About Holy Spirit Parish · Highland, Michigan
Church of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic parish in Highland Township, Michigan, in the northwest corner of Oakland County, serving roughly 1,600 families. It began in 1977 as the Highland Mass Station and grew into a territorial parish within the Archdiocese of Detroit. Today it is the anchor of the Northwest Lakes 2 Family of Parishes (alongside St. Perpetua in Waterford, St. Mary Our Lady of the Snow in Milford, and St. Patrick in White Lake) and is best known locally for its Saint Pope John Paul II Perpetual Adoration Chapel, which has been open 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 2005. The parish describes itself as 'a community led by the Holy Spirit, accompanying others to encounter Jesus, giving witness to Him, and growing as missionary disciples,' with a vision 'to be Christ for all.'
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Rev. Wayne Ureel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Region; moderator parish of the Northwest Lakes 2 Family of Parishes)
Why belong here
Holy Spirit is a warm, medium-sized parish of about 1,600 families that combines classic parish life — daily and weekend Mass, First Reconciliation and Eucharist preparation in 2nd grade, Confirmation in 8th grade — with a robust schedule of ministries for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Members can sign up for the Knights of Columbus (Council #8500), the Teen Action Group (TAG), Christian Service outreach (food pantry, Focus Hope, jail/prison ministry, foster care, blood drives), Music Ministries, and perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the Saint Pope John Paul II Chapel. With its own 12,000-square-foot addition, 12+ classrooms, and a busy Christian Service office, the parish is set up to walk with families at every stage of Catholic life.
Mass times at Holy Spirit Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm
- Saturday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (per third-party listing; please confirm with parish)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Saint Pope John Paul II Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
History of Holy Spirit Parish
Holy Spirit began in 1977 as the Highland Mass Station, with its very first Mass at Spring Mills School drawing 525 people. It became a Parish In Formation in May 1978 under Father John Howard, was designated the Territorial Parish of Holy Spirit in December 1978, and built its first permanent church under Father Leo Lulko in 1981. Major additions in 1987 and 2005 transformed the campus into the 12-classroom, 12,000-sq-ft-addition facility it is today, anchored by the Saint Pope John Paul II Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
- 1977 – Highland Mass Station; first Mass at Spring Mills School (525 in attendance)
- May 1978 – Status raised to Parish In Formation; Father John Howard named first pastor
- December 1978 – Officially becomes the Territorial Parish of Holy Spirit
- May 1980 – Father Leo Lulko assigned as second pastor
- March 15, 1981 – Permanent church structure dedicated
- March 1987 – Addition built (classrooms, offices, Christian Service space, kitchen, social hall)
- May 2005 – 12,000 sq ft addition completed, including Perpetual Adoration Chapel
- 2013 – Rev. Wayne Ureel named current pastor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Church of the Holy Spirit runs Faith Formation for grades 1–8 using curriculum approved by the Archdiocese of Detroit and the USCCB and in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the parish cites CCC #1666 on the home as the 'domestic church'). Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist begins in 1st grade and is celebrated in 2nd grade; Confirmation preparation concludes in 8th grade.
- Elementary: grades 1–5, using the 'Alive in Christ' curriculum
- Middle School: grades 6–7, using Our Sunday Visitor's adolescent guides plus 'Encounter: The Bible Timeline for Middle School'
- Sacrament prep: Reconciliation & Eucharist (2nd grade); Confirmation (8th grade)
- Family Events: first Sunday and Wednesday of the month, September–March
- Director of Faith Formation: Jillian Peck — 248-887-1634 — [email protected]
Youth & Teen Ministry
Teen Action Group (T.A.G.) is the parish's youth ministry, built on a simple three-word philosophy: 'encourage, equip, establish.' TAG exists to instill a firm foundation in Jesus Christ in young people, partnering with parents and the wider parish to produce mature, missionary Catholics ready to engage the world.
- Mission: 'encourage, equip, establish'
- Contact: [email protected] or 248-887-0027
- Includes mission trip opportunities
Christian Service & Outreach
The parish's Christian Service office, under Director Gayle Greene, is a substantial outreach hub. Its mission is to model Catholic social teaching by 'bringing HOPE to the community, the poor, the vulnerable, the marginalized, the forgotten,' through hospitality and by 'building bridges to empower a journey to full potential.' A weekly food pantry (Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00–3:00 pm) is paired with blood drives, Focus Hope, jail/prison outreach, foster care outreach, holiday baskets, and emergency assistance funds.
- Food Pantry: Mon & Wed 1:00–3:00 pm
- American Red Cross Blood Drive
- Focus Hope
- Prisoner / Jail Outreach
- Foster Care Outreach
- Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter baskets/boxes
- Connection to resources for phones, housing, family counseling, furniture, clothing, pregnancy assistance, medical/dental, legal, social concerns
- Emergency assistance for unexpected job/income loss
- Director of Christian Service: Gayle Greene — 248-887-1441 (confidential appointments)
Knights of Columbus
Holy Spirit hosts Knights of Columbus Council #8500, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month in Conference Rooms A, B, and C at the parish. Dinner is at 7:00 pm with the business meeting following from 7:30–8:30 pm.
- Council #8500
- Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month
- Dinner 7:00–7:30 pm; meeting 7:30–8:30 pm
- Location: 3700 Harvey Lake Rd, Conference Rooms A, B, C
- Grand Knight: Kevin Webb — 248-917-5993 — [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
The parish encourages every member to find a ministry that matches their spiritual gifts, with roles for serving at Mass as well as reaching children, teens, seniors, the homebound, and the incarcerated. Specific liturgical roles include altar servers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion; pastoral outreach roles include funeral, nursing home, and jail ministry.
- Altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Funeral Ministry
- Nursing Home Ministry
- Jail / Prison Ministry
- Music Ministries (Director: Kay Young)
- Perpetual Adoration chapel adorers
- Various committees and clubs (Men's Club, Women's Club, Parish Pastoral Council)
Parish Staff
Holy Spirit is staffed by a full pastor and a multi-person office team spanning worship, formation, music, service, and facilities. The parish is supported by additional priests in the Northwest Lakes 2 Family of Parishes.
- Pastor: Rev. Wayne Ureel
- Director of Faith Formation / Youth Ministry: Jillian Peck
- Director of Christian Service: Gayle Greene
- Director of Music Ministries: Kay Young
- Business Manager: Jojo Kind
- Facilities Manager: David Popovits
- Maintenance: Edward Pociask
- Parish phone: 248-887-5364
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–3:00 pm (Fri closed)
Family of Parishes
In the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'Families of Parishes' model, Holy Spirit serves as the Moderator parish of the Northwest Lakes 2 Family, which includes neighboring parishes across western Oakland County.
- Holy Spirit – Highland (Moderator)
- St. Perpetua – Waterford
- St. Mary Our Lady of the Snow – Milford
- St. Patrick – White Lake
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
Newcomers are warmly invited to attend a weekend Mass, stop by the parish office during the week (Mon–Thu, 9:00 am–3:00 pm), or pick up a printed pamphlet of all ministry opportunities. Hearing Aid Assistance is available — ask an usher. The parish also offers a mobile app (myParish) for updates on the go.
- Address: 3700 Harvey Lake Road, Highland, MI 48356
- Phone: 248-887-5364
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–3:00 pm; Fri closed
- Map available on the parish website's 'I'm New Here' page
- myParish App: download and select 'Church of The Holy Spirit'
- Weekly bulletin: email signup available on parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Howard1978 – ~1980
First pastor of Holy Spirit, appointed when the community became a Parish In Formation in May 1978.
- Father Leo Lulko1980 –
Second pastor; oversaw groundbreaking and construction of the church, dedicated March 15, 1981.
- Rev. Wayne Ureel2013 – present
Current pastor; named pastor in 2013 after serving as pastor of St. Cornelius, Dryden, and (2007–2013) pastor of St. Nicholas, Capac, and St. John the Evangelist, Allenton. Ordained June 9, 1990; also served as vicar of the Thumb Vicariate 1999–2007.