Feel free to contact the Parish Council at parishcouncil@hspalmyra.com
PARISH COUNCIL NOMINATION FORM: Parish Council Nomination Form 2026
2025 Meeting Minutes
Parish Council Meeting Minutes.11-3-2025
Parish Council Meeting Minutes – 09-08-25
Parish Council Minutes 04-28-2025
Parish Council Minutes – 1-9-25
2025/26 Parish Council Members
Fr. Michael Metzgar, Pastor: Our pastor, ordained in June 2017, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our community. Before answering his call to the priesthood, he spent ten years working as an auto mechanic, a journey that deepened his appreciation for service and hard work. He completed his seminary studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, earning both a Bachelor’s in Philosophy and a Master’s in Divinity, each graduating Cum Laude.
Following his ordination as a Deacon in May 2016 and as a Priest in June 2017, his first assignment was as parochial vicar at Holy Name of Jesus in Harrisburg, where he faithfully served for two years. He then led Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and School in Lancaster as Pastor for six years, fostering spiritual growth and community engagement.
Our pastor’s greatest joy is serving others and sharing his profound relationship with Jesus Christ, especially through the Sacraments. He is committed to guiding parishioners in their faith journey and building a welcoming, vibrant parish family.
Judy Dezagottis, Chair: Judy moved to North Londonderry Township 14 years ago from the Philadelphia area when she met & married her husband Jim. She has been a parishioner of Holy Spirit for 10 of those 14 years & served in the past as Parish Secretary. She volunteers as a Lector & works at Fish Fry & the Festival. She is also a regular Adorer, participates in the Holy Hour of Reparation & Shine Ministry. Outside of Holy Spirit, she lectors at the Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, MD. She & Jim run the Harrisburg Division of the Enthronement by Parish Ministry dedicated to spreading the devotions to the Sacred Heart & Immaculate Heart. She also hosted the “In the News” radio show on Holy Family Radio for 2 years & continues to volunteer at the radio station helping with Operations. Judy holds a B.S. degree in Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University spending most of her career working in healthcare sales & marketing. She is currently employed part-time. She enjoys gathering with family & friends, writing, public speaking, singing & dancing. She & Jim have been blessed to travel & visit many countries on pilgrimage.
David Wanner, Vice Chair: David is an active member of Holy Spirit Parish. In addition to his role on Parish Council, Dave also serves as Holy Spirit’s catechist for 7th grade, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a member of the Knight’s of Columbus as well as other ministries.
Michelle Emerick, Recording Secretary: I was born and raised in Hershey and converted to Catholicism in 2004. I was a member of St. Joan of Arc but was invited to attend Holy Spirit by a friend at the time. He later became my husband and in 2018, I joined Holy Spirit. Chuck and I were married in Holy Spirit Church. Together we have four adult children, all following their own life paths.
At Holy Spirit, I like to participate in a variety of activities within the church, including fish fry, festival, and Eucharistic Ministry. Outside of Holy Spirit, I work full-time as an RN in Hospice care and spend many hours volunteering in the Hershey community. Chuck and I are avid bike riders and volunteer along with others from Holy Spirit for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Renee Amelio: Born and raised Catholic, Renee belonged to a small rural parish outside of Williamsport PA in the countryside of Battress. Immaculate Conception Parish, where she & Art & were married 36 years ago. She worked at Seltzers Bologna Company for 31 years during which time we welcomed a daughter & son. They are both in the medical field, and married to wonderful partners. She has 2 grands a girl & boy who have her heart. She is patiently waiting for their youngest & his wife to give us more. “I love being a member of Holy Spirit where I volunteer at the fish fry and festival. Looking forward to the many other things our parish has to offer.”
Jamie Brice: I have been a member of Holy Spirit for 10 years. I live in Palmyra with my husband, Ryan, and two daughters, Emma and Elizabeth. I was a stay at home mom for 8 years, and now I work part time at a local elementary school. I enjoy volunteering at my children’s school, attending their sports activities, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.
Kristen Cary: Kristen and her husband, Brad, have been members of Holy Spirit since 2015 and have lived in Palmyra (S. Londonderry) since 2008. They have four children: Giulianna (12), Gianna (12), Gabrielle (10), and Gavin (7). Kristen has been a pediatric nurse at the Penn State Children’s Hospital for 16 years. She enjoys volunteering at the fish fry and attending 2nd Quarter meetings.
Pat DiNunzio: Pat has lived in Palmyra and been an active Holy Spirit Parishioner for almost 50 years. He retired from ABF as a tractor trailer driver after 42 years in 2016. Since retirement, Pat has had the privilege of serving on multiple committees within the Parish, including Respect for Life, Benevolence, and Welcoming Committees, as well as the Legion of Mary. Pat is an officer for the Knights of Columbus (#10502) and the Knights Assembly (#973). He is also the Lector Coordinator for weekend Masses. Pat has eagerly volunteered for 30 years at the Fish Fry and orchestrated Bingo at the annual Festival. Daily at Holy Spirit, you can find him and a handful of fellow Knights of Columbus Volunteers, working on projects throughout the church building and grounds. Pat is passionate about following the Corporal Works of Mercy, volunteering, and welcoming new members to the Holy Spirit Parish. In his free time, he enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife, Debbie, their three grown children, and his granddaughters.
Alberta Dobson: Alberta has been a member of Holy Spirit Church for 18 years, along with her husband Richard and her two children, Michael and Amber. She works as an operations manager for the Caring Cupboard, a food pantry in Palmyra. Holy Spirit Church is an important part of Alberta’s life because it connects her more fully to the local community. Alberta serves as a Eucharistic Minister and an Arimathean for masses. She is an active member of multiple church committees including Benevolence, Sparkling Hearts, and the Counting Team. Additionally, she regularly volunteers for church events like the Fish Fry and SpiritFest. In her free time, Alberta enjoys traveling, going to gym, and spending time with her family.
Maria Macus: Maria has been a member of Holy Spirit Parish for several years, serving as a lector. Maria is the Deputy Secretary for Unemployment Compensation (UC) Programs for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In this position, she is responsible for the oversight and administration of the Commonwealth’s UC programs, including the Office of UC Benefits Policy, the Office of UC Service Centers, and the Office of UC Tax Services. Prior to this appointment, Maria served as the Deputy Chief Counsel for UC, having come to that position from the Department of Corrections, where she served as counsel in the litigation section, representing DOC employees in litigation before state and federal courts. Maria graduated from Elizabethtown College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. She received her Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University. In her free time, Maria enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her mom and cats, Mitzi and Bernie.
Mark Totaro: Mark is the recently retired Executive Director and CEO of Catholic Charities, a position he held for 18 years. Prior to joining Catholic Charities, he had a 22 year career with The Hershey Company, holding a number of Senior Management positions and working extensively in Europe, Asia, South America and Canada. Mark holds a B.S. degree in Logistics from Niagara University, an MBA in Finance and Management from The Keller Graduate School of Management in Chicago, a Ph.D. in Business Administration from La Salle University, and a Management Certificate from the University of Notre Dame in Non-Profit Administration and Faith Based Management.
Brian Nornhold, Finance Chair (ex officio): Brian was born in Palmyra, PA and graduated from Palmyra High School. After graduating from Grove City College with a BA in Accounting, he obtained his CPA license from the state of Pennsylvania and earned an MBA from Penn State University. Brian has lived in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, and London. Over the past 33 years, he has gained extensive experience in accounting, auditing, taxes, and financial management in a number of public accounting and corporate financial management roles. He is the owner of Nornhold & Associates, LLC, a professional services firm that provides a wide range of accounting, finance, management consulting, and tax services for individuals and small to medium-sized companies. Brian currently resides in Palmyra with his wife of 25 years, Maureen.
Melissa Batula, Parish Manager (ex-officio): Melissa joined Holy Spirit as the Parish Manager during Holy Week of 2025. Before joining Holy Spirit, Melissa worked as a civil engineer working in both the private sector and in government, including management and leadership roles. She lives with her husband, Michael, and nephew Zachariah and is the mother of two adult children. Melissa enjoys volunteering as a catechist, lector, and coordinator for the altar servers and youth lectors at Our Lady of Fatima in Jonestown, PA.
Archived Meeting Minutes
2024
Parish Council 11-7-24
Parish Council 9-5-24
2023
Parish_Council_12-6-23
Parish_Council_10-18- 2023
Parish_Council_9-6-23
Parish Council_ 4-19- 23
Parish_Council_1-11-23
2022
Parish_Council_11-16-22
Parish_Council_9-22-22
Parish_Council_4-27-22
Parish_Council_3-9-22
Parish_Council_1-12-22
2021
Parish_Council_9-8-21
Parish_Council_6-2-21
Parish_Council_4-14-21
Parish_Council_1-20-21
2020
Parish_Council_11-11-20
Parish_Council_9-16-20
Parish Council 3-11-20
Parish Council 1-15-20
2019
Parish Council 9-18-19
Parish Council 5-2-19
Parish Council 2-7-19