Category: News & Events

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the world will embark on it’s 12th year of #GivingTuesday. Created in 2012 as a simple idea to encourage people to do good, it has grown into a global generosity “movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world.” Giving back is something that each of you does on a daily basis as Catholic Christians, and for that we are always grateful. Last year, your generosity helped raise over $72,000 for the purchase of a new sound system for the sanctuary!

Holy Spirit is the largest school in the diocese and our largest ministry of the parish. As a community, we are blessed to educate the whole child: academically, socially, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This means beyond the classroom. This year’s project, titled, Rejuvenate the Gym, will allow us to have a greater impact on the opportunities our children have outside of the classroom:

• a new stage to be used for musicals, the auction, the variety show, speakers, and other community events
• LED light replacements
• revamped paint scheme
• replacement padding on the gym walls
• upgraded sound system

Our goals this #GivingTuesday are to raise $55,000 to rejuvenate the gym and have 100% participation to make it happen. Please prayerfully consider making a gift during the 24-hour period on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. The Diocese is covering all processing fees, which means 100% of your gift goes directly to this project.

Christmas is a time that we remember family and loved ones. Click below to download the Christmas Memorial form to print.

Some of you may remember the newspaper from 2022 entitled the “Michigan Catholic Tribune.” The Tribune falsely presents itself as a Catholic publication and includes politically-related content meant to assist Catholic voters in casting their ballots.
The publication is not in alignment with Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.

In 2022, the newspaper was mailed to random households within the diocese, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

This publication and its accompanying website are not endorsed by nor are they affiliated with the Diocese of Grand Rapids or the Catholic Church.

We are aware of at least one instance where the newspaper has been received within our diocese, along with other dioceses in the State. It is likely a matter of time before one of your parishioners receives it as well. We do not know who or how many people may have received this newspaper.

The diocese did not share mailing information for this publication. We never sell parishioner contact information.

Have you received text messages, emails, or messages through Facebook Messenger from someone claiming to be Father Mark? The messages are usually brief and say something like “Can we talk in your spare time?” or “I’m in a meeting and can’t talk, but need your help and it’s urgent.” It is not until you respond that there are questions asking for money or gift cards indicating it is an emergency.

Don’t give. It’s not Fr. Mark. It’s a scam.

Many parishioners of the Diocese of Grand Rapids have been targeted by these fraudsters and it’s not just happening in West Michigan. The Diocese of Austin, Texas; the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida and others also have reported the scams.

Don’t fall for it! Here is what to know and do:

1. Check the email address it is being sent from. If it is not “mpeacock@hsparish.org” then it is not from Fr. Mark. (for example, they often come from an email like “fatherr773@gmail.com and pmailoffice04@gmail.com)
2. Know that Fr. Mark will never make requests like that via email or text message and instantly demand money or gift cards.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, or want to check before responding, you are always welcome to forward the emails to our office staff or call us to confirm the validity of the message.

Thank you for your support of the interim phase of the Synod on Synodality. In the past few years, Pope Francis has initiated the Synod on Synodality to see and know how we are carrying out our lives as faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

This interim phase helps bridge the gap between the first session of the Ordinary General Assembly held in October 2023 and the second session which will occur in October 2024.

Bishop Daniel Flores, chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, asked each bishop to organize 2-3 listening sessions in his diocese during this interim phase focusing on two “guiding questions.”

The Diocese of Grand Rapids hosted three listening sessions in March – at Cathedral Square Center, at St. Patrick – St. Anthony Parish, Grand Haven, and the Catholic Newman Center in Big Rapids.

Summaries of those meetings were analyzed and synthesized into a report that was submitted to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The diocesan report and the report for Region VI (Michigan and Ohio) are now available for reading, by clicking on the links above and below this paragraph.

Let us pray that the pope’s invitation to all Catholics for synodality – that is, listening to and hearing one another is recognized.

2025 will mark the first year since 2014 that we will not have any ordinations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”
(Mt 9:37-38). We must intentionally and repeatedly ask the Lord to send more laborers for the harvest in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

For this reason, Bishop Walkowiak has launched a vocations prayer initiative across the diocese. This prayer asks the Lord to bless the Diocese of Grand Rapids with more vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. 

Prayer cards will be made available in the Narthex soon for you to take the prayer home with you. In the meantime, we will pray it together before the close of each Mass as a parish family.

The Epiphany Blessing is a Catholic Tradition to bless our homes. Catholics bless their homes by writing the letters C, M, and B and the numbers of the year at the top of their doors. The letters stand for the names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also represent the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat, which means, “May Christ bless this house.”

Click here for a printable version without the background image.

Each Advent, we hang gift tags on the trees in the back of church with different requests, such as “2 Bath Towels” or “1 Laundry Basket.” While the list has usually been quite similar, this year’s tags also included toilet paper, paper towel, and feminine products for women. We partnered with Catholic Charities West Michigan this year.

We are incredibly appreciative of a parish who stepped up once again to provide for the needs in our community! Thank you to all those who made donations for the items listed on the gift tags, as well as all of the monetary donations towards God’s Kitchen and in the form of Meijer gift cards, which totaled $2,875.00.

Catholic Charities West Michigan was so grateful for the donations and the need to bring one of their big trucks in order to fit everything in one load! Thank you, Holy Spirit for truly living out our mission to Love God…Serve Others…Grow Disciples!

Look in your mailbox for our new Guide Book & Directory. It should be arriving in the coming week.

The many advertisers included helped provide this service to our parish at no cost. We encourage you to think of them in the future as your needs arise. If you are interested in advertising next year, contact amandavogt@guidebookpublishing.com for more information.

Please familiarize yourself with the ministries and organizations at our church located in the front of the book. An electronic PDF version of the Guide Section of the book is available for downloading to our computer, smart phone, or tablet at your convenience.

To download the Online Guide Section:

1. Visit www.guidebookpublishing.com/congregations/online-guide-sections
2. Click on our state followed by our city
3. Click on VIEW GUIDE to download the book

Update Your Information

If your information is incorrect or out of date in the Guide Book & Directory, please update it here so we can update our database and ensure changes will be made to next year’s directory.