Holy Spirit Parish - St. Agnes Church

About Holy Spirit Parish

Holy Spirit Parish is the Catholic faith community of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, in Clinton County. Formed from the merger of two historic local congregations, the parish is built around two worship sites — St. Agnes Church on East Walnut Street and Immaculate Conception Church on West Water Street — sharing one pastor, one parish office, and one pastoral team. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown and is led by Rev. Joseph T. Orr, Pastor (who also serves as Administrator of Saint Joseph Parish in Renovo). The community gathers for daily Mass, weekend Masses, confession, religious education for children and adults, devotions, and a wide range of parish committees and service organizations.

Worship Sites

The parish operates from two locations in Lock Haven. St. Agnes Church, at 3 East Walnut Street, sits next door to the parish office and is the administrative center of the parish. Immaculate Conception Church, at 310 West Water Street, is the second worship site and is used for weekday Masses on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for the Sunday 8:00 AM Mass. Both churches are currently at full capacity and welcome visitors and returning parishioners.

• St. Agnes Church — 3 East Walnut Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
• Immaculate Conception Church — 310 West Water Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
• Parish Office — beside St. Agnes Church, 3 East Walnut Street
• Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 noon, and by appointment after noon

Holy Days and Christmas / Easter

The parish publishes Holy Day schedules in its bulletin each year. The Mary Mother of God schedule, for example, has included Vigil Masses at 4:00 PM in Renovo and 7:00 PM at St. Agnes, with the Holy Day Mass at 9:00 AM at Immaculate Conception. Christmas and Easter schedules are published on the parish website under News and Events, and Flocknote is used to alert parishioners of any weather-related changes.

• Mary Mother of God — Vigil 4:00 PM Renovo; Vigil 7:00 PM St. Agnes; Holy Day 9:00 AM Immaculate Conception
• Christmas and Easter Mass schedules posted on website
• Flocknote used for weather-related schedule alerts

Pastoral Staff and Clergy

Holy Spirit Parish is served by a pastor and three permanent deacons who together form the core of the pastoral team. The pastor also administers the parish in Renovo, and the deacons assist with liturgical celebrations, preaching, and pastoral outreach across both Lock Haven churches.

• Rev. Joseph T. Orr — Pastor (also Administrator of Saint Joseph Parish, Renovo)
• Deacon Philip Gibson
• Deacon Charles 'Chuck' Williams — Senior Deacon
• Deacon Calvin 'Chip' Young
• Pastoral staff email: [email protected]
• Parish office email: [email protected]
• Parish phone: 570-748-4594

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The Faith Formation Committee coordinates the parish's catechetical mission for children, teens, young adults, and adults. Religious Education classes are offered for students in first grade through high school from mid-September through the end of April, with an online registration form available. Sacramental preparation is provided for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, and the parish runs the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) program with atrium sessions on most Mondays from September through April. Adult Religious Education classes are offered throughout the year, and the parish runs an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program for those preparing to enter the Church. Vacation Bible School, retreats, social events, Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry, and Family Educational Support Ministry round out the Faith Formation offerings.

• Parish Religious Education — grades 1 through high school, mid-September through end of April
• Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — atrium sessions on most Mondays
• Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
• Vacation Bible School
• Youth Ministry and Campus Ministry
• Adult Religious Education classes
• Family Educational Support Ministry
• Director of Religious Education: Tammy Nesbitt — [email protected], 570-748-7073

Liturgical Ministries and Music

The Spiritual Life Committee oversees the parish's worship environment and supports opportunities for prayer, liturgical celebration, sacred music, devotions, parish missions, and the décor of the worship space. Liturgical ministries are open to youth and adults and include serving as Lectors, Ushers, Gift Bearers, Eucharistic Ministers, and Altar Servers. Musicians and cantors support the parish's sacred music program under the guidance of the pastor and deacons.

• Lectors
• Ushers and Greeters
• Gift Bearers
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Altar Servers
• Sacred Music / Choir ministry

Parish Committees and Organizations

Parish life at Holy Spirit is shaped by a network of standing committees that advise the pastor and coordinate ministries. The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is the consultative body that helps set the pastoral direction of the parish; the Parish Finance Council advises the pastor on temporal goods; the Stewardship Committee promotes the Stewardship Way of Life; the Maintenance Committee cares for the buildings and grounds at both churches; the Faith Formation Committee oversees evangelization and education; the Spiritual Life Committee nurtures prayer and worship; the Fair Committee organizes the annual summer parish Fair; and the Cemetery Committee oversees the parish cemetery.

• Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) — 12 members, monthly meetings in the Parish Center
• Parish Finance Council — 7 members, quarterly meetings in the parish office
• Stewardship Committee
• Maintenance Committee (both churches and grounds)
• Faith Formation Committee
• Spiritual Life Committee
• Fair Committee (annual summer parish Fair)
• Cemetery Committee

Parish Organizations

Two well-known Catholic service organizations are active at Holy Spirit Parish. Knights of Columbus Council 1774 — a long-standing local council — is based on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, and offers aid to sick, disabled, and needy members and their families while supporting religious, educational, and charitable works. The Catholic Daughters of the Court are also active in the parish. Both organizations welcome new members.

• Knights of Columbus Council 1774 — meets 2nd Monday of each month, 7:15 PM, Parish Center. Contact Nedd Rhine at 814-383-9906.
• Catholic Daughters

Prayer and Outreach Ministries

The parish offers several prayer and outreach ministries that serve the sick, the elderly, the dying, and the broader community. The Prayer Line Ministry intercedes for any submitted intention, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and distributes shawls to those in need of comfort. The Funeral Luncheon Ministry supports grieving families with food, and the parish reaches shut-ins and hospice patients through pastoral visits and Communion calls. Beyond the parish walls, Holy Spirit has partnered in 'Transform Lock Haven,' a community house-rehabilitation project, and runs a Spiritual Adoption program that prays for unborn babies.

• Prayer Line Ministry — call 570-753-5938
• Prayer Shawl Ministry
• Funeral Luncheon Ministry
• Visits to shut-ins and hospice patients
• Transform Lock Haven — community house rehabilitation
• Spiritual Adoption program for the unborn

Sacraments and Parish Registration

Holy Spirit Parish prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, and assists families at the time of death through the Catholic Cemetery and the Funeral Luncheon Ministry. Couples seeking marriage should contact the pastor to begin preparation in line with diocesan policy. New parishioners are invited to register with the parish, and a Parish Census form is made available for updating household and contact information.

• Baptism preparation
• First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation
• Confirmation preparation
• Marriage preparation (contact the Pastor)
• Anointing of the Sick and visits to the homebound
• Funeral Ministry and the Catholic Cemetery
• Parish Registration / Parish Census form available on the website

Giving and Stewardship

Parishioners and friends can support the mission of Holy Spirit Parish in several ways. Donations can be dropped in the locked mailbox on the side of the parish office, mailed to the parish office at 3 East Walnut Street, or given online through the parish's PayPal link (paypal.me/holyspiritlh) or through Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) giving. The parish census form also asks families to indicate their preferred method of giving — envelopes, online giving, mailed packets, Venmo, or PayPal — so that tax statements can be tracked.

• Drop donations in the locked mailbox beside the office
• Mail to 3 East Walnut Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
• Online giving via paypal.me/holyspiritlh
• Online giving through OSV
• Venmo
• Annual donation packet mailed by the parish office

Contact and Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Spirit Parish by phone or email during office hours, or visit in person at either of its two Lock Haven churches. The parish also maintains a Facebook page for parish news and announcements, and uses Flocknote to alert parishioners to schedule changes such as snow-related cancellations.

• Parish Office: 3 East Walnut Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
• Phone: 570-748-4594
• Parish email: [email protected]
• Pastor email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 noon; after 12:00 by appointment
• Website: http://www.holyspiritlockhaven.org
• Facebook: Holy Spirit Parish (100066487374997)