About Holy Family · Jackson, Mississippi
Holy Family Catholic Church is a diverse Roman Catholic parish in Northwest Jackson, Mississippi, that has served as an active faith community since 1957. Located at 820 Forest Avenue in the Diocese of Jackson, the parish centers its life on the celebration of Word and Sacrament, education and faith formation, Christian fellowship, and outreach to the wider community. Today it is pastored by Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD, a Divine Word Missionary priest from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who also serves as the Biblical Apostolate Coordinator for the SVD's U.S. Southern Province. The parish's ministries are organized under three commissions — Evangelization, Parish Life, and Outreach — reflecting its commitment to worship, community, and service in north Jackson.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jackson (Mississippi)
Why belong here
Holy Family welcomes newcomers with the warmth of a long-standing faith family: weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekday Masses Tuesday through Thursday, and a Monday Bible Study offered both in person and online via Zoom. The parish organizes its life around three commissions — Evangelization (Bible Study, Adult Faith Formation, Christian Couples, Faith Formation, Devotions, Revivals & Retreats), Parish Life (Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Men's Club, Ladies Guild, Church Celebrations), and Outreach (Health Ministries, Greeters & Hospitality, Food Pantry) — giving every age and interest a way to participate. A pastor who is also a Scripture scholar and retreat preacher, combined with a centrally located Northwest Jackson campus, makes it easy to plug in.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass (except on Sundays)
Welcome and Parish Identity
Holy Family Catholic Church describes itself as a diverse church in the Roman Catholic tradition, located in Northwest Jackson, MS. Since 1957, Holy Family has been an active faith community through celebration of Word and Sacrament, Education and Faith Formation, Christian Fellowship, and Outreach. The parish welcomes new visitors and invites current members to stay connected through the parish website.
- Founded in 1957
- Located in Northwest Jackson, MS
- Roman Catholic tradition
- Part of the Diocese of Jackson
Clergy and Office Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD, a Divine Word Missionary priest originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Supporting him are a Director of Religious Education, an Office Secretary, a Bookkeeper, and a Choir Director. Office Hours are published as 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD — Pastor
- Mrs. Deirdre Whittington-Lavine — Director of Religious Education (DRE)
- Ms. J. Adams — Office Secretary
- Bookkeeper (listed, name not published on website)
- Choir Director (listed, name not published on website)
- Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
About Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD, is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo and a naturalized U.S. citizen, a Roman Catholic religious priest of the Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divini). He was ordained a priest in 2012 in the D.R. Congo and moved to the United States in 2013, studying English at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa (2013–2014). He has worked in parishes (parochial vicar and parish priest), schools (Bible teacher), and hospitals (chaplain) since July 2014. He holds a Master of Theological Studies with a concentration in Biblical Theology from the University of Dallas (2023) and serves as Biblical Apostolate Coordinator for the SVD U.S. Southern Province. He became Pastor of Holy Family in Jackson on December 1, 2024.
- Ordained 2012 in D.R. Congo
- Moved to USA 2013
- M.T.S., University of Dallas, 2023
- Biblical Apostolate Coordinator, SVD U.S. Southern Province
- Pastor at Holy Family since December 1, 2024
Bible Study and Faith Formation
Bible Study meets Mondays at 6:00 p.m., offered both in person in the church and online via Zoom (Meeting ID 836 4516 5259, Passcode: Bible). Faith Formation (religious education) takes place on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. The parish also hosts a Virtual Bible Study on the Sunday Mass Readings led by Fr. Leon.
- Monday Bible Study — 6:00 p.m. (in person and online via Zoom)
- Sunday Faith Formation — 9:00 a.m.
- Virtual Bible Study on Sunday Mass Readings with Fr. Leon, SVD
Evangelization Commission
The Evangelization Commission gathers the parish's faith-formation and spiritual-growth ministries. It includes the Monday Bible Study, Adult Ongoing Faith Formation, Christian Couples, Faith Formation, Devotions, and Revivals, Retreats, and Recollections. Many items on this page were marked 'To be updated' at the time of review.
- Bible Study
- Adult Ongoing Faith Formation
- Christian Couples
- Faith Formation
- Devotions
- Revivals, Retreats, and Recollections
Parish Life Commission
The Parish Life Commission supports the social and community life of the parish. Listed ministries include Young Adult Ministry (YAM), Youth Ministry, the Men's Club, the Ladies Guild, and a Church Celebrations committee.
- Young Adult Ministry (YAM)
- Youth Ministry
- Men's Club
- Ladies Guild
- Church Celebrations committee
Outreach Commission
The Outreach Commission organizes the parish's service to the wider Jackson community. Listed programs include Health Ministries, Greeters and Hospitality, the Food Pantry, a Neighbor/Neighborhood outreach, and a Social Media Platforms team. The Food Pantry is a key resource for the surrounding neighborhood.
- Health Ministries
- Greeters and Hospitality
- Food Pantry
- Neighbor (neighborhood outreach)
- Social Media Platforms team
Parish History
Holy Family was established in 1957 and has been an active faith community in Northwest Jackson ever since. The same year the parish was founded, the Diocese of Natchez was renamed the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson (it would later be split into the Diocese of Jackson and the Diocese of Biloxi in 1977). A 2020 Mississippi Catholic 'Faith in Action' piece noted that the parish has been sustained since 1979 by a core group of active parishioners, and Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD, became pastor on December 1, 2024.
- Founded 1957
- Same year the Diocese of Natchez became the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson
- Continuous active faith community since 1979 (per 2020 Mississippi Catholic feature)
- Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD, installed as pastor December 1, 2024
Contact, Location, and Giving
The parish offices are at 820 Forest Avenue, Jackson, MS 39206, with phone (601) 362-1888 and email [email protected]. Office hours run 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The website invites visitors to support the parish's ministry of Talents, Time, and Treasures ('the 3 Ts') through a dedicated Donate link, and encourages users to bookmark the site for parish news and updates.
- Address: 820 Forest Avenue, Jackson, MS 39206
- Phone: (601) 362-1888
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Donate link on website (supporting Talents, Time, and Treasures)
- Bookstore/The 3 Ts appeal
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVDDecember 1, 2024 – present
Divine Word Missionary (SVD) from the Democratic Republic of Congo; also Biblical Apostolate Coordinator for the SVD U.S. Southern Province; Master of Theological Studies, University of Dallas (2023).