About Holy Family · Tucson, Arizona
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish at 338 West University Boulevard in Tucson, Arizona, just north of downtown. Founded in 1913 at the request of St. Katharine Drexel and entrusted to Discalced Carmelite friars who had fled persecution in Mexico, the parish has long served the historic Yaqui community of Old Pascua Village. Today the church hosts two complementary communities under one roof: Holy Family Parish (Ordinary Form, English) and St. Gianna Oratory, an apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest offering the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass). The parish is led by Very Rev. Lester Mendonsa, Pastor and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Tucson.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Lester Mendonsa (Pastor & Judicial Vicar)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
Holy Family is a small, historic parish with deep roots: founded in 1913 at the request of St. Katharine Drexel for the Yaqui families of Old Pascua Village and shepherded for over a century by Discalced Carmelite friars — including two founding priests later beatified as martyrs. A registered parishioner becomes part of a spiritual oasis just north of downtown Tucson, with daily Mass, confession before every Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, and a Sunday Grab-N-Go Lunch / St. Martin de Porres Meal Program that directly serves the hungry of the neighborhood. The parish also shares its campus with St. Gianna Oratory of the Institute of Christ the King, giving parishioners ready access to the Traditional Latin Mass and the full sacramental life of the Roman Rite in both forms.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday (before Vigil Mass): 3:15–3:50 p.m.
- Sunday (St. Gianna Oratory): 8:00–8:20 a.m. and 10:00–10:20 a.m.
- Monday (St. Gianna Oratory): 5:00–5:20 p.m.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (St. Gianna Oratory): 7:30–7:50 a.m.
- Thursday (St. Gianna Oratory): 5:00–5:50 p.m.
- Saturday (St. Gianna Oratory): 7:30–7:50 a.m. and 3:30–3:55 p.m.
- First Saturday of Month (St. Gianna Oratory): 7:10–7:40 a.m.
Adoration times
- Thursdays: 5:00–5:50 p.m. (St. Gianna Oratory, followed by confession)
- First Saturday of the Month: 7:00–7:50 a.m. (St. Gianna Oratory)
About Holy Family Parish
Established in 1913 at the request of St. Katharine Drexel, Holy Family is described on its own website as 'a spiritual oasis just north of downtown Tucson.' The parish traces its spiritual heritage to its founding Carmelite pastor, Blessed Fr. Lucas of St. Joseph, and his assistant Blessed Eduardo of the Child Jesus — both later martyred in the Spanish Civil War and beatified in 2007. Today the parish shares its historic building with St. Gianna Oratory of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which offers the Traditional Latin Mass. The parish is staffed by Very Rev. Lester Mendonsa (Pastor and Judicial Vicar), Deacon Charlie, and parish staff including Office Manager Mrs. Sylvia Cordova and Safe Environment Volunteer Mrs. Sandra Morrison.
- Founded 1913 — request of St. Katharine Drexel
- 338 W. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85705
- Two communities under one roof: Holy Family Parish (English, Ordinary Form) and St. Gianna Oratory (Latin, Extraordinary Form)
- Pastor's canonical role: Pastor & Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Tucson
History & Founding
Holy Family was built in 1913–14 with funds from St. Katharine Drexel — a $2,500 gift 'to aid in the erection of a Church for the Yaqui Indians, living on the North outskirts of Tucson' — and served the Old Pascua Village, a settlement of Yaqui refugees fleeing persecution during the Mexican Revolution. The church was entrusted to Discalced Carmelite friars from Catalonia, Spain, who had arrived in Arizona in 1912. The founding pastor was Fr. Lucas of St. Joseph (Tristany), O.C.D., who served 1915–1924. Both Fr. Lucas and his assistant Fr. Eduardo of the Child Jesus (Farré), O.C.D., were martyred in Spain in 1936 and beatified in 2007 — among five Tucson-Carmelites honored by the Holy See.
- 1912: Discalced Carmelites from Catalonia arrive in Arizona (first U.S. foundation at Winkelman)
- 1913: Holy Family Parish founded; church built of adobe by contractor Manuel Flores
- 1913–14: Construction at North Main Ave. and W. University Blvd.
- 1915–1924: Fr. Lucas of St. Joseph serves as first resident pastor
- 1936: Fr. Lucas and Fr. Eduardo martyred in Spain during the Civil War
- 2007: Both beatified by the Holy See (Oct. 28, Rome)
Architecture & Historic Significance
The Holy Family church is a Mission Revival building with Gothic Revival influences, constructed of adobe by Manuel Flores in 1913 on a 'church-and-school square' with the historic Paul Dunbar Elementary School. The Pima County/John Spring historic-survey appendix describes it as 'a prominent Mission Revival building…noted for service clubs such as St. Vincent's and Santa Teresitas.' It remains an important visual and cultural landmark in the Old Pascua neighborhood north of downtown Tucson.
- Style: Mission Revival with Gothic Revival influences
- Material: Adobe construction
- Builder: Manuel Flores (contractor); project associated with Bishop Henry Granjon
- Context: John Spring Multiple Resource Area; church-and-school square with Paul Dunbar Elementary (1917, Henry Jaastad)
St. Gianna Oratory (Institute of Christ the King)
Sharing the Holy Family church building is St. Gianna Oratory, an apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The oratory celebrates Mass daily in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the Traditional Latin Mass) and maintains its own office at the Priory of Our Lady of Guadalupe (P.O. Box 87350, Tucson, AZ 85754; 520-883-4360). Clergy and staff include Canon Jonathon Fehrenbacher (Rector), Canon Andrew Bredemann (Parochial Vicar), Mrs. Teri Gauger (Oratory Secretary), and Mr. Matthew Lancaster (Music Director).
- Rector: Canon Jonathon Fehrenbacher
- Parochial Vicar: Canon Andrew Bredemann
- Music Director: Mr. Matthew Lancaster
- Bulletin & info: institute-christ-king.org/tucson-home
Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for and administers the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. For Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, families and individuals are asked to contact the parish office directly. Sacramental certificates are issued with at least seven business days' notice.
- Baptism — contact office
- Penance (Confession) — Sat. 3:15–3:50 p.m. + oratory schedule
- First Holy Communion — 2-year program beginning at age 6+
- Confirmation — 2-year program beginning at age 10+
- Marriage — contact office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact office
Faith Formation & Catechesis
Holy Family Parish, jointly with St. Gianna Oratory, runs a parish-based catechetical program. First Holy Communion is a two-year track beginning at age six and older; Confirmation is a two-year track beginning at age ten and older. Continuing catechesis is offered for older students, and adults seeking instruction — including those entering the Church — may join the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Families also have access to FORMED.org for on-line Catholic formation content. Registration is coordinated through Mrs. Sylvia Cordova in the parish office.
- First Holy Communion track (2 years, age 6+)
- Confirmation track (2 years, age 10+)
- Continuing Catechesis for older students
- RCIA for adults
- FORMED.org digital library
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is central to parish life. The St. Martin de Porres Meal Program distributes sack lunches on the 1st and 2nd Sundays of each month from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., and the parish also offers Grab-N-Go Lunches on Sundays between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. The St. Vincent de Paul Society serves the needy in the neighborhood, and Sandwiches for the Poor extends the parish's food-insecurity ministry. Volunteers must complete Diocese of Tucson Safe Environment screening.
- St. Martin de Porres Meal Program — 1st & 2nd Sundays, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
- Grab-N-Go Lunches — Sundays 3:00–4:00 p.m.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Sandwiches for the Poor
Parish Staff
Holy Family Parish is led by Very Rev. Lester Mendonsa, Pastor and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Tucson, with assistance from Deacon Charlie. The office is run by Mrs. Sylvia Cordova (Office Manager & Safe Environment Compliance Officer), with Mrs. Sandra Morrison as Safe Environment Volunteer. The companion oratory of St. Gianna Gianna is led by Canon Jonathon Fehrenbacher (Rector) and Canon Andrew Bredemann (Parochial Vicar).
- Very Rev. Lester Mendonsa — Pastor & Judicial Vicar
- Deacon Charlie
- Mrs. Sylvia Cordova — Office Manager
- Mrs. Sandra Morrison — Safe Environment Volunteer
- Canon Jonathon Fehrenbacher — Rector, St. Gianna Oratory
- Canon Andrew Bredemann — Vicar, St. Gianna Oratory
- Mrs. Teri Gauger — Oratory Secretary
- Mr. Matthew Lancaster — Music Director
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to 'Come and see!' (John 1:39). Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The parish is located at 338 W. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85705, on the historic church-and-school square north of downtown Tucson. The mailing address for the parish is the same; St. Gianna Oratory uses P.O. Box 87350, Tucson, AZ 85754-7350.
- Address: 338 W. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85705
- Parish phone: (520) 623-6773
- Oratory phone: (520) 883-4360
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Blessed Fr. Lucas of St. Joseph (Tristany), O.C.D.1915–1924
Discalced Carmelite friar from Catalonia; founding pastor. Returned to Spain, served as Prior of Tarragona, and was martyred July 25, 1936 in Montcada during the Spanish Civil War. Beatified October 28, 2007.
- Blessed Eduardo of the Child Jesus (Farré), O.C.D.Assistant pastor
Discalced Carmelite friar; assistant pastor at Holy Family in the early period. Martyred July 31, 1936 near Tarragona. Beatified October 28, 2007.