About Holy Family · American Canyon, California
Holy Family Catholic Church is a welcoming parish of the Diocese of Santa Rosa serving the city of American Canyon in Napa County, California. Founded in 1994 out of a small prayer meeting begun by then-deacon candidate Mike Simmons, it has grown from four faithful in a city recreation center to a vibrant, multicultural community with three Sunday Masses and a Saturday Vigil. The parish's stated mission — to 'teach, feed, heal, and pray' — flows from its identity as a Eucharistic people, and under current pastor Father Frederick K.A. Kutubebi (Fr. Fred), Holy Family continues to build church and community in Christ for Catholics in American Canyon.
- Established
- 1994
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Frederick K.A. Kutubebi (Fr. Fred)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
Why belong here
Holy Family offers multiple Sunday Masses (including a Saturday Vigil and a monthly Youth Mass), an active Religious Education program with CCD classes from Kindergarten through Confirmation, a Spanish-language ministry (Grupo Guadalupano), and ethnic communities such as the Fil-Am and Banyuhay groups. The parish feeds the wider American Canyon community through its food drives for the American Canyon Food Pantry, supports vocations and family life through the Missionary Families of Christ and Knights of Columbus, and welcomes newcomers through RCIA. It is a small, multicultural parish where parishioners are known by name and invited to belong as one family under Christ.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- See Fr. Fred after Mass
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the 11:30 AM Mass each Sunday
Our Story: How Holy Family Began
Holy Family's story begins in September 1993, when Mike Simmons — then a third-year deacon candidate for the Diocese of Santa Rosa — organized a meeting of Catholics in American Canyon. Only four people showed up to the first gathering (Mike, his wife Ann, a Catholic who drove in from Napa, and the city's new mayor, Tom Orlando). A second meeting at the American Canyon Baptist Church drew fifteen people, all united by one desire: a Catholic Mass in their new city. The first Mass was celebrated on January 19, 1994, at 9:00 A.M. in the city recreation center; the second week saw attendance balloon to over 120. On February 19, 1994, the Catholic Community of American Canyon met with Bishop Patrick Ziemann, who committed to establishing a parish and named it Holy Family. Fr. Pat Stephenson arrived in March 1994 to begin the regular Sunday Mass, and in 1997 the community purchased 5.14 acres in American Canyon for the future church site.
- September 1993 — first prayer meeting organized by deacon candidate Mike Simmons
- January 19, 1994 — first Mass in American Canyon recreation center
- February 19, 1994 — Bishop Patrick Ziemann establishes Holy Family Parish
- March 1994 — Fr. Pat Stephenson arrives as founding pastor
- 1997 — parish purchases 5.14 acres for a future church site
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) Religious Education program for children from Kindergarten through 12th grade, including a two-year Confirmation preparation track. The program is directed by Marina Maldonado and follows the academic calendar of the Napa Valley Unified School District. Students are required to attend Sunday Mass at Holy Family (no more than four absences per calendar year from either class or Mass) and, in 2nd-Year Confirmation, must attend a retreat and pass a written exam with at least 70%. Adult formation is provided through the RCIA process, directed by Fr. Fred, which introduces inquirers to Catholic beliefs and practices over roughly eight months, culminating at the Easter Vigil.
- CCD classes from Kindergarten through 11th grade
- Two-year Confirmation preparation (including retreat and written exam)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, directed by Fr. Fred
- Registration period: typically May 1 – June 15
- Religious Education Director: Marina Maldonado — (707) 653-4647 or (415) 497-3171
Parish Staff & Leadership
Holy Family is led by pastor Fr. Frederick K.A. Kutubebi, with two deacons serving the community: Deacon Victor Leach (ordained August 2012) and Deacon Mike Simmons (ordained July 27, 1997; now retired, having founded the parish community itself in 1993). The parish office is staffed by Office Secretary Rose Tamoro and Bookkeeper Mary Narverud; Zenaida Alejandrino serves as Finance Director. Marina Maldonado directs Religious Education, Bernie Borges coordinates registration, Jeanne Guanzon handles IT, David Mezzera edits the bulletin, and Mer Abran serves as webmaster. The Pastoral Council is chaired by Leslie Gaffney and Davet Mohammed.
- Pastor: Fr. Frederick K.A. Kutubebi (ext. 101)
- Deacon Victor Leach (ext. 104)
- Deacon Mike Simmons — Retired (ext. 104)
- Office Secretary: Rose Tamoro (ext. 103)
- Bookkeeper: Mary Narverud (ext. 102)
- Religious Education Director: Marina Maldonado (ext. 105)
- Finance Director: Zenaida Alejandrino
- Registration Coordinator: Bernie Borges — (707) 980-7687
- IT: Jeanne Guanzon
- Bulletin Editor: David Mezzera
- Webmaster: Mer Abran
- Pastoral Council Chairs: Leslie Gaffney and Davet Mohammed
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Holy Family's parish life is enriched by a wide variety of lay-led ministries. The Men's Club and Women's Club organize parish social events and service projects (including the annual canned-food drive for the American Canyon Food Pantry). Ethnic and devotional communities include Grupo Guadalupano (Spanish-speaking), Fil-Am (Filipino-American), Banyuhay Group USA, and Missionary Families of Christ. Liturgical support is provided by the Art and Environment committee, Altar Linen Society, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, music ministry (Music Coordinator Justin Elgal; Pianist Fran Fanelli), and cleaning and recycling groups. The Knights of Columbus council, led by a Grand Knight (Romeo Blanquera in 2023), supports parish and broader community initiatives.
- Men's Club — David Pott
- Women's Club — Nancy Nabrynski
- Grupo Guadalupano — Anna Castro & Karina Servente
- Fil-Am — Anthony Quicho
- Banyuhay Group USA — Amy San Pedro
- Missionary Families of Christ — Frank Lee
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Romeo Blanquera
- Art and Environment — Arlene Collins
- Altar Linen Society — Mary Narverud
- Cleaning Groups & Recycling Society — Erika Myers
- Music Coordinator: Justin Elgal; Pianist: Fran Fanelli
- Community Outreach — Deacon Victor Leach
- Communication / Media Outreach — Justin Elgal
Sacraments
Holy Family prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Infant Baptism requires three months' notice and a preparation class held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the church. Marriage preparation requires six months' notice and is coordinated with Fr. Fred. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are received through the CCD program, and Confirmation follows a two-year preparation track including retreat and written exam. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting Fr. Fred, and Quinceañera celebrations are arranged through the Office Secretary.
- Baptism — 3-month notice; prep 2nd Wednesday @ 6:00 PM
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — through CCD
- Confirmation — 2-year preparation, retreat, written exam
- Marriage — 6-month notice with Fr. Fred
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. Fred
- Reconciliation — after Mass with Fr. Fred
- Quinceañera — call Office Secretary
- Blessings — contact Fr. Fred
Outreach & Service
Outreach is a visible part of parish identity. The Women's and Men's Clubs host an annual canned food drive in September for the American Canyon Food Pantry, with collection bins placed at the church entry. Deacon Victor Leach oversees Community Outreach, and parishioners are invited to participate in the Knights of Columbus, Missionary Families of Christ, and the parish's recycling and cleaning ministries as practical ways to serve their neighbors.
- Annual canned-food drive for the American Canyon Food Pantry
- Community Outreach coordinated by Deacon Victor Leach
- Knights of Columbus service projects
- Missionary Families of Christ
- Recycling Society — Erika Myers
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish is located at 200 Antonina Avenue in American Canyon, in Napa County. Rectory/office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM; the office is closed Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. Parishioners and visitors can reach the office at (707) 645-9331, fax at (707) 731-1637, or the parish cell at (707) 653-4646. Fr. Fred's email is [email protected], and the parish encourages the use of its website (https://holyfamily-amcan.church/) and the 'Ministry One' parish app for ongoing updates and announcements.
- Address: 200 Antonina Ave., American Canyon, CA 94503
- Phone: (707) 645-9331
- Fax: (707) 731-1637
- Parish Cell: (707) 653-4646
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 9:30 AM–11:00 AM
- Website: https://holyfamily-amcan.church/
- Parish app: Ministry One
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick (Pat) StephensonMarch 1994 – May 2011
First pastor of Holy Family; celebrated Mass in the Community Center Gym; announced retirement in May 2011.
- Rev. Frederick K.A. Kutubebi (Fr. Fred)June 2011 – present
Appointed parish administrator in June 2011; continues as pastor; also serves as RCIA director and Liturgy Committee chair.