About Holy Family · Novi, Michigan
Holy Family Parish is a Catholic parish located at 24505 Meadowbrook Road in Novi, Michigan, serving the northwestern suburbs of metropolitan Detroit. As one of the Northwest Wayne Vicariate Family 1 parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit, it offers Mass in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to a diverse community that includes members from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Spain, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. The parish is led by Fr. Bob LaCroix and describes itself as 'a Bright Light on a High Hill,' offering a robust schedule of daily and weekend Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, Christian Service outreach, religious formation, and vibrant Hispanic and Portuguese ministries.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Robert (Bob) LaCroix
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Northwest Wayne Vicariate, Family 1)
Why belong here
Holy Family is a large, active parish where people regularly say 'There is something special happening at Holy Family.' It welcomes newcomers and long-time residents alike with a wide schedule of Masses in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, plus perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel, weekday and Saturday confession, and livestreamed liturgies. Parishioners can grow in faith through sacramental preparation, faith formation, CYO youth ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Hispanic and Portuguese community life, and music ministry, while serving the broader community through Christian Service programs that include a food pantry, clothes closet, rotating homeless shelter, baby diaper bank, and refugee resettlement support.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 am
- Saturday 4:30 pm (by appointment, call the parish office)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration available permanently in the Chapel (7:30 am to 8:00 pm every day of the week)
- Friday Eucharistic Exposition in the Church: after the 9:00 am Mass until noon
About Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Parish is a vibrant Catholic community in Novi, Michigan, part of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish prides itself on welcoming newcomers and long-time residents alike, describing itself as 'a Bright Light on a High Hill.' Worship, formation, music, hospitality, and outreach are central to parish life. Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and the parish serves a wide swath of the western Detroit suburbs.
- Located at 24505 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, MI 48375
- Phone: (248) 349-8847
- Archdiocese of Detroit – Northwest Wayne Vicariate, Family 1
- Pastor: Fr. Bob LaCroix
- Tagline: 'A Bright Light on a High Hill'
Parish History
Holy Family was founded on November 12, 1974, when Novi was booming in population. The first Mass was celebrated in September 1974 at Orchard Hills School, the temporary church, with about 200 people attending. Fr. Kevin O'Brien was the founding pastor, and Cardinal John Dearden dedicated the new church on November 5, 1977. The original suburban-style building was sterile and geometric in design, with chairs instead of pews. In 2016–2017, the parish undertook a massive renovation designed by AKA Architects: new flooring, new pews and altar, complete new lighting and sound, and a reconfiguration of the sanctuary from in-the-round to a 120–160-degree layout. Archbishop Allen Vigneron rededicated the renovated church in early 2018. The original baptismal font is one of the few surviving elements from the pre-renovation building.
- Founded: November 12, 1974
- Founding Pastor: Fr. Kevin O'Brien
- First Mass: September 1974 at Orchard Hills School
- Original dedication: November 5, 1977 (Cardinal Dearden)
- Renovation: 2016–2017 by AKA Architects
- Rededication: early 2018 by Archbishop Vigneron
Clergy and Staff
Holy Family is pastored by Fr. Bob LaCroix as part of an In Solidum team of priests serving Northwest Wayne Vicariate Family 1. The In Solidum team also includes Fr. Edward Zaorski (Moderator), Fr. Stan Tokarski, Fr. Andrew Mabee, and Fr. Michael Savickas, who collectively serve Holy Family (Novi), St. James (Novi), St. Joseph (South Lyon), and St. William (Walled Lake). Four permanent deacons minister at the parish: Deacon Chris Booms, Deacon Robert Ervin, Deacon Leo Maciolek, and Deacon John Rybski. A broad parish staff supports faith formation, Hispanic ministry, music and liturgy, evangelization, communications, hospitality, accounting, and maintenance.
- Rev. Robert (Bob) LaCroix – Pastor
- Rev. Edward Zaorski – Priest In Solidum, Moderator
- Rev. Stan Tokarski – Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Andrew Mabee – Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Michael Savickas – Priest In Solidum
- Deacon Chris Booms
- Deacon Robert Ervin
- Deacon Leo Maciolek
- Deacon John Rybski
- Adam Perry – Director of Christian Service
- Santiago Fernández – Music & Worship
- Ruth Cassar – Liturgical Ministry Coordinator
- Gabriela (Gaby) Vázquez – Director, Hispanic Ministry
- Lidia Rojas – Hispanic Religious Education
- Dan Czarniecki – Faith Formation Director / CYO Director
- Claudia González – Faith Formation Assistant / Sacramental Prep
- Katie Luther – Evangelization Coordinator
- Anthony Di Maria – Director of Communications & Assistant Director of Evangelization
- Hank Herbst – Business Administrator
- Janet Daly – Parish Accountant
- Peg Whitney – Hospitality
- Darinka Spallone – Marriage Coordinator
- Dave Zmudczynski – Maintenance
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Formation Office (248-349-8837) serves children, youth, and adults preparing for sacraments. Office hours run Monday and Wednesday 10 am to 12 noon and 1 to 3 pm; Tuesday and Thursday 10 am to 3 pm; and Friday 10 am to 12 noon. Programs include ongoing faith formation for school-age children, Confirmation preparation, First Communion preparation, and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) is offered for adults seeking Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation, with English and Spanish tracks.
- Faith Formation Director / CYO Director: Dan Czarniecki (x251)
- Faith Formation Assistant / Sacramental Prep Coordinator: Claudia González (x240)
- Staff Assistant: Lauri Sullivan (x239)
- CYO youth athletics and activities
- OCIA / RCIA (English and Spanish)
- Religious Education classes for preschool through grade 8
- Sacramental Preparation: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
Holy Family's Hispanic Ministry was officially recognized by the Archdiocese of Detroit in October 2007, with the support of Bishop Daniel Flores. It is a regional community whose members come from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Spain, Peru, Bolivia, and other countries, with most families living in Novi and surrounding communities including Livonia, West Bloomfield, Wixom, Commerce, Northville, Plymouth, Walled Lake, South Lyon, Southfield, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington, Troy, and beyond. Spanish catechism classes began in 2005 and now serve preschool through third grade; children from fourth grade onward typically join the English faith formation program. A full Saturday Vigil Mass in Spanish is offered each week.
- Director: Gabriela (Gaby) Vázquez — [email protected] / 248-349-8847 x242
- Spanish Mass: Saturday 6:30 pm (livestreamed)
- Baptisms (Spanish): Gaby Vazquez
- First Communion & Confirmation (Spanish): Claudia González
- Catechism classes in Spanish: Mondays and Wednesdays (in-person and online)
- Faith School (Escuela de la Fe)
- Children's Rosary (Rosario de niños)
- Seguidoras de Cristo (women's group)
- Quinceañera Blessing Masses
Christian Service and Outreach
Christian Service is one of Holy Family's longest-running ministries. The parish operates an active emergency food pantry, a clothes closet (with a direct line at 248-349-8553), a baby diaper bank, and supports a rotating shelter for homeless men and women. Holy Family partners with Novi FISH and faith-based service groups such as Northville Cares to provide utility assistance and shelter to neighbors in need, and has participated in refugee resettlement. The parish has a longstanding tradition of dedicating a percentage of Mass donations directly to outreach.
- Emergency Food Pantry
- Clothes Closet — 248-349-8553
- Baby Diaper Bank
- Rotating homeless shelter partnership
- Novi FISH partnership
- Refugee resettlement support
- Utility assistance fund
Sacraments
Holy Family celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, and Marriage each have dedicated coordinators. Sacramental certificates for Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage can be requested through the parish office; certificates are mailed and not emailed or faxed because the raised seal does not transmit electronically.
- Baptism (English: Ruth Cassar; Spanish: Gaby Vazquez)
- First Holy Communion (English and Spanish: Claudia González)
- Confirmation (English and Spanish: Claudia González — 248-349-8837 x240)
- Marriage (English and Spanish: Darinka Spallone)
- Sacramental Records requests via the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick by request
- Quinceañera Blessing Mass (Spanish: Gaby Vazquez)
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music and worship are central to the parish experience. The music area is located off to the side of the sanctuary at house left, with a choir and contemporary band supporting the liturgy. Santiago Fernández directs Music & Worship, and Ruth Cassar coordinates liturgical ministries. Following the 2016–2017 renovation, the sanctuary was outfitted with a new Renkus-Heinz Iconyx steerable line-array sound system custom-painted to blend with the décor, dramatically improving fidelity throughout the 1,000-seat worship space.
- Music & Worship Director: Santiago Fernández
- Liturgical Ministry Coordinator: Ruth Cassar
- Choir and band for weekend liturgies
- New Renkus-Heinz Iconyx sound system after 2017 renovation
Getting Involved and Contact
Parishioners can get involved in dozens of ministries — from music and liturgy, to hospitality, to faith formation, to outreach. The parish office is open during business hours and welcomes phone calls and visits. Staff extensions are listed in the parish bulletin for specific inquiries.
- Parish Office: (248) 349-8847
- Religious Formation Direct Line: (248) 349-8837
- Clothes Closet Direct Line: (248) 349-8553
- Address: 24505 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, MI 48375
- Email pattern: [first-initial][last-name]@hfnovi.com (e.g., [email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Kevin O'Brien1974 (founding)
Founding pastor; parish established November 12, 1974.
- Fr. Robert (Bob) LaCroix–present
Long-serving Pastor; in 2022 was appointed to the In Solidum team of priests pastoring Holy Family (Novi), St. James (Novi), St. Joseph (South Lyon), and St. William (Walled Lake), continuing primarily at Holy Family.