“To seek to know the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ; to celebrate together as a Catholic family of faith; and to share our gifts and talents in loving service to others.”
|
Parish Office 717-838-3369 |
Weekend Mass Worship Aid |
Register with our parish
Access our online parish directory: https:members.instantchurchdirectory.com
Sign up for the directory here.
Welcome to Holy Spirit Church
Pastor: Father Michael Metzgar
Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 4pm*
Sunday Mass: 8:30am & 11am*
*One weekend Mass will be live streamed on YouTube
at Holy Spirit Palmyra. Time/day will vary.
Daily Mass:
Monday, Thursday: 9am
Wednesday: 6pm
– Rosary 5:30pm
Friday: 7am
Confessions:
Saturday: 3pm—3:45pm
Wednesday: 4:30pm—5:30pm
Parish Office Phone Number:
717-838-3369
NEWS & EVENTS
SPIRITFEST News
Mark your calendars for SpiritFest 2026 being held at Holy Spirit on August 7 and 8. Below are some needs as we prepare for the big event.
Volunteers Needed – please visit this link to sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/
Job Descriptions: Festival_Job_Description
Basket Raffle Donations
We are hoping to have another successful basket raffle again this year with your help. Kindly drop off donations of cash or gift cards at the parish office to the attention of Amy: Basket Raffle Donations. You can also email her at festival@hspalmyra.com. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Business Sponsorships
If you are a business owner and would like to be involved as a sponsor of SpiritFest, please reach out to Rita at festival@hspalmyra.com. She will provide the many options that exist in supporting the festival.
SPIRITFEST CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT—Aug 8
Registration 5pm—Bags Fly at 6pm
(Weather pending as this is an outdoor event)
-BYOP (Bring your own partner)
-$40 per team with 40% being donated back to church
-PPR max of 15 per team to eliminate “ringer” teams. Pending skill level and number of participants, there may be a split bracket with a lower and upper.
3 ways to register:
- Scorholio app https://share.scoreholio.com/Fp2zJt2z33b
- Email festival@hspalmyra.com
- Simply sign up at 5 PM on the day of event
Reverend Barnabas and the Spiritans! As part of the Diocesan Missionary Cooperation Plan, Reverend Barnabas Obinna Nwabor, CSSp, visited Holy Spirit the weekend of June 27 and 28 to speak about the missionary work of the Church and in particular that of the Spiritans (official Congregation of the Holy Spirit). To learn more about the Spiritans, please visit their website at https://spiritans.org/. This visit is part of a national program in which annually a representative of one of the missionary groups visits parishes of the Diocese of Harrisburg to invite parishioners to share in the mission work of the universal Church. The Spiritans are an international religious order engaged in a wide range of missionary activities in over 60 countries throughout the world and across the United States. Fr. Obinna, is a missionary priest from Nigeria. When Jesus said: “You shall witness to me in Jerusalem and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth,” He made the spread of the Gospel an essential part of our Catholic life. Each time you support the missions, you affirm that we are one Church, one family in Christ, united in bringing hope and love to all people. If you are able, please place your donation in the collection basket at the rear of the church. We ask you to respond with a generous heart, knowing that your support makes a real difference in the lives of those who might otherwise never hear the Gospel. Donations will be taken through August. Mark an envelope with your name and ‘Mission Co-Op’ and place it in the collection basket at Masses or drop it by the parish office. Thank you for your support!
July’s Holy Hour for Vocations
A special Holy Hour for Vocations will be held in the church on July 10 at 7pm. Come join us for beautiful prayers before the Blessed Sacrament as we lift them for vocations to the priesthood. “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10
Looking To Become Catholic?
If you or a family member would like to become Catholic or complete the sacraments, there is a welcoming and warm place here at Holy Spirit waiting for you! Through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) you can enter into the Roman Catholic faith. Contact the Parish Office at 717-838-3369 for information. Classes will begin in the Fall of 2026.
OUTDOOR MASS RETURNS – Although last year marked the conclusion of our Sunday outdoor Masses, our First Wednesday outdoor Mass continues. This summer, we will again celebrate the first Wednesday of each month at the pavilion, with one exception. In July, the outdoor Mass will take place on Wednesday, July 8, since I will be away on July 1.
Outdoor Mass Dates: July 8, 2026, August 5, 2026, September 2, 2026, October 7, 2026
Confessions will still be offered inside the church from 4:30–5:30pm before each Mass. The rosary will be prayed outside beginning at 5:30pm.
PREP News
Registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year. We have moved to on-line registration this year. Click the QR Code shared here or visit our page on the website under “Faith Formation: PREP (Religious Ed). Please contact us at the following email prep@hspalmyra.com with any questions.
Common Grounds Event—July 12
Please join us at Holy Spirit parish on Sunday, July 12 at 7pm for the next Migrant Justice Ministry “COMMON GROUNDS, Coffee, Conversation, and Catholic Social Teaching” session. Arrive early at 6:30pm for beverages, snacks, and conversation. Dr. Joseph Evans (keynote speaker at the Diocesan Catholic Social Teaching Symposium) will provide a brief overview of Catholic social teaching and a deeper exploration of the foundational principle of human dignity. Joe will offer background on the nature, principles, and history of Catholic social teaching from Popes Leo XIII to Leo XIV. Following this introduction, the session will explore the sources, meanings, and application of human dignity through magisterial teaching and his personal experiences as a combat veteran, peacebuilding practitioner, member of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking, and scholar of theological ethics. The discussion will examine the remaining principles of Catholic social teaching and their connection to migration and human trafficking, through the lens of human dignity. migrantjustice@hspalmyra.com
Holy Spirit High School Youth Group – Now forming!
We’ve got exciting news to share! We’re building something new for high schoolers starting this fall, and we need your help! We are looking for parent volunteers and teen youth leaders to help us roll out this exciting youth program built on faith, community and service. Join us at an information session scheduled for July 19 at 4pm in the Multipurpose room. Hope to see you there!
Prayer Intentions for Parishioners’ Relatives Serving in the Armed Forces 
Parishioners who wish to request prayer intentions for their relatives currently serving in all our Armed Forces are invited to email names to church@hspalmyra.com. We are compiling a list to share in future bulletins and on our website. We thank you for your dedication, service, bravery and sacrifice in serving our Country.
Church Bowling League
So, how can bowling be a ministry at a church? Well, it’s pretty simple actually. Holy Spirit is part of a local Church Bowling League. It is a Christian centered league, where we go to just relax and have fun with people more interested in God then on winning. Yes, we all try to win, but we have people with averages from 100 – 190 and everything in between. There is no pressure to perform. We just go to have some fun and enjoy time with people of faith. The League is over right now, but the new season starts up in August 2026 and goes through April 2027. We bowl Monday Evenings starting at 6pm. Teams can have as many members as they want, but 4 bowl each week. You can have 4 that bowl every week, or have more and bowl on a rotation or schedule as people are available. It’s a handicap league, so everyone has a chance to win regardless of average. So, if you are interested, please contact us at bowling@hspalmyra.com. If you have a full team – that’s great, but if it’s just you, we’ll see if we can get at least 4 people to make a full team.
Holy Spirit Parish Events and News:
Legion of Mary Ministry at Holy Spirit
The Legion of Mary is a world-wide lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatirx of All Graces, they serve the Church and their neighbor on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries. Legion of Mary members at Holy Spirit meet on Wednesday evenings in the blue room in Agape Hall at 5pm. Members pray the rosary and, on occasion, go out to visit homes for prayer. The Legion’s spirituality is centered on the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, the One who not only overshadowed Mary in the work of the Incarnation, but also came down upon the Apostles on Pentecost. Sign-up to host the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Mary in your home any day over the next three months. Email church@hspalmyra.com to be added to the schedule.
Fraternitas Crucis – Brotherhood of the Cross
Adult Faith Formation Needs You!
Do you have a heart for Scripture and a desire to help others grow in faith? Adult Faith Formation is looking for volunteers to help lead small group Bible studies and Church teachings. No experience needed, materials and support provided, flexible scheduling. Say “yes” to making a difference. Contact faithstudy@hspalmyra.com or the parish office to learn more.
Surrounding Parish Events and News:
The Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for June
For the values of sports.
Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and
nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
Catholic Prospective on End-of-Life Seminar
The Office for Life & Dignity is hosting a seminar titled A Catholic Perspective on End-of-Life Care on July 25 at the Diocesan Center. The cost to attend is $10. Please vist this link for registration information: https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/a-catholic-perspective-on-end-of-life-care/. This session is a valuable opportunity to better understand how to approach end-of-life situations from a Catholic perspective. As these circumstances can arise unexpectedly, it is important for us to be informed and prepared. Dr. Joseph Meaney, Past President and Senior Ethicist of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, will provide insightful guidance to help deepen our understanding of end-of-life issues. He will address the importance of ethical decision-making, noting that Catholics often approach these matters differently from mainstream perspectives. He will also highlight potential concerns with certain medical and legal advice surrounding advance directives. As always, preparation for Eternal Life remains central to the Church’s teachings, even as modern biomedical and legal developments add complexity. Additionally, Mr. Paul T. Schemel will offer a practical discussion on how the Theology of the Body can inform decisions related to medical powers of attorney, advance directives, and POLST documents.
The St Joan of Arc Writer’s Group Ministry invites you to join us!
We all have creative imagination and an instinct for stories whether telling them or hearing them. Creative writing is a great way to share our faith with others and give testimony to what we believe. Jesus used story telling with the parables to teach his many followers! Writing can also be exercise for the brain as well as very healing. Do you have a story to tell? Our writing both religious and non-religious takes many forms such as memoire, devotionals, poetry, lyrics, letter writing, journaling, children’s stories, fiction and non-fiction. We invite you to join us, whether you are a seasoned author or new at writing. We meet the third Monday of every month at 6pm in room 314 of the SJA parish hall (the old school). We start our meetings with a prayer and then share our work with each other allowing time for feedback and fellowship so we can all grow in our writing and our faith. We share some writing tips along the way and prompts if you aren’t sure what to write about. We look forward to having you join us! For more information, contact the parish office at office@stjoanhershey.org
If you are new to our community, we invite you to register with the parish and become a full, active participant. Registration forms are available on our website and at the office. If you are a current parishioner and have changed addresses or are moving out of the parish, please notify us at 717-838-3369. Thank you!
Our new diocesan magazine is already inspiring thousands of Catholic families across central Pennsylvania with stories of faith, hope, and service. Sign up today to receive it in your home at this link: https://hbgdiocese.formstack.com/forms/catholic_witness_magazine_sign_up
2026 Feasibility Study Results:
Are you in need of prayer? Are you lonely or overwhelmed? The National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton has a prayer line available with staff who will speak with and pray with you. Your prayer intentions can be placed on the tomb of Mother Seton. Call us toll free at 1-866-202-4934, Monday – Friday, 10am – 5 pm. We are here for you.
AREBA CLUB OF ST. JOAN OF ARC, HERSHEY:
The Areba Club is open to adults in the area over 50 year old, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. Join us for our meetings held the third Tuesday of the month at 1pm in the SJA Parish Social Hall, 359 W. Areba Avenue, Hershey, PA. For more information, please contact Marge Michalski at 717-838-6415. Areba Club information, including trips, can be found at https://www.stjoanhershey.org/areba-club.html. A schedule and description of their upcoming trips is also posted on Holy Spirit’s bulletin board outside the parish office.
HOLY SPIRIT MAGNETS are available for $5 for your refrigerator and car. Stop by our parish office during regular business hours and help support the Knights of Columbus and our church!