About St. Francis de Sales · Holland, Michigan
St. Francis de Sales Parish is a bilingual Catholic community in Holland, Michigan, within the Diocese of Grand Rapids, founded in 1903 to serve the Holland-area faithful. Worshipping from its current church on West 13th Street, the parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a robust faith formation program for all ages, and operates the St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Center. It partners with neighboring Our Lady of the Lake Parish (founded 1979 out of St. Francis's growth) and jointly supports Corpus Christi Catholic School as a model of collaborative ministry in the diocese.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. Luis F. Garcia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales is the historic mother parish of Holland (founded 1903) and a bilingual community that welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics into one church family. Daily and weekly Masses are offered in both languages, with Saturday vigil Mass celebrated bilingually, alongside Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration from morning until evening, weekly Reconciliation, parish rosary, and Divine Mercy Chaplet devotions. Members form disciples through lifelong faith formation for children, youth, and adults, are accompanied through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation), and reach out to neighbors in need through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Center — all set in the heart of west-side Holland.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Thursday of the month: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (at St. Francis de Sales)
- Every Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:10 PM (at St. Francis de Sales)
- Every Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM (at St. Francis de Sales)
- Every Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (at Our Lady of the Lake)
- Celebrated in the parish Reconciliation Room, located near the baptismal font
Adoration times
- Tuesdays, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM in the Chapel (following 8:00 AM Mass) at St. Francis de Sales
- Every Tuesday evening, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Hope College, Graves Hall, 2nd Floor (during the main academic year)
Our Story & Parish History
The parish traces its roots to the arrival of the earliest Catholic families in Holland around 1870, and was formally established when its first church was dedicated on October 11, 1903 — making it the founding Catholic parish of the Holland area. The Corpus Christi Catholic School history page describes how the community relocated closer to town in 1912 (to 13th and Maple, the current site), turned part of the church into classrooms in 1923–24 to open a school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, dedicated a new church in December 1938, built a new school in the 1950s, replaced the church again in 1970, and gave birth to the partner parish Our Lady of the Lake in 1979.
- Founded October 11, 1903 (Diocese of Grand Rapids listing)
- Relocated to 13th and Maple Street in 1912
- School opened 1923–24 with four Sisters of Mercy
- New church dedicated December 1938
- Modern church built 1970
- Our Lady of the Lake Parish established 1979 as a mission split
- 1995 fire destroyed church building (school spared)
- Joint 'Mission & Ministry 2000' pastoral plan with Our Lady of the Lake
- Corpus Christi Catholic School constructed as a joint parish project — first new Catholic school in the Diocese of Grand Rapids in over 30 years
Devotions & Liturgy of the Hours
Alongside Mass and Adoration, the parish offers ongoing devotional prayer throughout the week, including the Saturday Parish Rosary, the Sunday Divine Mercy Chaplet, and a livestreamed Liturgy of the Hours prayed in English (Mon/Wed/Fri at 8:00 AM) and Spanish (Tue/Thu/Sat) with parishioner leaders. A periodic Healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick is also scheduled (e.g., Saturday October 19 at 10:00 AM in recent bulletins).
- Parish Rosary — Saturdays at 3:30 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Sundays at 3:00 PM
- Liturgy of the Hours — Mon/Wed/Fri 8:00 AM live (English) on Facebook
- Liturgy of the Hours — Tue/Thu/Sat in Spanish with Brian Piecuch, Kenton Oglesbay, and Zoila Reich
- Healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick (typically a Saturday morning, see bulletin)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Francis de Sales describes faith formation as a lifelong experience and grounds its catechetical vision in the General Directory for Catechesis: 'The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy, with Jesus Christ' (GDC #80). Formation is organized by age group, with a two-year preparation process for First Reconciliation/First Eucharist and a teen Confirmation track that begins with the Alpha Course followed by the 'Inheritance' course.
- Children and Family Ministries — preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in 2nd-year formation
- Baptism of older children (2nd grade and up) — contact the parish office
- Teen Confirmation Preparation — Alpha Course followed by Inheritance Course
- Family and Adult Faith Formation (FAFF) — directed by Susan Bippley
- All adult volunteers working with minors required to complete Virtus Protecting God's Children training and background checks
- Registration for grades 1–12 opens each April for the next academic year
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
The parish runs an OCIA ministry (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their initiation. The program is coordinated by Ricardo Valdez and forms part of the parish's lifelong formation mission alongside Children's and Adult faith formation.
- Coordinator: Ricardo Valdez ([email protected], 616-392-6700 x8975)
- Catechumenate and mystagogia for adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Center
The parish operates the St. Vincent de Paul Center on its campus, which serves as the parish's primary outreach to neighbors experiencing material poverty. The Center is located on the south side of the parish grounds and accepts donations during hours of operation. It is staffed under the direction of Ann Fletcher.
- St. Vincent de Paul Center — 616-394-0676
- Manager: Ann Fletcher ([email protected])
- Donations accepted during hours of operation
- Part of the parish's mission of charity alongside worship and formation
Visitation Ministry & Pastoral Care
A dedicated Visitation Ministry brings the parish to Catholics who are homebound, in hospitals, or otherwise unable to attend Mass in person. The ministry is coordinated by Tom Eggleston and connects with the broader Pastoral Care network of the parish.
- Coordinator: Tom Eggleston ([email protected], 616-392-6700 x8978)
- Communion calls and pastoral visits to the homebound and hospitalized
St. Benedict Institute at Hope College
The parish partners with Hope College to staff the St. Benedict Institute, the Catholic chaplaincy for the Hope College community. Associate Pastor Fr. Nicholas Monco, OP serves alongside a lay team that includes Deacon Brian Piecuch (Development Director & Program Coordinator), Drs. Jared Ortiz and Jack Mulder, Theresa Asselin, Carly Baldwin (Campus Missionary), Cory Lakatos (Communications Assistant), and Michelle Pohlman (Assistant Program Coordinator). The Institute offers the Sunday 5:00 PM Mass during the academic year and a Tuesday evening Holy Hour at Graves Hall.
- Sunday 5:00 PM Mass during academic year at Hope College
- Tuesday 8:00–9:00 PM Holy Hour at Graves Hall during academic year
- Campus Missionary: Carly Baldwin
- Faith formation for college-age Catholics (Alpha, Inheritance courses adapted for students)
Music & Liturgy
Pastoral Music at St. Francis de Sales is coordinated by Nate Walters and supports the parish's bilingual liturgical life, including weekend Masses in English and Spanish as well as the Healing Mass and other devotions.
- Coordinator of Pastoral Music: Nate Walters ([email protected], 616-392-6700 x8979)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is pastored by Fr. Luis Garcia and served by Associate Pastor Fr. Nicholas Monco, OP, three permanent deacons (Brian Piecuch, Edwin Gonzalez, and retired Deacon Larry VandeVoren), and a sizeable lay staff that includes the Operations Manager, Family Faith Formation Assistant, Pastoral Associate, Coordinator of Visitation Ministry, Stewardship & Community Development Director, Coordinator of Pastoral Music, Business and Facilities Manager, Parish Secretary, Manager of the St. Vincent de Paul Center, Director of Family and Adult Faith Formation, and Coordinator of OCIA.
- Pastor: Fr. Luis Garcia — [email protected] — 616-392-6700 x8976
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Nicholas Monco, OP — [email protected]
- Deacon Brian Piecuch (Permanent Deacon; also with St. Benedict Institute)
- Deacon Edwin Gonzalez
- Deacon Larry VandeVoren (Retired)
- Pastoral Associate: Mike Faber ([email protected], x8974)
- Operations Manager / Coordinator of Ministry of Engagement: Emily Alba (x8972)
- Family Faith Formation Assistant: Blanca Astua (x8984)
- Director, Family and Adult Faith Formation (FAFF): Susan Bippley (x8983)
- Coordinator of OCIA Ministry: Ricardo Valdez (x8975)
- Manager, St. Vincent de Paul Center: Ann Fletcher — 616-394-0676
- Coordinator of Visitation Ministry: Tom Eggleston (x8978)
- Coordinator of Pastoral Music: Nate Walters (x8979)
- Parish Secretary: Nelly Molina (x8984)
- Stewardship & Community Development Director: Jim Storey
- Business & Facilities Manager / Ministry Support & Facilities Supervisor: Ed Willcome (x8986)
Councils & Stewardship
The parish maintains a Finance Council with both clergy and lay members who advise on stewardship of parish resources.
- Finance Council members: Fr. Luis Garcia (pastor), Mary Johnson (chair), Ed Willcome (business manager), Jet LaBarge, Diana Mireles, Juan Rodriguez, Sandy Drummond, Mike Vanden Elzen
- Members may serve up to two three-year terms
- Stewardship & Community Development led by Jim Storey
Sacraments at a Glance
The parish prepares Catholics for the seven sacraments through both formal catechumenate/formation processes and personal arrangements with the parish office. Sacramental preparation is integrated with the faith formation calendar.
- Baptism — including for children 2nd grade and older
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — two-year family-based preparation
- Confirmation — Alpha Course followed by Inheritance Course for teens
- Reconciliation — weekly and monthly schedule (see above)
- Anointing of the Sick — Healing Mass (typically a Saturday morning)
- Marriage — contact the parish office to begin preparation
Visitors: What to Expect
The parish's Visitors page welcomes newcomers and first-time attendees, whether for a single occasion or as a first step toward regular participation. It directs guests to the parish office (616-392-6700) with any questions, points them to the full liturgy schedule, and encourages them to stop by the Parish Information Center in the Gathering Space — staffed by friendly faces ready to hand out a booklet outlining the Mass and to help newcomers get acquainted.
- Stop by the Parish Information Center in the Gathering Space before Mass
- Liturgy booklet available for newcomers
- Map and directions linked from the Visitors page
- St. Vincent de Paul Center is on the south side of the church — donations accepted during hours of operation
- Welcomes English- and Spanish-speaking visitors
Online Giving, Calendar & Communication
The parish maintains an online giving portal, a parish calendar, and weekly e-bulletins (in English and Spanish) to keep parishioners connected. Live and on-demand video of Mass is available on the website.
- Online Giving: stfrancisholland.org/give
- Parish Calendar: stfrancisholland.org/parishcalendar
- Live & On Demand Video: stfrancisholland.org/live
- Weekly bulletin PDFs posted at stfrancisholland.org/sites/default/files/bulletins/upload/