Missionaries of the Holy Family - North American Province

Parish and Mission Work

Parish Work is by far the most significant area of MSF work. Over the many decades of service the MSF- North American Province has been involved with nearly 50 parishes, chaplaincies and missions in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Today the missions in Mexico have grown to the point that diocesan priests are now staffing them, but MSF continues to support three missions in Texas. Currently over 4,000 families are served through 11 MSF parishes, missions and chaplaincies in Ottawa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas.

Here is a listing the current parish communities that are being served today.

Current MSF Parish, Missions & Chaplaincies

CANADA

Ottawa, Ontario St. Martin de Porres Church

Ottawa, Ontario Queensway Carlton Hospital Chaplaincy

KENTUCKY

Louisville St. Joseph Nursing Center -Chaplaincy
(Little Sisters of the Poor)

MINNESOTA

Fort Ripley St. Mathias Church

MISSOURI

St. Louis St. Wenceslaus Church

St. Louis Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Center - Chaplaincy

TEXAS

Corpus Christi St. Joseph Church

Donna Cristo Rey Mission

Donna St. Joseph Church

Hunter St. John Mission

New Braunfels Holy Family Church

New Braunfels Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Redwood St. Joseph Mission

Seguin Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Seguin 4 Nursing Homes Chaplaincies

In the nearly 100-year history of MSF in North America there are over 40 more parishes, missions and chaplaincies that MSF has served from time to time. This service has sometimes been brief while other times it has been several years – even decades.

To learn where these other locations of service are click here.

The Parishes that MSF serves are typical and include a full spectrum of parish life. The challenges to serve the needy of the parish and the community might be higher than typical because many MSF parishes are located in the working class areas of a community. Areas that need redevelopment or need to be developed for a first time!
An attribute that distinguishes MSF members in their parish work is their family charism – MSF priests are living as part of a religious community with a strong sense of family. MSF works towards living their community life as did the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The Chaplaincies at the hospital and nursing homes are wonderful ministries that help greatly in the time of crisis. Having or being a loved one in a Hospital or Nursing Home is not easy spiritually. MSF Chaplains support not only those admitted to the nursing homes but their visiting family members as well. In St. Louis and Kentucky the Chaplaincy goes even deeper than the much needed weekly visits. MSF priests live at Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Centers and provide daily support and sacraments.

The Missions are located in the remote and poorer parts of the diocese where a parish community is just beginning to form. MSF members visit these missions on a periodic basis. The 3 three missions in Texas that are currently served by MSF all have a covered chapel or church, but missions in Mexico were often simple outside chapels. Mission work is enormously rewarding and incredibly challenging.

To read about an MSF Mission Experience click here.

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