About Holy Family · West Branch, Michigan
Holy Family Catholic Church is a rural parish located in Klacking Creek, just outside West Branch in Ogemaw County, Michigan. It shares its clergy and a parish cluster office with nearby St. Joseph Catholic Church in downtown West Branch, and together the two parishes minister to Catholics across the northern Lower Peninsula. Holy Family is part of the Diocese of Gaylord, and worship is celebrated in the Roman (Latin) Rite. Its mailing and parish office contact route the 402 W. Peters Rd. address and the 961 W. Houghton Ave. (St. Joseph) office through a single cluster staff, with Fr. Al Pillarelli currently serving as pastor and Fr. Shaphan Zirra as parochial vicar.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Holy Family (of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Rev. Alfred (Fr. Al) Pillarelli
- Diocese
- Diocese of Gaylord
Why belong here
Holy Family is a small, welcoming rural Catholic community clustered with St. Joseph in downtown West Branch, where the same pastor and staff minister to both parishes. A parishioner here can worship at a peaceful country church on Peters Road for Sunday Mass and Thursday Mass, participate in a deep bench of lay ministries — from Music Ministry, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers to Home Bound Ministers, the Prayer Chain, and the Grounds Committee — and walk through the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and the OCIA process with the help of a dedicated catechist. The cluster's open invitation is simple: 'Whether you are a visitor to the area, returning to your spiritual home, or are a long-time parishioner, the Catholic community of West Branch welcomes you.'
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 2:30–4:30 PM at St. Joseph Church
- Also available by appointment — call (989) 345-0064
Adoration times
- Thursday — immediately following Mass, Holy Family
Welcome & Parish Identity
Holy Family Catholic Church in Klacking Creek (rural West Branch, MI) and St. Joseph Catholic Church in downtown West Branch together form one Catholic community clustered under a single pastor and parish office. The shared website, sotncc.org, publishes schedules, news, and contact information for both churches side by side, and the homepage greets visitors with 'All Are Welcome!' Whether a visitor, a returning Catholic, or a long-time parishioner, the community invites people to 'celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass with our church family.' Holy Family is a small, country parish in the Diocese of Gaylord, and its rural Klacking Creek site is a counterpart to the more centrally located St. Joseph parish.
- Two-parish cluster: Holy Family (Klacking Creek) + St. Joseph (West Branch)
- Roman (Latin) Rite, Diocese of Gaylord
- Mailing address for Holy Family: 402 W. Peters Rd., West Branch, MI 48661
- Cluster office: 961 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661
History of Holy Family, Klacking Creek
Holy Family's roots run deep into the farming and logging country north of West Branch. IRS records show the parish entity 'Holy Family of Klacking Creek' received tax-exempt status in March 1946, and local historians note that the church was long known informally as 'Campbell's Corners' or simply 'Klacking Creek.' For many years Holy Family and the larger St. Joseph Church in downtown West Branch were considered one parish under the 'St. Joseph' name, until Holy Family took its own identity; the Holy Family Cemetery, located on Campbell Road in West Branch Township, has preserved the Holy Family name for generations. The current shared cluster model — one pastor and one parochial vicar serving both parishes — echoes that historic link between the two communities.
- Tax-exempt as a Catholic church since March 1946
- Historically also called 'Campbell's Corners' or 'Klacking Creek'
- Long linked to St. Joseph Church in downtown West Branch
- Holy Family Cemetery on Campbell Road, West Branch Township, Ogemaw County
Parish Cluster Staff & Clergy
The Holy Family / St. Joseph cluster is led by Rev. Alfred 'Fr. Al' Pillarelli as pastor and, since December 2025, Rev. Fr. Shaphan Zirra as parochial vicar. A shared team of lay staff — catechist, liturgical coordinator, director of music, secretaries, business manager, and maintenance director — keeps both parishes running. Deacon Glen Painter is also listed among parish leadership.
- Rev. Alfred (Fr. Al) Pillarelli — Pastor
- Rev. Fr. Shaphan Zirra — Parochial Vicar (joined December 2025; ordained 2011, Diocese of Maiduguri, Nigeria)
- Deacon Glen Painter
- Sara Andres — Catechist
- Sara Eden — Director of Music
- Joan Denemy — Liturgical Coordinator
- Amber Bonnell — Secretary
- Maria Balser — Secretary
- Dave Wade — Maintenance Director
- Wayne Winter — Director of Religious Education (listed in diocesan directory)
- Doris DeRoso — Secretary (listed in diocesan directory)
Fr. Al Pillarelli — Pastor
Fr. Al's path to the priesthood was unconventional. After graduating high school in 1965 he earned an associate degree in electronics and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management, then worked as a computer center technician at the Defense Electronic Supply Center and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He spent 35+ years at Hewlett-Packard as a field service engineer, a computer-maintenance instructor, US technical training manager, and finally as Asia-Pacific marketing and sales liaison manager. After the death of his wife, he entered Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, earned a Master of Divinity, and was ordained a priest in 2016 for the Diocese of Gaylord. He served seven years as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Lewiston and as Vicar for the Central Vicariate on the Bishop's presbyteral council before becoming pastor of St. Joseph and Holy Family. He is a widower, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Fr. Shaphan Zirra — Parochial Vicar
Fr. Shaphan Zirra joined the Holy Family / St. Joseph cluster as parochial vicar in December 2025. He was ordained a priest on July 1, 2011 at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Mubi for the Diocese of Maiduguri in Nigeria, and assists Fr. Al in the pastoral duties of both parishes. The cluster's announcement warmly welcomes him to the community.
Mass & Service Schedule
Holy Family's own Mass schedule centers on a Sunday morning liturgy and a weekly Thursday Mass, with weekday Masses celebrated at the partner parish, St. Joseph. Confessions are heard at St. Joseph on Saturday afternoons, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered at Holy Family immediately after Thursday Mass.
- Sunday — 10:00 AM at Holy Family
- Thursday — 9:30 AM at Holy Family (most weeks)
- Thursday, 1st of month — 10:30 AM at Rose City Villa
- Thursday, 3rd of month — 11:30 AM at Holy Family
- Weekday Masses — Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday at St. Joseph
- Saturday Vigil — 5:00 PM at St. Joseph
- Saturday Confession — 2:30–4:30 PM at St. Joseph
- Adoration — Thursdays immediately following Mass at Holy Family
- Confession by appointment — (989) 345-0064
Sacraments
The cluster prepares parishioners for the three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist — and welcomes new Catholics through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Families interested in baptizing a child under age 7 register for a Baptismal Preparation Class by calling or texting (989) 312-3934. Children preparing for Confirmation and First Eucharist work with Catechist Sara Andres at (989) 312-3934. Adults and youth seeking to become Catholic — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or already-baptized Catholics needing Confirmation — also go through Sara Andres to begin OCIA.
- Baptism (children under 7) — Baptismal Preparation Class: (989) 312-3934
- Confirmation & First Eucharist — children: Sara Andres, (989) 312-3934
- OCIA — adult and youth: Sara Andres, (989) 312-3934
- Holy Day and holiday schedules in the parish bulletin
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the cluster is coordinated through a Director of Religious Education (Wayne Winter, listed in the diocesan directory) and the parish catechist, Sara Andres. Youth and adult OCIA classes are advertised on the parish website under the 'Join Our Parish' page, with contact information for both youth wanting baptism and adults exploring the Catholic faith. Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation flows through the same catechist office.
- Youth OCIA — contact Sara Andres, (989) 312-3934
- Adult OCIA — contact Sara Andres, (989) 312-3934
- First Eucharist & Confirmation preparation
- Director of Religious Education: Wayne Winter
Parish Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
The cluster publishes a robust list of ministries where parishioners can serve. Volunteers are invited to contact the parish office at (989) 345-0064 or email [email protected] or [email protected] to sign up. The list spans liturgical roles (Altar Server, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Sacristan, Linen Service, Music Ministry), hospitality (Greeters at Mass, Ushers, Funeral Luncheons), parish life (Arts & Environment, Grounds Committee, Offertory Counter), and pastoral outreach (Home Bound Ministers, Prayer Chain, Finance Council).
- Altar Server — youth who have received Confirmation and First Eucharist
- Arts & Environment — seasonal decorating
- Eucharistic Minister — distributes Communion at Mass
- Finance Council — advises the pastor
- Funeral Luncheons — meal preparation and service
- Greeters at Mass
- Grounds Committee
- Home Bound Ministers — Communion to the sick and homebound
- Lector
- Linen Service
- Music Ministry — cantor, piano, organ, guitar
- Offertory Counter
- Prayer Chain
- Sacristan
- Usher
Music & Liturgy
Music Ministry welcomes cantors and instrumentalists (piano, organ, guitar) for Mass and other services. Liturgical life is coordinated by Liturgical Coordinator Joan Denemy, working with the sacristans, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and arts & environment volunteers who set the tone for each season of the Church year. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays after Mass at Holy Family extends the prayer life of the parish beyond the Sunday liturgy.
- Director of Music: Sara Eden
- Liturgical Coordinator: Joan Denemy
- Music Ministry — cantor, piano, organ, guitar
Outreach & Pastoral Care
Pastoral care extends beyond the church walls through Home Bound Ministers who bring Communion to the sick and homebound, a Prayer Chain that intercedes for the needs of those who request it, and the Funeral Luncheons ministry that walks with grieving families. The parish's own mission statement commits it to 'serve the needs of others in the Church, our local community and the world through charity, justice and peace.'
- Home Bound Ministers
- Prayer Chain
- Funeral Luncheons
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Miro Wiese
Listed as the priest 'In Care of' Holy Family of Klacking Creek in older IRS filings for the parish's tax-exempt entity, suggesting a former pastor of the West Branch cluster.