About Holy Family · Caledonia, Michigan
Holy Family Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Caledonia, Michigan (Kent County), part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids South Deanery. The parish was established in 1970 through the 1969 merger of historic mission churches from Cascade, Leighton, and Bowne, and now serves more than 900 families in the growing Caledonia area south of Grand Rapids. Under pastor Fr. Michael Cilibraise and Deacon Michael Schasser, the parish operates a faith-formation program spanning kindergarten through high school, a vibrant music and liturgy ministry, and a broad outreach mission that ranges from a local food pantry and 'Walking with Moms in Need' to Knights of Columbus and Council of Catholic Women drives. Daily Mass is offered Wednesday through Friday, with two Sunday Masses and a Saturday Vigil; Holy Family is also known for its Thursday all-day Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (parish name); the founding congregation communities are memorialized through St. Mary's Hall, St. Joseph Hall, the St. Patrick Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and narthex stained-glass windows honoring St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. Patrick, and St. Augustine.
- Rector
- Rev. Michael F. Cilibraise
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids South Deanery, Kent County)
Why belong here
Holy Family is a medium-sized, multigenerational parish of more than 900 families that takes seriously its mission to 'form disciples of Jesus Christ through knowing, loving and serving God.' Newcomers find a robust OCIA process for becoming Catholic, a full K–12 faith-formation track (LANE Kids for elementary and Life Teen for high school), an unusually deep music ministry (choirs, handbells, cantors, instrumentalists, a Young Women's Ensemble), and a Thursday-day-long Eucharistic Adoration that anchors parish prayer life. Add strong local outreach — Knights of Columbus coat drives, Council of Catholic Women service, a parish food pantry, Walking with Moms in Need, I THIRST, Thanksgiving Food Drive, and the Christmas Giving Tree — and Holy Family offers a clear path into both worship and works of mercy.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM (or by appointment)
- First Friday of every month 9:45–10:45 AM
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, following the 9:00 AM Mass; the Diocese of Grand Rapids lists the closing time as 6:00 PM — the parish's own site states 7:00 PM)
About Holy Family Catholic Parish
Holy Family Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community located at 9669 Kraft Ave SE in Caledonia, Michigan, in Kent County just south of Grand Rapids. It is part of the Diocese of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids South Deanery) and serves more than 900 households across the Caledonia area. The parish's stated mission is 'Forming disciples of Jesus Christ through knowing, loving and serving God.' Daily Mass is offered Wednesday through Friday at 9:00 AM, with a Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM and two Sunday Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, plus weekly Confession on Saturday afternoons, monthly First-Friday Reconciliation, and an all-day Thursday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael F. Cilibraise
- Deacon: Michael Schasser (ordained January 13, 2024)
- Parish Office: (616) 891-9259; after-hours sacramental emergency (616) 536-0477
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM; Fri 9 AM–12 PM
History of the Parish
Holy Family Parish in Caledonia was formed in 1969 with the merger of St. Mary's Cascade and St. Joseph's Leighton, and St. Patrick's Bowne was incorporated in 1981 after its historic church building burned down. The heritage of those predecessor communities is preserved in the parish plant through St. Mary's Hall, St. Joseph Hall, the St. Patrick Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and stained-glass windows in the narthex depicting the patron saints of all the merged communities. The parish was constructed in 1970 under founding pastor Fr. Schafer and grew rapidly as families from St. Augustine (Middleville, closed by the Diocese of Kalamazoo) and other communities joined.
- Founded 1969 (merged) / constructed 1970
- Founding pastor: Fr. Schafer
- St. Patrick's Bowne: founded c. 1866; church burned 1981
- St. Mary's Hall, St. Joseph Hall, St. Patrick Blessed Sacrament Chapel named for predecessor parishes
- Building additions: 1979, 1983, 1987, 2006 (Holy Family Center)
- Over 900 families; 15+ ordained/religious-sister vocations
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Family runs a complete K–12 discipleship track anchored by the new diocesan LANE Kids curriculum in the elementary years and the Life Teen program in high school. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion takes place in 2nd grade through the regular weekly classes.
- Elementary Discipleship (K–6) using LANE Kids curriculum
- Class times: Sundays 4:00–5:30 PM or Mondays 5:00–6:30 PM
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation in 2nd grade
- High School Life Teen (Grades 9–12) — Sundays 6:00–8:00 PM
- Weekly High School Bible Study — Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM
- Pier Ministry Team — high school juniors/seniors mentoring middle school
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes inquirers at any stage of faith and knowledge — unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholic seeking full communion. The process includes evangelization, catechesis, and spiritual formation, culminating in the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. Formal sessions begin each September, but meetings with a priest or the OCIA Coordinator can be arranged year-round.
- Open to unbaptized, baptized non-Catholic, and baptized Catholic seekers
- Year-round inquiry; formal sessions begin in September
- Contact: Lori Pieri, Director of Evangelization
- Culminates at the Easter Vigil
Music & Liturgy Ministries
The Director of Sacred Music (Sheryl Moon — Director of Sacred Music at time of research; the parish has since posted for a successor) coordinates a robust, multi-ensemble music program that welcomes singers and instrumentalists of all skill levels. From the Adult Choir to the Handbell Choir, Resurrection Choir, Young Women's Ensemble, and Family Christmas Choir, the parish treats sacred music as a vital parish ministry rather than a background activity.
- Adult Choir
- Cantor Team
- Handbell Choir
- Resurrection Choir
- Young Women's Ensemble
- Family Christmas Choir
- Instrumentalists
- Projector Crew
- Outside Our Walls (music outreach)
Mission, Outreach & Charitable Works
Outreach is organized around the Corporal Works of Mercy printed across the parish Mission page — 'Feed Hungry, Give Drink to Thirsty, Clothe the Naked, Shelter the Homeless, Visit the Sick, Visit the Imprisoned, Bury the Dead.' Both the Knights of Columbus (Council 7341) and the Council of Catholic Women drive much of this work, alongside a parish food pantry and seasonal giving campaigns. The Mission Corner in the narthex regularly features new collections.
- Food Pantry
- Walking with Moms in Need
- I THIRST outreach
- Thanksgiving Food Drive
- Christmas Giving Tree
- Coat Drives (Knights of Columbus & CCW)
- Pancake Breakfast fundraisers
- Right to Life Campaigns
- Prison and Jail Ministry Collections
- Diocesan, national, and global mission campaigns
Parish Staff & Leadership
Pastoral leadership rests with Fr. Michael F. Cilibraise (Pastor/Administrator) and Deacon Michael Schasser (ordained January 13, 2024, after completing his pastoral internship at Holy Family under Fr. Cilibraise). A full lay staff coordinates faith formation, music, communications, facilities, finances, and hospitality.
- Rev. Michael F. Cilibraise — Pastor / Administrator
- Deacon Michael Schasser — Deacon
- Lori Pieri — Director of Evangelization
- Megan Neuman — Children Discipleship Minister (ext. 237)
- Emily Finley — Youth Discipleship Minister
- Karen Polak — Liturgical Life Coordinator
- Sheryl Moon — Director of Sacred Music
- Kevin Singer — Business Manager
- John Mancuso — Director of Communications
- Laura Scott — Administrative Assistant / Pastoral Care Coordinator
- Tammy Deller — Hospitality Coordinator
- Gail Mancuso, Barbara Dombroski — additional staff roles
Sacraments at Holy Family
Alongside the regular Reconciliation and Mass schedule above, Holy Family prepares children and adults for the Sacraments of Initiation and is available for emergency anointing through its after-hours sacramental line. Couples seeking marriage, families arranging Baptism, and those needing Anointing of the Sick are invited to contact the Parish Office.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM & First Fridays 9:45–10:45 AM, or by appointment
- Baptism: contact the Parish Office
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: 2nd grade through Elementary Discipleship
- Confirmation: through High School Life Teen
- Marriage & Anointing of the Sick: contact the Parish Office
- Sacramental emergency after hours: (616) 536-0477
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
Visitors and parishioners can reach Holy Family by phone, email, or in person during posted office hours. The church building is handicapped accessible. Beyond weekend Mass, newcomers often plug in through the OCIA inquiry process, the elementary or high school programs, the music ensembles, the Knights of Columbus (Council 7341), or the Council of Catholic Women — and the parish's current 'Renewing Our Church for Worship and Mission' campaign offers another way to participate by supporting physical-plant improvements.
- Address: 9669 Kraft Ave SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
- Phone: (616) 891-9259
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM, Fri 9 AM–12 PM
- Handicapped accessible church (per Diocese of Grand Rapids listing)
- Knights of Columbus Council 7341 (Caledonia)
- Council of Catholic Women
- Youth Ministry social media: Instagram @HolyFamily_youth, Facebook 'Holy Family Youth Ministry'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Schafer1970–
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of Holy Family church in 1970.
- Rev. Michael F. Cilibraisecurrent (as Administrator)
Listed by the Diocese of Grand Rapids as the parish's Administrator; under his mentorship Deacon Michael Schasser completed his pastoral internship at Holy Family before ordination.