It was then we became the Highland Mass Station . Father Robert Humitz of St. Patrick Parish and Father Frank Zielinski of St. Mary's Parish consented to celebrate with us on alternate Sundays. Our first Mass at Spring Mills School boasted of a full house of 525.
In October of 1977, Father Edward Farrell of (then) St. Agnes Parish in Detroit also began celebrating Mass with us, and was the catalyst in forming the Spirit-filled atmosphere of the yet-to-be-named parish. In May of 1978, our status went from a Mass Station to "Parish In Formation." Father John Howard was named as our first pastor. In December of 1978, we became the Territorial Parish of Holy Spirit .
January of 1979 ushered in our first pledge drive appealing to the approximately 300 original families. In March of that same year, a Building Committee was formed.
On January 27, 1980 , Father John Howard celebrated his last Mass for the Holy Spirit congregation. His death on April 9, 1980, was a cause of deep sorrow and loss for the entire parish.
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