PHOTO: Henk Friezer | The South Pasadenan | Two local landmarks are in the process of getting extensive makeovers
After months of scaffolding, hard hats, and temporary worship in Connolly Parish Hall, parishioners at Holy Family Church are beginning to glimpse the finish line. The complete refreshed and retrofitted chapel is expected to fully reopen in time for Thanksgiving, capping a season of patience, flexibility, and faith.
PHOTO Steven Lawrence | The South Pasadenan News | Holy Family Church on Fremont Street at sunrise in the couryard
A Summer of Adjustments
When work began on June 2, the interior of the church was transformed almost overnight. Scaffolding stretched from floor to ceiling as crews undertook a long-planned earthquake-safety retrofit. The move was necessary to further secure the nearly century-old building, but it meant the congregation had to shift its routines.
For most of the summer, weekend Masses were celebrated in Connolly Hall, where folding chairs and temporary sound systems stood in for pews and stained glass. “It wasn’t the same,” one longtime parishioner said, “but it reminded us that church is about the people, not just the building.”
By late August, weekend Mass returned to the main chapel, a welcome sign of progress. Weekday Masses, however, remain in Connolly Hall and will continue there through mid-November as crews finish the final phases of work.
Preserving the Past, Securing the Future
The retrofit is part of Holy Family’s “Faith in Our Future” master plan, which has already brought new classrooms and upgrades to parish facilities. This phase focuses on seismic safety and much-needed roof and gutter improvements, work that ensures the church will remain both sturdy and welcoming for decades ahead.
Parish leaders emphasize that the project is as much about people as it is about bricks and mortar. “We’re making sure our children, grandchildren, and future generations can worship here safely,” one committee member explained.
Anticipation Builds For The Upcoming Season
With Thanksgiving as the target for a full reopening, the congregation is looking forward to more than just a return to normal. For many, it will feel like a homecoming. The sound of choirs under vaulted ceilings, sunlight through stained glass, and the familiar sense of sacred space will be especially poignant after months away.
For all of South Pasadena the Holy Family Church completed renovation will mark the renewal of community worship and fellowship.
Holy Family Catholic Church on Fremont is Welcome to everyone.
PHOTO Steven Lawrence | The South Pasadenan News | Holy Family Church on Fremont Street at sunrise in the couryard