Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church

984 Suburban Rd, Union, NJ 07083 908-687-3327

Holy Spirit Church parishoffice@holyspiritunion.org

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1 pm to 3 pm

The parish office is closed on National Holidays and Catholic Holy Days of Obligation.

Sunday Mass

Saturday: 5:30pm (For Sunday obligation)
Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00Noon and 7:00pm

Daily Mass

Monday - Saturday: 8:30am
Holy Days: As announced

Reconciliation

Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 8:20 am
Saturday: 8:00 am - 8:20 am and 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm

Advent and Lent - Day of Confession - as announced

Winter at Holy Spirit

MESSAGE FROM THE PEW

As we enter this beautiful season, I wanted to take a moment to share a simple reflection on Advent: what it is, why we celebrate it, and how we as Catholics can make the most of it.

by Joe Marateo

We leave Ordinary Time and start Advent. It is the beginning of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year. A sacred season of waiting, preparing, and opening our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. The word Advent means “arrival” or “coming,” reminding us that we look forward both to Christmas Day and to Christ’s presence in our daily lives.

As the Prophet Isaiah reminds us, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and lasts roughly four weeks. This year, it starts on Sunday, November 30th, and continues until Christmas Eve.

We celebrate Advent to prepare ourselves spiritually for the birth of Jesus. Just as we prepare our homes for the holidays, Advent invites us to

prepare our hearts through prayer, reflection, hope, and acts of kindness. It is a time to slow down, breathe, and remember the true meaning of Christmas. As Saint Paul writes, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

We celebrate Advent in many beautiful ways. We light the Advent wreath each week, symbolizing hope, peace, joy, and love. As Catholics, we participate in Mass, spend a little extra time in prayer, perform small acts of charity for those in need, and set aside quiet moments to reflect on God’s presence in our lives.

Many of us also decorate Christmas trees. This tradition reminds us of the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ as the evergreen tree stays green all year it symbolizes hope, life, and God’s everlasting love. The lights and ornaments help us reflect the joy and beauty of Christ coming into the world.

And for families that place a little choo choo train around the Christmas tree, this too carries a lovely symbolism. The train circling the tree reminds us of the ongoing journey of life and faith and to the continuous movement toward Christ at the center. Just as the train faithfully returns again and again to its starting point, we too are invited during Advent to return to Jesus, to the heart of our faith, and to the love that never stops moving toward us.

I think of Advent as a gift. It is a gentle reminder that God meets us in the waiting and prepares our hearts for something wonderful.

As we begin this season together, may we open ourselves to His hope and light.

God Bless Everyone.

Christmas 2025 Holiday Schedule

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

8:30 AM - Morning Mass
12:00 PM - Noon Mass
7:00 PM - Evening Mass

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Holy Spirit Church is excited to present once again the amazing Father Alphonse Orchestra of St. Peter By the Sea Christmas Concert.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025

7:00 PM - Solemn Mass

ADVENT DAY OF CONFESSION

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025, FROM 1 PM to 5 PM

Advent is a time for us to reflect on our relationship with God and to prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ.
That makes it an ideal time to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

SIMBANG GABI

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025

8:00 PM - Solemn Mass

FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025

8:30 AM - Morning Mass

CHRISTMAS VIGIL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025

4:30 PM - Vigil Christmas Mass
11:30 PM - Holy Spirit Choir Concert
12:00 AM - Midnight Christmas Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

8:00 AM - Christmas Day Mass
10:00 AM - Christmas Day Mass
12:00 PM - Christmas Day Mass

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS,
MARY AND JOSEPH

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2025

8:30 AM - Weekday Morning Mass
5:30 PM - The Holy Family Vigil Mass

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2025

8:00 AM - The Holy Family Mass
10:00 AM - The Holy Family Mass
12:00 PM - The Holy Family Mass
7:00 PM - The Holy Family Mass

SOLEMNITY OF MARY,
THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2025,
NEW YEAR'S EVE

8:30 AM - Weekday Morning Mass
5:30 PM - Mass of Thanksgiving

SOLEMNITY OF MARY,
THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026

8:00 AM - BVM Mother of God Mass
10:00 AM - BVM Mother of God Mass
12:00 PM - BVM Mother of God Mass

UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

For admission tickets,
please click here.

With great enthusiasm, we are thrilled to announce our annual Tricky Tray event, set for Sunday, February 15, 2026. This event has grown into a cherished tradition within our parish, serving as a vital source of funding for our programs and food bank. Thanks to your generous support, we raised over $40,000.00 and collected over 1,500 pounds of food last year.

To make our Tricky Tray event another resounding success, we are seeking support from generous individuals and organizations like yours. Your contribution would be invaluable in helping us achieve our fundraising goal.

Here's how you can help: Image preview
Gifts-in-Kind: We welcome donations of goods or services that can be included in our Tricky Tray auction.

Amazon Gift List: QR code provided to make selecting Tricky Tray Donations even easier.

Monetary Donation: Your financial support in the form of a monetary donation would be greatly appreciated. Any amount, whether big or small, will contribute to the success of our event. To make a donation or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to contact me at parishoffice@holyspiritunion.org or 908-687-3327.

We are also happy to arrange for the pickup of physical donations if needed.

We sincerely hope you can join us in this noble endeavor to support the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in our 60^th year.

Your generosity will not only help us maintain our beloved church but also strengthen the bonds within our community.

WE ARE HIS WITNESSES

The Archdiocese of Newark is launching a new pastoral initiative, We Are His Witnesses, to inspire all Catholics to embrace their baptismal call as missionary disciples who share Christ’s love, truth, and hope with the world. To deepen your understanding and join this journey of faith, please continue reading.

https://rcan.org/we-are-his-witnesses/

A Letter to the Faithful from Cardinal Tobin

We Are His Witnesses is a pastoral initiative launched by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, on Pentecost in June 2025. It invites all of us to walk together on a journey called We Are His Witnesses—a path of pastoral conversion inspired by the Word of God, rooted in Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). This initiative invites the entire Church to reimagine parish life, mission, and ministry in response to a changing world.

Click here to read the full letter. [English] [Spanish] [Korean]

First Friday

First Friday of the month to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 9:00 am (after 8:30 am morning Mass)

First Saturday

First Saturday of the month to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 9:00 am (after 8:30 am morning Mass)

Divine Mercy Chaplet

Divine Mercy Chaplet on the third Sunday of the month at 3:00 pm

Novena to BVM and St. Jude

Novena to Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Jude
September - June: Every Monday after 8:30 am Mass

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Novena to to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on the Third Wednesday of the month at 9:00 am (after 8:30 am morning Mass)

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is normally celebrated on the second Sunday of each month. A Preparation Program is required for first-time parents. New parents should register for the Baptism as soon as possible after the child’s birth by contacting the Parish Office. Please, Click here for the Baptismal Registration Form.

For information on who can be a sponsor (godparent) of the baptized child, please, click here.

For Archdiocesan Sacrament Guidelines on Order of Baptism of Children, please, click here.

Events

December
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Dec 15 2025 9:00 am - Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Jude
Dec 15 2025 7:15 pm - Beyond Baptism Evening of Eucharistic Adoration
Dec 16 2025 6:30 pm - A Journey Through the Catechism

View all events »

Saint of the Day

Dec. 14 Third Sunday of Advent, Sunday

12/14/25 12:00 am

"Rejoice: the Lord is nigh." As Christmas draws near, the Church emphasizes the joy which should be in our hearts over all that the birth of our Savior means for us. The great joy of Christians is to see the day drawing nigh when the Lord will come again in His glory to lead them into His kingdom. The oft-repeated Veni ("Come") of Advent is an echo not only of the prophets but also of the conclusion of the Apocalypse of St. John: "Come, Lord Jesus," the last words of the New Testament.

Dec. 13 Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, Memorial

12/13/25 12:00 am

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Lucy (283-304). St. Lucy (or Lucia) was born in Syracuse, Sicily, where she also died. She was of a noble Greek family, and was brought up as a Christian by her mother, who was miraculously cured at the shrine of St. Agatha in Catania. Lucy made a vow of virginity and distributed her wealth to the poor. This generosity stirred the wrath of the unworthy youth to whom she had been unwillingly betrothed and who denounced her to Paschasius, the governor of Sicily. Tradition has passed on details of her martyrdom. When it was decided to violate her virginity in a place of shame, Lucy, with the help of the Holy Spirit, stood immovable. After torture which included taking out her eyes, a fire was then built around her, but again God protected her. She was finally put to death by the sword. Her name appears in the second list in the Roman Eucharist Canon.

Dec. 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast

12/12/25 12:00 am

In the USA the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, elsewhere it is an Optional Memorial. Our Lady appeared to an Indian convert named Juan Diego on December 9, 1531. She left a marvelous portrait of herself on the mantle of Juan Diego. This miraculous image has proved to be ageless and is kept in the shrine built in her honor, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1910, Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared Patroness of Latin America, and in 1945 Pope Pius XII declared Her to be the Empress of all the Americas.