About Holy Spirit · Denver, North Carolina
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Lake Norman region of Denver, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Charlotte. The faith community began in 1979 as a small gathering of about 30 Catholics who used a local Episcopal church for Mass, and has since grown into a parish of more than 1,000 families. Worship is currently celebrated in a converted gym on the property, while a $12.5 million, 16,000-square-foot new church is under construction on a visible rise facing Highway 16, scheduled to seat 675 and feature traditional Catholic architecture with rounded arches, stained-glass windows, a choir loft, baptistry, and twin towers.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (the third Person of the Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Reverend Carmen Vincent Malacari
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Holy Spirit is a growing, family-friendly parish that explicitly welcomes newcomers into 'a faith-filled family' committed to serving others with the Heart of Jesus. Members grow in faith through engaging liturgical experiences, Catholic education and formation for all ages, community outreach (including Helping Hands, Amy's Closet, Love Our Veterans, Boy Scouts, and Respect Life), and women's, men's, and caregiver fellowship groups. With a brand-new 675-seat church under construction on Highway 16, online giving, livestream Mass, and a full faith-formation program, it's an inviting parish for Lake Norman-area Catholics.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (and any time by appointment)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday: 9:45 AM – 8:00 PM (Church Worship Area)
- First Saturday: 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM (Church Worship Area)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
Holy Spirit Catholic Church describes itself as 'the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ' and a 'faith-filled family' in the Lake Norman area of Denver, North Carolina. Its formal mission is to commit to serving others with the Heart of Jesus and to nourish and enrich the spiritual growth of all through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The parish works to achieve this through engaging liturgical/worship experiences, Catholic education and formation for all ages, community outreach, Christian hospitality, and helping parishioners use their God-given gifts.
- Serving others with the Heart of Jesus
- Engaging Liturgical/Worship Experiences
- Fostering and Enriching Catholic Education and Formation for all
- Increasing and Enhancing Community Outreach
- Encouraging and Expressing Christian Hospitality Everywhere
History of Holy Spirit Parish
Holy Spirit began in 1979 as a community of about 30 Catholics who used a nearby Episcopal church for Sunday Mass in the developing Lake Norman region. By the late 1980s the community had outgrown borrowed quarters, and Monsignor John McSweeney — then the diocese's second-in-command — and Bishop John Donoghue located and purchased an old county school property along Highway 16 in 1988 for $335,000. That original building became the parish's first church and is now the parish offices. Today, Masses are celebrated in a converted gym next door while a 16,000-square-foot replacement church is being built on a prominent rise facing Highway 16. Ground was broken in late July with Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., presiding.
- 1979: ~30 Catholics gather for Mass in a local Episcopal church
- 1988: Monsignor McSweeney and Bishop Donoghue purchase the original school property for $335,000
- 2006: Father Carmen Malacari named pastor
- Parish grows past 1,000 families as Lake Norman booms
- July 28 groundbreaking for a new $12.5 million, 675-seat church — first 'Order of Commencement of Work to Build a Church' liturgy in the Diocese of Charlotte
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Spirit is led by Father Carmen Malacari, who has served as pastor since 2006 and previously worked alongside Monsignor McSweeney at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. He is assisted by Deacon John Ashmore, a full music and liturgy team, a faith-formation director, and parish-office staff handling communications, registration, finances, and the building committee.
- Pastor: Rev. Carmen Vincent Malacari
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. John Ashmore
- Additional Permanent Deacons: Rev. Mr. Matthew Reilly and Rev. Mr. James Atkinson
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Kathy Bartlett
- Assistant Director of Music: David Shoff
- Director of Faith Formation: Faye Nye
- Pastor's Secretary: Rosemary Woods
- Parish Registration & Communications: Danielle Pasqua
- Business Manager: Richard Cataldo
- Finance Committee: Joe Miller
- Building Committee: Tommy Touchstone
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Under Director Faye Nye, Holy Spirit's Faith Formation program provides Catholic education and formation for parishioners of all ages and welcomes volunteers to help. The parish sees faith formation as central to its mission of fostering and enriching Catholic education for everyone in the family.
- Faith Formation for children and adults
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Volunteer catechists and helpers welcomed
Liturgy & Music
Music and liturgy at Holy Spirit are led by Kathy Bartlett, Director of Liturgy & Music, and Assistant Director David Shoff, with the choir loft of the new church designed specifically to support the parish's worship tradition. The parish emphasizes engaging liturgical and worship experiences as one of the pillars of its mission.
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Kathy Bartlett
- Assistant Director of Music: David Shoff
- Choir loft featured in the new church design
- Livestream Mass available online
Parish Outreach & Community Service
Outreach is one of the parish's five stated mission pillars. Holy Spirit partners with other Lincoln County churches, schools, and agencies through Helping Hands Community Outreach, supports survivors of domestic violence through Amy's Closet, and aids veterans through the L.O.V. (Love Our Veterans) thrift store on Highway 150 and Business 16.
- Helping Hands Community Outreach Ministry (Lincoln County)
- Amy's Closet — benefits the Lincoln County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Amy's House
- L.O.V. (Love Our Veterans) — clothing/furniture store benefiting veterans
- Boy Scouts of America — Pack/Troop 83
- Respect Life ministry
- Caregiver Support Group
Fellowship Groups
Beyond outreach, the parish offers several fellowship and faith-sharing groups for different demographics, encouraging parishioners to build community through participation.
- Women of Holy Spirit Ministry (women 18+, including a book club)
- COR Men's Faith-Sharing Group
- Knights of Columbus (parish council)
- Parish Prayer List
- Caregiver Support Group
New Church Building Project
After nearly twelve years of capital campaigns and perseverance through the pandemic, Holy Spirit broke ground on a new, larger church in July. The $12.5 million, 16,000-square-foot building will seat 675 worshipers and is being built by Hickory Construction, with architecture by William Heyer (Columbus, Ohio) and Scotty Smith of ADW Charlotte. The new church is designed in traditional Catholic style with rounded arches, stained-glass windows, a choir loft, a baptistry, and twin towers bookending the main entrance, and will sit on a visible rise facing Highway 16.
- 16,000 sq ft, seating for 675
- Twin towers, rounded arches, stained glass, choir loft, baptistry
- Architects: William Heyer (Columbus, OH) and Scotty Smith, ADW Charlotte
- General contractor: Hickory Construction
- Building Committee chair: Tommy Touchstone
- Construction estimated at 16 months; parish hoped to worship in the new church by the end of 2025
Visiting & Practical Info
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is located at 537 N NC 16 Business Hwy, Denver, NC 28037, with the parish office phone line at (704) 483-6448. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 8:30 and 11:00 AM. Newcomers can register through Danielle Pasqua in Parish Registration & Communications, and the parish offers online giving, livestream Mass, and regular email bulletins.
- Address: 537 N NC 16 Business Hwy, Denver, NC 28037
- Phone: (704) 483-6448
- Weekend Masses: Saturday 5 PM; Sunday 8:30 & 11 AM
- Online giving and livestream Mass available
- Parish registration via Danielle Pasqua
- Beware of scam emails/texts impersonating Father Carmen requesting gift cards — he does not solicit such favors
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor John McSweeney1987/1988 – circa 1990s
Instrumental in the parish's founding; then the diocese's number-two, he and Bishop John Donoghue located and acquired the original county school property on Highway 16 for $335,000 in 1988. He was a special guest at the new-church groundbreaking in 2024 and previously served as pastor at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.
- Father Carmen Malacari2006 – present
Current pastor. Previously served as parochial vicar at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, where he learned real-estate and development lessons from Monsignor McSweeney. Celebrated his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination on October 13 at Holy Spirit; has led the multi-year capital campaign and new-church project.