About Holy Family · Watertown, New York
Church of the Holy Family is a Roman Catholic parish in Watertown, New York, founded on June 2, 1895 — the Feast of Pentecost — by Father Michael Burns. Since 2021 it has been linked with St. Anthony's and St. Patrick's under the umbrella name Blessed Sacrament Parish, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. The parish worships in a striking Gouverneur-marble church on Winthrop Street with a 100-foot bell tower, built in a Gothic-Norman style and dedicated in 1904. Holy Family continues a long tradition of hospitality and liturgy in the city, with daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of parish ministries serving the north country community.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Reverend John M. 'Mickey' Demo
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a warm, traditional Catholic community in the heart of Watertown with daily and Sunday Mass, regular Eucharistic Adoration (Monday and Friday afternoons), and a full schedule of Confession times. Parishioners can grow in faith through RCIA, Adult Faith Formation, the IMPACT Youth Ministry, and a Young Adult Ministry, while serving through dozens of liturgical and outreach groups — from Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Lectors to the Evangelization Team, Parish Nurses, and the Elizabeth Ministry (Walking With Moms) for expectant and new mothers. As part of Blessed Sacrament Parish since 2021, Holy Family combines its 1895 heritage and beautiful Gouverneur-marble church with the broader resources of three linked Watertown parishes.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 11:45 AM – 11:55 AM
- Friday 11:45 AM – 11:55 AM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Holy Family)
- Friday 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM (Holy Family)
- Tuesday 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (St. Anthony's)
- Thursday 12:30 PM – 8:00 PM (St. Patrick's)
Welcome to Holy Family
Holy Family Church is a Roman Catholic parish on Winthrop Street in Watertown, New York. In the words of its welcome page, 'Here at Holy Family, we gain our inspiration from the many relationships rooted in faith, hope and love. We strive to emulate Jesus, Mary and Joseph as we live out the gospel in word and deed. We continue the long-standing tradition of hospitality from the humble beginnings of the parish in 1895.' The parish warmly invites newcomers to join the parish family and walk together with the Lord.
Our Parish History
Founded on the Feast of Pentecost, June 2, 1895 by Father Michael Burns, Holy Family began with the first Mass offered in Washington Hall before an improvised altar. The parish was incorporated on September 2, 1895. After an initial 1896 California Franciscan mission-style church designed by architect John Griffin on Winthrop Street, the present Gothic-Norman Gouverneur-marble church with its 100-foot bell tower was dedicated on November 30, 1904. The stained-glass windows had won the grand prize at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and the interior murals by Ilario Panzeroni and the statue of the Sacred Heart by Anton Lang (Christus in the 1910 Oberammergau Passion Play) give the church its distinctive character. A $900,000 interior restoration took place in 2008.
- 1895 — Parish founded by Father Michael Burns; first Mass on June 2 (Pentecost)
- 1895 — Incorporated September 2
- 1896 — California Franciscan mission-style church built on Winthrop Street
- 1903 — Cornerstone laid by Vicar General Most Rev. Joseph H. Conroy, August 1
- 1904 — Present Gothic-Norman church built of Gouverneur marble; dedicated November 30
- 1914 — Present rectory built in matching Gouverneur marble
- 2008 — $900,000 interior restoration
- 2021 — Joined St. Anthony's and St. Patrick's as Blessed Sacrament Parish
Architecture & Sacred Art
The current church is a Gothic-Norman style structure built of Gouverneur marble with a slate roof and a 100-foot bell tower, with a sloping sanctuary floor for better visibility. Its stained glass was crafted in Germany and won the grand prize at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The interior is decorated with colorful murals of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Family painted by Ilario Panzeroni of New York City, and the Carrara-marble altar and rail were ordered by Father Burns from Italy. A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, carved by Anton Lang — who played Christus in the 1910 Oberammergau Passion Play — was purchased by Father Burns on the same trip to Germany.
- Gothic-Norman style, Gouverneur marble exterior
- 100-foot bell tower; seating for 1,000
- German-crafted stained glass (1904 World's Fair grand prize)
- Murals by Ilario Panzeroni of New York City
- Carrara marble altar and rail
- Sacred Heart statue by Anton Lang (Oberammergau)
- Giant clam-shell holy water fonts from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Our Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Father John M. 'Mickey' Demo and Parochial Vicar Father Matt Conger, with five deacons — Michael J. Allan, Guy Javarone, Kevin T. Mastellon, Edward R. Miller, and Donald J. Wilder. Pastoral Associates include Sister Angelica Rebello, SCC (also Director of Religious Education), and Patrick Bates. Carol Brown serves as Business Manager. Monsignor Paul Whitmore and Father Leo Wiley are retired priests in residence. The Diocese of Ogdensburg directory additionally lists the parish email at [email protected].
- Pastor: Rev. John M. Demo
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Matt Conger
- Pastoral Associate / Director of Religious Education: Sr. Angelica Rebello, SCC
- Pastoral Associate: Patrick Bates
- Business Manager: Carol Brown
- Retired in residence: Msgr. Paul Whitmore, Fr. Leo Wiley
Parish Ministries
At Holy Family's Eucharistic celebrations there are many opportunities to be involved in tasks essential to worship. Liturgical ministries include Evangelization Team, Altar Servers, Musicians, Sacristans, Lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, supported by Hospitality (Refreshments and Greeters). Faith formation is offered through RCIA and Adult Faith Formation, while IMPACT Youth Ministry and a Young Adult Ministry reach younger parishioners. Outreach includes Parish Nurses and the Elizabeth Ministry / Walking With Moms In Need program for expectant and new mothers, plus the Glenwood Cemetery Campaign.
- Evangelization Team
- Altar Servers, Sacristans, Musicians
- Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Hospitality — Refreshments and Greeters
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Adult Faith Formation
- IMPACT Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Parish Nurses
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Elizabeth Ministry / Walking With Moms In Need (WWMIN)
Eucharistic Ministry
Also known as Eucharistic Ministers, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion are volunteers chosen by the Pastor to assist in distributing the Eucharist at Mass and to the sick and homebound. The parish invites parishioners to find their own replacements when scheduled, to offer to minister on Holy Days and special feasts, and to step up even when not on the schedule. New ministers are trained and scheduled through Father Demo.
Immaculate Heart Central School
Holy Family opened its first parish school in the Sterling Mansion in the 1920s. The school was later moved to a modern building on Sterling Place, and the Sterling Mansion remains part of the campus, currently housing pre-K and kindergarten classes. In 2004, all four Watertown parish schools merged to form IHC Primary and IHC Intermediate, and Holy Family's school became Immaculate Heart Primary. As of the 2025–2026 school year, Immaculate Heart Central School now houses all grades Pre-K–12 on its Main Campus at 1316 Ives Street, following a consolidation campaign.
- First school opened in the Sterling Mansion in the 1920s
- Renamed Immaculate Heart Primary in 2004
- Sterling Mansion houses preschool and kindergarten
- All Pre-K–12 now consolidated at 1316 Ives Street
Blessed Sacrament Parish
In September 2021, Holy Family, St. Anthony's, and St. Patrick's were linked under the new umbrella name Blessed Sacrament Parish. The name was chosen from four options submitted to parishioners and reflects the three parishes' shared belief in the Holy Eucharist. The merger was first announced in 2016 in response to the ongoing priest shortage. Father John Demo serves as pastor of the linked parishes, and the joint website catholicwatertown.org coordinates Mass times, Confession, Adoration, bulletins, faith formation materials, and homilies across all three churches.
- Announced in 2016, officially named in September 2021
- 'Blessed Sacrament' chosen to reflect shared belief in the Eucharist
- Pastor: Father John Demo
- Joint website: catholicwatertown.org
Contact & Visit
The Pastoral Center can be reached at 315-782-1190, and the priests' residence at 315-782-2468. The parish email is [email protected], and the mailing address is 123 South Massey Street, Watertown, NY 13601. The church itself stands at 129 Winthrop Street, Watertown, NY 13601.
- Pastoral Center: 315-782-1190
- Priest residence: 315-782-2468
- Email: [email protected]
- Church: 129 Winthrop Street, Watertown, NY 13601
- Mailing: 123 South Massey Street, Watertown, NY 13601
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Burns1895–
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass on the Feast of Pentecost, June 2, 1895; oversaw construction of the 1896 mission-style church and the 1903–1904 Gouverneur-marble Gothic-Norman church, which was dedicated November 30, 1904.