Holy Family Catholic Church is part of the Diocese of Charleston; our mission is to meet the spiritual needs of the growing numbers of Catholic residents and visitors to Hilton Head Island.
The first Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island was built shortly after the Battle of Port Royal in 1861. It was located in Mitchelville (named after the commanding general of the union forces on the island). The church was destroyed in a hurricane in 1869.
After World War I, the religious needs of the island were taken care of by the priests and nuns who visited the Pinckney Colony in Bluffton. The first church there was Saint Mary’s in the Woods, built in 1915. It was later renamed Saint Andrew. It was the only Catholic Church in the area until Holy Family Catholic Church was built in 1972.
A drawbridge to the Island was constructed in 1956. The toll for the bridge lasted six months. The first Sunday Masses were celebrated by visiting priests at the Hilton Head Inn. Later, Masses were celebrated at the Adventure Inn (named after Captain Hilton’s flagship, The Adventurer).
At the invitation of local businessmen, Father John Siminon came to the island to celebrate Mass at the Hilton Head Inn. It was 1961 and the island was in its infancy. Ten years later, the current location of Holy Family Catholic Church was donated by the Frazer family. In February of 1973, the original Holy Family Catholic Church was dedicated. Crowds could not be accommodated in the original church and, in 1985, the current structure was completed under the direction of the then pastor, Father Philip Hamilton.
As Hilton Head Island grew, so did Holy Family Catholic Church. With the founding of Saint Francis by the Sea Catholic Church on the north end of Hilton Head Island, Holy Family became even more involved in serving the needs of visitors on the south end of the island. Those members who reside here permanently are actually few in number - perhaps just 20 percent of those who worship with us each Sunday!
We are inspired by the thousands who join us in celebrating Mass, both on Sundays and weekdays. The beautiful example of faith you give us by your presence surpasses our commitment to serve your spiritual needs. We look forward to you joining us at all of our liturgies and invite you to daily Eucharistic adoration in our chapel.
We hope that you enjoy your stay on Hilton Head Island and pray for your safe return home and again to us, your parish away from home. As you approach the church from Pope Avenue, note the copper depiction of the Holy Family by sculptor Wayne Edwards. The inscription on the marble tablet is quite thoughtful. It ends with the positive “Sharing their example will bring us happiness and eternal peace.”
