About Holy Family · Auburn, New York
Holy Family is one of four historic Catholic churches clustered as the "Sacred Heart Catholic Parishes of Auburn, NY" in Cayuga County, New York, alongside Sacred Heart, St. Alphonsus, and St. Ann. The parish traces its roots to 1830 and is served today from 85 North Street in Auburn. Worship, faith formation, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, and outreach are coordinated across the cluster under Pastor Father Stephen Karani and Parochial Vicar Father Michael Brown. The Diocese of Rochester lists Holy Family as the oldest Catholic congregation in Auburn, and the cluster shares a parish office at 90 Melrose Road.
- Established
- 1830
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen N. Karani
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Holy Family is the mother church of Catholicism in Auburn, with Mass, confession, and devotions celebrated in a landmark 1861 Romanesque Revival sanctuary whose stained glass and statuary were donated by generations of local families. As part of a four-church cluster under Pastor Father Stephen Karani, the parish offers Sunday and weekday Mass, Reconciliation, sacramental preparation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Anointing), K-6 and Confirmation faith formation, the CHRISTUS VIVIT youth ministry for grades 6-12, a Parish Council with dedicated Holy Family representatives, the cluster-wide St. Alphonsus Food Pantry, and a Bereavement Ministry — giving parishioners many ways to live and grow their faith together.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- No regular confessions currently scheduled at Holy Family (per cluster Mass Times page); Reconciliation is offered Saturday 3:00 PM at Sacred Heart and Saturday 3:30 PM at St. Alphonsus
History of Holy Family Parish
Catholic worship in Auburn began in 1810 with settlers John O'Connor and Hugh Ward, who arrived to work on the Erie Canal and the New York Central Railroad. The first Holy Family Church was purchased from a Methodist congregation and dedicated in 1830, originally serving as a mission of St. Mary's Church in Albany. As the Catholic population grew, a larger building was needed, and in 1857 Father Michael Creedon took charge. He supervised construction of the present church in 1861.
- 1830 — first Holy Family Church dedicated
- 1857 — Father Michael Creedon assumes leadership
- 1861 — current Romanesque Revival church completed
- 1895 — Father John J. Hickey oversees church and school improvements
Architecture & Sacred Art
The 1861 church is a cruciform-plan Romanesque Revival building on a stone foundation, with brick construction clad in 1916 Formstone tiles imitating Indiana limestone. Twin four-story belltower spires flank a large rose window above a triple-doorway entrance, and tall arched windows line the nave on both sides. The design is said to evoke a boat or ark, drawing the faithful inward toward salvation.
- Architect: John W. Vanderbosch (Johannes Wilhelmus VenDerbosch), Danish-born carpenter
- Style: Romanesque Revival with Norman detailing
- 1912 — twenty stained-glass windows from Munich, Germany, donated by parishioners
- 1913 — quartered oak pews
- 1916 — east vestibule extended 20 feet; Formstone facade applied
- 1958 — south door, high altar renovation, new confessionals
- 1967 — new rose window
- 1968 — heated sidewalk installed
Inscription & Preservation
Beneath the rose window, the Latin phrase "Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam" is engraved — translated: "Unless the Lord shall have built the house, they have labored in vain who build it." H.O.P.E. (Holy Family Outreach for Preservation Efforts) is developing a professional Preservation Plan to restore the church's architecture, sacred art, stained-glass windows, and hand-cast plaster Stations of the Cross, and to share its significance as the parish home of Servant of God Bishop Patrick James Byrne.
- H.O.P.E. preservation plan in development
- Stained-glass restoration
- Architectural and artistic feature maintenance
- Public education on historical and religious significance
Cluster Parishes & Pastoral Leadership
Holy Family is one of four clustered Catholic churches in Auburn — alongside Sacred Heart (90 Melrose Road), St. Alphonsus (85 E. Genesee Street), and St. Ann (4890 Twelve Corners Road, Owasco) — sharing a single pastor, parochial vicar, staff, and bulletin. The cluster is led by Pastor Father Stephen N. Karani and Parochial Vicar Father Michael Brown, with a unified parish office at 90 Melrose Road.
- Pastor: Rev. Stephen N. Karani
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Michael Brown
- Deacon: Gregg Lawson
- Funeral Minister: Thomas Techman
- Director of Faith Formation: Ana Haff
- Administrative Assistant: Nancy Kavanagh
- Regional Finance Director: Shawn Gillen-Caryl
- Regional Business Managers: Kim Guinnip, Star Yankton
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is coordinated cluster-wide under Director of Faith Formation Ana Haff. Programs for 2025-2026 follow the Auburn Enlarged City School District calendar from September 2025 to May 2026, with Sunday sessions at Sacred Heart from 10:00-11:00 AM including attendance at 11:00 AM Mass, and a Home Instruction program for families using their own materials.
- Sunday Faith Formation for Grades K-6
- Confirmation Year 1 and Year 2
- Home Instruction Faith Formation
- First Penance / First Communion — $50 per child
- Confirmation Y1/Y2 — $50 per child
- All other grades — $40 per child
Youth Ministry — CHRISTUS VIVIT
The CHRISTUS VIVIT Youth Ministry is the cluster's youth program for grades 6 through 12, themed around FAITH, FUN, and FELLOWSHIP. It meets the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Sacred Heart Church, 90 Melrose Road, Auburn. There is no cost to participate. Contact Fr. Joseph Martuscello through the parish office for information.
- Grades 6-12
- 1st and 3rd Fridays, 6:00-9:00 PM
- Sacred Heart Church, 90 Melrose Road
- Free of charge
Parish Council & Liturgy Committee
The Parish Council is a decision-making body composed of representatives from all four cluster churches. From Holy Family, the 2024 representatives are Liza Kelly and Jeannine Larose; council leadership includes Chair Karen Walter, Vice Chair Marianne Mendzef, and Secretary Liza Kelly. The Liturgy Committee oversees the cluster's faithful observance of liturgical norms and seeks to deepen the prayer life of the community through well-planned Masses and devotions.
- Parish Council Chair: Karen Walter
- Vice Chair: Marianne Mendzef
- Secretary: Liza Kelly
- Holy Family reps: Liza Kelly and Jeannine Larose
- Liturgy Committee — cluster-wide
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for all seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation is coordinated cluster-wide through the parish office. Bereavement Ministry supports families at the time of funeral and loss.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick / Healing
- Matrimony
- Holy Orders (vocations guidance)
- Bereavement Ministry
Outreach & Charity
The cluster operates the St. Alphonsus Food Pantry for local families in need and a Bereavement Ministry supporting those who have lost loved ones. Funeral Ministry is provided cluster-wide by Thomas Techman.
- St. Alphonsus Food Pantry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Funeral Ministry
Visit & Contact
The cluster parish office is at 90 Melrose Road, Auburn, NY 13021, phone 315-252-7271, with office hours Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM and Friday 8:00 AM-11:00 AM. Holy Family Church sits at 85 North Street. Cluster bulletins, the weekly schedule, and contact forms are available through the cluster website.
- Parish Office: 90 Melrose Road, Auburn, NY 13021
- Phone: 315-252-7271
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: M-Th 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Fri 8:00 AM-11:00 AM