My Dear Friends in Christ,

Thank you for the many ways you made the celebration of my 25th anniversary of ordination so memorable. Your prayers, presence, kind words, and expressions of friendship were a tremendous blessing to me.

I am especially grateful to our Traditional Choir, under the direction of Dr. Albert Ahlstrom, and our Latino Choir, led by Jorge Alvarez, whose inspiring music elevated our liturgy and made the anniversary Mass especially meaningful.

My sincere thanks also to the priests and seminarians who joined me at the altar, reminding me of the great gift of our shared vocation and the fraternity we enjoy together.

The reception after Mass was a wonderful celebration of our parish family. I am grateful to the Knights of Columbus for their hospitality, the Lucy Guild for the lovely floral arrangements, and the many parishioners who came to celebrate. Seeing so many familiar faces gathered was a wonderful reminder of the blessing it is to serve this parish.

I also want to thank our Hispanic community for the warm celebration following the 1:00 PM Mass on Sunday. Your kindness, generosity, and spirit of welcome touched me deeply. A special thank you to the children in our Hispanic Ministry's Vacation Bible School, who surprised me after Mass with an enthusiastic rendition of You Are My Sunshine, bringing a huge smile to my face. It is a memory I will treasure for many years to come.

As I reflect on these past twenty-five years of priesthood, I am reminded that every blessing I have received has come through God's grace and through the people He has entrusted to my care. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving you and for walking with me in faith. Please continue to pray for me, as I assure you of my prayers for each of you.

In Christ,
Fr. Luke Ballman

As their time at Holy Spirit comes to a close, we thank seminarian Ozzy Franco and transitional Deacon William Whitlow for their faithful service to our parish.

Over the past year, Ozzy has shared his love for Christ while preparing for the priesthood. He returns to seminary this fall and, God willing, will be ordained a transitional deacon in May. This summer, Deacon William has blessed our parish through his preaching and ministry as he prepares for priestly ordination next May.

Please join us in thanking them for their service and praying for them as they continue their journey to the priesthood. May God bless them always.

If you haven't received your invitation to participate in our capital campaign planning study yet, please contact the parish office. Having everyone’s feedback will help us determine how we move forward with our proposed plans to add more parking, expand McDonough Hall, renovate our church sanctuary, and build a solid financial foundation by growing our parish endowments while we also do our part to support the Archdiocese’s campaign, Rooted in Christ—Growing in Faith.
 
Why are these initiatives important? Holy Spirit Catholic Church is blessed to be experiencing some growing pains – a good problem to have! We want to be poised to welcome new families to our parish, to serve them as well as we have you for the last 62 years, and to help us all grow closer to God and each other. Our proposed plans will do just that.
 
Please be sure to complete our survey. We’re eager to hear from you!
Fr. Luke Ballman
 

Looking for a fun way to meet other parishioners, learn something new, and enjoy a little friendly competition? Holy Spirit Catholic Churc and the Women's Club invite you to join us this August for guided Mahjong classes at Holy Spirit.

Mahjong is a popular strategy game that brings people together around the table for conversation, connection, and community. Whether you are brand new or already know the basics, this is a great opportunity to learn and grow your skills.

Classes will be led by professional instructors from Southern Mahjong Co. Each class is approximately two hours and will begin after Mass at 6:30 PM in McDonough Hall. The classes are designed to build on one another, beginning with the basics in Mahjong 101, moving into guided play in Mahjong 102, and ending with advanced strategy in Mahjong 103. The cost is $100 per class or $285 for all three classes.

Mahjong 101 | August 3 - RSVP HERE FOR MAHJONG 101 OR ALL THREE CLASSES
An introduction to Mahjong basics. This fun 2-hour class covers all the essentials you need to start your Mahjong journey. You will learn the fundamentals of the tiles, the rules, the official card and begin to build a strategy foundation. Deadline to RSVP is Sunday, August 2 at 6:30 PM.

Mahjong 102 | August 10 - RSVP HERE FOR MAHJONG 102
Perfect as a follow-up to 101 or for those that know the basics. This class helps you master the basics of playing and gain confidence as you grow your skills. We will begin guided play with active learning and instruction throughout. Deadline to RSVP is Sunday, August 9 at 6:30 PM.

Mahjong 103 | August 24 - RSVP HERE FOR MAHJONG 103
Our advanced strategy masterclass. Here you’ll deep dive into the Charleston, sharpen advanced strategies, and play at the same level as social leagues and clubs. This will allow time for guided play with strategy assistance and Q & A. Deadline to RSVP is Sunday, August 23 at 6:30 PM.

Whether you come on your own or with a friend, this is a great opportunity to connect with other parishioners while learning a fun and social game.

Coming this September, the Women’s Club will also host regular open play sessions for those who would like to keep playing and building community. Watch the bulletin and website for more information!

Interested in becoming Catholic?

We are now enrolling for the next session of O.C.I.A. which will begin on Sunday August 9 and conclude on Sunday November 22, with reception into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church at the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass on Saturday November 21. The class will meet on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, with Mass offered either before or after at 8:30 AM or 11:30 AM. Class will not meet on Labor Day, Columbus Day, or Thanksgiving weekends.

A nominal fee of $35 is required to register for the course; this fee helps cover the cost of books and other materials.

Because acceptance into the program requires pastoral approval, prospective O.C.I.A. participants should begin gathering sacramental documents, including, if applicable, certificates of baptism and marriage. Remote and in-person interviews with participants are underway; please e-mail Dr. David King to arrange registration. The deadline for registration is TODAY, Sunday July 26.

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

Our 40+ Dinner Club has long been a favorite way to gather, share a meal, and build friendships. As longtime hosts pass the torch, we’re looking for one or two couples to help lead its next chapter. Previous hosts are happy to share ideas, answer questions, and even help host the first gathering.

If you enjoy bringing people together, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Sarah Savoie.

Our Funeral Reception Committee is one of the quiet, beautiful ways Holy Spirit cares for families during a time of loss. Often with little notice, this small group prepares food, sets up the reception hall, serves families and guests, and cleans up afterward so grieving families have one less thing to carry.

We are deeply grateful for the parishioners who have served this ministry so faithfully, but more helping hands are needed to keep this important work going. Whether you can provide food, help set up, serve, or assist with cleanup, your time can make a meaningful difference.

Stop by their table at next month’s Ministry Fair to learn more, or become part of this meaningful ministry at Holy Spirit here.

... through relationships with neighbors in need and with one another. Through home visits, prayer, friendship, and compassionate service, Vincentians live their faith in a deeply personal and meaningful way.

If you are looking for a way to deepen your faith while helping neighbors in need, we invite you to learn more. Come to our next Vincentian meeting on Tuesday, August 4, in the Lower Level of the Administration Building. Fellowship begins at 6:30 PM, and the meeting begins at 7:00 PM. Questions? Email us at SVDP@hsccatl.com.