Our Story

In the 1960's, Bishop John J. Russell anticipated the growth of Virginia Beach, and purchased land on main roads in various parts of the city. One of the parcels was the property at the intersection of North Great Neck Road and First Colonial Road.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family began as part of Star of the Sea parish, the oldest parish in Virginia Beach.  As the City of Virginia Beach began to grow in the early 1970's, Fr. Paul Gaughan, pastor at Star of the Sea, met with residents of the Great Neck area to plan a new parish.  As these conversations progressed, a group of Great Neck area Catholics arranged with Francis Asbury United Methodist Church for a Saturday evening Mass, beginning in June of 1975. In January of 1976, area Catholics also gathered for Mass on Sunday at Trantwood Elementary School. By June of 1977, over 500 area households were gathering each weekend for Mass. 

In June 1977, Bishop Walter F. Sullivan created the new parish of Church of the Holy Family.  Bishop Sullivan appointed Fr. Thomas Reardon as pastor.  Bishop Sullivan selected the name Holy Family from several proposed by parishioners.  In Fall of 1977, Fr. Reardon organized a Parish Council and various standing committees. Within a year, there was a long-term planning commission and parish mission statement. 

In early, December of 1978, Fr. James E. Dorson succeeded Fr. Reardon as pastor. Fr. Dorson remained the pastor for the next twelve years. 

Holy Family quickly outgrew its spaces at Trantwood School and Francis Asbury Church. In May of 1979, weekend liturgies were moved to Cape Henry Collegiate School on First Colonial Road.  Starting in the fall of 1979, parishioners organized a building fund and engaged the architectural firm of Oliver, Smith and Cooke to design the Church and adjoining building.  In June of 1980, ground was broken for the construction.  On August 27, 1981, Bishop Sullivan dedicated the finished building. 

In June of 1991, after eleven and a half years as Pastor, Fr. Dorson was succeeded by Fr. Richard Mooney.  At the conclusion of nine years at Holy Family, Fr. Mooney was succeeded by Fr. Thomas J. Quinlan in 2000.

Largely as a result of growing numbers and the demands of religious education programs and parish life, the parish embarked on an expansion program in 1997. After extensive parish consultation and subsequent construction, new spaces were dedicated in late 2000.  These spaces included a parish center with offices and meeting spaces.

In June 2005, Fr. Joseph Slattery took over as pastor of Holy Family.   In 2008 the parish began to plan a location for a permanent columbarium, with a 1200 niche capacity. The columbarium was completed in 2010.  Realizing that other portions of the facility would require modification in future years, the parish also completed a 25 year long range plan.

In 2011, Fr. Slattery was succeeded by Fr. Gaudencio (Gaudy) Pugat , SVD.  In 2012, the Church of Holy Family saw the appointment of its first permanent deacon, Rev Mr. Bob May. 

During Fr. Gaudy's pastorate, a New Evangelization Team was established to collaborate with the Adult Formation program and promote the diocese's five-year evangelization plan - Encounter the Joy of the Gospel.  Parishioners also constructed a small storage building on parish grounds for the teen clothing ministry (4 Teens by Teens) that is operated entirely by parish youth who provide clothing for at-risk teens. In 2012, the parish began hosting the Chosen Ministry, a group for special needs people of all ages to congregate and enjoy fellowship. That same year, Reverend Robert May was assigned as the parish's first permanent deacon. The parish also began implementing its long-term improvement plan aided by the financial assistance of the Diocese's Living Our Mission fund drive. The parish had nearly 1,500 registered families in July 2017 when Fr. Gaudy concluded his pastoral duties at Holy Family and returned to his home in the Philippines. He was succeeded by Reverend Eric Ayers who became the parish's seventh pastor.

Church of the Holy Family is a vibrant Catholic spiritual center in its community. The annual parish fair - held even before the church was built - has become a highly anticipated event commemorating the end of the school year and beginning of summer. The parish's social outreach programs include a food pantry, need-based financial assistance, aide to people with disabilities, and social justice events. And each year, the church opens its doors to the homeless and hungry during Winter Watch providing a warm place to sleep and hot meal. The Day School continues to serve families with children aged two through kindergarten and also offers an afterschool program for local elementary schools. At the annual Ministry Fair, parishioners volunteer as facilitators and leaders for the myriad of Christian Formation and adult education classes, youth programs, and other ministerial programs and activities. From its humble beginnings in 1975, the Church of the Holy Family has grown and adapted to meet the needs of a burgeoning Catholic community.