Feel free to contact the Parish Council at parishcouncil@hspalmyra.com
PC Constitution By-laws January 2020
Meeting Minutes
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
2018
Parish Council 5-17-18
Parish Council 4-8-18
2023/24 Parish Council Members
Fr. Dijo Thomas, Pastor
Janet Parks, Parish Manager (ex-officio)
Mark Totaro, Chair: 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.
Barb DiBrito: My husband Kyle and I have been members at Holy Spirit for almost 10 years. We are active in the Sunday choir, and we both enjoy volunteering for and participating in fundraisers like the fish fry and the festival. We are Marriage Mentors, and I also volunteer as a Lector. We have two grown kids who are both married and we have one grandchild. I have a background in marketing, communications, and team management and I feel that these experiences help me bring some creative ideas and good problem solving skills to the table for Parish Council. When not working or spending time with family, I enjoy cooking, gardening, traveling, playing cards, pickle ball, and golf.
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.
Kenneth Beaner: Ken has been a member of Holy Spirit Church since 2017 and a member of the finance council from 2018 to 2023. He and his wife, Amanda, were married in Las Vegas in August, 2011, and have two young children, Xavier (10) and Alexander (5). Ken and Amanda are involved in many local activities and can be seen volunteering in the community, as well as helping with various church functions. Outside of church, Ken works for Hendrix Genetics and has been working in management for 3 years. Ken and his family enjoy playing sports, traveling, and going to the beach in the summer.
Alison Brooks: Alison was formally received into the Catholic Church last year and is overjoyed to be a new member at Holy Spirit Parish. She is a homemaker with an academic background in English Lit, and has a day job serving lunch at St. Joan of Arc School. She loves gathering, praying and serving at Holy Spirit, and finds being an Arimathean and a member of the Caring ministry especially meaningful.
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.
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.
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.
Maria Macus: Maria has been a member of Holy Spirit Parish for several years. She is a lector, volunteers for the Children’s Liturgy of the Word, and participates in the parish’s Second Quarter Group. Maria was recently appointed 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.
Judy Dezagottis: 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 as an Administrative Secretary in the Department of Neurology at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center in addition to other part-time seasonal employment. She enjoys gathering with family & friends, writing, public speaking, singing & dancing. She & Jim have been blessed to travel & visit many countries on pilgrimage.
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.
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.