About Holy Family Parish · East Tawas, Michigan
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 516 W. Lincoln Street in East Tawas, Michigan, on the shore of Tawas Bay. It is one of two parishes in the 'Lakeshore Catholic Community' — the other being Sacred Heart Parish in Oscoda — and it belongs to the Diocese of Gaylord. The parish was created on July 1, 1997 when two Tawas-area parishes (St. Joseph of East Tawas and Immaculate Heart of Mary of Tawas City) were merged into one new family of faith under the patronage of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Today the parish shares a campus with Holy Family School (PreK through 6th grade) and is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, deacon, and a sizable lay staff.
- Established
- 1997
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Artur F. Duchnowicz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Gaylord
Why belong here
Holy Family is the Catholic home of the Tawas Bay region — a parish with deep roots going back to St. Joseph Parish (1883) and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (1952), now united in one family of faith since 1997. Worship is centered on a beautiful 2005 church with hand-carved altar and ambo, daily and weekend Masses, regular Reconciliation, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays. The parish shares a campus with Holy Family School (PreK–6) and offers a wide array of ways to get involved: an OCIA/RCIA process, children's faith formation, Bible studies and a women's faith-sharing group, choirs and cantors, a rosary/prayer line, ministries to the homebound, the Council of Catholic Women, Right to Life, food pantry, Angel Blanket, parish health ministry, jail ministry, and more. As one of two parishes in the Lakeshore Catholic Community (the other being Sacred Heart in Oscoda), it offers a small-parish welcome with the resources of a full Catholic community.
Mass times at Holy Family Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:30 PM
- Friday: 12:00 noon
- Saturday: 3:30 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays (Holy Hour)
Our Story & Parish History
Holy Family Parish was established by the Most Rev. Patrick Cooney, Bishop of Gaylord, on July 1, 1997 as the union of two Tawas Bay communities of faith: St. Joseph Parish of East Tawas (founded 1883) and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish of Tawas City (founded 1952). The new parish took the name 'Holy Family' — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — and within a few years built a brand-new church that incorporated elements from both predecessor churches. Today Holy Family shares a campus and a linked-pastor relationship with Sacred Heart Parish in Oscoda, forming the 'Lakeshore Catholic Community' along the Lake Huron shoreline.
- Holy Family Parish (est. 1997)
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish – Tawas City (est. 1952)
- St. Joseph Parish – East Tawas (est. 1883)
- St. Joseph School (est. 1905)
- Solemn dedication of new church: July 30, 2005
- Founding Bishop: Most Rev. Patrick Cooney
- Current Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. Jeffrey J. Walsh
The 2005 Parish Church
The current Holy Family Church is a 2005 build, replacing earlier worship spaces used by the merged parishes. Ground was broken in 2004 after a successful capital campaign; during construction the parish celebrated Mass in the school gym. The new building was solemnly dedicated and consecrated by Bishop Patrick Cooney in August 2005. It brings together salvaged stained glass and statues from both the former St. Joseph and IHM churches, with a new altar and ambo hand-carved in wood by a local northern-Michigan artist. A signature feature is the large narthex or gathering space connecting the church to the parish offices, the parish social hall, and the school building.
- Architectural highlight: large narthex connecting church, school, social hall, and offices
- Original hand-carved wooden altar and ambo
- Stained glass and statues preserved from St. Joseph and IHM churches
- Improved lighting and working bells added under Fr. Charlie Donajkowski
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor who also serves as Vicar to the Southeast Region of the Diocese of Gaylord, a parochial vicar, and a deacon. A dedicated lay staff runs the parish office, music program, liturgy coordination, and bookkeeping.
- Rev. Artur F. Duchnowicz — Pastor (Vicar to the Southeast Region)
- Rev. Emmanuel Yilar — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Brent Hemker
- Stacey Mochty — Business Manager
- Maria Mendiola — Music Director
- Karen Arnold — Liturgical Coordinator
- LuAnn Tuttle — Bookkeeper
- Karrie Laidlaw — Receptionist
- Pattie Rioux — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered for children and adults at Holy Family. The children's program (K–12) is run jointly with Sacred Heart Parish in Oscoda — families must be registered at either Holy Family or Sacred Heart to participate. Adults seeking to become Catholic journey through the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process as sponsors, leaders, or team members, and parishioners of all ages gather for Bible studies, a Scripture class with Br. Mike Whitman, and a Women's Faith Sharing Group.
- Children's Faith Formation (K–12)
- OCIA / RCIA — Sponsor, Leader, Team Member roles
- Sacramental Preparation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Bible Studies / Scripture Class with Br. Mike Whitman
- Women's Faith Sharing Group
Liturgical Music & Worship Volunteers
Music ministry is a vibrant part of Holy Family worship, with opportunities for adults and youth. The parish also relies on lay volunteers to lead the rosary before Mass, lead the Tuesday Holy Hour, and serve on the parish Prayer Line.
- Choir members
- Cantors
- Instrumentalists
- Lakeshore Catholic Youth Choir
- Rosary Leaders before Mass
- Holy Hour Leader
- Prayer Line
Outreach, Social Justice & Pastoral Care
Holy Family lives out the Gospel through a wide network of outreach and pastoral-care ministries. The Council of Catholic Women organizes parish activities such as the Advent Tea and Mothers' Day Luncheon, while dedicated ministries serve those in need locally — from a food pantry and Angel Blanket Ministry to Right to Life, Jail Ministry, and Parish Health Ministry. The Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist and pastoral visits to parishioners in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, hospitals, and private homes.
- Council of Catholic Women
- Right to Life Committee
- Food Pantry
- Angel Blanket Ministry
- Parish Health Ministry
- Jail Ministry
- Social Justice outreach
- Homebound Ministry (nursing homes, assisted-living, hospital, home visits)
Holy Family School
Sharing the parish campus, Holy Family School is a Christ-centered Catholic elementary school serving Preschool through Sixth Grade. The school grew directly out of St. Joseph School (founded 1905 on the Lake Huron shoreline, rebuilt in 1957) and was renamed Holy Family School at the time of the 1997 parish merger. A 1978 addition added the library, gym, kitchen, and parish rooms (later named 'The Vanbergen Rooms' in honor of the late Fr. Louis Vanbergen, pastor from August 1985 to April 1986). The school offers a well-rounded, faith-based academic curriculum.
- Preschool through Sixth Grade
- Principal: Mrs. Mochty
- Christ-centered academic curriculum
- PreK Aide: Miss Busha; Preschool: Mrs. Webster
- Kindergarten: Linda Howe
- First Grade: Kate Look
- Second Grade: Ms. Pomeroy
- Third & Fourth Grade: Mrs. Pietras
- Fifth & Sixth Grade: Mrs. Martin
- Music: Ms. Donze
- Cook: Patti Spleet; Secretary: Mrs. Gocha
Lakeshore Catholic Community — Linked Parishes
Since 2009, Holy Family Parish has been linked with Sacred Heart Parish in Oscoda as part of the 'Lakeshore Catholic Community.' The two parishes share pastoral leadership and collaborate on programs such as youth faith formation and sacramental preparation, while maintaining separate worship sites on either side of Tawas Bay.
- Holy Family — East Tawas, MI — (989) 362-3162
- Sacred Heart — Oscoda, MI — (989) 739-9511
- Joint faith formation program for K–12 youth
- Shared pastoral leadership across both parishes
Sacraments
Holy Family prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism Preparation is offered through a parish program; First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared for through the joint faith-formation program with Sacred Heart Oscoda. Couples should contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation; families are assisted with funeral arrangements; and the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request.
- Baptism Preparation
- First Eucharist / First Communion Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
- Marriage (contact parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals (parish assistance)
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Tue, Fri, Sat
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish office is open Monday–Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (closed for lunch 11:30 AM–12:15 PM) and Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. After-hours emergency line: 989-984-5366. The parish can also be reached by fax at 989-362-9077. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to download the myParish App for ongoing updates.
- Address: 516 W. Lincoln Street, East Tawas, MI 48730
- Phone: 989-362-3162
- After-hours emergency: 989-984-5366
- Fax: 989-362-9077
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:30 PM (closed 11:30–12:15); Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- myParish App available for download
Pastors & rectors through the years
- (Founding pastor of Holy Family Parish, 1997)1997–2001
First pastor of the newly-merged parish; name not specifically listed on the parish history page.
- Rev. Donald Geyman2001–2007
Second pastor. Led the successful capital campaign, oversaw demolition of the IHM church, and broke ground on the new church building in 2004. Left in 2007 to become Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Gaylord.
- Rev. Joseph Blasko2007–2009
Third pastor. Assigned by Bishop Cooney; served the parish for two years.
- Rev. Charles Donajkowski2009–
Fourth pastor. First pastor of both Holy Family East Tawas and Sacred Heart Oscoda (linked parishes). Retired the parish debt and oversaw further church improvements.
- Rev. Artur F. Duchnowiczcurrent
Current pastor; also Vicar to the Southeast Region of the Diocese of Gaylord.