Faithful builders - Holy Spirit Church celebrates 25 years of service

By Carolyn Cole
Published on June 26, 2008

Holy Spirit Catholic Church’s members invites Mustang to a free community-wide pancake breakfast Saturday morning in honor of the congregation’s silver anniversary.

Parishioners will serve up pancakes, french toast, sausage and ham, along with juices and coffee from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, 1100 N. Sara Road.

“We invite the community of Mustang to come out and eat on us,” said John Lippe, 25th anniversary activities chairman.

A few dozen people gathered for Holy Spirit’s first mass July 2, 1983 at the local funeral home. Now the congregation numbers almost 400 families, he said, and parishioners are outgrowing the church and parish center, which they have called home since November 1985.

Holy Spirit’s 25th anniversary falls during a time of growth and expansion for the church, Lippe said. The congregation has just finished a new entryway project, with hopes of making the facility more visible from Sara Road.

In honor of the milestone, 75 volunteers have worked to build the Celebration Pavilion, nestled on Holy Spirit’s grounds. Lippe said the construction was funded through private donations, and skilled volunteers have donated more than 2,000 hours of their time to finish the 2,350-square-foot covered picnic facility, complete with lighting and ceiling fans. Lippe said the pavilion was designed so future leadership could enclose the facility to hold classrooms or a fellowship hall.

“We have built that thing lock, stock and barrel with the sweat of our men and women from the church,” he said.

For Holy Spirit, the pavilion and entryway projects are just the beginning. The congregation is saving money to build a new sanctuary on its property. Lippe said plans to expand and turn the existing church into a family center existed from the beginning.

Catholic Church leadership require congregations to save about half of the construction costs for new facilities in advance. Lippe said Holy Spirit’s parishioners hope to raise $1 million in two years and begin construction within three years. A steering committee has already formed that will break into subcommittees responsible for working with an architectural firm to design the new facility.

“The place where we are worshiping now has always been considered a temporary place of worship,” he said.

As Holy Spirit’s congregation looks toward the future, Lippe said the church has matured and found a role in the community.

Under the leadership of Father Jim Greiner, Holy Spirit offers more than a dozen ministries, including social action groups, which help support local non-profit organizations and the community.

Lippe said he’s felt a focus on stewardship and the three Ts — time, talent and treasure. As chairman of the stewardship ministry, he urges parishioners to spend “more time with Jesus,” not just in mass but in prayer at home, with their families and in service to ministries inside and outside the church.

“Spend more time in you religious faith,” he said.
Parishioners are asked to give of their talents, volunteering in their communities and within the parish. Treasure refers to tithing, Lippe said, and parishioners are urged to give 5 percent of their income to Holy Spirit and 5 percent to another ministry or nonprofit group.

Lippe said he believes volunteerism within the church has climbed.

“We try to get people in the groove,” he said. “It’s been really effective.”

Holy Spirit has also expanded the number of masses offered, including a weekly mass delivered in Spanish.

“It’s one of our largest masses,” Lippe said. “Now they average 150 to 200 people.”

As Holy Spirit’s congregation continues to celebrate their silver anniversary, Archbiship Eusebius Beltran will lead the 6:15 p.m. mass Wednesday followed by a formal reception.

The church is also raising $5,000 to donate for the Mustang Public Library and held a Festival of the Holy Spirit in May to celebrate. In December, the parishioners have planned a celebration of the 45th anniversary of Greiner’s ordination.

“It’s kind-of exciting,” Lippe said. “We are looking forward to another 25 years rolling by.”

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