About Holy Faith · Gainesville, Florida
Holy Faith Catholic Church (Iglesia Santa Fe) is a multicultural Catholic parish of about 2,100 registered households in Gainesville, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of St. Augustine. Established in 1973 and named in honor of the 17th-century Franciscan mission Santa Fe de Toloco, the parish is a vibrant community of families, University of Florida and Santa Fe College students and staff, seniors, and several ethnic communities including Filipino, Hispanic, Indian, and African parishioners. Under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Jose Kulathinal, C.M.I., with Associate Pastor Fr. Edward Murphy and Deacon Michael Demers, the parish runs more than 60 ministries supported by over 600 volunteers, all built around its mission to help one another know, love and serve God.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- Holy Faith / Santa Fe de Toloco (17th-century Franciscan mission) — spiritually bonded with St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Kulathinal, C.M.I.
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
Holy Faith is a welcoming, multicultural parish of about 2,100 households in the heart of Gainesville, where families, UF and Santa Fe College students, seniors, and ethnic communities from the Filipino, Hispanic, Indian, and African traditions worship side by side. With more than 60 ministries and over 600 volunteers — from youth ministry and faith formation to outreach to the sick and homebound in 14 area institutions — there are concrete ways to serve, learn, and belong. The parish centers on the Eucharist and offers a rich sacramental and devotional life, including daily Mass, a Healing Mass on First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration, and ongoing faith formation for adults through programs like 'Catholics on the Move.'
Mass times at Holy Faith
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (with Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
- First Friday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Exposition/Adoration with Divine Mercy Chaplet, ending with Benediction)
- Daily: 9:30 AM Morning Mass followed by exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament inside the Church
Parish History
Holy Faith Catholic Church was established on March 1, 1973, by Bishop Paul F. Tanner as a parish of the Diocese of St. Augustine, with Father Flannan Walsh as its founding pastor. The community first worshipped at the Gainesville Women's Club (1972–1976), built its Social Hall and Education Building in 1976, and dedicated its present pagoda-shaped church (ceiling forming a Maltese Cross, seating ~700) on February 28, 1982, by Bishop John J. Snyder. Successive pastors have been Fr. Walsh, Monsignor Joseph James, Fr. Michael Williams (1990–2002, who completed the Ministry Center in 2001), and Fr. John M. Phillips (2002–present history page), with current pastor Rev. Jose Kulathinal, C.M.I. The parish celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2013 and, on September 25, 2016, Bishop Felipe Estévez dedicated the new Parish Life Center.
- Founded: March 1, 1973 by Bishop Paul F. Tanner
- First Pastor: Rev. Flannan Walsh (also later founder of Queen of Peace parish)
- Current church dedicated Feb. 28, 1982 by Bishop John J. Snyder
- 40th anniversary celebrated in 2013 — 'Holy Faith Building Faith' Capital Campaign
- Parish Life Center dedicated Sept. 25, 2016 by Bishop Felipe Estévez
- Named after the 17th-century Franciscan mission Santa Fe de Toloco
Parish Identity & Mission
Holy Faith Catholic Church (Iglesia Santa Fe) is a welcoming, multicultural Catholic parish community of approximately 2,100 registered households, made up of families with children, engaged seniors, University of Florida and Santa Fe College students and staff, and ethnic communities including Filipino, Hispanic, Indian, and African parishioners. The parish's stated mission is 'to help one another to know, love and serve God, united to Christ and his Spirit-filled Catholic Church,' and its vision is to 'build together a community of compassion in Christ.' The parish motto 'Our heart … is the heart of Jesus; Our model … is St. Francis' reflects its spiritual bond with the Franciscan missionaries who served the original Santa Fe mission.
- ~2,100 registered households
- 60+ ministries
- 600+ volunteers
- Heart of the City of Gainesville
- Canonical territory is large
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Jose Kulathinal, C.M.I., with Associate Pastor Fr. Edward Murphy and Deacon Michael Demers. Lay staff include Letty Valentin (Pastoral Associate and Director of Adult Faith Formation), TiAnna Rosario McCabe (Youth & Young Adult Minister and Coordinator of Religious Education for Children & Families), Mark Beachy (Coordinator of RCIA & Outreach to Sick, Elderly & Poor), Cristina Logan (Director of Music Ministry in Liturgy), Ramza Maroun (Parish Office Administrative Assistant, Secretarial & Communication), Debbie Beckham (Receptionist), Millie Roig (Finance Office Assistant), Scott Marsh (Communication Assistant), and Tanu Palathingal (Maintenance & Security).
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Kulathinal, C.M.I.
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Edward Murphy
- Deacon: Michael Demers
- Pastoral Associate / Adult Faith Formation: Letty Valentin
- Youth & Young Adult Minister: TiAnna Rosario McCabe (since 2006)
- Director of Music Ministry in Liturgy: Cristina Logan
- RCIA & Outreach Coordinator: Mark Beachy
Other Devotions
In addition to the daily Mass schedule, Holy Faith maintains a regular Daily Rosary at 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. The parish also hosts an annual Advent Reconciliation Service (date TBA) to prepare parishioners for Christmas.
- Daily Rosary: 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM
- Advent Reconciliation Service (annual, TBA)
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Holy Faith is rooted in prayer and seeks to understand the Catholic faith with mind, spirit, and heart. For adults, Pastoral Associate Letty Valentin has initiated 'Catholics on the Move' (COTM), an adult faith formation experience built on the conviction that Jesus is alive today and so is his Church, and that parishioners are called to be witnesses of that living Jesus. For children and families, TiAnna Rosario McCabe serves as Coordinator of Religious Education for Children & Families and runs an active Sunday school open to new participants year-round. Mark Beachy coordinates the RCIA process and outreach to the sick, elderly and poor.
- Adult Faith Formation: Catholics on the Move (COTM)
- Children & Family Religious Education (Sunday School)
- RCIA (Coordinator: Mark Beachy)
Youth Ministry
The mission of the youth ministry at Holy Faith is to empower youth to love and serve Jesus Christ and the Church. The program provides opportunities for young Catholics to participate fully in the life of the Church through experiences, lessons, and service projects, many focused on Catholic Social Teaching and Community Outreach. Youth Minister TiAnna Rosario-McCabe has led the program since 2006. Youth group is for students in 8th through 12th grade and meets on scheduled Sundays during the school year from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in the Parish Life Center Youth Room.
- For students in grades 8–12
- Meets Sundays 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM in the Parish Life Center Youth Room
- Youth Minister: TiAnna Rosario-McCabe (since 2006)
- Focus on Catholic Social Teaching and Community Outreach
Music Ministry in Liturgy
Holy Faith supports a Music Ministry in Liturgy under the direction of Cristina Logan. Worship is at the heart of all parish endeavors, and the parish aims to celebrate all liturgies and sacraments, most especially the Holy Eucharist, with the dignity and reverence that the sacred liturgy demands, while facilitating the full, conscious, and active participation of all.
- Director of Music Ministry in Liturgy: Cristina Logan
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish provides sacramental and pastoral care to Catholics in 14 institutions in the Gainesville area, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice, and homebound. Its outreach ministry to the sick, homebound, and those with any need — Catholic or not — is always ready to respond with the compassion of Christ, coordinated by Mark Beachy as part of his RCIA and Outreach role.
- Care for Catholics in 14 institutions (hospital, nursing homes, assisted living, hospice, homebound)
- Outreach to the sick, homebound, and those in any need
- Coordinator: Mark Beachy
Sacraments
Holy Faith celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments as a parish. Children prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion through Religious Education, Confirmation through Youth Ministry, and adults enter the Church through the RCIA program coordinated by Mark Beachy. Pastoral Care reaches Catholics in 14 area institutions including hospital, nursing homes, assisted living, hospice, and homebound.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation / First Communion
- Confirmation
- Matrimony
- RCIA for adults
- Anointing of the Sick & pastoral care for the homebound
Campus & Facilities
Holy Faith's campus sits at 747 NW 43rd Street in Gainesville, in the heart of the city and at the center of a large canonical territory. The original Social Hall and Education Building were built by parishioners in 1976. The present church was dedicated in 1982 (pagoda-shaped, ceiling forming a Maltese Cross, seating ~700). The Ministry Center, completed in 2001 under Father Williams, houses parish ministry offices, the library, and the nursery. The newer Parish Life Center, dedicated by Bishop Felipe Estévez on September 25, 2016, is intended to serve the community for the next 40 years and more. The grounds are noted for their park-like beauty and include a prayer garden in front of the Ministry Center, given by the family of parishioner Mary Johnson.
- Social Hall & Education Building (1976)
- Present church (dedicated Feb. 28, 1982)
- Ministry Center (completed 2001) — Ministry Offices, Library, Nursery
- Parish Life Center (dedicated Sept. 25, 2016)
- Mary Johnson Prayer Garden
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Faith Catholic Church at 747 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32607, by phone at (352) 376-5405 or by fax at (352) 375-7568. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The parish email is [email protected], and the pastor can be reached at [email protected]. The parish notes that its website is being rebuilt and recommends calling the office for the most current information.
- Address: 747 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32607
- Phone: (352) 376-5405
- Fax: (352) 375-7568
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Flannan Walsh1973–1987
Founding pastor; celebrated Mass at Gainesville Women's Club 1972–1976, secured campus property in 1975, oversaw construction of Social Hall and Education Building in 1976. Later founded Queen of Peace parish on the westside of Gainesville.
- Monsignor Joseph James1987–1990
Succeeded Father Walsh as pastor in 1987.
- Rev. Michael Williams1990–2002
Third pastor; 12 years of leadership, expanded pastoral staff and ministries, completed the Ministry Center in 2001.
- Rev. John M. Phillips2002–present (in 2016 history)
Fourth pastor; former UF student who entered seminary the year the 1982 church was dedicated. Grew parish to 2,000+ families with 65+ ministries and oversaw the Parish Life Center dedicated by Bishop Felipe Estévez on September 25, 2016.
- Rev. Jose Kulathinal, C.M.I.Current
Current pastor; welcomes parishioners and visitors on the parish website.