About Holy Family · Brentwood, Tennessee
Holy Family Catholic Church is a large Roman Catholic parish in Brentwood, Tennessee, belonging to the Diocese of Nashville. Founded in 1989 as Brentwood Catholic Community and renamed Holy Family, it serves more than 2,500 registered families in Williamson County from its campus on Crockett Road. The parish describes itself with the motto "Faith. Family. Fellowship. Service." and offers more than 50 ministries spanning worship, formation, youth, outreach, and a licensed preschool (the Holy Family Learning Center). Holy Family is also the home of one of Tennessee's earliest LifeTeen programs and reaches internationally through a sister-parish relationship in Bahon, Haiti, and a Mission Honduras outreach.
- Established
- 1989
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph "Joe" McMahon
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
Holy Family is a large, active parish rooted in the Diocese of Nashville that combines a wide liturgical schedule — three Sunday Masses (with a teen-led evening Mass), six daily Masses, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration — with a deep formation program for every age. From a state-licensed preschool (the Holy Family Learning Center) through Religious Education, the IGNITE middle-school program, the HFAM high-school youth ministry, and adult faith formation and faith-sharing groups, parishioners can grow at every life stage. Internationally and locally, the parish puts faith into action through the Haiti Twinning Ministry (sister parish St. Joseph's in Bahon), Mission Honduras, and the Room in the Inn homeless ministry, supported by more than 50 ministries overall.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:45 PM – 6:15 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 AM – 6:15 PM in the Main Sanctuary
Parish Identity and Motto
Holy Family Catholic Church describes itself with the tagline 'Faith. Family. Fellowship. Service.' and states its mission as 'to be a loving and joy-filled Catholic community of faith, dedicated to the growth of God's kingdom and living of the Gospel.' The parish commits itself to spiritual development through prayer, education, worship and service, and welcomes new residents of the Brentwood area as well as weekend visitors.
- Faith. Family. Fellowship. Service.
- Over 2,500 registered families
- More than 50 ministries
History
Holy Family was decreed by Bishop James D. Niedergeses on July 19, 1989, with Fr. Edward T. Alberts as founding pastor. The first Mass was held August 6, 1989, at Brentwood High School. The Crockett Road campus was built in three phases (1993, 1999, 2009–2010), and a Columbarium and Prayer Garden was dedicated in June 2020. The parish is approaching its 35th anniversary under pastor Fr. Joe McMahon, who arrived in September 2013.
- March 1988: initial interest meeting led by Bishop Niedergeses at Maryland Farms
- July 19, 1989: parish decreed; Fr. Edward T. Alberts appointed pastor
- August 6, 1989: first community-wide Mass (Brentwood High School auditorium)
- September 20, 1992: groundbreaking on Crockett Road
- July 10, 1993: Phase I dedication by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec
- May 1999: Phase II dedication (Parish Activity Center, gym, Chapel, Picnic Pavilion, fields)
- 1998: Haiti twinning begins (St. Joseph's, Bahon)
- October 9, 1994: first LifeTeen Mass in Tennessee celebrated at Holy Family
- November 2001: Room in the Inn begins; Holy Family Learning Center opens
- February 2002: first Haiti Medical Mission (1,525 served in four days)
- 2008: Mission Honduras outreach launched
- June 21, 2013: founding pastor Fr. Edward T. Alberts dies
- September 2013: Fr. Joseph McMahon welcomed as Pastor
- September 14, 2014: 25th Anniversary Mass; Parish Hall dedicated in memory of Fr. Ed Alberts
- June 2020: Columbarium and Prayer Garden dedicated by Bishop Mark Spalding
Worship and Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass six weekdays a week plus three Sunday Masses, with a teen-led LifeTeen Mass on Sunday evenings. Eucharistic Adoration is offered every Wednesday morning through early evening in the Main Sanctuary. Confession is heard Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, and is available by appointment. Livestream Masses and downloadable worship aids extend the parish's liturgy online.
- Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 5:30 PM (teen-led)
- Weekday Masses: Mon 9 AM, Tue 6:30 AM, Wed 9 AM and 6:30 PM, Thu 12 PM (noon), Fri 9 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays 9:30 AM – 6:15 PM
- Confession: Wed 5:45–6:15 PM; Sat 3:30–4:30 PM; by appointment
- Livestream Masses via holyfamilycc.com/livestream/
Liturgical Ministries
Holy Family invites parishioners to serve at the altar and in worship through a complete set of liturgical ministries. Training is provided for new lectors and extraordinary ministers, and liturgical scheduling is managed through Ministry Scheduler Pro (MSP).
- Altar Servers (grades 5–12, training provided)
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
- Music Ministry (vocals and instruments; weekend, Holy Day, funeral and wedding liturgies)
- Ushers
- Sacristan Team (primarily 5:30 PM Sunday Mass)
- Decorating & Floral Team
Faith Formation and Education
Faith formation at Holy Family spans preschool through adult life. The parish operates the Holy Family Learning Center, a State of Tennessee–licensed preschool for ages 2–5. The Religious Education program serves children in Pre-K through 8th grade, with IGNITE for middle-school youth (grades 6–8) and HFAM for high-school youth (grades 9–12). Adult Faith Formation includes faith-sharing groups, Scripture study, and RCIA ('Join the Faith').
- Religious Education (Pre-K – 8th grade); 2026 registration open
- Holy Family Learning Center (HFLC) preschool, ages 2–5 — Director Susan Oubre, 615-373-3061
- IGNITE (6th–8th grade youth ministry)
- HFAM Youth (9th–12th grade youth ministry); High School Youth Ministry Lead Clare Sukley (since 2025)
- Young Adults ministry
- Adult Faith Formation: faith-sharing, Scripture study, Sunday adult education
- RCIA / 'Join the Faith' for adults seeking initiation
Mission and Outreach
Outreach is a central part of Holy Family's identity. The parish maintains a long-running twin relationship with St. Joseph's in Bahon, Haiti, supporting education, nutrition, medical care and the Sea Container Project, and conducts periodic Medical Mission trips. Since 2008, Mission Honduras has served orphaned, foster and poor children, and since November 2001 the parish has run the Room in the Inn homeless hospitality every Saturday night in winter.
- Haiti Ministry / Haiti Twinning (St. Joseph's, Bahon) — contact Bill Stevens
- Mission Honduras — supporting 26 orphanage children, students and building projects; contact Michael Freesmeier
- Room in the Inn: November–March, Saturday nights, parish volunteers
- Local community and service projects
Parish Organizations and Fellowship
Fellowship at Holy Family is supported by long-standing parish organizations for men and women, a Nursery during Sunday Masses, the Pastoral Council, and a Stewardship of Engagement model introduced in 1994 that frames sharing of time, talent and treasure.
- Men's Club (builds the Picnic Pavilion and runs fundraisers)
- Women's Club (social events and women-focused community service)
- Pastoral Council
- Nursery for children ages 1–3 during Sunday Masses
- Stewardship of Engagement
Campus and Facilities
The 25-acre Crockett Road campus was developed across three phases beginning in 1993. Today it houses the Worship Area, a weekday Chapel, a Parish Activity Center with a gym, commercial kitchen and meeting rooms, Religious Education and Learning Center classrooms, a Parish Hall, and a Columbarium and Prayer Garden dedicated in 2020.
- Phase I (1993): Worship Area, Gathering Area, Devotional Chapel, Education Wing, Administrative Offices
- Phase II (1999): Parish Activity Center with gym, kitchen, nursery, LifeTeen room, smaller weekday Chapel, Picnic Pavilion, soccer/baseball fields, additional parking
- Phase III (2009–2010): administrative offices, additional classrooms, Parish Hall
- Columbarium and Prayer Garden dedicated June 2020 by Bishop Mark Spalding
- Facility Use requests available through the parish office
Clergy and Staff
Holy Family is led by Pastor Fr. Joe McMahon (ordained 1984; pastor since September 2013). Following the 2025 diocesan reassignments, Fr. Joseph Ngo serves as Associate Pastor. Fr. John Raphael, who arrived in summer 2024 after twelve years as Chaplain at Ascension Saint Thomas, was reassigned to Christ the King in 2025. Three deacons — Jim Rose, Dave Gilles and Bill Hill — minister across the parish, supported by Parish Council, finance, and formation staff.
- Fr. Joe McMahon — Pastor; 615-373-4696
- Fr. Joseph Ngo — Associate Pastor (2025)
- Deacon Jim Rose
- Deacon Dave Gilles
- Deacon Bill Hill (ordained a deacon in 2006; Master's from St. Meinrad, 2012; founded the Katharine Drexel Scholarship Endowment at Father Ryan High School)
- Pastoral Council; Finance Director; High School Youth Ministry Lead Clare Sukley (since 2025)
Sacraments and Devotions
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (First Communion and First Reconciliation), Marriage, Holy Orders discernment support, and Anointing of the Sick. Becoming Catholic is supported through the 'Join the Faith' RCIA process. The Columbarium and Prayer Garden offer an on-site option for inurnment of cremated remains.
- Baptism preparation
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage (Wedding Info page on website)
- Anointing of the Sick and homebound ministry
- RCIA / 'Join the Faith'
- Funerals and Columbarium interment
Getting Involved and Contact
Newcomers and visitors are welcomed with a dedicated 'New To Holy Family?' page introducing the two pastors. Parishioners can register online, sign up for email groups (including Adoration reminders), schedule volunteer service through Ministry Scheduler Pro, and request Mass intentions or memorial gifts. Online Giving, planned giving and weekly financial statements are available through the website.
- Register at the Parish (online form)
- Online Giving / Planned Giving / Memorial Gifts / Financial Statements
- Prayer Requests and Angel Post
- Flower Donations
- Accessibility & Accommodations
- Diocese of Nashville Safe Environment
- Contact: 615-373-4696 · [email protected] · 9100 Crockett Road, Brentwood, TN 37027
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward T. Alberts1989–2013
Founding pastor and builder of Holy Family; died June 21, 2013. The parish hall was dedicated in his memory in 2014.
- Rev. Titus Augustine, CMI2013 (Administrator)
Named Administrator by Bishop David R. Choby between the founder's death and Fr. Joe McMahon's arrival; previously served as Associate Pastor from July 2010.
- Rev. Joseph "Joe" McMahonSeptember 2013–present
Ordained 1984; previously pastor of St. Joseph in Madison and Christ the King in Nashville.