Our Parish History

Holy Family Parish has played an important part in the historic Hillsborough community!

• 1960s - Father Francis Murphy led a study group in Hillsborough, and a small piece of property was acquired on U.S. 70 for a future church site.
• 1970s - Fathers John Richardson and Paul Grassle came to Hillsborough on an irregular basis to celebrate Mass in various homes. Father Ralph Monk took over, and a building at King and Churton streets was rented for Mass before the parish moved to Walker Funeral Home.
• 1982 - The Diocese of Raleigh purchased a property on N.C. 57 and Governor Burke Road. The congregation chose Holy Family Catholic Church as its parish name.
• 1985 - Construction of the parish center and the picnic pavilion began. Father Tom Tully started working with the church.
• 1986 - The Holy Family Catholic Church building was completed, and Bishop Joseph Gossman dedicated the new altar. The parish at that time had 107 families.
• 1998 - The parish began work on the addition, which would double the church’s size.
• 1999 - The parish reached 250 families, and the congregation celebrated its first Mass in the new building.
• 2000 - Father Tom Tully returned to Holy Family as a sacramental minister.
• 2003 - Holy Family celebrated its first Spanish Mass.
• 2004 - Father Tom became the first resident pastor of Holy Family and the first Catholic priest in Hillsborough.
• 2012 - Holy Family celebrated 25 years, recorded more than 600 families and dedicated a new office.
• 2014 - Deacon Bert L'Homme assigned to diaconal ministry at Holy Family Parish.
• 2014 - Monsignor Steve Worsley became the second full-time Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church.
• 2015 - Father Mark Betti became the third full-time Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church.
• 2017 - Plans begin for greater expansion of the church's facilities.
• 2018 - Father Ryan Elder assigned as the fourth full-time Administrator (later Pastor) of Holy Family Catholic Church.
• 2019 - Holy Family records more than 830 families and begins work on parish expansion plan.
• 2021 - Holy Family includes more than 900 families and completes a renovation of our sanctuary and other related facilities.

Much of this timeline is from The News of Orange County article titled, "A quarter-century; Catholic church celebrates 25 years". Read the article in its entirety.