The Parish of Holy Family was founded June 7th 1857, by the venerable Father Balleis, O.S.B., who ministered to the German Catholics on the Hill until December 24th, 1865. The mission was then taken over by the Passionist fathers and attended by them until November, 1868 when the Rev. P. Vincent, C.P., took up residence there.
The Revs. Bernard Hehl, C.P., and George Basil, C.P., exercised their ministry successively until February 8th, 1884, when the present pastor, a secular priest, the Rev. J. N. Grieff, was appointed. Father Grieff was born at Eschweiler (Luxembourg), January 12th, 1855. His prepatory studies were made with the Jesuits in the pro-gymnasium of Echternach and Tournhout, and his theological studies in the episcopal seminary of Verona, Italy, where he was ordained June 15th, 1878. His first field of missionary work was St. Boniface's, Paterson, October, 1881.
From 1857 to 1868 the congregation worshipped in temporary quarters on the Hackensack Plankroad. The first church was erected in 1868 and the first school opened in 1872. In 1885 a new church was built at a cost of $75,000, and in 1897 the new school was erected at a cost of $100,000.
The assistant priests since 1885 were the Revs. John Reuland, John Weyland, John Huygens, Joseph Hasel, Vincent Hellstern, Anton Stein, Rudolph Hulsebusch, Joseph Heckert, Nicholas Espen, Peter Kurz, and B. Berto. Since 1902 Father Grieff is aided by the Passionist Fathers.
[excerpt from pages 341-2 of "The Catholic Church in New Jersey", by Joseph F. Flynn, M.R., V.F., Rector of the Church of the Assumption of the B.V.M., Morristown, N.J. - Printed at Morristown, New Jersey 1904.]
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