Name of Church St. Gianna Oratory/Holy Family Church
Address 338 West University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85705
Phone number 520-303-8859
Website https://www.institute-christ-king.org/tucson/
Mass times Latin Tridentine Masses: Sundays, 8:30 at 10 a.m. (high Mass) Monday, Thursday and 1st Friday, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. English Masses: Saturday vigil, 4 p.m. and Sunday, 7 a.m.
Confessions Weekdays, 30 minutes before Mass except Thursdays, Thursdays, 5 – 6:25 p.m. Sunday, 8 – 8:25 a.m. and 9:30 – 9:55 a.m. 1st Saturday, 7:10 – 7:40 a.m. Also by appointment.
Names of priests Rev. Canon William Avis, administrator of Holy Family Parish and Rector of St. Gianna Oratory. Rev. Abbe Matthew O’Hora, Oblate. The Institute of Christ the King priests are orthodox and offer reverent liturgies according to the Extraordinary Form.
School No.
Devotions Rosary, 20 minutes before Masses; St. Joseph devotions, Wednesdays after Mass; Benediction, Thursdays after Mass and 1st Fridays after 8 a.m. Mass; Sacred Heart devotions, Fridays after Mass; Our Lady of Sorrows devotions, Saturdays after Mass (except 1st Saturdays); Infant King Novena, 17-25th of each month after Mass; 1st Saturday devotions, 7 – 7:50 a.m.
Music The Latin Masses have a beautiful traditional choir on weekends
Fellow parishioners The oratory/parish is surrounded by a poor Hispanic community and an industrial area. Those who come are usually drawn by the traditional Latin Mass, as well as some who live locally in the community.
Parking OK.
Cry room Yes.
Parish bulletin Available online.
Additional observations St. Gianna Oratory at Holy Family Church is a combined church that operates out of the same historic church building. Canon William Avis leads both communities.
The parish is one of Tucson’s historic landmarks, and the oldest parish within the city limits. It was founded a century ago by Carmelite Fathers Fr. Lucas of St. Joseph and Fr. Eduardo of the Child Jesus, both of whom would be martyred during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Pope Benedict beatified both in 2007 (two of 497 martyrs of Spain he beatified), bestowing on them the title of Blessed.
St. Gianna’s/Holy Family is a haven for Catholics who prefer the old liturgy, and also draws many homeschooling families. The parish was previously served by Tucson diocesan priest Fr. Richard Rego (1934-2007), a pious priest who was a proponent of the Tridentine Mass and a friend to the Institute of Christ the King. Fr. Rego was a late vocation, ordained at 48. He drove 150 to Tucson to celebrate the Tridentine Mass (he was assigned to a parish in Ajo).
In 2006, Tucson Bishop Gerald Kicanas assigned him to serve the St. Gianna Latin Mass Community. Upon Father Rego’s death in 2007, the bishop invited the Institute of Christ the King into the diocese to take over Father’s ministry. Bishop Kicanas has since returned for confirmations, and has celebrated Mass according to the old rite.
Good, so far.
My wife and I have been inspired by the beautiful liturgy and the reverence of the priests.
This looks as if it is certainly a good way to combine the old with the new. The outside and inside of the church seems to combine both, and the saints venerated there seems to combine the older and the newer ones too. One can venerate St. Christopher and St. Philomena right along with St. Gianna and the other newer saints. Yes, I know there is not much up-to-date history behind the first, too, but there must have been something there (some great saintly behavior of some man and woman) for Christians to have honored those two for so long.
Correction to second to last line: “not much up-to-date history behind the first two”, not “too”.
How wonderful, to have a Tridentine Mass parish community, in such a beautiful, historic church– the oldest in the city limits of Tucson, AZ!! ! I think it is additionally wonderful, that the parish was founded by two martyred Carmelite priests, who are now declared “blesseds,” by our Church! Wonder if the church has any of their relics??
I attended my first mass a St. Geanna’s last Sunday 04/16/23. It was not only a beautiful service but reminded me of my childhood. I have always attended the English language mass but it had lost the feeling of true worship and community for me. Finding St. Geanna’s was everything I was searching for. I have to travel about an hour by bus, and walk a few blocks but it is so worth it for me spiritually. I have found a new home.