About Holy Family · Ensley, Alabama
Holy Family Catholic Church is a historic African American parish in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, within the Diocese of Birmingham. Founded in 1938 by the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Passionists) of Holy Cross Province, it grew out of a Holy See appeal to religious communities to serve Black Catholics in the United States. The parish worships at 1910 19th Street in Ensley, offering Sunday Masses at 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and is staffed today by Passionist priests and deacons. Holy Family is the spiritual home of Holy Family Catholic Academy, the only accredited parochial elementary school in the city of Birmingham.
- Established
- 1938
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Phil Paxton, CP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a welcoming, historically rooted African American Catholic community in the heart of Ensley, sustained for nearly 90 years by the Passionist charism of remembrance of Christ's Passion. The parish is a living campus: in addition to weekend Mass at 8:00 and 11:00 a.m., Holy Family is home to Holy Family Catholic Academy, the only accredited parochial elementary school in the city of Birmingham. Confessions are available by appointment, Mass is livestreamed, and lay leadership is strong through an active Parish Council — all signs of a parish that is small but committed to faith, family, and formation.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call 313-766-3329
History of Holy Family Parish
Holy Family is the fruit of a 1937 appeal by Pope Pius XI to religious communities to serve the Black Catholic community in the United States. Passionist Provincial Boniface Fielding, CP, with Bishop Thomas J. Toolen of Mobile-Birmingham, sent Fr. Cornelius McGraw, CP, to Birmingham to find a site. Within months, in early 1938, Fr. Arnold Vetter, CP, rented a Tuxedo Junction storefront and dance hall for $1 a year and converted it into a church-rectory-school. By September 1938, Fr. Julius Busse, CP, and four Felician Sisters from Chicago (plus a Trinitarian Sister) opened the first classroom. The 1940s saw a dispensary (1939, with Miss Rose Fitzgerald), a hospital staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (1941), a new church and rectory (1941), a high school (1943), and a flood-rebuilt elementary school (1945). A 58-bed hospital followed in 1953, a new high school in 1956, and a gym in 1975.
- 1937 — Fr. Cornelius McGraw, CP arrives in Birmingham
- 1938 — Fr. Arnold Vetter, CP opens the Tuxedo Junction chapel/school
- 1939 — Holy Family Dispensary opens with Miss Rose Fitzgerald
- 1941 — Sisters of Charity of Nazareth take over the clinic
- 1941 — New church and rectory built
- 1943 — High school opened; flood devastates parish
- 1945 — New elementary school dedicated
- 1953 — 58-bed hospital built
- 1956 — New high school building
- 1975 — Gymnasium completed
Passionist Identity
Holy Family is staffed by the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ — the Passionists — of Holy Cross Province. The parish is one of several Passionist parishes in the Birmingham area, alongside St. Joseph Parish in Birmingham and St. Mary's Church in Fairfield. The Passionist charism of keeping alive the memory of Christ's Passion shapes the parish's preaching, retreat work, and pastoral care. Three Passionist priests are listed on the current staff: Rev. Phil Paxton, CP (Superior & Pastor), Rev. Bob Wisse, CP, and Rev. Hugo Esparza, CP (Priests in Residence).
- Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Passionists), Holy Cross Province
- Current Superior & Pastor: Rev. Phil Paxton, CP
- Sister-parishes in the area: St. Joseph (Birmingham), St. Mary's (Fairfield)
Parish Staff & Parish Council
The parish is led by a Superior & Pastor and supported by a Parish Council that combines clergy, religious, deacons, and lay leaders. Pastoral staff include the Director of Religious Education, a youth minister, a music minister, and a secretary, alongside two deacons (one active, one emeritus).
- Rev. Phil Paxton, CP — Superior & Pastor
- Rev. Bob Wisse, CP — Priest in Residence
- Rev. Hugo Esparza, CP — Priest in Residence
- Deacon Jacki Rogers
- Deacon Emeritus Walter Henderson
- Trudi Stinson — DRE / Secretary
- Parish Council President — Alex Brewer
- Parish Council Vice President — Angelene Whatley
- Parish Council Secretary — Samantha Pippen
- Council members — Vincent Walker, Maria Welch-Gilbert, James Watts Jr., Curtis Waddy, Nicquelina Harper
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Holy Family is coordinated by the Director of Religious Education (DRE) and includes ongoing religious education, sacramental preparation, and youth ministry. As a parish with a deep school tradition, formation is meant to flow from the elementary school into adult parish life.
- Director of Religious Education / Secretary — Trudi Stinson
- Youth ministry (listed in parish directory)
- Sacramental preparation connected to DRE office
Holy Family Catholic Academy (Parish School)
Holy Family Catholic Academy (HFCA) is the parish elementary school, located at 1916 19th Street, Ensley (across from the church), phone 205-780-5858. It is the only accredited parochial elementary school in the City of Birmingham, continuing a tradition of Catholic education in Ensley that dates to the Felician Sisters' first classroom in September 1938. The school's mission: to create an innovative, challenging education in a safe and welcoming environment where learning, faith, service, and community are grounded in Gospel teaching.
- Address: 1916 19th Street, Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218
- Phone: 205-780-5858
- Fax: 205-785-2666
- Only accredited parochial elementary school in the City of Birmingham
- Sponsored in partnership with the Passionists of Holy Cross Province
Sacraments
Holy Family celebrates the Eucharist at its two Sunday Masses and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment. Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and related sacraments is coordinated through the parish DRE. Couples seeking marriage and families seeking baptism are encouraged to call the parish office to begin preparation.
- Eucharist — Sunday 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Reconciliation (Confession) — by appointment, 313-766-3329
- Religious Education / Sacramental Preparation — Trudi Stinson, DRE
Visit, Contact & Directions
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, and the church is located at 1910 19th Street in the Ensley neighborhood of west Birmingham — easy to reach from I-59/20 via the Bush Boulevard/Ensley exit.
- Address: 1910 19th Street, Ensley, Birmingham, AL 35218
- Phone: (205) 780-3440
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM (site also lists 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
- Directions: I-59/20 West toward Tuscaloosa; exit Bush Blvd./Ensley (two exits past I-65); turn right off ramp; two traffic lights; church on the corner
- Website: http://www.holyfamilybirmingham.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hfccbham
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Cornelius McGraw, CP1937 (founding mission)
Sent by Passionist Provincial Boniface Fielding with Bishop Toolen's support to scout Birmingham for a parish site.
- Fr. Arnold Vetter, CP1938
Rented a Tuxedo Junction store/dance hall for $1/year; opened the first church-rectory-school and dispensary.
- Fr. Julius Busse, CP1938
Opened the first classroom in September 1938 with the Felician and Trinitarian Sisters.
- Rev. Robert 'Bob' Crossmyer, CP1995–
Appointed pastor and Local Superior of Holy Family on July 1, 1995; ordained a Passionist priest May 21, 1988; also teaches at Holy Family Cristo Rey High School.