About Holy Family Parish (St. Mary Campus) · Adrian, Michigan
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Lansing located in Adrian, Michigan. It was established on December 30, 2018, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, by merging the historic Saint Mary of Good Counsel Parish (principal church, the 'St. Mary Campus' at 305 N. Division Street) with Saint Joseph Parish, whose church at 415 Ormsby Street now serves as an oratory (the 'St. Joseph Campus'). The parish is staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (OSFS) and serves a bilingual community, offering Masses in English and Spanish, with a weekly bilingual Mass and a vibrant Spanish-speaking ministry alongside traditional English liturgy.
- Established
- 2018
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Father Michael Newman, OSFS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lansing
Why belong here
Holy Family Parish brings together two historic Adrian Catholic communities under one roof with two worship sites only about eight-tenths of a mile apart, offering Mass in English, Spanish, and a weekly bilingual celebration. A dedicated staff — including a Director of Faith Formation, Music/Liturgy Coordinator, Deacon, and outreach team — supports faith formation for youth and adults, RCIA and baptism preparation, marriage prep, migrant ministry, visitation of the homebound, and a cemetery ministry. The parish also publishes a podcast called 'Open Seat,' runs the Open Seat in Spanish, and maintains active social media to accompany parishioners beyond the pews.
Mass times at Holy Family Parish (St. Mary Campus)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM (St. Joseph Campus)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 12:00 PM – 6:45 PM (St. Joseph Campus)
Parish Identity & History
Holy Family Parish of Adrian, Michigan was canonically erected on December 30, 2018, the Feast of the Holy Family, by Bishop Earl Boyea of the Diocese of Lansing. It united two historic Adrian parishes — Saint Mary of Good Counsel and Saint Joseph — into a single bilingual community with two worship sites. The decree designated Saint Mary of Good Counsel Church (305 N. Division St.) as the principal parochial church and reduced Saint Joseph Church (415 Ormsby St.) to the status of an oratory under canons 1223–1225.
- Founded December 30, 2018 by decree of Bishop Earl Boyea
- Merger of Saint Mary of Good Counsel Parish and Saint Joseph Parish
- Founding administrator: Rev. John J. Loughran, OSFS
- St. Mary Campus (305 N. Division St.) — principal place of worship
- St. Joseph Campus / Oratory (415 Ormsby St.) — auxiliary worship site
- Located in the Diocese of Lansing
Roots in 175 Years of Catholic Life in Adrian
The decree of merger situates Holy Family within 175 years of continuous Catholic presence in Adrian. Catholic evangelization began in the 1840s under Redemptorist Father Simon Saenderl. A frame church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception was built in 1852; its first pastor, Fr. Peter Kindekins, helped found the American College of Louvain. That church burned in 1864 and was replaced by the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel (dedicated November 29, 1871 by Bishop Caspar Borgess), which became Saint Mary of Good Counsel Parish. A second parish, Saint Joseph, grew out of German-speaking Catholic ministries; its church was dedicated October 13, 1879 by Bishop Borgess. Both parishes contributed to the growth of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.
- 1840s — Redemptorist Fr. Simon Saenderl begins ministry in Lenawee/Hillsdale counties
- 1852 — Immaculate Conception frame church built; Fr. Peter Kindekins named first pastor
- 1864 — Fire destroys Immaculate Conception Church and its school
- 1871 — Bishop Caspar Borgess dedicates new church as Our Lady of Good Counsel (Nov. 29)
- 1879 — Bishop Borgess dedicates Saint Joseph Church (Oct. 13)
- Both parishes historically supported the Adrian Dominican Sisters (Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary)
Sacramental Life
The parish prepares the faithful for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA) and supports couples in marriage preparation, families in baptism prep, and the sick and homebound through visitation. Deacon Leonard Brown assists with homebound ministry, and the parish's marriage prep is coordinated by the pastor.
- Baptism preparation (urged not to delay)
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation with parish-wide prayer partners
- RCIA for adults and children of catechetical age
- Marriage Preparation
- Visitation/Homebound (Deacon Leonard Brown, Fr. Michael Newman)
- Funeral Ministry (coordinated through Music/Liturgy office)
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation is led by Katie Love, Director of Faith Formation, and covers religious education for youth, youth ministry, the parish preschool, and Child and Youth Protection coordination. The parish also identifies and prays for seminarians connected to the community (including Deacon Randy, Ben Myers, and former youth minister Jon Dick) and partners with the Adrian Dominican Sisters as prayer partners for First Communion and Confirmation candidates.
- Director of Faith Formation: Katie Love
- Religious Education for youth
- Youth Ministry
- Parish Pre-School coordination
- Child and Youth Protection
- Seminarian prayer support
- Adrian Dominican Sisters as prayer partners for First Communicants and Confirmandi
Music & Liturgy
Music and liturgy are coordinated by Kurt Weber, the parish's Liturgy and Music Coordinator since July 2002. A Vermont native with pastoral music experience since 1985, Weber directs choirs, composes original music and arrangements, and co-directs the weekly bilingual Mass (an outgrowth of his affinity for Spanish music). His wife Nancy serves as cantor and organist. The parish plays piano, organ, and saxophone in its liturgical celebrations.
- Liturgy & Music Coordinator: Kurt Weber (since 2002)
- English and bilingual choirs
- Cantor and organist: Nancy Weber
- Funeral Liturgy coordination
- Large-Mass preparation team
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish extends pastoral care beyond its walls through migrant ministry, visitation of the homebound, evangelization efforts, cemetery ministry, and adult faith groups. Rocio Vazquez serves as Office Coordinator and Outreach Ministry Coordinator. Fr. Michael Newman is directly responsible for Migrant Ministry, Visitation/Homebound, Evangelization, and Adult Faith Groups.
- Migrant Ministry (pastor)
- Visitation of the Homebound (Deacon Leonard Brown & pastor)
- Cemetery Ministry
- Adult Faith Groups
- Evangelization efforts
- Outreach Ministry coordination (Rocio Vazquez)
Parish Staff & Leadership
Holy Family is staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (OSFS) and supported by a team of lay leaders in faith formation, music, communications, maintenance, and administration. The Parish Pastoral Council is chaired by Jim Hartley.
- Pastor: Father Michael Newman, OSFS
- Deacon: Deacon Leonard Brown
- Administrator: Patience Vrieze-See
- Director of Faith Formation: Katie Love
- Liturgy & Music Coordinator: Kurt Weber
- Office Coordinator / Outreach Ministry Coordinator: Rocio Vazquez
- Communications & Social Media Coordinator: Isabelle Pioch
- Parish Pastoral Council Chair: Jim Hartley
- Maintenance: Sandra Garcia, Scott Machniak, Felipe Vazquez-Jaimes
Communications & Media
Holy Family maintains an active multi-channel presence to accompany parishioners beyond Sunday Mass. Isabelle Pioch coordinates communications and social media, the parish bulletin is published online, and the parish produces a bilingual podcast called 'Open Seat' available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and Buzzsprout — featuring stories of parishioners, saints, vocations, and faith journeys (including Spanish-language episodes).
- Official website: holyfamilyadrian.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/adrianCatholic
- Instagram: @holyfamilyadrian
- YouTube: youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian
- Open Seat podcast (English and Spanish) on Buzzsprout, Apple, Spotify, YouTube
- Flocknote for parish email/text updates
- Online parish bulletin
Facilities & Accessibility
The parish notes accessibility accommodations on its staff directory and operates across its two Adrian campuses about eight-tenths of a mile apart.
- Handicap parking available
- Assistive listening devices available
- St. Mary Campus — 305 N. Division Street, Adrian
- St. Joseph Campus (Oratory) — 415 Ormsby Street, Adrian
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend John J. Loughran, OSFSDecember 30, 2018 – (founding administrator)
Administrator of both Saint Joseph Parish and Saint Mary of Good Counsel Parish at the time of merger; remained as founding administrator of Holy Family Parish per the decree of Bishop Boyea.
- Father Michael Newman, OSFSCurrent
Current pastor of Holy Family Parish.