“I was in first grade there when Cardinal Foley was in eighth grade.” These words echo through the story of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith and community. It is now a worship site for St. Richard Parish. The church is located at 1845 Hartranft St.
Founded in 1964, Holy Spirit has been a spiritual home for many. You can still attend Sunday Mass here at 10 AM. Confessions are heard on Sundays from 9:15 to 9:45 AM.
Originally, Holy Spirit began in 1892. It started as a small Gothic-style church. It only seated 250 people and cost just $14,000 to build. The Holy Child Sisters donated the land. European immigrants flocked to the area. They took jobs in mills and factories. This influx kept the church full. New parishes arose as a result, including St. George in 1923.
In 1949, Holy Spirit expanded its school. Then in November 1961, they dedicated the current church building. It featured a unique stained glass window. This window depicted President John F. Kennedy. He had been inaugurated that year as America’s first Catholic president.
Holy Spirit boasted its own celebrity. Cardinal John Foley was a son of the parish. He became a pioneer in Catholic media.
The late 20th century brought decline. Area manufacturing dwindled. The school closed in 2002. In July 2014, Holy Spirit consolidated into St. George Parish.
The final Sunday Mass took place in January 2015. Parishioners celebrated in grand style. They blessed water from the Holy Spirit baptismal font. They poured it into vials and gave it to the parishioners. Afterward, they proceeded to St. George Church. There they poured the blessed water into St. George’s font. A baptismal ceremony then took place.
The blending of the two communities has been good. New people have added to the vibrancy of ministries at St. George. Holy Spirit had many elderly parishioners. St. George now meets their needs through outreach programs.
Though Holy Spirit church building in Sharon Hill was relegated to profane use on November 15, 2021, its legacy lives on. Mounting repair costs and declining attendance led to this decision. Restoration costs were estimated at $523,000. Annual maintenance would have cost an additional $73,000.
Holy Spirit began as a small church. It helped to create St. George Parish. Now, the church from which St. George Parish was originally formed has become one with St. George. The spirit of faith and community endures.