About Holy Family · Columbus, Georgia
Church of the Holy Family is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Columbus, Georgia, serving more than 400 registered families from its landmark church at 320 12th Street. The parish traces its origins to 1835, when Rev. James Graham was assigned as the first resident pastor of the original Saints Philip and James Church, a humble wooden structure serving just 12–15 Catholic families in the newly founded river city. In 1880, under the patronage of the Holy Family, the parish relocated to its present site — land donated by the Sisters of Mercy — and dedicated the current Gothic-Byzantine church, designed by Irish-born architect Daniel Matthew Foley. Today the parish offers a traditional Latin Mass-centered liturgy, a full program of faith formation, sacramental preparation, and outreach, and remains the mother church of Catholicism in the Columbus area within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
- Established
- 1835
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Ben Dallas
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (Deanery: Columbus)
Why belong here
Church of the Holy Family is a traditional, downtown Catholic parish rooted in 190 years of Columbus history, serving more than 400 registered families in a single, architecturally notable worship space. It pairs a Tridentine-leaning liturgy — including a Sunday Mass with full choir and incense and a Saturday Vigil in the same style — with first-rate faith formation for children (PreK through 9th grade), an OCIA process for adults, vibrant pastoral care, and outreach ministries such as the Council of Catholic Women, From Grief to Grace, iThirst (addiction support), and the Supper Crew. For Catholics seeking reverent liturgy, deep community, and a parish with a real story in this part of Georgia, Holy Family is the historic mother church of the Columbus area.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays, 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
- Saturdays, 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- Additional Confession & Adoration scheduled on certain dates (check the parish calendar for cancellations)
Adoration times
- Wednesdays, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Adoration following Confession)
- Limited additional Adoration dates — see the parish Mass & Confession Times page and Church Calendar
Parish History
The Catholic story in Columbus, Georgia, begins with the city itself. Columbus was founded in 1828, and in 1831 Governor Wilson Lumpkin signed a proclamation granting a full city block to the early Catholic settlers and Presbyterians. The Catholic portion lay between what is now 7th and 8th Streets and 2nd and 3rd Avenues, with a dividing alley still known as Chapel Street. The first Catholic church, Saints Philip and James, was completed in 1835 as a humble wooden structure under the first resident pastor, Rev. James Graham, and served just 12–15 families. During the Civil War, a band of Sisters of Mercy fled St. Augustine, Florida, and arrived in Columbus in 1862, opening a school above the Saints Philip and James church. In 1880, the parish relocated to its present site on the Sisters' rose garden at 12th Street and 4th Avenue, and dedicated a new, larger church under the name 'Church of the Holy Family.' The parish has been the mother church of Columbus Catholicism ever since.
- 1835: Saints Philip and James Church completed; Rev. James Graham named first resident pastor
- 1862: Sisters of Mercy arrive in Columbus from St. Augustine, Florida
- 1870: Sisters purchase the Shorter home and move 'uptown' for their school
- May 12, 1880: Present Church of the Holy Family dedicated
- Major renovations: 1945, 1965, 1990 (partial), 2008
- June 25, 2025: Bishop Parkes blesses new reliquary at Jubilee Mass
Architecture and the Church Building
The 1880 Church of the Holy Family was designed by the Irish-born architect Daniel Matthew Foley, who had already designed 16 other churches across the country. Parish sources call the resulting structure his finest work, fusing Byzantine and Gothic elements in a single downtown landmark. The interior is rich with Catholic symbolism — figures of the apostles, key scenes from the life of Christ and his family, glorious stained glass windows, and statues.
- Architect: Daniel Matthew Foley (Dublin, Ireland)
- Style: Byzantine / Gothic
- Dedicated: May 12, 1880
- Major renovations: 1945, 1965, 1990 (partial), 2008
- 2025: new reliquary installed and blessed
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Ben Dallas, who arrived as pastor in July 2021 and was ordained in 2002. He is assisted by Deacon Dewayne Tillman, a parishioner since 2009 who was ordained a deacon in May 2020 and leads the parish chapter of iThirst. The rest of the staff combines long-time parishioners with experienced parish administrators, including a Director of Religious Education, a Pastoral Associate, an Office Coordinator, a bookkeeper, an administrative assistant, and two organists — one of whom is also the choir director.
- Fr. Ben Dallas — Pastor (arrived July 2021)
- Deacon Dewayne Tillman — Deacon (ordained May 2020)
- Stephanie Houlding — Church Office Coordinator (since summer 2022)
- Marissa Balsley — Director of Religious Education
- Julie Hird — Pastoral Associate (since 2012; parishioner since 2003)
- Kathy Wills — Church Bookkeeper (since 2017)
- Kathy Gramling — Administrative Assistant
- Pat Boutton — Organist
- Carroll Thebaud — Organist & Choir Director
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is central to the parish's life. Children's Religious Education (CCD) meets on Sundays from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM, September through May, for PreK through 9th grade, with built-in preparation for First Communion (1st and 2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th and 9th grade). A special RCIC class is offered for children new to the Church or needing to 'catch up.' Adults exploring Catholicism or seeking the sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation are invited to journey through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA).
- Children's CCD: Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM, PreK through 9th grade
- First Communion Prep: two-year program (1st & 2nd grade)
- Confirmation Prep: two-year program (8th & 9th grade)
- RCIC class for children entering the Church
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults
- Director of Religious Education: Marissa Balsley ([email protected])
Youth Ministry
While the parish is rebuilding its own youth program, Holy Family currently partners with St. Anne's youth group — the SAYnts — to engage middle- and high-school-aged young people in Scripture and the Eucharist. Families are warmly invited to bring their teens along as a 'Holy Family group' until a standalone young-adult ministry is ready to launch.
- Partnership with St. Anne's SAYnts youth group
- Open to middle and high school students
- Contact: Marissa Balsley, DRE, [email protected] or 706-323-6908 ext. 2
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners support the traditional liturgy as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Choir members, Greeters, and Ushers, and as part of the team that sets up the Church Scenery. Training is provided for each role, and confirmed parishioners are encouraged to sign up through the parish office.
- Eucharistic Ministers / Extraordinary Ministers of Communion
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Choir
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Church Scenery
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Pastoral Care at Holy Family is led by the Pastoral Associate and the Deacon, and includes visits to the sick and homebound, administration of the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion, and assistance with funeral planning. The parish also runs or hosts several outreach ministries: the Congregational Care Program, a faith-based counseling partnership with the Pastoral Institute of Columbus; iThirst, a spiritual-resource program for those suffering from addiction and their families (led by Deacon Dewayne Tillman); From Grief to Grace; the Council of Catholic Women; and the Supper Crew, which provides meals to those in need.
- Visits to the sick and homebound
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion calls
- Funeral-planning assistance
- Congregational Care Program (with the Pastoral Institute)
- iThirst — addiction support, led by Deacon Dewayne Tillman
- From Grief to Grace
- Council of Catholic Women
- Supper Crew
Music and Liturgy
Music is a defining feature of worship at Holy Family. The parish employs two organists, including Carroll Thebaud, who also serves as Choir Director, and the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass is celebrated as a Traditional Catholic Mass with full choir and incense. The parish choir welcomes new members through the Music and Liturgical Ministries pages.
- Pat Boutton — Organist
- Carroll Thebaud — Organist & Choir Director
- Sunday 11:00 AM Mass: full choir and incense
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments and accompanies parishioners at every stage of sacramental life — from OCIA and infant baptism, through First Communion and Confirmation, to marriage, Anointing of the Sick (offered at the First Friday Healing Mass and on request), and funeral Masses. Preparation programs follow the diocese's customary timelines, and the parish office is the first point of contact.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral Mass and planning
- OCIA for adults
- RCIC for children
Visit, Contact, and Stay Informed
The parish welcomes visitors and offers several ways to stay connected. The Church Office sits in St. Joseph's Hall right next to the church, open Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Fridays; reduced summer hours apply). Weekly bulletins are available in church and online, a weekly email is distributed through Flocknote, and the parish is also reachable through the MyParish App (search 'Holy Family Church, Columbus').
- Office: 320 12th Street, Columbus, GA 31901 (St. Joseph's Hall)
- Phone: 706-323-6908; Fax: 706-323-2043
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed Friday)
- Weekly bulletin in church and online
- Flocknote email updates
- MyParish App: 'Holy Family Church, Columbus'
- Facebook: facebook.com/holyfamilychurchcolumbusga
Land and the Sisters of Mercy Heritage
The Holy Family campus sits on land with a deep Catholic history. The original Catholic 'church square' from the 1828 city plan still survives as Chapel Street; the 1831 grant gave the Catholics the north half of a city block between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. In 1880, the parish moved to its present 12th Street and 4th Avenue (Veterans Parkway) site on rose-garden land donated by the Sisters of Mercy, whose convent and school occupied that block from 1870 to 1964. The parish education building, St. Joseph's Hall, now stands on that footprint.
- 1831 land grant signed by Governor Wilson Lumpkin
- Chapel Street survives as the dividing alley of the original Catholic block
- Sisters of Mercy convent and school on this site, 1870–1964
- St. Joseph's Hall named in their honor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Graham1835–
First resident pastor of the original Saints Philip and James Church.
- Rev. Michael Cullinan
Pastor of Saints Philip and James; the only grave on the church grounds, east of the main entrance, is his.