Holy Family Catholic Church in Williston celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Mass at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29.

Bishop Felipe Estévez celebrated the Mass alongside Father Manny Lopez, pastor of Holy Family, and John Phillips, pastor of Holy Faith in Gainesville. Following the Mass, there was a reception with dinner and a slideshow detailing the history of Holy Family Parish.

Holy Family was originally established as a mission church in in 1968 and later became a parish in 1975. On Dec. 13, 1970, the members of the mission church held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the church being built, and the following year Bishop Paul Tanner blessed the church and dedicated it as the “Holy Family”, a name chosen by the members themselves.