About Holy Spirit · Kinston, North Carolina
Holy Spirit Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Raleigh, located at 400 Academy Heights Road in Kinston, North Carolina. The parish serves a bilingual English-and-Spanish community, offering a Spanish-language Mass every Sunday in addition to its English schedule. It is pastored by Reverend Joseph J. Yaeger, with a parish staff that includes a secretary, bookkeeper, director of religious education, and a music ministry team. Its mission statement emphasizes being nourished by the Eucharist, the Word of God, and the Sacraments while living the Gospel call of justice and mercy.
- Established
- 1989
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Reverend Joseph J. Yaeger
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
Holy Spirit is a small but welcoming bilingual parish that intentionally lives out its mission as 'one Body' across race, gender, and economic condition — providing both English and Spanish Masses every Sunday. With weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, a Religious Education program, and an active music ministry, the parish offers the full rhythms of Catholic sacramental life in a close-knit eastern North Carolina community.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (per parish website) / 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (per Diocese of Raleigh); also by appointment with Fr. Yaeger — please call the office.
Parish Identity & Mission
Holy Spirit Catholic Church proclaims 'All are Welcome in this place!' as its parish motto. Its mission statement reads: 'The Holy Spirit Parish Family strives to live as Jesus' Body where there is no distinction of race, gender, or economic condition. We are nourished by the Eucharist, the Word of God, and the Sacraments for newness of heart and mind, and for the Gospel call of justice and mercy.'
History of the Parish
The parish traces its roots through ministry under Father Thomas Hadden and other clergy. On March 2, 1989, twenty acres on Academy Heights Road were purchased as the site for the new parish facility. The community came together under one roof on December 17, 1989 (a chapter that ran through June 1998). The multipurpose building was completed in February 1999 and named Holy Spirit Catholic Center, with Mass continuing in the former social hall — now the Church worship space — until a new church is built in the future.
- Parish merger under one roof: December 17, 1989
- Land purchased on Academy Heights Road: March 2, 1989
- Multipurpose building completed and named Holy Spirit Catholic Center: February 1999
- Worship currently in the former social hall until a new church is built
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and a small lay staff. The church office is open 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Inquiries can be directed to the parish secretary; faith-formation questions go through the Director of Religious Education, and liturgical music is coordinated by the Music Ministry Team.
- Pastor: Reverend Joseph J. Yaeger
- Parish Secretary: María Elisa Rodríguez — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper / Business Manager: Patty Keesee — [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Keesee (Coordinator) — [email protected]
- Music Ministry Team: Ron Owens — [email protected], 252-523-1604
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish offers two weekday Masses in English plus a full weekend schedule with both English and Spanish celebrations, reflecting its bilingual Catholic community in eastern North Carolina.
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM (English)
- Thursday: 9:00 AM (English)
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 9:00 AM (English)
- Sunday: 11:30 AM (Misa en Español)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is coordinated by the parish's Director of Religious Education, with the education wing of twelve classrooms and a library (built as part of Holy Spirit Catholic Center in 1999) supporting the parish's catechetical mission.
- Contact: Mrs. Keesee, [email protected], (252) 523-8898
Music Ministry
The parish Music Ministry Team coordinates liturgical music for Masses and other celebrations, led by Ron Owens.
- Music Ministry Team contact: Ron Owens — (252) 523-1604, [email protected]
Diocese & Wider Church
Holy Spirit is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, the Latin-rite (Roman-Latin) diocese serving much of central and eastern North Carolina. The parish is listed on both the Diocese of Raleigh's parish directory and GCatholic (Church ID 25347).
- Diocese of Raleigh
- Rite: Roman-Latin
- GCatholic Church ID: 25347
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the church office by phone, fax, or email during weekday office hours. The campus sits about one mile north of Lenoir Memorial Hospital off Highway 58 in Kinston, with directions available via MapQuest and Google Maps from the parish website.
- Phone: (252) 523-8898
- Fax: (252) 527-9495
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Landmark: ~1 mile north of Lenoir Memorial Hospital, off Hwy. 58
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas Hadden
Paved the way in the parish's earlier history leading toward the merger of the two predecessor parishes.
- Father Jerry SherbaJuly 1, 1989 – June 1998
Credited with developing the plans for the new parish facility on Academy Heights Road.
- Father Douglas Reed
Oversaw the construction of the new combined-parishes facility (Holy Spirit Catholic Center completed February 1999).