The Church of the Holy Family is a vibrant and growing south suburban parish located just 35 miles south of Chicago’s Loop. Drawing members from 14 neighboring communities, we are a richly diverse congregation in both ethnicity and culture. We celebrate the energy and joy brought by a growing number of families with young children, whose presence adds new life to our shared ministry. This vitality is beautifully complemented by the deep wisdom and faithful witness of our long-standing members, creating a dynamic and welcoming community for all.
Our History
The Episcopal presence that would become the Church of the Holy Family began in the fall of 1949, when a Sunday School was established in a home at 26th and Western Avenue. This early mission was supported by neighboring Episcopal congregations, including St. John’s in Flossmoor and St. Ambrose in Chicago Heights.
The Rev. John Ruef, newly ordained from seminary, became Holy Family’s first Vicar. The first service was held on July 30, 1950, and by August, 40 children were prepared for Baptism—an early sign of the parish’s vitality. In 1952, the first building—now the parish hall—was completed and initially served as the church, with the intention that it would later become a parish hall. The crucifix that still hangs there was handcrafted by Fr. Ruef’s father. Fr. Ruef resigned in the summer of 1954 to pursue doctoral studies and later became Dean of Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin.
In November 1954, the Rev. Robert Ruffie, then Curate of Christ Church in Waukegan, was called as Vicar. Under his leadership, the parish continued to grow. In 1955, parishioners constructed an addition to the original building, now used as office and kitchen space. The Sunday School expanded rapidly, serving 200–300 students and meeting in rented space at nearby Sauk Trail School—one reason the parish never developed a large educational wing on its property.
Ground was broken for the present church building in November 1957, and it was first used for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, 1958. The church was designed by noted Chicago architect Edward Dart, whose other works include St. Ambrose in Chicago Heights, St. Nicholas in Elk Grove Village, St. Michael’s in Barrington, and Water Tower Place in Chicago. The church’s steeply pitched roof and cruciform layout reflect traditional ecclesial forms, while its windowless walls symbolize a sacred space set apart. The glass wall between the nave and narthex, etched with an angel, offers a striking visual threshold between spaces.
Holy Family’s identity is also shaped by its rich artistic heritage. The reredos behind the altar—wrought iron covered in silver leaf—and the Pietà in the choir loft were designed by Dom Hilary Bacon of the Benedictine Priory (now Abbey) of St. Gregory in Three Rivers, Michigan. These were consecrated along with the altar and baptismal font on May 13, 1961, the same service in which Fr. Ruffie was installed as Rector following Holy Family’s admission as a parish. Notably, the service was presided over by Bishop Reginald Mallett of Northern Indiana.
Additional artwork throughout the church was created by artist Odell Prather, including the four shrine pieces in the side aisles and the sculpture in the narthex titled God’s Eye. In 1969, she also created the outdoor crucifix on the east side of the building in memory of Andrew Leonas.
The parish has also received sacred items from other congregations. The crucifix in the narthex once hung above the altar at St. Ambrose in Chicago Heights, whose members later joined Holy Family. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, aisle candles used at Midnight Mass, and the Stations of the Cross (from St. Raphael’s in Oak Lawn) further connect Holy Family to the wider history of Episcopal communities in the region.
Music has long been central to parish life. The original organ was acquired in 1971 from Valparaiso University, where it had served as a practice instrument. A major expansion began in 1989 and was completed in time for Easter 1993. The Columbarium was constructed in 1982, along with the bell tower, which was funded separately but as part of the same vision.
More recently, on February 2, 2002, the Rev. Elizabeth Lloyd—affectionately known as Betty—was ordained to the diaconate. A lifelong member of Holy Family, she is the first deacon raised up from within the parish and continues to serve faithfully.
From its beginnings as a small Sunday School gathering to a thriving and growing parish, the Church of the Holy Family remains rooted in worship, community, and a deep sense of shared history.