About Holy Family · Hillsborough, North Carolina
Holy Family Catholic Church is a bilingual and multicultural Catholic parish serving Hillsborough, North Carolina and the surrounding Triangle region. Part of the Diocese of Raleigh, the parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, with a full weekday and weekend schedule plus Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Under the pastoral leadership of Father Ryan Elder and Deacon Bert L'Homme, Holy Family draws more than 900 registered families who worship at its campus on Governor Burke Road near NC Highway 57. The parish lives its mission 'to love God and our neighbor through prayer, study, service, and community.'
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Reverend Ryan W. Elder (Father Ryan Elder)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
Holy Family is one of the most welcoming bilingual Catholic parishes in the Triangle, with weekend Mass in English, Spanish, and a bilingual option, plus a full weekday schedule and Eucharistic Adoration. The parish is alive with young families — the back pews and the Atrium are set aside for children — and offers strong Faith Formation for K–5, dedicated Middle & High School youth ministry, a Young Adults group (ages 18–39), and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those exploring Catholicism. Add in a thriving Knights of Columbus council, opportunities to serve as a catechist, lector, usher, or altar server, and a pastor who is 'deeply in love with Jesus' and eager to share that love, and Holy Family is a place where newcomers quickly become part of the community.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 7:15 PM
- First Friday of the Month (September – June) 12:30 PM – 7:30 PM, with Coronilla a la Divina Misericordia (Divine Mercy Chaplet in Spanish) at 3:00 PM
Welcome & Vision
Holy Family's website describes itself as a bilingual and multicultural Catholic parish that welcomes people 'from across the Triangle and across the world.' Whether you are visiting for the first time, returning after a break, or just stopping by, the parish invites everyone to come as they are. The parish's stated mission is 'to love God and our neighbor through prayer, study, service, and community,' with parish life built around those four pillars of the early Church. The website is careful to lower the bar for newcomers — handouts with the Mass responses in English and Spanish are available at the front door, and visitors are encouraged to simply introduce themselves to Father Ryan or Deacon Bert after Mass.
- Mission: to love God and our neighbor through prayer, study, service, and community
- Bilingual handouts with the Mass responses available at the front door
- Families with small children: the last row of pews is reserved, and the Atrium (gathering area) offers a more informal seating area with video/audio feed of the Mass
Parish History
Holy Family began as a tiny mission of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, with Mass first celebrated in private homes in the 1960s and 1970s. The community moved through rented spaces — including a building at King and Churton streets and the Walker Funeral Home — before the Diocese of Raleigh purchased the current property on NC Highway 57 and Governor Burke Road in 1982, when the congregation chose the name Holy Family Catholic Church. The first church building was completed and dedicated by Bishop Joseph Gossman in 1986, when the parish numbered just 107 families. Steady growth led to a building addition in 1998–1999 (when the parish hit 250 families) and the parish's first Spanish Mass in 2003. Father Tom Tully became the first resident pastor in 2004, the 25th anniversary was celebrated in 2012, and the parish has continued to expand under successive pastors, completing a sanctuary renovation in 2021 with more than 900 registered families.
- 1960s: Father Francis Murphy leads a study group; property acquired on U.S. 70
- 1970s: Mass celebrated in private homes, then at King & Churton streets, then Walker Funeral Home
- 1982: Diocese purchases NC 57 / Governor Burke Road property; name 'Holy Family' chosen
- 1986: Church building completed; Bishop Joseph Gossman dedicates altar; 107 families
- 1999: First Mass in the expanded building; 250 families
- 2003: First Spanish Mass celebrated
- 2004: Father Tom Tully becomes the first resident pastor
- 2012: 25th anniversary; 600+ families; new parish office dedicated
- 2021: 900+ families; sanctuary renovation completed
Leadership & Staff
Holy Family is led by Pastor Father Ryan W. Elder (ordained June 1, 2013; assigned July 2018; named Pastor August 1, 2019) and Deacon Bert L'Homme (assigned in 2014). Father Ryan also serves on the Diocese of Raleigh's Liturgical Commission and as Chaplain to the local chapter of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Pastoral and Financial Councils — chaired respectively by Martha Benitez (Pastoral Council) and Willard Causey (Finance Council) — provide leadership and advice. A separate bilingual Parish Council (Consejo Pastoral) also serves the Spanish-speaking community.
- Father Ryan Elder — Pastor (ordained June 1, 2013)
- Deacon Bert L'Homme — Permanent Deacon
- Micholl Dumanig — Director of Religious Education ([email protected], 984-884-5878)
- Ross Twele — Director of Music and Adult Formation, Bilingual ([email protected], 984-884-5873)
- Ana Rubio — Director of Communications, Bilingual ([email protected], 984-884-5879)
- Teresa Paskonis Rodriguez — Director of Facilities, Bilingual ([email protected], 984-884-5881)
- Susanna Bergenroth — Office Manager ([email protected], 919-732-1030)
- Pastoral Council Chair: Martha Benitez (Spanish-Speaking Community Representative)
- Finance Council Chair: Willard Causey
Faith Formation & Youth
Faith Formation at Holy Family serves children in K through 5th grade with religious education and sacramental preparation, while separate Middle & High School Youth Ministries help teens build community, take part in service projects, and experience Catholic life. A Young Adults group (ages 18–39) navigates together what it means to be a Catholic young adult in daily life. The parish also runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those interested in becoming Catholic or completing their initiation.
- Elementary Students (K–5) — Religious Education and Sacramental prep
- Middle & High School Youth Ministry
- Young Adults (18–39)
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Faith Formation Office Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 5:00–8:00 PM; summer Wednesdays 5:00–8:00 PM — ext. 3
- Youth Music Ministry at the first-Sunday Youth Mass (contact Ross Twele)
Volunteer & Service Opportunities
Parishioners are encouraged to share their time and talents across liturgical, catechetical, and retreat-support roles. The website frames service as living the parish's four pillars of prayer, study, service, and community — and notes that bilingual catechists are especially needed. A Ministry Guide (Ministerios Guía) catalogs all opportunities for those who want to dive deeper.
- Liturgical Ministry: altar server, lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, usher
- Catechists and catechist assistants (elementary, middle, junior high, high school, adult, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Retreat assistants for periodic Saturday/Sunday retreats
- Knights of Columbus — Fr. Ralph C. Monk Council #9549
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Contact: Ana Rubio ([email protected]) for general volunteering; Micholl Dumanig for Faith Formation; Ross Twele for Adult Formation retreats
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at Holy Family is led by Ross Twele, Director of Music and Adult Formation. The 8:00 AM Sunday Mass is celebrated without music to accommodate its bilingual character; the 9:30 AM English Mass features the principal music program. Older children and teens are invited to participate in the music ministry at the Youth Mass on the first Sunday of each month.
- Director of Music and Adult Formation: Ross Twele ([email protected], 984-884-5873)
- Youth Music Ministry at the first-Sunday Youth Mass
- Sunday 9:30 AM English Mass — principal music Mass
Connect & Stay Informed
The parish keeps in touch with parishioners and visitors through a number of digital channels: a Facebook page for the English-speaking community, a separate Facebook page for the Hispanic Ministry, an Instagram account for Youth Ministries, a YouTube channel that includes livestreamed Masses, and Flocknote for text-message updates.
- Facebook — Holy Family Catholic Church (@holyfamilyhillsborough)
- Facebook — Ministerio Hispano de Holy Family
- Instagram — Holy Family Youth Ministries
- YouTube — Holy Family Church (Mass livestreams)
- Flocknote — text message updates (text HFCCH to 73256 to give)
- Weekly bulletin available in the Atrium after Mass or as a PDF on the website
- Video-recorded Mass posted online
Visit, Park & Accessibility
The parish campus is easy to reach by car and well-suited to families. Parking surrounds the church, with several lower-level spots providing handicapped-accessible entry to the ground floor. The Parish Hall and classrooms are downstairs, accessible both by stairs (inside and outside the church) and from the lower parking lot.
- Located near I-85, I-40, and US-70 in Hillsborough, NC
- Parking around the church campus; lower-level handicapped-accessible spots
- Parish Office in the one-story building behind the main church
- Restrooms in the Atrium hallway and downstairs
- Water fountain downstairs
Office Hours & Contact
Office staff are available in person and by phone to assist parishioners, with extended Sunday hours and Wednesday-evening availability for Faith Formation. The main phone line is answered during posted hours, and a pastoral emergency line (ext. 9) reaches Father Ryan directly for grave illness or death.
- Office Staff Hours: Sunday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Tuesday – Friday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (ext. 4)
- Faith Formation Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 5:00–8:00 PM; summer Wednesdays 5:00–8:00 PM (ext. 3)
- Main phone: 919-732-1030
- Pastoral emergencies / Anointing: 919-732-1030, ext. 9
- General email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Murphy1960s
Led an early study group in Hillsborough; a small piece of property was acquired on U.S. 70 during his tenure.
- Father John Richardson1970s
Came to Hillsborough on an irregular basis with Father Paul Grassle to celebrate Mass in homes.
- Father Paul Grassle1970s
Served alongside Father John Richardson in the early 1970s mission community.
- Father Ralph (C.) Monk1970s–1985
Sacramental minister in Hillsborough; helped the parish grow out of private homes into rented spaces. Died in 1985; honored as the namesake of the parish's Knights of Columbus council.
- Father Tom Tully1985 onward; sacramental minister 2000; first resident pastor 2004
Joined the parish in 1985; returned in 2000 as a sacramental minister and in 2004 became the first resident pastor — the first Catholic priest to live full-time in Hillsborough.
- Monsignor Steve Worsley2014
Second full-time Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church.
- Father Mark Betti2015
Third full-time Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church.
- Father Ryan W. ElderJuly 2018– present
Assigned as the fourth full-time Administrator (later Pastor) in July 2018; named Pastor on August 1, 2019. Ordained June 1, 2013; serves on the Diocese of Raleigh Liturgical Commission and as Chaplain to the local chapter of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.