Dedicated in January 2014, the new Holy Family Catholic Church in Pass Christian, Miss., is a response to a parish’s need for a new worship space to accommodate its growing congregation and community. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and severely damaged nearby St. Paul Catholic Church and School, a decision to merge two existing parishes created the new Holy Family Parish.
The church’s humble exterior, which consists of lap siding, board and batten siding, and brick, allows it to maintain a simple coastal image while showing respect for the aesthetic of its surroundings.
The existing Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and the St. Paul Catholic Parish were merged together causing an increase in the number of parishioners at the existing Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Campus. The objective of the new church is to provide a traditional worship space with updated technology and a new outdoor gathering space that connects the new church with the existing church buildings on the site, as well as the nearby school.
New beginnings
The Holy Family Parish site is located in a residential district along Menge Avenue. The new worship center is sited away from the road so that it does not overpower the neighboring homes. It also works with the arrangement of existing buildings to create an inviting courtyard and a sense of place for the parish. The church’s humble exterior, which consists of lap siding, board and batten siding, and brick, allows it to maintain a simple coastal image while showing respect for the aesthetic of its surroundings.
The design of the 10,230-square-foot church is a traditional nave with small side transepts seating 380 in traditional pews. The church has a rich, traditional interior with bold colors and elegant stained glass to reflect the worship style of the parish. The main nave is entered through a gathering space where the baptistry is located. The baptistry, altar and tabernacle are all located on a main focal axis, symbolically connecting all three.
Reuse & rebirth
Many of the liturgical elements, such as the stained glass, Stations of the Cross, and altar furniture, were salvaged from older churches -- and elements, such as the crucifix and statues, were reused from the existing parish church.
The blending of the bold interior with the modest exterior provides a sacred place of worship for the parish while also complementing the character of the local community.
At the former site of the St. Paul Catholic Church, a craftsman-style 100-seat chapel was designed and constructed. The new St. Paul Chapel provides mass services during the week and continues as an identity for the former St. Paul Catholic Church that once stood at the site.
Project Contacts:
Carl Franco, AIA, LEED AP – Principal
Adam Haver, Project Architect
Tiffany Long, ASID, Interior Designer
JH&H Architects Planners Interiors PA.
1047 N. Flowood Drive
Flowood, MS 39232
Ph: 601.948.4601
Web: (visit link)
