The Need For a School
After World War II, the northwest side of Peoria grew rapidly and the Diocese of Peoria decided to create a new parish from St. Philomena Parish. On April 6, 1956, the first shovel of dirt was turned for a chapel and the first six classrooms of Holy Family School. Fr. Walther Buche was assigned to be Holy Family's first pastor on June 6, 1956.

By July 15th, the chapel was ready for the first Mass, even though the school classrooms were only partially completed. The wall behind the alter was temporary and made of plywood, and the parking lot was not completed. A midsummer storm added havoc to the first Mass when the wind blew down the temporary wall and the rain turned the parking lot into a sea of mud.

Holy Family Parish School opened on September 10th, 1956, with an enrollment of 265. Three Benedictine Sisters from Nauvoo, Illinois, and three lay teachers staffed the school.

After residing in a trailer for six months, Fr. Buche moved into the newly completed rectory in 1957 and called it home for the next twenty-two years.

Due to the rapid growth of the parish, six additional classrooms and a cafeteria were completed in January of 1960. Construction of a convent followed, and by May of 1961, the Benedictine Sisters moved into their home on Wagner Lane. They staffed the parish school from 1956-1991.

School enrollment mushroomed to over 700 students. To ease the burden, the boundaries of the parish were changed in June of 1962 to allow for the formation of another parish- St. Vincent de Paul. However, by 1965, enrollment again reached 604!

During the summer of 1967 a newly ordained priest was assigned as assistant to Fr. Buche. His name was Fr. John Myers and he remained at Holy Family until 1970. Fr. Myers became the Bishop of Peoria in 1990 and in 2001 he was installed as Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Building the Church
In August of 1972, Bishop Edward O'Rourke gave permission to build Holy Family Church. Fr. Buche broke ground on March 25, 1973. On Christmas Eve 1973, 300 original members of the parish met Fr. Buche in the chapel and came in procession across the snow-covered parking lot and joyously entered their new church. A vigil was held and midnight Mass was celebrated. On April 28, 1974, the church was officially dedicated to the greater honor and glory of God.

In October of 1979, the Conventual Franciscan Friars of St. Bonaventure Province accepted the invitation of Bishop Edward O'Rourke to assume pastoral care of the parish. Fr. Aloysius Romanowski, O.F.M. Conv. was the first Franciscan pastor, taking over at the retirement of Fr. Buche. Fr. Aloysius was followed by Fr. Luke Poczworowski, O.F.M. Conv. in 1981. Fr. William Callahan, O.F.M. Conv. became pastor in 1987 and was followed by Fr. James Ciaramitaro, O.F.M. Conv. in 1994. In 1997, the present pastor, Fr. Stephen McKinley, O.F.M. Conv. was installed.

Perpetual Adoration
On October 4, 2000, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Holy Family Parish inaugurated their 'Bread of Life' Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Program in the renovated chapel of the former sister's convent. Parishioners and members of the great Catholic community of the City of Peoria staff this program. Adoration continues 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the present.

The Church Today
Today, Holy Family Parish is comprised of 911 registered families. The parish school has an enrollment of 352 from early childhood education (3 and 4 year olds) through 8th grade. The present school administrator is Ms. Patricia Kellogg. Holy Family Parish is known as the parish that prays and plays together well. We are known throughout the city of Peoria for our Heritage Days Weekend, which is our major fundraiser and draws people from throughout Peoria. We are also known for our vibrant celebrations of the Eucharistic Liturgy.