About Holy Family · Jacksonville, Florida
Holy Family Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of St. Augustine serving the Baymeadows-Deerwood area of Southside Jacksonville, Florida. Founded on June 10, 1974 by Bishop Paul F. Tanner with Monsignor Daniel B. Logan as founding pastor, it has grown to a registered-families community of more than 1,700 households and operates Holy Family Catholic School (PreK-8), a National Blue Ribbon School. Today the parish is led by Fr. David Keegan (installed December 30, 2018) together with parochial vicar Fr. Prabhudas Meenuga, MSFS, and offers daily and Sunday Masses, extended Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust set of family, youth, and adult faith-formation ministries.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. David Keegan
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
Holy Family is a vibrant, growing Catholic parish of more than 1,700 registered families that combines a rich traditional liturgical life with very active outreach — daily Mass, extensive weekly Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with a Friday-night-into-Saturday 'Nocturnal' First Friday Adoration, a young-adult holy hour each month, and a strong faith-formation program organized around family, youth, and adult 'discipleship.' Add an on-campus PreK-8 National Blue Ribbon school, a flourishing Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference serving the 32256 zip code, and a recently built Parish Life Center, and you get a parish where newcomers can plug into a ministry (M.O.M.S., Respect Life, Men's/Women's clubs, Knights of Columbus, altar server, lector, choir) within weeks of registering.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 – 6:45 PM
- Saturday 9:30 – 11:00 AM
- Sunday 8:30 – 9:00 AM
- Also available before/after any Mass, or by appointment — ask any priest on campus
Adoration times
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 7:30 – 9:00 AM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Wednesday: 7:30 – 9:00 AM AND 9:30 AM – 6:45 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Friday Nocturnal Adoration: 9:30 AM Friday through 8:30 AM Saturday
- First Sunday of the month: 9:00 AM Mass concludes with Exposition and Benediction
- Young Adult Holy Hour: 4th Thursday of the month, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Parish History
Holy Family Parish was established on June 10, 1974 when Bishop Paul F. Tanner of the Diocese of St. Augustine appointed Monsignor Daniel B. Logan to found a new parish in the Baymeadows-Deerwood section of Jacksonville's Southside. The community first gathered for Mass on August 25, 1974 at the gymnasium of Jacksonville County Day School; five years later, on April 14, 1979, the parish moved into its newly constructed church on 10 acres at 9800 Baymeadows Road. Subsequent decades brought a 1982 rectory/offices complex, a 1986 Parish Center, a 1996 church extension blessed by Bishop John J. Snyder that boosted seating to more than 750, and the August 2002 opening of Holy Family Catholic School. After Monsignor Logan's 25-year tenure ended with his 1999 transfer to Our Lady Star of the Sea, the parish was led successively by Father Gregory J. Fay (1999–2010), Father Timothy J. Cusick (Jan. 1, 2011 – 2018), and — beginning July 2018 as administrator and December 30, 2018 as installed pastor — Father David Keegan, who currently serves a community of more than 1,724 registered families as the parish marks its 50th anniversary.
- Founded June 10, 1974 by Bishop Paul F. Tanner
- First Mass: August 25, 1974 (Jacksonville County Day School gymnasium)
- First Mass in new church: April 14, 1979
- Rectory and offices built: 1982
- Parish Center dedicated: 1986
- Church extension blessed by Bishop John J. Snyder: 1996
- Holy Family Catholic School opened: August 2002
- 50th anniversary: 2024
Pastoral Leadership & Succession
Holy Family has been served by four pastors across its five decades. Founding pastor Monsignor Daniel B. Logan shepherded the parish from 1974 to June 1999. Father Gregory J. Fay (previously founder of San Juan del Rio Parish in St. Johns County) succeeded him in June 1999 and led the parish through the opening of the school until December 31, 2010. Father Timothy J. Cusick was appointed by Bishop Victor Galeone on January 1, 2011 and served until 2018, when Bishop Felipe Estévez appointed Father David Keegan as administrator in July 2018; Father Keegan was installed as pastor on the Feast of the Holy Family, December 30, 2018. The parish has also been blessed by parochial vicars, including Father Matthew Ibok (2019 diocesan directory) and Father Prabhudas Meenuga, MSFS (June 2022 to present).
- Monsignor Daniel B. Logan (1974 – June 1999) — founding pastor
- Rev. Gregory J. Fay (June 1999 – Dec. 31, 2010)
- Rev. Timothy J. Cusick (Jan. 1, 2011 – 2018)
- Rev. David Keegan (administrator July 2018; installed pastor Dec. 30, 2018)
- Rev. Prabhudas Meenuga, MSFS — Parochial Vicar (from June 2022)
- Rev. Matthew Ibok — Parochial Vicar (2019 directory)
- Deacon Michael Holmes — current deacon
- Deacon Mark Sciullo — current deacon
- Deacon Doug Nullet — Pastoral Associate (2019 directory)
- Msgr. Mortimer Danaher and Msgr. Daniel B. Logan — Assisting in Ministry
Parish Life Center & Facilities
The two-story Parish Life Center is one of the newest additions to Holy Family's 10-acre campus. The first floor houses the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Hall main hall with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and a fully stocked commercial kitchen; the second floor contains three classrooms, a nursery, and two large meeting rooms, all equipped with audio-visual systems. Rooms may be reserved through the parish. Other campus facilities include the rectory/offices (built 1982), the Parish Center (dedicated 1986, with movable walls allowing banquet space for 300+ or six religious-education classrooms), the Holy Family Catholic School building, and the church with its 1996 narthex, religious articles shop, and covered entry.
- Parish Life Center: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Hall, commercial kitchen, 3 classrooms, nursery, 2 meeting rooms
- $1.2M Mortgage Reduction Campaign over 3 years
- Parish Center dedicated 1986 (multipurpose, movable walls)
- Rectory and offices built 1982
- 1996 church extension (narthex, religious articles shop, covered entry)
Holy Family Catholic School
Holy Family Catholic School is a PreK-8 elementary school located at 9800-3 Baymeadows Road, on the same campus as the parish church. It opened in August 2002 and currently enrolls roughly 469 students in PK and K-8 grades with an 18:1 student-teacher ratio. The school was named a U.S. National Blue Ribbon School in 2012 and, in 2016, was selected as one of only ten schools nationwide for the University of Notre Dame Trustey STEM Fellowship School. A state-of-the-art STEM Lab was completed in 2022 to expand hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In 2018, Holy Family was the only Catholic school in Duval County to score above national and diocesan percentiles in grades 2-8 standardized testing, and the school has placed Top 3 (and in 2020 #1) in the Bold City Best private-school rankings. The current principal is Michael Kavanagh; previous principal Matthew J. Moloney led the school's award-winning era. Tuition for the 2024 cycle is $9,250 for the highest grade offered, with a wide array of extracurriculars (12 sports, choir, robotics, Student Council, drama, book club, Art Club, Safety Patrol, National Junior Honor Society).
- Opened: August 2002
- Grades: PreK-8
- Enrollment: ~469 students; 18:1 student-teacher ratio
- 2012 U.S. National Blue Ribbon School
- 2016 Notre Dame Trustey STEM Fellowship School
- 2022 STEM Lab built
- Principal: Michael Kavanagh
- Tuition: $9,250 (highest grade)
- Athletics: 12 sports; choir; robotics; STREAM clubs; Student Council; drama
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Holy Family organizes parish life around three 'Discipleship' pathways — Family, Youth, and Adult — plus a wide range of liturgical, social, and outreach ministries. Liturgical roles include Altar Server, Lector, Usher, and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Outreach is anchored by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, which provides housing and emergency assistance to residents of the 32256 zip code (call 904-641-5838 ext. 3; Vincentians return calls within 24 hours). The Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, Women's Club, M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing), Respect Life, and Young at Heart round out the parish's social and service offerings. The parish also operates a mobile app (iOS and Android) with daily readings, Confession helps, prayer reminders, and prayer-request submission, and runs Faith Direct, Venmo (@HolyFamily-CatholicChurch), and Text-to-Give at 904-747-8001 for online stewardship.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (ext. 3)
- Knights of Columbus
- Men's Club / Women's Club / Young at Heart
- M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing)
- Respect Life
- Parish Pastoral Council (8 members advising the pastor)
- Children's Choir & Youth Praise Team
- Parish app (iOS/Android); Faith Direct; Venmo; Text-to-Give 904-747-8001
Faith Formation & Discipleship
Holy Family's faith-formation programs follow a 'Discipleship-Based Ministry' model in which small-group life is the primary environment for forming intentional disciples of Christ. The parish offers three coordinated tracks: Family Discipleship (Coordinator of Family Life Discipleship: Elizabeth Miller), Youth Discipleship (Coordinator: Annie Resendez), and Adult Discipleship (Coordinator: Chris Mueller). Children preparing for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, and youth preparing for Confirmation, are served through these programs together with parish-school families. Registration for the 2024/2025 Faith Formation year has closed; interested families should contact the parish office for the next cycle. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — formerly RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church; coordinator Chris Mueller, [email protected].
- Family Discipleship — Elizabeth Miller
- Youth Discipleship — Annie Resendez
- Adult Discipleship — Chris Mueller
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Baptism preparation via Deacon Mike Holmes
Music & Liturgy
Music Ministry at Holy Family is currently led by Director of Music Ministry Tran Tu (Lindsey) Tram ([email protected]), who directs the parish's choirs and provides organ accompaniment. The parish also maintains a Youth Music Ministry that includes the Children's Choir and Youth Praise Team, which are open to parish-school and formation-program students and which lead music for youth and family Masses. The Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday morning Masses have historically been livestreamed with digital worship aids (under ONE LICENSE #A-720868), and during the summer months the choir program uses staff singers and instrumentalists.
- Director of Music Ministry: Tran Tu (Lindsey) Tram
- Children's Choir
- Youth Praise Team
- Livestreamed Vigil and Sunday Masses
- ONE LICENSE #A-720868
Getting Involved — Connect, Grow, Live
The parish's tagline — 'Connect | Grow | Live' — captures its three-stage engagement model: newcomers are encouraged to register (registration is required for the celebration of certain sacraments) via the website or forms in the narthex and parish office; grow through the family, youth, and adult Discipleship small groups; and live out the faith through parish ministries like St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Respect Life, M.O.M.S., the Men's and Women's Clubs, or one of the liturgical ministries (Altar Server, Lector, Usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion). Holy Family is currently developing a Mortgage Reduction Campaign to retire the Parish Life Center construction loan and create a long-term maintenance reserve for roofs and air-conditioning at the church and school.
- Registration via website, narthex, or parish office
- Small-group Discipleship communities
- Liturgical ministries (Altar Server, Lector, Usher, EMHC)
- Parish Life Center Mortgage Reduction Campaign
- Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Parish App — daily readings, Confession helps, prayer requests
Visiting & Contact Information
The parish office and church are located at 9800 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256, with main phone (904) 641-5838 and fax (904) 641-9704. Emergency calls for those who are ill or in danger of death should be directed to extension 1; emergency financial-assistance calls go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, extension 3 (up to 24-hour response time). The website (holyfamilyjax.com) is the principal source of the weekly bulletin, livestream links, digital worship aids, Mass/Confession/Adoration times, and online giving. Holy Family welcomes visitors to attend any Mass or devotional, register online, and stop by the parish office.
- Address: 9800 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256
- Phone: (904) 641-5838 — Emergency sick: ext. 1; St. Vincent de Paul assistance: ext. 3
- Fax: (904) 641-9704
- Website: holyfamilyjax.com
- Diocese: Diocese of St. Augustine — dosafl.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Daniel B. Logan1974 – June 1999
Founding pastor. Appointed by Bishop Paul F. Tanner on June 10, 1974 to establish a new parish in the Baymeadows-Deerwood area. Celebrated the first Mass on August 25, 1974 at Jacksonville County Day School gymnasium, and the first Mass in the new church on April 14, 1979. Built the rectory (1982) and Parish Center (1986), and oversaw the 1996 church extension blessed by Bishop John J. Snyder. Shepherded the parish for its entire first 25 years before being transferred to Our Lady Star of the Sea in Ponte Vedra Beach in June 1999. Listed as 'Assisting in Ministry' in the 2019 Diocesan Directory.
- Rev. Gregory J. FayJune 1999 – December 31, 2010
Came to Holy Family at Monsignor Logan's departure. Had previously founded San Juan del Rio Parish in northwest St. Johns County in 1979, growing it to more than 950 registered families and opening a new school. Oversaw the August 2002 opening of Holy Family Catholic School and continued parish expansion through the Diocese of St. Augustine's growth years.
- Rev. Timothy J. CusickJanuary 1, 2011 – 2018
Appointed by Bishop Victor Galeone as the third pastor on January 1, 2011. During his tenure the parish continued to expand and was described in the parish history as offering 'a warm community atmosphere' with 'a sense of belonging in this house of the Lord and a feeling of family.'
- Rev. Matthew Ibok2019 (Diocesan Directory)
Parochial Vicar listed in the 2019 Diocese of St. Augustine Directory and assigned to Holy Family Parish, 9800 Baymeadows Road.
- Rev. David KeeganJuly 2018 (administrator); December 30, 2018 (installed as pastor) – present
Born in New Iberia, Louisiana; one of six children. After a life-changing encounter with Christ in 2006, he discerned a call to the priesthood and entered seminary in 2009. Ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine in 2016 and named parish administrator of Holy Family by Bishop Felipe Estévez in July 2018. Installed as the fourth pastor of Holy Family on the Feast of the Holy Family, December 30, 2018.
- Rev. Prabhudas Meenuga, MSFSJune 2022 – present
Parochial Vicar. Came to Holy Family in June 2022 from St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. A member of the Missionaries of the Holy Family (MSFS); previously served as pastor in Trinidad & Tobago (2016-2021, Archdiocese of Port of Spain) and in the Diocese of Srikakulam and Diocese of Gunter in India. Languages: English, Telugu, and Hindi; learning Spanish.