In celebration of the New Year, the parish office will close at noon on Wednesday, December 31, and will reopen on Monday, January 5. We wish you a happy and holy Christmas and every blessing in 2026.

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is on Thursday, January 1 and is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Thursday, January 1. There will be a Vigil Mass on Wednesday, December 31, at 6:00 PM. Both Masses will be in the Church.

Our monthly First Friday Adoration will take place in St. Mary’s Chapel on Friday, January 2, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, and again from 6:30 PM until 8:30 AM. All are invited to start the New Year off by spending time in prayer with the Lord. If you are interested in serving as a guardian by committing to one hour each month, please visit: hsccatl.com/myhour to sign up.

You are also invited to pray the rosary, uniting our prayers with the Blessed Mother, on Saturday, January 3, after the 8:30 AM Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel. Contact Anne Rieger with questions.

Religious Education and Youth Ministry will not meet on Sundays, December 21 or 28. Classes will resume on Sunday, January 4. We wish you a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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

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 winter and spring. Classes will resume on January 4.

January 4 - The Divine Maternity: Why Mary is Truly the Mother of God - Dr. Andrew McGovern

January 25 - Doctors of the Church and Everyday Life - What We Can Learn from the Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and St. Thomas Aquinas - Alycia Murtha

February 1 - Discerning the Spirits: Recognizing the Voice of God - Oswaldo (Ozzie) Franco

February 8 - Entering the Desert: Living Lent with Purpose - Deacon Bill McCarthy

February 22 - The Sorrowful Mysteries: Meeting Jesus in Our Own Suffering - Heather Triggs

March 1 - Discerning the Spirits: Applying the Rules of Discernment - Oswaldo (Ozzie) Franco

March 8 - A Catholic Perspective on Sex and Gender Ideology: Origins, Challenges, and Our Response - Thomas Gaines

March 15 - Holy Saturday: Embracing the Silence Between Death and Resurrection - Heather Triggs

March 22 - Who Do You Say That I Am? Exploring the Four Names of Jesus - Andrew McGovern

April 26 - The Glory of the Lord: Reflections on the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary - Alycia Murtha

May 3 - Jonah: The Short but Powerful Story of a Failed Prophet - Deacon Steve Demko

All men of the parish are invited to the January Men’s Club event on Monday, January 5, at 6:30 PM at Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House in Sandy Springs. Catch up after the holiday break with friends old and new. RSVP online if you will attend.

For recent centuries, historians and critics have considered literature as one of the defining products of a culture. But how should we read and interpret the literary work?

Ben Johnson (1572-1637), in his poem “To The Memory of My Beloved, the Author Mr. William Shakespeare”, finds the man and the work inseparable. Centuries later, the French philosopher Michel Foucault (1926-1984), in his essay “What is an Author?”, contests the binding of the author to the art work.

Come join the next meeting of the Great Books Discussion Group on Thursday, January 8, at 7:00 PM in McDonough Hall, Side B, to explore these opposing views of literature. Subsequent meetings will be held monthly with selections from the Great Books Foundation series. For more information, please contact Patrick Carey at 770-241-2511.

Please join the Women's Club for a special January meeting "Gifts of Hope with Paul Umaña" on Monday, January 12, at 11:30 AM and 6:00 PM in McDonough. Our parishioner and Catholic speaker, Paula Umaña, is now the host of the new EWTN program Gifts of Hope — and she’s joining us to share the most powerful stories and unforgettable moments from the show. In addition, remarks will be made by an EWTN guest and parishioner. Come be inspired by real-life testimonies of faith, suffering, and healing that are bringing hope to people around the world. The cost of the meeting is $20 and includes either lunch or dinner.

Morning Session - RSVP Here
Evening Session - RSVP Here

Paula is the author of 40 Gifts of Hope, editor of Imitation of Christ for the Sick and Suffering, and recently released her new Bible study titled Rediscovering Hope, a powerful guide to healing and faith. In 2024, she spoke to 60,000 people at the National Eucharistic Congress.

Paula lives in Atlanta with her husband, Dr. Serge Sautre, a chiropractor, and their five children. She now hosts Gifts of Hope on EWTN, sharing life-changing stories of faith and redemption.

Learn more at paulaspeaker.com.

Join Women of the Word as they study the book, Reclaiming Friendship. In this Walking with Purpose Bible study, you will discover God's plan through Scripture for lasting and abiding friendships. Gain understanding of what it means that God created each of us in His image, and let God help you learn how to cultivate lifelong bonds of true friendship.  

Order online either from Walking With Purpose or from Amazon.

Tuesdays, beginning January 20
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM in McDonough Hall
Register at hsccatl.com/RSVP
 
Women of the Word (WOW), through personal study and small group discussion, provides a place for the women of Holy Spirit Catholic Church (and beyond) to gather in prayer and fellowship while helping each other learn God's truth as written in Holy Scripture.  WOW meets on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM.  Registration on the parish website is required, and all are welcome!

The Sandy Springs and Dunwoody Community Assistance Center (CAC) provides food to help many of the 9,500 individuals in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody needing CAC support to feed themselves and prevent homelessness during these financially difficult times.

During last January’s and June’s CAC Food Drive, HSCC parishioners donated over 3,000 lbs of food! Our next commitment to support CAC is January 1 - 31. Donation locations also providing the list of food items needed will be in the (1) Narthex, (2) entrance area to St. Mary’s Chapel and (3) entrance area to HSP Preschool. Thank you, in advance, for your kindness and desire to help those in need. 

Parish drivers are welcome, even for one pick up in January and/or June each year. Contact Kate Cotterman, Director of Volunteers, kallen@hsccatl.com to sign up as a driver. 

 

Food List

• Baking Products (cake/brownie/muffin mixes, flour, sugar, oil)
• Beans (dry black)
• Broth
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Meats (chicken, tuna, ham, etc.)
• Canned Vegetables (corn, sweet peas, mixed)
• Canned Tomatoes (diced, whole, sauce)
• Canned Pastas
• Cereal / Oatmeal
• Dry or Evaporated Milk
• Jelly
• Jell-O or Pudding Mix
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Meal Helpers
• Meat Entrees (canned chili, beef stew, chicken & dumplings, Hormel Completes)
• Pasta (any kind)
• Peanut Butter
• Potatoes (instant)
• Pork & Beans
• Rice
• Soup
• Snacks (crackers, cookies)
• Spaghetti Sauce

 Toiletries

• Diapers (medium, large, xl; sizes 5 and 6)
• Deodorant
• Disposable Razors
• Feminine Products
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Toilet Paper

This past year, the Holy Spirit St. Vincent de Paul Conference assisted 96 households, including 15 parish families, and served 371 neighbors — 136 of them children. Your support through the Collection for the Poor, the Second Collection for St. Vincent de Paul on the parish website, and #iGiveCatholic provides the funds we need to respond to neighbors in need in 30327 and parts of 30342, helping cover groceries, utilities, and rent.

Through your generosity, we also brought joy and hope to 232 Latino parishioners through our Christmas Angels program.

We literally could not do this without you. Thank you for making our Vincentian service possible.

As the end of the year approaches, parishioners still have the opportunity to make donations to Holy Spirit which will be tax deductible for 2025. To qualify, the donation must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 31, 2025. HSCC also accepts stock donations through the Archdiocese of Atlanta. To donate stock, visit: lifeofthechurch.com/donate for instructions. If you have questions, please contact Tracy Zelczak or 404-920-7606 or Debbie Slinkard in the parish office.

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.