About Holy Family · Lafayette, Tennessee
Holy Family Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee, belonging to the Diocese of Nashville. The parish is staffed by Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM) and serves both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholic families across the rural Middle Tennessee countryside. Worship is offered seven days a week in English (and on Tuesdays and Sundays in Spanish), along with Eucharistic Adoration, a Sacramental preparation program, and an active slate of lay ministries including the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, OCIA, and a parish choir.
- Established
- 1980s
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Steve Pawelk, GHM (as of March 2026); Fr. Charles Aketch, GHM (through March 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
Holy Family is a small, bilingual rural parish where the English- and Spanish-speaking communities worship side-by-side and where priests from the Glenmary Home Missioners know parishioners by name. With daily Mass, weekly Confession, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust calendar of ministries — Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul prayer group, OCIA, Adult Bible Study, CCD, Vacation Bible School, a parish choir, and a yearly Parish Picnic — there are many ways to grow in faith and serve. The parish also reaches beyond itself through Matthew 25 ecumenical gatherings with other local Christian churches.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Or by appointment (call the pastor at 812-430-7204)
Adoration times
- Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (after the 9 AM Mass)
- Sundays 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM (Spanish Community)
- Last Sunday of the month 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (English Community)
- First Friday of the month 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Perpetual Adoration following the Thursday Mass before the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart (e.g., June 26–27)
Welcome & Mission
The parish describes its vision as creating a world where everyone can experience the love and grace of God, and its published mission statement reads: 'We, the parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church, commit to building the kingdom of God through the use of our time, talent, and treasure for the spiritual growth of ourselves, our parish, our community, and the Roman Catholic Church.' The parish is led by a dedicated team of priests from the Glenmary Home Missioners and an active group of lay leaders.
- Mission: Build the Kingdom of God through time, talent, and treasure
- Vision: A world where everyone can experience the love and grace of God
- Pastoral leadership rooted in Glenmary Home Missioners
Other Services & Devotions
Beyond Mass, Confession, and Adoration, the parish observes Lenten devotions, ecumenical gatherings, and seasonal parish events that build community across the English and Spanish communities.
- Stations of the Cross during Lent — 4:00 PM English and 6:30 PM Spanish
- Matthew 25 ecumenical meetings with other Macon County churches (e.g., Christ Alive Church, 209 Chamberlain Ave.)
- Annual Parish Picnic in September
- Parish Bake Sales and Yard Sales (Yard Sale donations coordinated through Helen O'Hara Harding)
Sacraments
Holy Family provides preparation for the major sacraments. Parents are asked to give two months' notice for Baptism, and engaged couples are asked to contact the parish at least six months before the wedding date.
- Baptism: Notify the pastor at least 2 months ahead; two preparation classes; both Godparents must be Christian, at least one Catholic
- Marriage: Contact the parish at least 6 months before the intended wedding
- Reconciliation: scheduled times plus by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: available through the parish office
- First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation through CCD
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at Holy Family spans cradle-to-grave, with ongoing OCIA for adults, CCD for children, and weekly Bible Study. Vacation Bible School is held each summer and youth outings (such as swimming parties at the Lafayette City Pool) help build community among the parish's younger families.
- OCIA — Sundays at 10:00 AM, after the 9 AM Mass (adult initiation)
- Adult Bible Study — Wednesdays at 3:00 PM, before Mass
- CCD — Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (registration with Bro. Erick)
- Vacation Bible School — annual, e.g., July 7–11, 2025
- Youth events including swimming parties and seasonal activities
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Lay-led groups keep the parish running and provide service outlets for parishioners of every age and language. The Holy Family Ministries umbrella organization, headed by President Helen O'Hara Harding, helps coordinate much of this work.
- Holy Family Ministries (President Helen O'Hara Harding)
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Billy Debrosse; meets 2nd Sunday at 10:00 AM
- St. Vincent de Paul Prayer Group — meets 2nd Thursday at 6:00 PM
- Pastoral Council — meets 3rd Friday each month at 10:00 AM
- Finance Council — meets quarterly
- Liturgy Committee
- Parish Choir — Director Tammy Kirts
- Matthew 25 ecumenical outreach
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Glenmary Home Missioners. As of March 2026, Fr. Steve Pawelk, GHM, has joined as part of the pastoral team following Fr. Charles Aketch's transition to the Glenmary Vocation Team in Cincinnati. Day-to-day administration is handled by an Office Administrator and a Bulletin Editor, with named council presidents and ministry leaders.
- Fr. Steve Pawelk, GHM — Pastor (from March 2026)
- Fr. Charles Aketch, GHM — Pastor (through March 1, 2026); now with the Glenmary Vocation Team in Cincinnati
- Fr. Francis Wuyen Nchamcham — Associate Pastor (615-281-7689)
- Fr. Bruce Brylinski, GHM — Associate Pastor (513-668-5650)
- Fr. Samuel Mungai, GHM — Associate Pastor (as of June 2025)
- Bro. Erick — CCD / Vacation Bible School coordinator
- Tina Keisling — Administrative Assistant / Bulletin Editor ([email protected])
- Duke Pelletier — Pastoral Council President (615-670-5068)
- Jeff Keisling / Shawn Carter — Finance Council
- Helen O'Hara Harding — Holy Family Ministries President (615-572-1212)
- Beverly Glaser / Jacki Cook — Liturgy Committee
- Tammy Kirts — Choir Director (615-666-3326)
- Billy Debrosse — Knights of Columbus Grand Knight
Parish Life & Events
Throughout the year Holy Family hosts fundraisers, faith-formation gatherings, and parish-wide social events. The annual Parish Picnic in September is a highlight, and the parish also holds bake sales, yard sales, and youth outings. The parish keeps its community informed through a weekly printed bulletin and an online giving option accessible from the parish website.
- Parish Picnic — September (e.g., September 13, 2025)
- Bake Sales — coordinated by Melody Engle
- Yard Sales — donations coordinated through Helen O'Hara Harding
- Weekly bulletin (in print and online)
- Online Giving via the parish website
- Perpetual Adoration around the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart
- Welcome / farewell gatherings for clergy transitions
History & Heritage
Holy Family traces its origin to the 1980s, when more than twenty Catholic families from the Lafayette, Tennessee area left Christ the King Catholic Church in neighboring Scottsville, Kentucky, to form their own local parish. Christ the King itself had been founded in 1964 as a Glenmary Home Missioners parish, and the same Glenmary charism has continued at Holy Family. Through the early 2000s the parish shared pastoral leadership with Christ the King under Fr. Dennis Holly, then in 2012 Fr. Victor Subb was named pastor with Fr. Crispine Adongo as associate pastor. The parish has continued under successive Glenmarians — most recently Fr. Charles Aketch (through March 2026) and Fr. Steve Pawelk — and remains a small bilingual Catholic community serving rural Macon County.
- Roots in 1980s split from Christ the King, Scottsville, KY
- Long partnership with Christ the King under shared Glenmary administration
- Pastored by Fr. Dennis Holly (early 2000s), then Fr. Victor Subb (from 2012)
- Continued under Glenmary Home Missioners through the 2020s
- Pastoral transition March 2026: Fr. Charles Aketch → Fr. Steve Pawelk
Visit, Contact & Giving
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at (615) 666-6466 or [email protected]. After hours and in emergencies, the pastor can be reached at 812-430-7204. The parish also provides online giving via its website and a Holy Family Facebook page referenced in the bulletins.
- Parish Office: (615) 666-6466 — [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Emergency / After Hours: 812-430-7204
- Address: 431 Old Highway 52, Lafayette, TN 37083
- Website: http://holyfamily-catholicchurch.org/
- Online Giving available via the parish website
- Diocese: Diocese of Nashville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dennis Hollyearly 2000s
Pastored Holy Family together with Christ the King, Scottsville
- Fr. Victor Subbfrom 2012
Pastor; came with associate pastor Fr. Crispine Adongo and Brother Larry Johnson
- Fr. Charles Aketch, GHMthrough March 1, 2026
Glenmary Home Missioner; transitioned to Glenmary Vocation Team in Cincinnati
- Fr. Steve Pawelk, GHMfrom March 2026
Glenmarian who joined the pastoral team in March 2026