Holy Family Catholic Church - South Pasadena, California

Paul de Partee

Have wanted to come to mass here for a while and finally had the chance last night. Went to the 5:00 vigil mass and it was wonderful. Very welcoming parish and Father Mateo was so loving. He introduced himself to us afterward and even blessed some items we purchased at their bookstore and some medals we were wearing. Can’t wait to go back.

The church is beautiful. There is an amazing grotto of Our Lady outside and a very sweet depiction of Our Lord learning carpentry alongside St. Jospeh and Our Lady.

Susanna SS

We visited this church as they are celebrating Simbang Gabi mass. School children dressed up as angels, kings , Mary and Joseph. The children re enacted the nativity scene and sang for the parishioners

Thad King

This church is absolutely beautiful. Wonderful clerg7 and parishioners.

Troys Dog Training

to any and all true practicing catholics, be warned that this church has one of the least reverent mass services i have ever attended.

the most glaring issue is the music. i felt like i was being pranked. they have a gorgeous pipe organ and section for a choir in the back but nobody up there and nobody using it. instead we get a full band up near the altar. we’re talking electric guitar, bass, flute piano, a drummer playing a full drum kit and a handful of singers all singing the main melody line. it felt more like a pentecostal or southern baptist service but without any life at all. think a sad disney channel commercial.

im in there wondering why is the lord’s prayer being sang as a pop arrangement with drum solos and crash cymbals?

why is the communion “hymn” a chris tomlin song and arrangement?

why is one of the 5 female singers insisting on going up to the lectern and holding her arms up to sway about during these musical numbers?

the church is so beautiful but sadly its got a problem with the service coming off extremely worldly and performative. it’s not a concert, it’s a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for us all.

they had a priest who skips over crucial prayers, goes through the motions and even this mass spoke in between the musical numbers to give a homily on respecting “sacred traditions” all the while we have a worship band playing while the priest is reading sacred scripture.

and don’t get me started on the dress code. i saw a girl who couldn’t have been more than 13 doing the readings in a literal miniskirt.

you can look at my account, i never leave reviews and have never left a bad review but this service felt like an assault on my faith and the Lord Jesus Christ’s one true Church

maybe the to not his fault but as the lead patriarch in his parish i would assume he could influence the mass at least a little bit.

tl;dr: this catholic church has a beautiful setting but the mass itself lacks any resemblance of a reverent mass and as a catholic parish that should be addressed. fire the 9 piece gospel band and hire 1 organ player.

Laura Ripley

Grew up attending this church and have many great memories. We always attended the 8am mass but the 9:30 was the best for children. All children are invited to come up to alter during mass. My favorite part is when we sing the Our Father, it brings me to tears everytime. I always come back to this church when I visit my parents. I even made sure my children were baptized here.

Cecilia Leal

Wonderful mass at Holy Family. Also my children attended the religion education program. Both my boys attended their sacraments program. Collette & Dawn are awesome people. Thank you for all your support. I highly recommend this parish. Love the morning mass.

Jason S (Simchelin Guide)

Wonderful place of worship. Went to see my friends baptism the day before Easter and it was quite an experience. It was my second time attending mass at holy family and I would definitely go back again. The members are very kind and genuine. The fathers are wise and speak very well during mass. The choir is very talented in fact they sing a lot, it's almost like a spiritual musical. The building is quite a sight to see as well, unique architecture.

Thien Nguyen

Beautiful church and joyful place for parishioners to gather for Sunday masses and activities.