• How Do I Register As a Parish Member?

  To register your household, you will need to complete a registration form. You may complete the form online by accessing this New Member Registration Form. 
  
  Newly registered members receive a confirmation email or letter formally welcoming you to the Parish. You will be also be subscribed to the parish communications mailing list, and if you indicate a ministry or service that you would like to learn more about, your contact information will be sent to that ministry leader who will get in touch with you.

• Benefits of Parish Membership

  • Registration enables the parish pastor and staff to get to know you better, and in turn support you better. Members can expect pastoral care from their parish, including Sacramental preparation (e.g. Baptisms, First Holy Communion, Marriage), Care Ministry to the sick and homebound, and prayerful support.  

  • Registration provides proof of sacramental participation. If a person receives any of the sacraments in a parish, registration provides a clear and straightforward way to keep track of this information. Conveniently, proof of sacramental participation can easily be passed from one parish to the next if one moves.  

  • Registration offers spiritual benefits. After registering with a parish, it is more likely that a person will participate fully in the life of the parish and to find a spiritual family. Families will feel less alone and more supported in times of joy and in times of sorrow. In times of difficulty, a parish family can offer crucial material and spiritual assistance. Parishioners will find many opportunities to grow in love of God and of neighbor and will be surrounded by some excellent role models who will help them navigate the complexities of life. 

  • Registration demonstrates community involvement. Registration in the parish provides an opportunity to participate in and become an established member of the local parish community. This has a variety of benefits that extend beyond participation at weekly Mass.  

  • Registration provides financial and educational benefits.  Registering in the local parish will often bring with it additional benefits that could help family members. For example, registration could provide a credit or subsidy that can be used for your children at local parochial schools. This could reduce the cost of tuition and help a parishioner’s child receive both the educational advantages and spiritual formation that come with attending a Catholic school.  Please see more information about Holy Spirit Catholic School here: https://holyspiritknights.org/

  • Registration demonstrates financial commitment. Providing regular offerings at the weekly Mass by using the offering envelopes or online giving after registration demonstrates a financial commitment to the Church on a weekly basis. It is important to emphasize, however, that registering at the parish does not require a parishioner to give financial contributions; nor are individuals expected to provide large contributions. 

  • Registration affects parish business operations in many ways. Census numbers may determine how many priests are assigned to a parish, what benefits and obligations the community has to the diocese, and how many Masses and programs are planned and scheduled. 

• What Does It Mean To Be A Parish Member?

  By registering in a parish, you are declaring your desire to be part of a Catholic faith community. Parish membership is about involvement and commitment to your Catholic faith.  Holy Spirit Parish will sometimes be asked by other parishes to provide affidavits for baptismal and confirmation sponsors.  We can only do this if a person is a registered, active, and contributing member in our parish. 
   
  How does the Church define "active"?  This means regular attendance at the weekend liturgies to give thanks to God and come together with our faith community for prayer. It means being active in parish ministries, activities, and fundraisers, giving of your time and talent, and giving financially to help us meet our parish and school budget. Being active is not about giving a specific amount of money or time.  We recognize that each parishioner has different financial and time constraints in their life.  Holy Spirit Parish has a wide range of opportunities that enable individuals to give back to the Parish as they are able.  If you have fallen away from the church, or feel that you have been lax in your participation and involvement, remember the door is always open.