Holy Family Catholic Parish sits on the west side of New Albany, Indiana, just off Daisy Lane in the northwest corner of the city. The parish gathers about 650 households around an altar in a brick church built by hand in 1953 and 1954, and its adjoining school has welcomed children each fall since September 1954. Through weekday and Sunday Mass, a parish school, a Catholic Charities partnership, and a long list of small groups and outreach ministries, Holy Family forms intentional disciples for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis with a mission it describes in five plain words: nothing less than saints for the Holy Family of God.
The Mission and the Pastor
The parish mission was written to be lived out, not posted and forgotten. In the words of the parish: "Nothing less than saints for the Holy Family of God. Inspired by the Holy Family, we actively encounter Christ by sharing the Gospel through prayer, Scriptures, and Sacraments, forming intentional disciples within our parish and community, engaging in fellowship as Catholic Christians, and serving others generously and sacrificially." Those four pillars shape the calendar, the bulletin, and the parish campus at 129 West Daisy Lane.
Serving as pastor is Very Rev. Jeremy Gries, who has led the parish since 2018. Father Jeremy grew up on the southeast side of Indianapolis in Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish, one of five siblings who attended Nativity Catholic Grade School and Roncalli Catholic High School. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering at Purdue University before discerning a call to the priesthood and entering Saint Meinrad School of Theology, where he earned a Master of Arts and a Master of Divinity. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 2009. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Father Jeremy serves as Dean of the New Albany Deanery, first appointed by Archbishop Thompson in 2021 and reappointed in July 2024. He helps coordinate collaboration among parishes and serves as a liaison between the archbishop and local priests. Father Jeremy calls it "an honor and a joy" to serve Holy Family and ends his notes to parishioners with the parish prayer: "Holy Family, rooted in authentic human relationship, pray for us."
Mass, Reconciliation, and Adoration
Holy Family runs one of the fuller weekly worship schedules in the New Albany Deanery, with five Sunday opportunities, three weekday Masses, daily Rosary prayer, monthly all-day Adoration, and daily Confession windows.
Weekend Mass
- Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM
- Sunday at 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 6:00 PM
The Sunday 8:00 AM Mass is livestreamed on Facebook for parishioners who cannot be in the pew.
Weekday Mass
- Tuesday at 6:00 PM
- Wednesday through Friday at 8:00 AM
Reconciliation
- Tuesday 5:30 to 5:50 PM
- Saturday 4:00 to 4:50 PM
- Sunday 5:00 to 5:50 PM
- By request and appointment
Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary
Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on the first and third Wednesday of every month, beginning right after the 8:00 AM Mass. The public recitation of the Rosary is prayed in the church at 10:05 AM each Sunday and at 5:30 PM on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, before the 6:00 PM Mass.
Daily Mass and Confession run on the parish's main floor, and the parish chapel and lobby area both have speakers so that parents with fussy little ones can still follow every word of the liturgy. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed on Friday.
The Seven Sacraments at Holy Family
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form the core of initiation; Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage complete the seven sacraments the parish celebrates.
Baptism
Infant baptisms are typically celebrated after a weekend Mass (Saturday at 5:00 PM, or Sunday at 8:00 AM or 10:30 AM). Parents or guardians are required to attend a Baptism Preparation Class before the baptism of their first child, or if it has been more than three years since their last class. At least one parent must be an active member of Holy Family; parents registered elsewhere provide a letter from their parish granting permission.
Confirmation
Youth Confirmation preparation begins in January and is coordinated by the Director of Discipleship & Catechesis. Adult Confirmation is available through the same office. Confirmation is required for being a godparent or sponsor and is strongly encouraged before Matrimony.
Eucharist
Children in the second grade are prepared for First Eucharist through the parish school or the Catholic Faith Formation program, with at least one full year of catechesis required beforehand. Adults enter the Church through OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults; children older than second grade enter through the OCIA process adapted for children.
Reconciliation
Parish-wide Reconciliation times are listed above. Children's preparation for First Reconciliation is held during the second-grade year for both Holy Family School and Catholic Faith Formation students.
Marriage
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis requires a six-month window of marriage preparation. Couples are asked to contact Father Jeremy at (812) 944-8283 ext. 1 well before that window opens. All Catholics are required to have their marriage witnessed by a priest or deacon unless dispensed.
Holy Orders
Men discerning a call to the priesthood or to the permanent diaconate are encouraged to contact Father Jeremy. The Archdiocese Vocation Office is online at heargodscall.com.
Anointing of the Sick
The sacrament is celebrated upon request at home or in the hospital. In an emergency, Father Jeremy can be reached at (812) 944-8283 ext. 1.
Holy Family School & Preschool
Holy Family School & Preschool, the Eagles, occupies the second building on the parish campus. The school enrolls roughly 440 children from age 3 through eighth grade and is staffed by a principal, Amy Huber, who also serves ex officio on the parish Finance Council. Enrollment has grown from the original 188 students who walked through the doors in September 1954, and four Sisters of Providence, Sisters Marie Justin, Rose Imelda, Paul, and Mary Anselm, opened the very first classrooms.
The school shares parish facilities with the church, including Marchino Hall, the 1965 gymnasium named in honor of founding pastor Fr. Louis Marchino. Catholic school families benefit from the same safe-environment training, Sacramental preparation, and youth ministry programs offered through the parish, and they participate in Mass together each week.
Christian Service Ministries
Service to neighbors near and far runs through six organized ministries that share the work of feeding, clothing, visiting, and accompanying people in need.
St. Vincent de Paul
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference serves the spiritual and material needs of the needy, with a focus on parishioners and individuals in the immediate area. Members distribute food, clothing, and other items, visit the homebound, the hospitalized, and those in nursing homes, and offer counseling to neighbors in need. The conference is funded entirely by the generosity of Holy Family parishioners.
In Heaven's Eyes
In Heaven's Eyes shows God's love by providing clothing, spiritual comfort, and small necessities to the poor, lost, and needy. Volunteers pray, sort and distribute clothing and toys, prepare brown bag lunches on Saturdays, give financially, and serve the homeless on Wednesday nights with Exit 0 Ministries.
Meals for St. Elizabeth's
Holy Family volunteers prepare a warm meal every Monday for the women and children of the St. Elizabeth Residential Program in New Albany, who are working toward a brighter future. A team of families prepares an entrée, sides, and dessert each week, with ten to fifteen residents benefiting from the dinner. The ministry grew from once a month to every Monday because of the volunteers' generosity. "Many residents come home feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and stressed as they work to build a better life for themselves and their children. But when they hear that volunteers are providing dinner, they smile. Their shoulders relax as one more burden is lifted from their day," the parish describes. "These meals are more than food; they are a reminder that they are not alone, that people care, and that they are not forgotten."
BeFrienders
BeFriender Ministry offers a trained, compassionate companion to listen, empathize, and remind people of the presence of a loving faith community during difficult and transitional seasons: loneliness, the loss of a loved one, the diagnosis of a serious illness, or the long days of caring for a parent with dementia. BeFrienders has provided this pastoral care throughout the country since the early 1980s.
Pro-Life Committee
The Pro-Life Committee promotes the truth that all life is sacred from conception to natural death. Working closely with Right to Life of Southern Indiana, the committee hosts the annual Signature for Life ad campaign, the Mother's Day roses sale, a Value of Life contest for students, fair-booth education, and the baby bottle boomerang fund-raiser for St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities.
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary meets on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 AM in the Day Activity Center. Its objective is the sanctification of its members through the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy under the guidance of the parish priest. Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick and the aged, Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations, and meeting other parish needs. The Legion is open to any Catholic who faithfully practices his or her religion and desires active participation in the Church's apostolate.
Adult Faith Formation
Adult formation at Holy Family is built around small communities, a year-round OCIA process, and monthly Eucharistic Adoration. Five groups sit at the center of this work.
Magdalenes: Women's Ministry
Magdalenes gathers women of all ages for prayer and friendship. Each meeting features a guest speaker (live or recorded), prayer, and small-group discussion about a topic of faith. The ministry takes its name from St. Mary Magdalene, who heard the Lord call her by name, and invites women to hear that same call.
Genesis to Jesus: Men's Ministry
Genesis to Jesus is a men's formation and fellowship group that meets on Friday mornings from 6:15 to 7:15 AM in the Day Activities Center. Coffee and a continental breakfast are provided. The group equips the men of the parish with the knowledge and courage to live as faithful fathers, husbands, and disciples.
Root Groups
Root Groups are small groups of Holy Family parishioners in similar stages of life. Members share food, faith, prayer, and support, using a guidebook and discussion resources to walk through the year together. The groups are designed for people who want to deepen their connection to Christ and build meaningful relationships within the parish.
Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic Adoration is held from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Those who can commit to a regular hour each month are invited to sign up; everyone is welcome to stop by for a few minutes or an hour.
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
OCIA is the formal process for adults seeking Baptism and full communion in the Catholic Church, as well as for those already Christian who wish to enter into full communion. The process includes regular gatherings for the Gospel, Catholic teaching, and preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation. A separate Discover More inquiry series meets off campus several evenings a year for those who are simply curious about the faith.
Children and Youth Faith Formation
Faith formation at Holy Family stretches from preschool through high school and follows the academic year.
Family Faith Formation
Formerly known as CFF (Catholic Faith Formation), Family Faith Formation meets one Sunday per month, usually the first, from 9:10 to 10:20 AM in the Day Activity Center. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade and their parents each attend their own class, then continue faith formation at home the other weeks of the month. The program is liturgically based and runs from September through May.
Totus Tuus Vacation Bible School
Each summer, Holy Family partners with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on Totus Tuus, the motto of St. Pope John Paul II that means "Totally Yours." Children in grades 1-6 attend a daytime, week-long program of games, skits, and Catholic teaching led by a team of college-age missionaries, with a parallel morning Vacation Bible School for children in Pre-K 4 and kindergarten.
Middle and High School Youth Ministry
The parish's youth ministry serves middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Monthly gatherings combine games, small groups, service projects, and prayer. Middle schoolers also take part in Catalyst Catholic, the deanery-wide program that brings together students from different schools and parishes for monthly events and retreats. High schoolers join the parish on the every-other-year National Catholic Youth Conference pilgrimage, the next stop being Indianapolis in November 2025. The Director of Youth Ministry, Valerie Huber, oversees the program and welcomes parent and teen volunteers.
Serving at the Altar: Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of nearly every age and stage find a place in the parish's liturgical life. Each role has its own training and rhythm.
- Altar Servers (open to those in fifth grade and up, with training provided)
- Lectors (with training)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (with training)
- Sacristans (with training)
- Gift Bearers (no training required)
- Ushers and Greeters (training is required for ushers)
- Music Ministry (cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists)
- Liturgical Environment and Art Ministry (flowers, banners, and seasonal decor)
Schedules for all of these roles are coordinated through Ministry Scheduler Pro.
A History of the Parish
Holy Family Parish began in March 1953, when Archbishop Paul Schulte appointed Fr. Louis Marchino, then an assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Parish, to establish a new parish in New Albany's northwest sector. Father Marchino later described his assignment in a single sentence: "Surprised, elated, bewildered, happy, confused, O God, will need a lot of help from You." The Archdiocese had acquired 5 acres from the Doctor Johnson estate in 1951 and added another 1.25 acres in 1953, setting aside the land at 129 West Daisy Lane for the parish.
Father Marchino worked with architect Clarence Edward Bedan and his son Robert to design the church and school. The Leo Miller Corporation was contracted for construction, with George Grable overseeing the project. Groundbreaking took place on August 15, 1953, the Feast of the Assumption. On March 31, 1953, about 34 women from the new parish boundaries volunteered to walk house-to-house across a 6.5-square-mile area identifying Catholic families.
The first Mass was celebrated in the parish on May 30, 1954. The formal dedication of the church and school followed on September 19, 1954, with Archbishop Schulte presiding. Four Sisters of Providence, Sisters Marie Justin, Rose Imelda, Paul, and Mary Anselm, arrived in August 1954 to staff the school, which opened on September 7, 1954, with 188 students. The convent was completed in 1956, and the rectory in 1957.
Parishioner generosity made much of what followed possible. Merle Denny donated $700 for the first organ; Jim and Miriam Thornton gave the colored glass windows; Joe Binford of Hoosier Panel donated the wood paneling around the altar. The parish added a school expansion in 1960, the gymnasium in 1965 (now Marchino Hall), and a 1994 addition connecting the existing building to the gym. Father Marchino served as pastor until 1983. Marchino Hall still carries his name and continues to host parish gatherings and school events. As the parish describes its own history: "Our roots are strong, and our faith is alive. This parish has always been a family, and always will be."
Facilities, Stewardship, and Giving
The Holy Family campus is shared by the parish and the school, and most of the buildings are available for rent. The Day Activities Center and school cafeteria may be reserved for private events by registered parishioners, with a 1 million dollar certificate of liability, a 75 dollar rental fee, and a 75 dollar cleaning fee (additional hours at extra cost). School meeting rooms, the church itself, the practice field, and the shelter by the DAC are also available.
Parishioners and friends support the mission through weekly envelopes, online giving through Parish Soft, planned giving, stock or IRA gifts, donor-advised funds, and the Kroger Community Rewards and Box Tops programs that benefit the school. State of the Parish reports from 2018-2019 through 2023-2024 are published on the parish finance page for transparency, and the Finance Council members, including the principal and the school's representative, work with the pastor on the administration of parish temporal matters under Canon Law 532.
A Family That Keeps Growing
From the parish's first census in 1953 to today's families walking up Daisy Lane for the 10:30 Mass or the Wednesday morning adoration, Holy Family has held to the same conviction that the founding pastor wrote down at the start. Today the parish carries that conviction into its Catholic school, its Christian service ministries, its small groups, and its seven sacraments, asking every parishioner to take one step further into the call to become a saint for Christ and His Church, alongside neighbors, friends, and the family of 650 households that gather each week around the altar at 129 West Daisy Lane.