Durham, North Carolina was just a sleepy southern city - until the birth of Research Triangle Park (RTP) in the late 1960s. Then everything changed forever. IBM and other companies in RTP began to relocate employees, many of whom were Catholics, from the northeastern part of the country.

Msgr. James E. McSweeney, then pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Durham, sensed the potential for growth. He proposed formation of a new parish to accommodate the flood of newcomers. Immaculate Conception donated 15 acres of land in southwest Durham to help start the new parish. Mr. and Mrs. John Gaetano of Orange, Connecticut, gave a generous gift of $100,000 to build the new church and rectory, with the proviso that the new parish bear the name “Holy Infant” to honor John Gaetano's devotion to the Infant of Prague.

To staff the new parish, Vincent Waters, Bishop of Raleigh, called upon the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a community of priests and brothers from Wilmington, Delaware. In the spring of 1970, Fr. Edward H. Friel, OSFS, was appointed first pastor, and Fr. Anthony Silvestri, OSFS, was named assistant pastor. On October 4, 1970 Bishop Waters dedicated the new church. Approximately 70 families, primarily from the Parkwood neighborhood in southern Durham, composed the initial congregation. In short order a Parish Advisory Board was established, Catholic Christian Doctrine programs inaugurated, and social clubs formed.

Fr. Harry McGovern, OSFS, became assistant pastor in fall, 1971. Frs. Friel and McGovern were succeeded in 1975 by Fr. Louis R. McCartney, OSFS, as pastor, and Fr. Anthony Simeone, OSFS, as associate.

In April 1981, Fr. James Behan, OSFS, was installed as Holy Infant's third pastor. The parish then numbered 150 households. Fr. Behan served the first six years of his pastorate as the only priest. During this period Oblate deacons preparing for ordination served in the parish for five-month periods. During the summers, Oblate seminarians did internships at Holy Infant. This system continued until the arrival of Fr. James Turner, OSFS, who served as associate pastor from 1987-1990.

Less than four months after Fr. Behan's arrival, the parish faced a major crisis. A lightning strike in the pre-dawn hours of August 8, 1981 caused a fire which severely damaged the church. When dawn broke, blue sky was visible where once a roof had sheltered the now destroyed altar. What at first appeared to be a major tragedy for the young parish would become an unforeseen blessing. For a year and a half after the fire, liturgies were held at the Parkwood Elementary School. Out of necessity, many parish activities took place in neighboring churches and in parishioners' homes.

When Holy Infant began meeting at the school, chairs for the liturgy were set up in the traditional straight row upon straight row format, with people gazing at the back of other parishioners' heads. Fr. Behan moved the seating into a semi-circle around the altar. Parishioners had come to the school as a traditional Catholic parish. They returned to their rebuilt church building as a people with new insights into what it means to be a Catholic Christian community. Holy Infant began to identify itself as a people, not a place. Not only did the parishioners change, so too did the church sanctuary. The design now incorporated a new liturgical environment which included semi-circular seating around the altar area. On November 21, 1982, Bishop F. Joseph Gossman celebrated the rededication of Holy Infant. The parish now numbered 200 households.

Throughout the 1980s, Holy Infant continued to grow and flourish. By October 1985 the church census boasted 408 households.

In August 1990, Fr. Philip Cerrato, OSFS, became associate pastor. In July 1991, Fr. Richard R. DeLillio, OSFS, took the helm as Holy Infant's fourth pastor.  But early in 1992, the Oblates turned to Fr. DeLillio to become their Director of Development. So after only one year with Fr. DeLillio as our leader, the parish once again prepared to greet a new pastor. On July 1, 1992, Fr. Joseph C. Zuschmidt, OSFS, became Holy Infant's fifth pastor and Fr. John E. McGee, OSFS, became our new parochial vicar. On July 1, 1995, Fr. McGee was named our sixth pastor. In August 1995 Fr. Richard Cleary, OSFS, came to serve as our new parochial vicar. Fr. Cleary retired in September of 2001. In August 2007, Fr. Michael McCue, OSFS, was named our seventh pastor.  Fr. McCue was with us less than a year when he was asked by the Oblates to take a new assignment with DeSales Service Works in Camden, NJ. As a result, in July 2008, Fr. Joseph Brennan,OSFS, became our eighth pastor.

In 1995 Holy Infant observed its 25th anniversary as a parish. The year-long celebration culminated in a special anniversary liturgy on October 1, 1995 at the Carolina Theater in downtown Durham. The site was chosen for the anniversary liturgy so that all parishioners could join together to celebrate at one time, in one place, as one people. Bishop F. Joseph Gossman presided, Fr. James Behan, OSFS, preached the homily, and Fr. John McGee, OSFS, served as Master of Ceremonies. Fr. Richard R. DeLillio, OSFS, Fr. Joseph C. Zuschmidt, OSFS, and Fr. James Turner, OSFS, returned to participate in the liturgy and celebration.

As we embrace the the 21st century and look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary as a parish in October 2010, Holy Infant is still experiencing growth. We are approximately 800 households—both a blessing and a challenge to our parish community.