Welcome/About Us
Our Mission
Holy Spirit Parish, a Catholic,
Christian community, is a “light on the hilltop” inviting all God’s
people to experience the hospitality of our community in
Christ. We are sustained in faith through our vibrant liturgies
which call us to manifest the presence of Christ to those
around us—to be Jesus to one another. We witness
this faith not only through liturgy but also through outreach
to the poor and vulnerable, life-long faith formation,
and total stewardship.
The Holy Spirit Pastoral Council
August 2005 |
Parish Planning -ENVISION
In September of 2004, Holy Spirit parish began a process of long-range planning called ENVISION. After one year of organizing, listening, discerning, and visioning, the ENVISION Committee adopted a Vision Statement.
The Vision Statement:
Spirit-led and Christ-centered, and welcoming, dynamic community, fostering lifelong spiritual growth, reaching beyond ourselves in living the Gospel. |
Five (5) goals were presented to the parish on Pentecost Sunday, May 15, 2005. These goals are:
Youth Ministry
Holy Spirit seeks to have a vibrant and active youth ministry where our youth (grades 6-12) will have the opportunity to develop their personal relationship with Christ in community with others.
Welcoming/Hospitality
Holy Spirit parish seeks to create an environment to strengthen and increase our welcoming of new members and parish involvement through a vibrant and formal welcoming program emphasizing personal contact and regular parish-wide social events.
Social Justice/Community Outreach
Social justice, rooted in the teachings of Jesus, of our local and global community, sharing those needs with our faith community and creating an appropriate plan to positively impact those needs.
Parish Involvement
Holy Spirit parish seeks to ensure that parishioners of all ages are invited and encouraged to actively participate in the life and ministry of Holy Spirit.
Comprehensive Faith Formation
Holy Spirit parish seeks to strengthen and grow our Catholic faith and spirituality through lifelong faith formation activities. Therefore, this Priority Area will include a variety of parish-based programs, resources and activities to meet the lifelong faith formation needs of its parishioners. |
Parish History
Origins of the Parish
In the summer of 1990, Catholics of northwest Rochester
were invited to participate in the formation of a new parish,
to be called Holy Spirit. A group of 78 families registered
for the new parish at its first Mass on September 9, 1990,
held at a rented bingo hall. The atmosphere smelled of cigarettes
and the setup was difficult. For four years we lived with
that temporary setting.
During the weeks and months that
followed, people stepped forward to take on many tasks, responsibilities,
ministries, commissions, and councils. From the beginning
it was apparent that Holy Spirit Parish would bring into
reality the “priesthood of the laity.”
Begun
in Sacrificial Giving
In the late fall of 1992, we did our
first building campaign, and raised over a half million in
pledges to start construction of a church and school.
In
July 1996, we re-did our campaign, raising over $600,000
in pledges to keep us on track for our mortgage payments.
Parishioners across the board are very generous. As new members
come in, they add their pledges to those of the old members.
The one thing we know for sure is that sacrificial giving
by Holy Spirit members will be necessary for the future of
the parish. We continue to be awed by the total participation,
and are filled with gratitude at the generosity.
 The Church
Building
In September of 1993, we began construction on a
church building — a building that we hoped would be
a light on a hilltop for northwest Rochester and Olmsted
County. This building opened on August 14, 1994, with a Liturgy — the
first half of which was at the bingo hall and the second
at the new church. Bishop Vlazny blessed the building on
August 21, 1994.
|
