A Parish in the East Arlington Neighborhood of Jacksonville
Holy Spirit Catholic Church sits on Fort Caroline Road in Jacksonville, Florida, in the east Arlington area where the parish has been the spiritual home of Catholic families since 1966. The community worships at 11665 Fort Caroline Road under the pastoral care of Fr. John Peter Arul, MSFS, and is one of the parishes of the Diocese of St. Augustine serving northeastern Florida. Holy Spirit Catholic School, founded alongside the parish and now housed on the same campus, completes a setting that has become a hub of worship, education, and parish life for the surrounding neighborhoods.
The parish describes itself as a welcoming, multi-cultural and multi-generational Roman Catholic faith community, rooted in Scripture and Tradition, nourished by the Sacraments, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Its stated mission is to be light to the world by praying and celebrating as a Eucharistic community, instructing children and adults in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, serving the less fortunate with unconditional love and generosity, and protecting human life in all its stages.
From Beacon Hills Clubhouse to a Generational Church
Holy Spirit began in response to a growing Catholic population in the east Arlington area in the mid-1960s. The parish was officially established on January 27, 1966, with Fr. Richard Bowles as its first administrator. He celebrated the first Mass on February 13, 1966, in the Beacon Hills clubhouse for a community of roughly sixty families. On March 20, 1966, a home was leased to serve as a meeting area, chapel, and rectory.
Fr. Joseph James became the pastor in October 1969 and, with the approval of Bishop Paul Tanner, oversaw construction of the first church and hall, which is now the school cafeteria. The present church building was dedicated on October 3, 1971, and the new rectory, which today serves as the parish office, was completed in June 1974.
Msgr. James Heslin arrived in 1985 and led the parish through its biggest building era. A larger church was completed and dedicated on September 20, 1992, by Bishop John J. Snyder. The project nearly came to a halt during construction when twenty-three human remains were discovered buried in the ground; the state eventually exhumed and relocated them to Tallahassee at the parish's expense. Under Msgr. Heslin the school was also built one classroom at a time, and the old church was converted into a lunch room and later expanded to include two Pre-K classrooms for four-year-olds.
The building the parish treasures today holds a surprising piece of diocesan history. The stained glass windows behind the altar and the bas-relief Stations of the Cross on the side walls were transferred from the old Holy Rosary Church on Laura Street. A statue of Kateri Tekakwitha in full Mohawk dress stands at the back of the church, a gift from a parishioner and a reminder that Timucuan Indians once lived along the river here.
Fr. Anand Prasad Maddineni, MSFS pastored from 2006 to 2012 and oversaw a gift of his own: the Baptismal font at the back of the church. During his tenure the parish also paid off the debt on what is now called Msgr. Heslin Hall, the parish gym. Msgr. Keith Brennan served briefly from July 2012 to June 2013. Fr. Anthony Bonela, MSFS led the parish from 2013 to 2017, completing the new rectory mortgage and installing the electronic church sign. Fr. Amar Nagothu, MSFS pastored from 2017 to 2023, finishing the Family Life Center, renovating the adoration chapel, and guiding the community through the 2020 pandemic. The parish school earned both Blue Ribbon and Purple Ribbon honors during his tenure. Fr. John Peter Arul, MSFS, the current pastor, was installed in 2024 by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier.
Mass Schedule, Confessions, and the Anointing of the Sick
The parish's weekend Mass schedule centers on three celebrations. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 pm, and two Sunday Masses are offered at 8:30 am and 11:00 am. On the first Saturday of each month, an 8:30 am Mass includes the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for any who wish to receive it.
Weekday Masses are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30 am, with the Friday morning liturgy serving as the school Mass during the academic year. Wednesday evenings are given a special character: Mass is celebrated at 7:00 pm and is preceded by the Novena of the Miraculous Medal.
Confessions are heard on Wednesdays from 6:20 to 6:50 pm and on Saturdays from 4:00 to 4:50 pm, or by appointment. Those wishing to receive the Anointing of the Sick may call the parish office at any time. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also bring Communion to the sick and homebound.
Eucharistic Adoration, the 40 Hours Devotion, and a Parish Online Presence
Holy Spirit has long prioritized the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held in the chapel Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. To access the chapel, parishioners can request the door code from the church office. Coordinators are assigned by day so that no hour is left uncovered.
Each month the parish also observes the 40 Hours Devotion, the traditional practice in which the consecrated Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance for forty hours. At Holy Spirit the devotion begins at 8:00 pm on the second Wednesday of the month and concludes at 3:00 pm on the following Friday. 40 Hours is tied to the period that Christ's body rested in the tomb, with the number forty carrying biblical echoes of trial and preparation.
For those who cannot attend in person, the parish livestreams on Facebook Live, with past Masses, Holy Week liturgies, the Rosary, the Way of the Cross, parish missions, and healing Masses archived in a video library on the parish site.
The Sacraments: Baptism, Marriage, Anointing, and the OCIA
Baptism preparation begins with a class held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Family Life Center. Parents must be registered parishioners for at least six months before a Baptism can be scheduled, and both parents and godparents are required to attend the class. Baptisms themselves are celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of the month after the 11:00 am Mass. A full set of forms, including a godparent eligibility form, baptism register form, and godparent selection guides, can be downloaded from the parish site.
Couples preparing for Holy Matrimony are asked to contact Fr. John Peter Arul and parish wedding coordinator Cheryl Bergman at least six months in advance of the proposed wedding date.
Adults seeking to become Catholic are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), coordinated by Deacon Ray Stiles. The parish provides downloadable presentation booklets covering each stage of the process: Inquiry, Catechumenate, Enlightenment, and Mystagogy, alongside frequently asked questions about becoming Catholic.
Holy Spirit School: A Blue Ribbon and Purple Ribbon Campus
Holy Spirit School shares the parish campus on Fort Caroline Road and serves students from Pre-K through eighth grade. The school grew out of Msgr. Heslin's vision and was expanded under subsequent pastors. Two Pre-K classrooms for four-year-olds occupy the former parish church, repurposed into a lunch room for the children. The school earned both Blue Ribbon and Purple Ribbon recognition during Fr. Amar Nagothu's tenure.
The current principal is Chelsea Sult, supported by an office manager and a business manager. The school is a natural extension of parish life: Friday morning Mass during the academic year is celebrated as the school Mass, and eighth graders graduate in a special Mass in the spring.
Faith Formation for Children and Teens
The parish's Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program meets every Sunday from 9:30 am to 10:45 am, between the two Sunday Masses, for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Classes run from August through May, and registration packets can be downloaded from the parish site each summer.
Middle school youth gather for EDGE, and high school teens meet for Life Teen on Sundays from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, immediately after the 11:00 am Mass. Both programs are rooted in the Eucharist and aim to give teenagers a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. The parish's Youth Minister, Jane Collins, oversees the work along with the parish's youth ministry Instagram presence.
A Walk Through the Mass: Fr. Amar's Teaching Series
One of the parish's most popular teaching resources is a five-part series written by Fr. Amar Nagothu, MSFS, titled "A Walk Through the Mass: A Step-by-Step Explanation," published on the parish site. The series follows the shape of the Mass as a meal, walking through gathering, storytelling (the Liturgy of the Word), meal sharing (the Liturgy of the Eucharist), and commissioning (the Concluding Rites). It explains the sign of the cross, the penitential rite, the Gloria, the readings, the homily, the creed, the Eucharistic Prayer, the consecration, the Communion Rite, and the dismissal in language accessible to lifelong Catholics as well as visitors and inquirers.
Companion downloadable presentations on the Eucharist, the Sacraments, the Bible, Catholic shrines, prayer, Mary, the Communion of Saints, Christian parenting, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available through the parish's parish presentations page.
Divine Mercy, Eucharistic Miracles, and the Year of St. Joseph
Through the Divine Mercy devotion, the parish draws on the teachings of St. Faustina, promoting the Image of Divine Mercy, the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Novena to the Divine Mercy, and the 3:00 pm Hour of Great Mercy as trusted channels of grace.
The parish keeps a running series on the Eucharistic Miracles of the World, assembled by Blessed Carlo Acutis. Posts cover famous cases such as the Eucharistic Miracles of Buenos Aires, the Miracle of Bolsena, and the Miracle of Lanciano. Parish resources for Lent include the Stations of the Cross, diocesan materials, and writings from Matthew Kelly, Loyola Press, Ignatian Spirituality, Bishop Barron, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Lenten missions are also offered at the parish, with recorded sessions available in the video archive.
Resources on the Year of St. Joseph include Pope Francis' Apostolic Letter Patris Corde and other meditations, and the parish continues to make the 33 Day Consecration to St. Joseph available for those who wish to undertake it.
Liturgical Ministries and Choirs
A team of lay liturgical ministers keeps the parish's worship running smoothly. Coordinators and directors oversee choirs for each of the three weekend Masses. Phil Militante directs the Saturday 5:00 pm choir, Bob Vigliano directs the Folk Choir at the 8:30 am Sunday Mass, and JoJo Munoz directs the 11:00 am Sunday choir as well as the parish's youth choir. Catherine and Tracy Williams coordinate Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Marti Pounder coordinates the Lectors, Michelle Buckelew coordinates Sacristans, John DeLeon oversees the Ushers, Cheryl Bergman serves as Wedding Coordinator, and Jennifer Cabrey oversees the Altar Servers. Schedules for lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, and altar servers are published regularly as downloadable PDFs.
Parish Ministries: From Quilts for Vets to Street Evangelization
The parish maintains a robust ministries directory with dozens of service, devotional, and fellowship groups.
- Adoration. Coordinators by weekday keep perpetual hours covered in the chapel.
- Altar Society Cleaning Ministry. A team that cares for the linens, vessels, and sacred spaces of the church.
- Angels of Mercy. A caregiving ministry for parishioners in need.
- Annulments. Confidential accompaniment for those seeking declaration of nullity through the diocesan tribunal.
- Another Chance Fellowship Group for Cancer Survivors. Peer support for those navigating cancer.
- Bible Study. Weekly Scripture study led by parish volunteers.
- Coffee and Donuts. Hospitality after Sunday Masses.
- Garden Ministry. Volunteers who tend the parish grounds.
- Healing Prayer Ministry. Prayer offered for those who come forward after Mass or by appointment.
- Homebound Ministry. Coordinated through the parish office, taking Holy Communion to those who cannot attend Mass.
- Hope and Consolation. Outreach to the bereaved.
- Hospitality Ministry. Welcoming new and returning parishioners at the church door.
- Knights of Columbus. The parish council supports Catholic men's service, charity, and fraternity, with the council hosting the annual Memorial Charity Golf Tournament among other fundraisers.
- Legion of Mary. A traditional Marian devotional apostolate.
- Light of Jesus Family. A parish-based prayer and evangelization group.
- Men's Club. Fellowship and service for the men of the parish.
- Offertory Counting Committee. Volunteers who count the Sunday collection.
- Parish Nurse and Health Ministry. Health education and visits to those in need, led by parish nurse Rosita Inman.
- Prayer Blanket Ministry. Handmade prayer blankets given to those in need of comfort.
- Quilts for Vets. Quilts made and donated to local veterans.
- Religious Store. A parish-run shop with Catholic devotional items.
- Respect Life Coordinator. Promotion of the parish's pro-life mission.
- Rosary Ministry. Leads the praying of the Rosary at Masses and other gatherings.
- Scouting America Cubs and Scouts. Parish-sponsored Cub Scouts and Scouts troops.
- Society of Divine Mercy. Promotion of the Divine Mercy devotion of St. Faustina.
- St. Paul Street Evangelization. Volunteers who bring the Gospel to public spaces in Jacksonville.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society. Holy Spirit's conference of the international St. Vincent de Paul organization, with a help center and direct service to the poor in the surrounding community.
- Wine and Cheese. Parish social gatherings.
Parish Leadership: Clergy, Staff, and Councils
The parish is served by Fr. John Peter Arul, MSFS, pastor, and two deacons: Deacon Patrick Goin, retired, and Deacon Ray Stiles, who also coordinates the OCIA. Church staff includes Vickie Slade, Business Manager; Armon Antolin, Administrative Assistant and Communications Director; Cristine Tuano, Receptionist; Colleen Gomez, Coordinator of Religious Education; and John Gomez, Maintenance Worker.
The parish is led in counsel by three councils. The Pastoral Council is chaired by John Wondracek with members including Deacon Pat Goin, Karen Nichols, David Breton, Rosita Inman, Zenon Bajao, Ron Coleman, and Nancy Rivera. The Finance Council includes David Mills, Chelsea Sult, Gene Rover, Jane Collins, Joseph Nichols, Linda Crissman, Pierre Allaire, and Vickie Slade. The Stewardship Council coordinates the parish's many parishioner-led ministries, with a roster of dedicated coordinators.
Joining the Parish, Giving, and Online Tools
New parishioners can register online through a form on the parish site or by picking up a printed form at the welcome desk in the church or in the office. Registration supports sacramental eligibility for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony, allows parishioners to be considered for godparent or sponsor roles, and ensures the parish can reach families with timely information, including hurricane-related updates.
The parish offers online giving through ParishSoft and access to a private "My Own Church" portal where parishioners can update family information, view giving history, and access electronic giving statements.
Paper bulletins are still available in the church, and an electronic bulletin signup allows the weekly bulletin to be emailed to parishioners.
A Parish Built Around the Eucharist
Across six decades, Holy Spirit Catholic Church has grown from sixty families gathered in a clubhouse to a multi-generational Catholic community with a school, a Family Life Center, a perpetual adoration chapel, and dozens of service and faith formation ministries. Its pastoral vision statement names the Eucharist as the source of the parish's life: "rooted in Scripture and Tradition, nourished by the Sacraments, and empowered by the Holy Spirit." That vision plays out daily in Mass, in adoration, in catechesis, in service to the poor through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and in the witness of a parish school whose graduates return year after year to worship where they first learned the prayers of the Church.