History

Historical Timeline

April 6, 1956	Groundbreaking for Holy Family Parish in Peoria, Illinois
June 1956	Bishop Cousins appoints Father Walter Buche as Pastor of the new parish
July 15, 1956	First Mass celebrated as a parish community in the chapel located in the school building
September 10, 1956	Holy Family Parish School begins its first school year, staffed by three Benedictine Sisters and three lay teachers
Spring 1957	construction of Rectory completed
Fall 1959	Construction of Cafeteria and additional classrooms completed
May 1961	Benedictine Sisters move into new convent on Wagner Lane
March 25, 1973	Groundbreaking for church building
December 24, 1973	First Mass celebrated in the church
April 28, 1974	Mass of Dedication for Holy Family Church
June 12–13, 1981	First annual Heritage Days Festival marks twenty–fifth anniversary of the parish
October 4, 1982	Dedication of new organ for church
Fall 1988	Renovation of Sanctuary and new carpeting in church
April 19, 1991	Dedication of the Holy Family Memory Garden
October 4, 1998	Opening of the Bread of Life Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
July 14–16, 2006	Holy Family celebrates its fiftieth anniversary
November 12, 2006	Rectory/Friary destroyed by fire
Summer 2007	Construction begins on new friary residence and office complex
Spring 2008	New friary residence and parish offices completed
October 2008	Parish celebrates 10th anniversary of Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
October 2009	Parish to celebrate 30th anniversary of the Conventual Franciscans arriving at Holy Family