Dear Holy Spirit,

I am filled with joy and in awe as I reflected on our Sunday gathering last weekend. Many of you commented that it felt like “pre-pandemic” times because of the number of people who came to Mass. There were some long-time members of our community that I met for the first time. Students, parents, and former associate pastor Fr. Angelo David were present. In the sacristy, Fr. Angelo told me that he too was in awe as he celebrated the Eucharist with us. “Wow, the number of people who came! This is truly a celebration of community. The Spirit is alive! Thanks be to God!” he said.

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Mission Appeal 2024 at Holy Spirit

Fr. Paul Aquino SVD will be at Holy Spirit Parish on the weekend of September 30- October 1 to celebrate Masses and to speak about the many ministries of his religious community, Divine Word Missionaries. They are an international religious community of missionary priests and Brothers serving in 79 countries helping to build chapels, celebrate the sacraments and spread the Word of God in remote mission communities.

Fr. Paul was ordained in 2016 in Chicago. Following his ordination, he was assigned to work at Divine Word College Mission Seminary (DWC) in Epworth, IA as a liturgical musician, spiritual director and formator. He then went to take a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and finished his studies in May 2020. He returned to DWC and now serves as a music instructor and formator.

Nearly 6,000 active Divine Word Missionaries minister in the far corners of the world. They build hospitals to care for the sick and build schools to educate the poor. They teach the hungry to farm. They provide life’s necessities—water, food and shelter—in impoverished communities. These priests and Brothers help those neglected and forgotten by society to build a better future. They also foster vibrant Catholic communities of service and faith around the world.

This mission appeal is part of the Missionary Cooperative Program of our Diocese of San Jose. Please be generous with your prayers and contribute to the second collection to help support the missionary work of the Divine Word Missionaries. To meet some of the people Divine Word Missionaries help, please read the stories at https://missionimpact.svdmissions.org/mission-update.

2023 Holy Spirit Golf Tournament

The Holy Spirit Golf Tournament is back! Join us on Monday, October 16^th for a day on the green! Space is limited, so register today by clicking here! 

Seniors Fall Luncheon from the Cape!

Join us as we bring a taste of the east coast to Holy Spirit! Seniors and WOW members are welcome as we celebrate the start of fall with a New England Lobster Roll Lunch in the Parish Hall on Saturday, September 30th at 11:30 am. 

To reserve your spot, please contact Merry Reardon by September 27th at 408-997-5112. Alternative rolls are available for those who do not like lobster. Please let Merry know your roll option when signing up. 

Grace Alliance

There are two absolutes in this world. First, life will present challenges. Second, God is always with us. He is always guiding us. He is always walking beside us. And He is always carrying us when we are in most need.  

When God carries us, it doesn’t mean we do nothing. We do the foot work to aide our recovery and ask that He hold us throughout the process. That foot work can take many forms: counseling, therapy, support groups and even medication. Asking for help is one of the bravest things a person can do and sometimes simply giving voice to our challenges can be a great relief.

We at Holy Spirit Church are committed to helping those families and individuals suffering with emotional challenges through our Mental Health and Wellness Ministry. Holy Spirit has a family support group called Grace Alliance. We meet weekly and follow a scripture-based program that focuses on mental wellness. We create a safe space where people can share their challenges without shame or judgement. There is a specific program for individuals that suffer and a separate program for the loved ones of those suffering. We started this program last year with great success and will start again this fall.You can also contact us If you are interested in joining one of these groups or just want more information on our Ministry. 

Michelle Hansen

michhansen@aol.com

Holly Salkeld

Hollys1910@gmail.com

If you or a loved one are having an immediate crisis, please call the 988 suicide and crisis hotline. Santa Clara County has an abundance of mental health resources and the crisis counselors will connect you with the help you need.

Holy Spirit School Pancake Breakfast

Mark your calendars for the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, October 8^th from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Enjoy delicious pancakes, coffee & hot chocolate while catching up with friends! This event is $5 per person for all Parishioners & HSS families. Hope to see you there! To RSVP, click here! Please purchase your tickets by September 29th.

Diocesan Pastoral Plan

A Night of Praise & Worship

On Friday, October 6th, Santa Clara University is hosting a praise and worship evening featuring live music from talented praise and worship artists and musicians. Come join this free event with uplifting music and message. The event is from 8:00pm-10:00pm. All are welcome! More information can be found on the flyer.

English as a Second Language - Volunteers Needed

The ESL classes are looking for Vietnamese and Spanish speaking volunteers who can teach English online through Zoom one night a week this school year. If you are interested, please contact Jim Gibbons at jim@gibbons.com

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been renewing marriages for 50 years!

Any married couple that desires a fuller life together deserves a WWME experience. It is designed to deepen and enrich the joys a couple shares together, whether they have been married a short time or for many years.

Take an opportunity this year to invest time for your marriage. Experiences in the Bay Area for the remainder of 2023 are September 29–October 1 and November 17–19. Please register by clicking here. For more information call Ken and Claranne at 408-782-1413.