About Holy Family · Decatur, Michigan
Holy Family Parish is a Catholic community in the small village of Decatur in southwestern Michigan, belonging to the Diocese of Kalamazoo. It worships at 500 W St. Mary Street and is currently part of a three-parish collaborative with Holy Maternity of Mary in Dowagiac and Sacred Heart of Mary in Silver Creek, served by one pastor, Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan MSFS (known to parishioners as 'Father Raj'). The parish describes itself as a Christian community 'called to be holy as Jesus is holy,' modeling itself after the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and welcoming everyone regardless of where they are on their faith journey.
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph)
- Rector
- Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan MSFS (Father Raj)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a tight-knit, family-style parish where newcomers are welcomed as part of the community. Members grow in faith through small-group faith sharing using programs like Renew International and 'The Journey,' and young people are served through a Life Teen / Edge youth ministry that meets on the third Sunday of each month. The parish is supported by an active Men's Club (which runs the annual Chicken Dinner fundraiser) and a Women's Group, plus a Holy Family Scholarship for college-bound high school students, giving families and individuals multiple ways to belong, serve and grow together.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 5:15–5:45 PM (before the 6 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Third Friday of each month: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, followed by 12:15 PM Mass
Welcome and Parish Mission
The parish's Welcome page states plainly that Holy Family is 'a Christian community in Decatur, Michigan called to be holy as Jesus is holy and to help one another say yes to His Call.' Members are invited to proclaim the Good News of Jesus 'through Faith, Education, and Example,' and to model the parish community after the Holy Family of Nazareth. The parish commits itself to being 'FAMILY to our members, our town, our church, our country'; to sharing gifts and talents within each person's vocation; to hospitality toward the poor and needy; and to working for peace, justice and equality by relating the Gospel to social concerns.
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
Holy Family publishes a simple, consistent weekly Mass schedule: Saturday evening at 6:00 PM, Sunday morning at 8:00 AM, Tuesday at 8:30 AM, and Friday at 12:15 PM. Adoration is offered on the third Friday of every month from 11:00 AM to noon, immediately preceding the 12:15 PM Mass. Reconciliation is heard on Saturday afternoons from 5:15 to 5:45 PM, just before the vigil Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 6:00 PM (English)
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Tuesday Daily Mass: 8:30 AM (English)
- Friday Daily Mass: 12:15 PM (English)
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 5:15–5:45 PM
- Monthly Adoration: 3rd Friday, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments is published on the parish's 'Sacraments and Schedules' page. For Baptism, parents are asked to contact the Parish Office. Marriage preparation must be scheduled with the priest at least six months in advance. The parish also prepares children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, with Confirmation celebrated at a Confirmation Mass with the Bishop.
- Baptism — by appointment through the Parish Office, (269) 783-4223
- First Holy Communion — parish religious-education program
- Confirmation — parish preparation, culminating in a Confirmation Mass
- Marriage — schedule with priest 6 months in advance
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 5:15–5:45 PM
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish's staff page identifies both pastoral and lay leaders. Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan MSFS ('Father Raj') serves as Collaborative Priest over the three-parish family. Jackie Bohn is the parish secretary, Debbie Krueger the bookkeeper, George Massura the sacristan, Daniel Northrup the Director of Religious Education (DRE), Paul Lamoreaux the volunteer music coordinator, and Tom Peterson the custodian. The parish is also served by an elected Parish Council (Carl Druskovich, Lonnie Mortimore, Henry Karasch) and Finance Council (Emelee Rajzer, Darrick Taylor).
- Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan MSFS — Collaborative Priest
- Jackie Bohn — Secretary
- Debbie Krueger — Bookkeeper
- George Massura — Sacristan
- Daniel Northrup — DRE
- Paul Lamoreaux — Volunteer Music Coordinator
- Tom Peterson — Custodian
- Parish Council — Carl Druskovich, Lonnie Mortimore, Henry Karasch
- Finance Council — Emelee Rajzer, Darrick Taylor
Faith Sharing and Adult Formation
Faith-sharing small groups are a central part of parish life. The parish invites parishioners to join small groups at Holy Maternity of Mary Church that use Renew International materials, view videos about the Holy Land, study the Gospels and Pauline Letters, or take Just Faith courses. The Journey program, a video-based reflection series produced by the award-winning OBD Films, walks participants through three parts: a personal encounter with Jesus, belonging to His Church the community, and living as His disciple. Sessions follow the method of lectio divina, with adult booklets available in English and Spanish and youth booklets in English.
- Small-group faith sharing at Holy Maternity of Mary
- Renew International discussion materials
- The Journey video series (OBD Films) — Part 1: Encounter with Jesus; Part 2: Belonging to the Church; Part 3: Living as a Disciple
- Just Faith courses of study
- Lectio divina method
- Booklets available in English and Spanish (adults), English (youth)
Youth Ministry
Holy Family uses the Life Teen and Edge model for its youth ministry. Described on the parish website as 'a Eucharist-centered movement within the Roman Catholic Church,' Life Teen 'leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church,' with the Blessed Virgin Mary as intercessor and guide. Life Teen / Edge meets on the third Sunday of every month, and the parish has organized youth mission trips, including recent trips to Niagara Falls and Toronto after a planned Washington, D.C. site was closed.
- Life Teen / Edge — meets 3rd Sunday of every month
- Eucharist-centered, Marian model
- Past mission trips: Niagara Falls 2018, Toronto 2018
- Open to teenagers and their families
Men's, Women's and Community Groups
Parish life is supported by a number of lay-led organizations. The Men's Group, led by Henry Karasch, runs the annual Chicken Dinner — one of the parish's main fundraisers, offering grilled chicken, baked potato, corn, homemade coleslaw and cookies. The Women's Group is led by Kathy Northrup. The parish is also connected to the Paw Paw Knights of Columbus Council #3798, which is listed on the staff page as a community partner.
- Men's Group (lead: Henry Karasch) — Annual Chicken Dinner fundraiser
- Women's Group (lead: Kathy Northrup)
- Paw Paw Knights of Columbus Council #3798
- Holy Family Scholarship for college-bound high school students
Parish Collaborative
Holy Family is one of three parishes sharing a single pastor in a 'collaborative' — a model encouraged by the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The three parishes are Holy Family in Decatur, Holy Maternity of Mary in Dowagiac, and Sacred Heart of Mary in Silver Creek. The parishes share resources, faith-sharing groups, youth ministry events (such as a collaborative picnic held at Sacred Heart) and the same Parish Office phone numbers listed together on the website.
- Holy Family — Decatur (500 W St. Mary St.), (269) 783-4223
- Holy Maternity of Mary — Dowagiac, (269) 782-2808; office Mon & Wed 9 AM–1 PM
- Sacred Heart of Mary — Silver Creek, (269) 782-8048; office Mon & Fri 9 AM–1 PM
- Shared pastor: Fr. Pangiraj J. Nathan MSFS ('Father Raj')
- Joint events include the Collaborative Picnic at Sacred Heart
Visit, Contact and Office Hours
The parish office at 500 W St. Mary St. is open on Monday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and on Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The general email is [email protected] and the parish phone is (269) 783-4223. The website's Resources page links to the Diocese of Kalamazoo, the Bishop's Annual Appeal, the Sunday Experience from the diocese, online family religious education, and partner parishes. A Holy Family Scholarship application is available in the back of the church for high school students heading to college.
- Address: 500 W St. Mary St., Decatur, MI 49045
- Phone: (269) 783-4223
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday 9 AM–1 PM; Tuesday 11 AM–1 PM
- Online: holyfamilydecaturmi.com
- Diocese of Kalamazoo links for Bishop's Annual Appeal, Sunday Experience, and online family religious education