About Holy Family · Versailles, Ohio
Holy Family Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish located in the unincorporated community of Frenchtown in Wayne Township, Darke County, Ohio, just outside Versailles. Founded in 1846 by French settlers from Darke, Shelby, and Miami counties, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in the region and the oldest church building in Darke County still in continuous operation. Today Holy Family is part of the Northwest-V (NWV) Family of Parishes, clustered with St. Denis Parish in Versailles, Immaculate Conception Parish in Bradford, and St. Mary Parish in Greenville, all within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Sidney Deanery. The parish shares weekend and weekday Masses with St. Denis and is served pastorally by Fr. James Simons and a team that includes a pastoral associate and deacon.
- Established
- 1846
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. James Simons
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Sidney Deanery)
Why belong here
Holy Family is a small, close-knit historic parish where a 178-year-old Catholic French-settler tradition is still lived every Sunday. Active parishioners run the Holy Family Parish Council, host the Night of Worship (NOW) youth nights, support Totus Tuus and Steubenville youth conferences, maintain the historic church and its on-site Holy Family Cemetery, and welcome new members through the Northwest-V Family of Parishes. If you want a parish with deep local roots, a National Register-listed 1866 Gothic Revival church, and a tight family of four clustered parishes sharing strong sacramental and youth programs, Holy Family in Frenchtown is a welcoming place to belong.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday of the month at 8:00 a.m. at Holy Family
- By appointment at Holy Family
- Saturday Vigil 3:30–4:15 p.m. (St. Denis)
- Sunday 8:00–8:45 a.m. (St. Denis)
- Monday 12:00–1:00 p.m. (St. Denis)
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 p.m. (St. Denis)
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 p.m. (St. Denis)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Exposition and Adoration, with Benediction at 6:05 p.m. (St. Denis)
- Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Rosary at Holy Family (when scheduled)
- Totus Tuus Wednesday night: Adoration, Benediction and Confession (clustered youth program)
History of Holy Family Parish
Holy Family traces its origins to the French Catholic settlement of Darke County. The mother parish of St. Valbert's was established in 1839 by Bishop John Baptist Purcell with Father Louis Navarron as pastor. In 1846, French settlers in Frenchtown asked for their own church, and Father Navarron built a log church on land donated by the Subler family, naming it Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. After the first church burned in 1848, a second log church was raised, and in 1866 the present Gothic Revival brick church was built using Frenchtown-made bricks, local lumber, and the original bell Father Navarron had brought from France. The church was enlarged in 1889 with stained-glass windows, fitted with three altars in 1890, and given a new rectory in 1901–1902. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
- 1846 — Founding of Holy Family Parish; log church built
- 1848 — First church burns; rebuilt as a second log church
- 1866 — Current brick Gothic Revival church constructed (cost: $3,000)
- 1889 — Church renovated and enlarged; stained-glass windows added
- 1890 — Three altars installed
- 1901–1902 — New parish rectory built
- 1979 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2016 — 170th anniversary of founding and 100th anniversary in the present building, with Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr presiding
Clustered in the Northwest-V Family of Parishes
Holy Family is one of four parishes in the Northwest-V (NWV) Family of Parishes, clustered to share pastoral and liturgical resources. The other parishes are St. Denis in Versailles, Immaculate Conception in Bradford, and St. Mary in Greenville. The cluster is part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Sidney Deanery. The Northwest-V regional office is at 14 E. Wood Street, Versailles, and serves all four parishes with shared staff, bulletins, and youth programs.
- Holy Family Parish (Frenchtown, near Versailles)
- St. Denis Parish (Versailles)
- Immaculate Conception Parish (Bradford)
- St. Mary Parish (Greenville)
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati — Sidney Deanery
Parish Staff and Parish Council
Holy Family is served by the NWV Family of Parishes pastoral team. The current pastor is Rev. James Simons, with Father Oscar Seger and Deacon Michael Meyer assisting. Jane Pierron serves as pastoral associate. The Holy Family Parish Council includes among its members Jacob Dirksen, John Fischer Jr., and Jeff Wuebker.
- Rev. James Simons — Pastor
- Father Oscar Seger
- Deacon Michael Meyer
- Jane Pierron — Pastoral Associate
- Father David Vincent — former pastor
- Parish Council: Jacob Dirksen, John Fischer Jr., Jeff Wuebker
Youth, Family and Faith Formation
Holy Family, together with the NWV parishes, runs a robust youth ministry. High School and Middle School Youth Ministry sessions run during the school year. The summer Totus Tuus program brings junior high and high school students together for a week of catechesis, with Adoration, Benediction and Confession on Wednesday night. Holy Family Hall and church also host NOW (Night of Worship) evenings for high school youth, and teens participate in the Steubenville Youth Conference. Breakfast With the Lord resumes the first Friday of September.
- NOW (Night of Worship) — monthly youth night at Holy Family Hall
- Totus Tuus — July summer catechetical program for grades 7–12
- Steubenville Youth Conference — annual high school trip
- High School Youth Ministry sessions
- Middle School Youth Ministry sessions
- Breakfast With the Lord — first Friday of the month, resuming in September
- Faith Formation (CCD) newsletter published in cluster bulletins
Holy Family Cemetery
Holy Family Parish operates its own cemetery at 11255 St. Rt. 185, Versailles, Ohio (Frenchtown). Plots are available for purchase from parish contact Melvin Stucke (937-726-2004), and the parish publishes a complete schedule of fees for both registered and non-registered parishioners along with Catholic funeral rules and regulations.
- Address: 11255 St. Rt. 185, Versailles, OH 45380 (Frenchtown)
- Contact: Melvin Stucke, 937-726-2004
- Registered parishioner lot: $500
- Non-registered parishioner lot: $750
- Weekday full burial: $700
- Weekend full burial: $800
- Cremation: $300
- Funeral Mass stipend: $175
Sacraments and Sacramental Emergency
The parish celebrates the Eucharist at its regular Mass schedule and administers the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the first Saturday of the month and by appointment. Catholic funerals are coordinated through the parish office, and the cluster maintains a 24-hour Sacramental Emergency line for anointing of the sick and last rites.
- Eucharist — see Mass Schedule
- Reconciliation — First Saturday 8:00 a.m. or by appointment
- Catholic funerals and burial through Holy Family Cemetery
- Sacramental Emergency — 937-709-4146
- New Member Registration via parish office or [email protected]
Parish Life, Giving and Outreach
Parishioners support the parish through regular Sunday offertory, votive offerings, and online giving. The Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella are active in the parish and host community fundraisers such as the Knights' Pork Chop Dinner. The NWV Family of Parishes also holds an annual parish picnic, youth Masses, and special blessings such as the Expectant Mother's Blessing and Athlete Blessing.
- Online Giving available
- Holy Family Hall rental — contact parish office (937-526-4945)
- Knights of Columbus fundraisers and Pork Chop Dinner
- Daughters of Isabella
- Annual NWV Family of Parishes Picnic
- Expectant Mother's Blessing and Athlete Blessing
- Cluster youth Masses (e.g., NWV Youth Mass at St. Louis)
Contact and Visiting Holy Family
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Family through the shared Northwest-V Family of Parishes office at 14 E. Wood St., Versailles, OH 45380. The church itself is at 11239 State Route 185 in Frenchtown. Versailles parish office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday closed, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to noon. A priest is available for Sacramental Emergencies around the clock.
- Holy Family Church — 11239 State Route 185, Versailles, OH 45380
- Regional Office — 14 E. Wood Street, Versailles, OH 45380
- Phone: 937-526-4945
- Email: [email protected]
- Sacramental Emergency: 937-709-4146
- Office Hours: Mon/Wed/Thu 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tue closed; Fri 8 a.m.–Noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Louis Navarron1845–
Founding pastor who named the parish Holy Family and brought the original bell from France; oversaw construction of the first log church (1846) and its rebuilding after the 1848 fire.
- Father James Simonscurrent
Current pastor serving the Northwest-V Family of Parishes.
- Father David Vincent
Former pastor who concelebrated the 2016 170th anniversary Mass.