiry session meets the last Sunday of each month, starting today September 27, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, in the same classroom. It's open to anyone interested in becoming Catholic through OCIA. OCIA Director Dr. David King facilitates both sessions. Questions? Email Dr. David King.

Looking to meet new people and grow in community? All teens are welcome—whether you're a Youth Ministry regular or checking us out for the first time! Join us for our next gatherings from 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Youth Center:  Friday, October 9 | Agapé – Grupo Juvenil (Hispanic Ministry), Sunday, October 11 | Life Night. Come grow in faith, build friendships, and be part of something greater. We hope to see you there!