At 216 Governor Burke Road in Hillsborough, Holy Family Catholic Church is a bilingual, multicultural Roman Catholic parish with roots in the town dating to the 1960s. It is known for Mass in English and Spanish, Faith Formation for every age, and a shared rhythm of prayer, study, service, and community.
From a 1960s Study Group to More Than 1,000 Families
The parish began when Father Francis Murphy led a study group in Hillsborough in the 1960s and a small property on U.S. 70 was acquired for a future church. During the 1970s, Fathers John Richardson and Paul Grassle celebrated Mass irregularly in homes. Father Ralph Monk took over, and the congregation met first in a rented building at King and Churton streets and then at Walker Funeral Home.
In 1982, the Diocese of Raleigh purchased property on N.C. 57 and Governor Burke Road, and the congregation chose Holy Family Catholic Church as its name. Construction of the parish center and picnic pavilion began in 1985 as Father Tom Tully began working with the church. The building was completed in 1986, Bishop Joseph Gossman dedicated the new altar, and the parish had 107 families.
An addition large enough to double the church began in 1998, and the congregation celebrated its first Mass in the expanded building in 1999. The parish numbered 250 families that year. Its first Spanish Mass followed in 2003. Father Tully returned in 2004 as Holy Family's first resident pastor and the first Catholic priest in Hillsborough.
Holy Family marked 25 years in 2012 with more than 600 families and a new office. Deacon Bert L'Homme joined its diaconal ministry in 2014, the same year Monsignor Steve Worsley became the second full-time pastor. Father Mark Betti followed in 2015, and Father Ryan Elder arrived as administrator in 2018 and became pastor in 2019. More than 900 families were recorded in 2021, when a sanctuary renovation was completed. By 2024, the parish had exceeded 1,000 families.
Saturday Vigil and a Full Sunday of English and Spanish Mass
Holy Family's regular worship includes:
- Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass in English.
- Sunday at 8:00 a.m.: Bilingual Mass with no music.
- Sunday at 9:30 a.m.: Mass in English.
- Sunday at 11:30 a.m.: Mass in Spanish.
English weekday Mass is celebrated at noon on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Spanish Mass is also celebrated Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The bilingual Sunday celebration at 8:00 a.m. reflects Holy Family's ability to bring English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics together in one worshiping community.
Sunday Mass includes prayers, hymns, readings from the Bible, a homily, and the celebration of the Eucharist. Mass responses are printed in both English and Spanish. Recorded Masses and Mass livestreams are available through Holy Family's YouTube channel.
A Family-Friendly First Visit
Holy Family asks visitors to dress comfortably but with respect for the church. Shoulders and midriffs should be covered, and gentlemen are asked to remove their hats when entering. The relaxed guidance is balanced by a worshipful setting centered on Scripture, prayer, and the Eucharist.
Children are a familiar part of parish life. The last row of pews is reserved for families with small children. In the atrium, an informal gathering area, younger children can move around while their families still participate in Mass through the audio and video feed. Older children are invited to join the music ministry at Youth Mass on the first Sunday of the month.
Parking surrounds the church campus. Several lower-level spaces make the ground floor accessible for people who cannot manage stairs, and the lower lot also provides a route to the accessible entrance. Restrooms are located in the atrium hallway, with additional restrooms and a water fountain downstairs. The parish hall and classrooms are downstairs, while the one-story parish office stands behind the main church and can be reached by the surrounding walkways.
Confession, Adoration, and Times of Quiet Prayer
Holy Family offers the Sacrament of Confession in English and Spanish on Tuesdays from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. and Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Appointments are also available through the parish office, and confession is included in the parish's Advent and Lent Penance Services.
Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with bilingual guided meditation, songs, readings, and prayers. A second weekly adoration period begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday and includes time for silent individual prayer. Both are opportunities to spend time with Jesus outside Mass.
On the First Friday of each month from September through June, the extended Adoration period follows the noon Mass and continues through the early evening. English Vespers and Spanish Compline are observed at 7:00 p.m. Prayer books, Rosaries, pamphlets, and Bibles are available for visitors who want guidance during Adoration.
Formation from First Grade Through Adulthood
Holy Family offers Faith Formation classes for children and adults, with elementary religious education and sacramental preparation extending from kindergarten through grade five. The Elementary Religious Education program for grades 3 through 5 meets weekly on Wednesdays and explores the Ten Commandments, the liturgical year, Catholic saints, and other elements of the faith.
First Communion preparation is a two-year program for Reconciliation and First Communion. Students in grades 1 through 5 meet on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m., attend a yearly retreat, and participate in weekly Mass with their families. Students in grades 6 through 12 who have not received First Communion prepare through the Youth First Communion program on Sunday mornings.
Middle school students who have received First Communion may join JYM: Jesus, You, and Me. The Wednesday evening classes connect faith formation with community for students in grades 6 through 8.
Confirmation preparation is for high school students who have been baptized and received First Reconciliation and First Communion. Preparation may begin in ninth grade and takes two years, combining workshops, small groups, discussions, and community service. Classes meet Sundays from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Students with special needs can be accommodated in elementary formation and First Communion preparation through individualized plans developed with the Faith Formation team.
Adult formation includes several regular rhythms. Adult Bible Study meets Mondays from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. from January through May and from September through mid-December, using interactive catechesis to explore Scripture and other elements of Catholic faith. Wednesday adult formation begins at 6:00 p.m. in the parish office and addresses core Catholic principles, church history, religious practices, founding figures, and the Saints. Deacon Bert's Book Club also gathers on Monday nights.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is offered in English and Spanish. It begins with a period of inquiry and includes prayer, formation, study, and spiritual direction. Participants may be preparing for Baptism, completing the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, or deepening their understanding of the Catholic Church.
Parish formation also welcomes people who are reconsidering faith and returning to the Church after an absence. For families, the bilingual Something for Saturday collection provides screen-free activities that can be used for shared family time.
Young Adults, Teenagers, Caregivers, and Friends in Faith
Holy Family's young adult ministry serves adults ages 18 through 39 and includes opportunities for individuals and families to build community while navigating Catholic life. The Ladies Small Group and Book Club gathers in the church classrooms on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Shepherd's Flock welcomes adults 18 and older and meets twice a month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the parish hall.
Thrive is the middle school youth ministry, held separately from regular Faith Formation. It emphasizes community, service projects, and the social and joyful dimensions of Catholic life. Upper Room serves high school students through monthly meetings centered on dinner, games, discussion, service, and spiritual growth.
Grief and HOPE meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the parish office lounge and library. Healing through Openness to Prayer and Encouragement supports people who have lost a loved one. A Spanish-language grief and hope group meets on the first Thursday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Other ways to belong include the music ministry, liturgical ministries, the Camillius ministry that brings the Eucharist to homebound parishioners, the gardening committee, and the Mary and Martha guild, which sends caring cards and makes prayer blankets for people who are sick.
The parish's Knights of Columbus council welcomes adult men of the parish in good standing. Its bilingual organization emphasizes charity, unity with the Church, fraternal care, service to the Church, and assistance to people in the local community.
Using Time and Talent in the Mission
Service takes many forms at Holy Family. Catechist teams teach elementary students, middle and high school students, adults, and candidates for First Communion and Confirmation. Retreat assistants support Faith Formation teachers by supervising young people, guiding activities, and joining service projects. Other ministers serve as altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers.
Community service is also part of youth and sacramental life. Confirmation preparation includes service hours, while youth ministry has supported Urban Ministries and soldiers overseas. These opportunities connect the parish mission with people beyond its own congregation.
Parish giving supports the first collection at Mass, which pays utility bills, staff salaries, supplies, and other invoices. A second collection supports particular needs in Holy Family and the Diocese of Raleigh. ParishSOFT Giving provides one-time and recurring electronic gifts.
Baptism, Marriage, and Funerals
For a baptism celebrated in English, parents are registered and actively participate in Holy Family for at least two months. A one-hour preparation class for parents and godparents is required. Children age six and older must be enrolled in religious education classes and attend the preparation class with their parents and godparents. Each godparent provides a letter of eligibility from a pastor.
Marriage preparation through the Diocese of Raleigh requires at least six months. The process includes an initial meeting with Father Ryan, documentary records, a wedding workshop in English or Spanish, discussion with Father Ryan or Deacon Bert, and a final appointment to plan the Mass or ceremony. Weddings also include a rehearsal and the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance before the ceremony.
Funeral ministry includes the Vigil Service, Funeral Mass or Funeral Service outside Mass, and the Rite of Committal. The Vigil may be informal or follow the fuller structure of the Church's Vigil Service. The Funeral Mass or service brings together Scripture, prayer, remembrance, and the Eucharist when Mass is celebrated. Holy Family can also provide a reception in the parish hall for those attending the funeral rites.
The parish also celebrates Quinceañera blessings during Mass. These are not celebrated during the liturgical seasons of Advent or Lent.
The Nicene Faith at the Center
Holy Family summarizes its Catholic profession of faith in the Nicene Creed. The parish affirms belief in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and all things visible and invisible. It affirms the incarnation, divinity, suffering, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit who gives life and proceeds from the Father and the Son; one holy, catholic and apostolic Church; one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the dead; and the life of the world to come.
The mission joining these beliefs is to love God and neighbor through prayer, study, service, and community. Holy Family describes prayer as a relationship with the God who continually calls people toward his love, forming the heart so that faith can be expressed in the way people treat others.
Father Ryan Elder became pastor in 2019 after serving as administrator since 2018. He is a priest of the Diocese of Raleigh, serves on its Liturgical Commission, and has a particular interest in teaching. Deacon Bert L'Homme has served in parish and prison ministry and joined Holy Family's diaconal ministry in 2014. Ross Twele directs Music and Adult Formation, while Micholl Dumanig directs Religious Education.
At 216 Governor Burke Road, Holy Family continues to gather English- and Spanish-speaking worshippers, students, families, volunteers, and neighbors around prayer, study, service, and community.