Holy Family

Our Story & History

Holy Family Catholic Church was born in 1969 when two Columban missionaries, Father Thomas Normanly and Father George Nolan, began celebrating Mass in the home of the Bryan family on the eastern side of St. Thomas. From that small gathering grew a vibrant parish that built its first chapel in 1970 and saw its present church on Cassi Hill dedicated by Bishop Edward J. Harper on October 19, 1975. The Columban Fathers shepherded the parish for seventeen years before passing the mission to diocesan priests in 1986.

Shrine of Our Lady of Cassi Hill

The Marian heart of the parish is the Shrine of Our Lady of Cassi Hill, whose pilgrimage tradition actually predates the parish itself. It began in 1947, two years after the end of World War II, when the faithful gathered to pray for lasting peace and to ask the Blessed Mother to protect the island from hurricanes. In 1979 the shrine property was deeded to Holy Family Parish, and today the annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Cassi Hill is celebrated on the Sunday nearest August 15 (the Feast of the Assumption) with Mass, a procession from Four Winds Plaza Mall, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the shrine. The shrine is open every day for meditation and visits, and a 7:00 a.m. Friday Mass is celebrated there weather permitting, plus a Healing Mass on the last Friday of each month at 6:00 p.m.

• Pilgrimage on the Sunday nearest August 15
• Friday 7:00 a.m. Mass at the Shrine (weather permitting)
• Last-Friday-of-the-month Healing Mass at 6:00 p.m.
• Open daily for meditation and peaceful visits

Mass & Worship Schedule

The parish celebrates the Eucharist every day of the week. Tuesday through Thursday feature a 7:00 a.m. Mass; Wednesdays also include a 12:00 noon Mass; Fridays a 7:00 a.m. Mass is offered at the Shrine (weather permitting). The Saturday vigil is at 5:00 p.m., and on Sundays Mass is celebrated at 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in English, with a 5:00 p.m. Mès kreyòl in Haitian Creole/French. A Youth Mass is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month during the 10:00 a.m. Mass.

• Weekday Masses Tue–Thu 7:00 a.m.; Wed also 12:00 noon; Fri 7:00 a.m. at the Shrine
• Saturday Vigil 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday 7:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (Creole/French)
• Youth Mass on the 3rd Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Sacraments

Baptisms are celebrated on the 4th Sunday of each month at the 10:00 a.m. Mass; families are asked to contact the parish office for preparation. Marriage preparation is by request, with arrangements to be made at least six months ahead of the wedding date. The priests visit the sick and shut-ins every Friday; parishioners are encouraged to call the office to request a special visit.

• Baptism — 4th Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. Mass
• Marriage Preparation — request at least 6 months in advance
• Anointing / Visits to the Sick — every Friday

Faith Formation & CCD

The Religious Education Program (CCD) meets every Saturday at 9:00 a.m., under the spiritual advisor Father Kerly François and coordinator Ms. Marguerite René. The current Religious Education Director is Ms. Tamra Thomas. CCD forms children of the parish in the Catholic faith and prepares them for the reception of the sacraments.

• CCD classes every Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
• Spiritual Advisor: Fr. Kerly François
• Religious Education Director: Ms. Tamra Thomas

Parish Ministries & Organizations

Holy Family is served by an unusually wide array of lay ministries that touch every part of parish life — from liturgy (Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministry, Ministry of the Word, Music Ministry) to formation (CCD, Youth Ministry) to charity and outreach (St. Vincent de Paul Society & Young Vincentians, Sick & Shut-ins, Health Ministry) to community life (Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group, Children of Mary, St. Joseph Workers, Cultural Dancers, Pantomime Group, Social Committee). The parish also runs a Baptism Preparation team, a Finance Committee, a Church Cleaning crew, and a Media Ministry.

• Liturgical: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministry, Ministry of the Word, Music Ministry / Cantors / Musicians, Sacristans
• Formation: CCD / Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Baptism Preparation
• Charitable: St. Vincent de Paul Society & Young Vincentians, Sick & Shut-ins, Health Care Ministry, Ministry of Hospitality
• Devotional: Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group, Children of Mary, St. Joseph Workers
• Community & Cultural: Cultural Dancers, Pantomime Group, Social Committee, Dominica Association
• Administration: Finance Committee, Money Counters, Media Ministry, Church Cleaning

Health Ministry

The Holy Family Church Health Ministry is a group of healthcare providers and parish volunteers who promote the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of parishioners. Treating every person as a treasure and the human body as 'God's Temple' (1 Cor 6:19–20), the ministry integrates faith and healing through health education, screening, counseling, planned physical activities, referrals, and advocacy, and distributes monthly flyers with health information.

• Coordinators: Ms. Candace Bryan and Dr. Gloria Callwood
• Activities: health education, screening, counseling, referrals, advocacy
• Monthly health-information flyers

Music & Liturgical Arts

Music and liturgical celebration are central to the life of Holy Family. Music Director Mr. Francis Callwood leads a team of cantors and musicians for Sunday and weekday liturgies, while the Media Ministry livestreams and records parish events. The parish also celebrates a rich Marian and devotional calendar with processions, novenas, and the annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Cassi Hill.

• Music Director: Mr. Francis Callwood
• Cantors and Musicians
• Media Ministry (livestream, recordings)
• Annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Cassi Hill

Staff & Parish Office

The Parish Office is located on the middle level of Columban Hall, to the left of the church, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (the diocese's listing gives expanded hours: Tue–Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). A Gift Shop is open after every weekend Mass and on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The upper Columban Hall is also available for hosting parish events.

• Parish Administrator: Rev. Modeste Digwou
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Yacob Lonfo Fopa
• Administrative Assistant: Ms. Carmen White (diocesan listing: Ms. Tina Hodge)
• Accountant: Ms. Dawn Callwood
• Music Director: Mr. Francis Callwood
• Religious Education Director: Ms. Tamra Thomas
• Sacristans: Ms. Francesca Alcendor, Mr. Julio Comperè, Ms. Silia Erilis, Mr. Orville 'Sparrow' Rouse
• Gift Shop open after weekend Masses and Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Visit, Giving & Contact

Holy Family is located on Cassi Hill in the Anna's Retreat / Hidden Valley neighborhood of eastern St. Thomas, on Smith Bay Road (Route 38). From Charlotte Amalie, take Route 38 / Weymouth Rhymer Highway past Tutu Park Mall and Four Winds Plaza, then turn right onto Smith Bay Road at Tillett Gardens; from Red Hook, head west on Emile Francis Drive. The parish accepts online giving and is happy to answer questions at (340) 775-1650 or [email protected].

• Address: 213 Anna's Retreat, St. Thomas, USVI 00802 (Mailing: 394-213 Anna's Retreat)
• Phone: (340) 775-1650
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.holyfamilystt.com
• Online giving available