The Hartselle Catholic Community began with summer picnics, vacation bible school, community Masses, and fellowship dinners. Though part of St. Ann’s in Decatur, the community still felt a need for closer fellowship. The Hartselle Catholic Ladies Club was formed in 1975. Under the guidance of Father Patrick O’Donoghue, they began to identify Hartselle Catholics as a Christian Community. In December, 1977, thirteen families met with Father Pat to begin steps toward establishing a parish. He agreed to a 5:00 p.m. Saturday Mass that would serve the needs of St. Ann’s and also be a beginning in Hartselle. The First United Methodist Church was generous enough to offer their old sanctuary as a worship place. Mr. Jack Hoffhaus, Mr. Billy Evans, and Reverend Joe Higginbotham welcomed the new community to worship in January, 1978.

A Steering Committee was formed to seek out other Catholics in the area and to begin looking for possible building sites. Officers were: Clyde Fontes, Chairman; Sam Nunn, Vice-chairman; Richard Lyons, Treasurer; Edie Imbery, Secretary; Linda Whitworth, Representative to St. Ann’s Parish Council. During that period, the community was served by Father Pat and the Monks of St. Bernard Abbey, Cullman; Father Roger Lott, Father John Capesius and others who were visiting priests to St. Ann’s.

By 1979, the community had grown to approximately 50 families. A new Steering Committee was elected: Linda Whitworth was Chairman; Richard Lyons, Treasurer; John Tirpak, Secretary; Jim Staudt and Roy Todd. The land on Pickens Street was purchased in May, 1979. This was paid for by pledges from the community, having dinners, yard sales and a beef raffle. Father Jonathan Franklin O.S.B., received an appointment in September of that year as Associate Pastor of St. Ann’s with the expressed purpose of building up the Catholic Community of Hartselle.

Because of the sense of “family togetherness” even before the active seeking of a church building in Hartselle, the name Holy Family Catholic Church was chosen. The ground breaking ceremony with Bishop Joseph G. Vath, was held on August 17, 1980. The building was constructed by Bill Woods and Engineered Building Systems of Falkville. Father Kevin Cooke became the Associate Pastor of St. Ann’s and continued the guidance of Hartselle. Christmas Eve, 1980, brought the Babe of Bethlehem into the new worship center and the realization of one of the dreams of the Catholic Families in Hartselle.

Holy Family now has 131 registered families and is a mission of St. Ann’s served by Father Joe Culotta, with occasional help from St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman.

© 2003 Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church