Holy Cross Catholic Church sits on 54th Avenue North in the northwest corner of St. Petersburg, on the north side of the street just past the Five Towns community and east of Park Street. Since 1965 the parish has described itself as a community of living stones nurtured by the Eucharist, and that image has shaped six decades of growth. Worship is offered in English and Spanish throughout the week, with a French Mass that gathers some Sundays and devotions that draw on a long Catholic tradition. The parish grew from 238 families in 1964 to roughly 2,600 families by the early 1980s, and today it remains a neighborhood-sized community that lives out its faith through more than two dozen ministries, a busy food pantry, a hot-meal program for the homeless, a hymn written specifically for the parish, and a discipleship path called STARS.
From Dixie Hollins Auditorium to a Living Parish
In October 1964, the Reverend John P. Lawler was appointed administrator of the Mission of Holy Cross before it was formed as a parish. The new territory was taken from St. Jude Cathedral in St. Petersburg and Sacred Heart in Pinellas Park, and ten acres at 54th Avenue and 79th Street North were purchased for parish use. Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine canonically erected Holy Cross as a parish on February 15, 1965. The Diocese of St. Petersburg itself was not established until June 17, 1968, under Bishop Charles McLaughlin.
The first Mass was celebrated on March 7, 1965, in the auditorium of Dixie Hollins High School. For six years the entire parish - worship, religious education, organizations, even CCD classes for grades two through twelve - met in the high school. The parish bought a school bus, organized its first organizations, and grew quickly enough to outgrow the borrowed space.
In January 1970, plans were approved for a new church. By coincidence, on February 15, 1970, exactly five years after the parish was established, Bishop McLaughlin broke ground for the new building. Father Michael Madden celebrated the first Mass in the new church on April 3, 1971, and Bishop McLaughlin dedicated the building on April 18, 1971. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on September 14, remains the parish feast day.
Father Frank Mouch became the third pastor in March 1973 and emphasized religious education through a turbulent era. Father Bernard Caverly, who followed in 1974, built the parish office before being called to serve as rector of the cathedral. Father Patrick Irwin took over in June 1976 and led the parish for ten years during a period of rapid growth, culminating in Bishop W. Thomas Larkin's groundbreaking for the new parish center on September 18, 1981.
Father Robert L. Schaeufele was appointed in June 1991 and guided the parish through the changes that came with the founding of St. Matthew Parish and the trimming of parish boundaries in 1986. Father Thomas J. Anastasia arrived in July 2001 and launched a major renovation, including a children's chapel and a more convenient home for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Father Paul Kochu, who had once served at Holy Cross as an associate pastor under Father Schaeufele, was appointed the eighth pastor in June 2007. During his tenure the parish center was repainted and re-floored, new landscaping was added, and Father Kochu worked with Randolph Dolce to form a Knights of Columbus council. The Columbiettes were established in 2010 to assist the Knights as an auxiliary organization.
Father John D'Antonio began his tenure as the ninth pastor on July 1, 2010, and was installed by Reverend Bob Morris at the 4:00 pm Mass on September 25 of that year. Bishop Gregory L. Parkes appointed Father Emery Longanga as parochial administrator in April 2017, and Father Emery, who had begun as parochial vicar on July 1, 2017, was installed as the tenth pastor in October 2018. In his early years, Father Emery organized a large volunteer effort that converted the children's chapel into a full chapel named in honor of the Divine Mercy, now used for daily Mass, Wednesday exposition, and private adoration.
Mass, Confession, and the Adoration Chapel
The parish worships at the heart of a full week of Masses. Weekday Masses are celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 am, with an additional 7:00 pm Mass in Spanish on Wednesdays. Saturday brings an 8:00 am Mass and the 4:00 pm vigil Mass. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:00 am and 10:00 am in English, and at 1:00 pm in Spanish. The Sacrament of Penance is offered every Saturday at 3:00 pm and every Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
On First Fridays, three Masses are celebrated: 8:00 am in English, 12:00 pm as the Anointing Mass in English, and 7:00 pm as the Anointing Mass in Spanish. On Holy Days, Masses are offered at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 7:00 pm in a bilingual format, except for Christmas and New Year.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a defining rhythm of the parish. Exposition takes place in the main church on Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm and on First Fridays from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, each followed by solemn Benediction. The adoration chapel is open every day from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm for private prayer and silent conversation with the Lord. The parish also gathers a French-speaking Catholic community for Mass at 3:00 pm on certain Sundays.
A Bilingual Parish Family
Holy Cross lives in two languages, and that bilingual identity is woven into almost every part of parish life. The Spanish Mass on Wednesday evening and on Sunday at 1:00 pm, along with the First Friday Anointing Mass in Spanish, anchor a Spanish-language liturgical life that includes lectors, eucharistic ministers, hospitality ministers, altar servers, and a separate faith formation track. Confirmation sponsor forms and baptism packets are available in both English and Spanish, and the parish registration can be completed in either language.
This bilingual life shows up in the long list of ministries that operate in parallel. Keepers of the Cross, the cleaning ministry, has separate English and Spanish contacts. Lectors have their own English and Spanish coordinators. Hospitality, eucharistic ministry, and the music ministry all operate in both languages. The Hispanic Heritage ministry celebrates the contributions of Hispanic and Latino people in the parish family through special liturgies that incorporate elements of Hispanic culture, a weekly lunch after Sunday Mass featuring typical dishes and music, and an annual parade with floats, banners, and traditional dress.
The Sacraments of the Church
The parish offers all seven sacraments, with detailed preparation for each.
Baptism is the gateway to the rest of the sacraments, and the parish treats it as a moment of rejoicing. Parents wishing to baptize a child must be registered with the parish, attend Mass regularly, support the parish for at least three months, and attend two baptism preparation classes. Godparents must also attend baptism preparation either at Holy Cross or at their own parish. The baptism preparation ministry walks parents through Catholic parenting and welcomes new families to the parish.
Confirmation is described in the parish's teaching as a spiritual maturation in which the confirmed Catholic takes responsibility for the welfare of Christ-in-the-world, which is the Church, and for the welfare of Christ-in-his-neighbor. The parish works with confirmation candidates through dedicated sacramental preparation programs that conclude with a sponsor eligibility process.
Eucharist, the source and summit of the parish's life, is celebrated daily and prepared for carefully. Catholics are expected to be free of grave sin and to have fasted for one hour before receiving communion; those who are not Catholic are invited to come forward with arms folded across the chest to receive a blessing.
Matrimony is taken seriously, and all couples - even those with another priest or deacon in mind - must meet with the pastor before any wedding date is placed on the parish calendar. The sacrament is understood as the giving and receiving of consent by the couple, witnessed by the whole Church.
Anointing of the Sick is offered for anyone facing danger from illness or old age, not only those at the point of death. The parish's teaching on the sacrament names the unifying, strengthening, and forgiving effects set out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Anointing Mass on First Fridays reflects that practice. Confession, or Penance, is offered weekly in the Saturday 3:00 pm and Wednesday 6:00 pm times, and the parish encourages frequent reception of the sacrament.
The OCIA process, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, welcomes those who are unbaptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition seeking full communion, and baptized but uncatechized Catholic adults who wish to complete their initiation. The process follows the four stages of inquiry, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy, with sacraments of initiation typically celebrated at the Easter Vigil. A parallel OCIC track is offered for children.
Forming Disciples of Every Age
Faith Formation at Holy Cross follows a lifelong path. Children begin in Sunday School, where the foundational teachings of the Catholic faith are introduced. As they grow, the parish prepares them for First Holy Communion and Confirmation through dedicated sacramental programs. Adults and older children who have not been baptized enter the Church through OCIA, while baptized but uncatechized Catholics complete their initiation through OCIC. Classes meet on Sundays from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm during the school year, and registration is required for faith formation, First Communion, Confirmation, OCIA, and OCIC.
Youth ministry is built around three programs designed to support young Catholics at every stage. Kindle introduces elementary students to the faith through an interactive program. CrossWalk carries middle-schoolers into a more in-depth exploration. Called to Greatness offers high school students a space for reflection and engagement that continues after Confirmation. Service projects run throughout the year, allowing young people to express their faith through concrete acts of kindness.
The STARS Path of Discipleship
The parish's vision rests on a discipleship path called STARS - Serve, Transform, Accept, Reach Out, Share. The call is captured in the 2026-27 pastoral theme, "You Also Go Into My Vineyard," which invites every member of the parish family to recognize that each has a place and a purpose in the life of the Church. Like workers in the vineyard, parishioners are invited to step forward, get involved, and help build up the community through a ministry, a service opportunity, prayer, or simply sharing their gifts with others.
The parish's stated values are rooted in the same idea: to be disciples of Christ, welcoming, accepting, accountable, growth-focused, humble, and community oriented. Small groups, an emerging ministry on the parish calendar, are designed to gather parishioners in homes and apartments across the parish for sharing and growth in the love of Christ and neighbor.
Serving the Neighbor Beyond the Doors
Outreach is a major part of parish identity. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an international Catholic organization of lay persons founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam and his companions, operates through the parish and works one-on-one with those in need, regardless of creed, opinion, color, caste, or origin. The society is concerned not only with relieving need but with redressing the situations that cause it.
The Loaves and Fishes ministry supports Pinellas Hope, one of the largest diocesan programs for the homeless in Pinellas County, by providing a hot Sunday dinner once a month. Sleeping Mats for the Homeless gathers on Wednesdays in the small hall following the 12:00 pm Mass to weave plastic-bag mats for the homeless, inspired by the life of Saint Tabitha (Dorcas) in the Acts of the Apostles. The mats are blessed before distribution and given in response to any request.
Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound bring holy communion each week to parishioners who cannot attend Mass, and the parish also provides communion services for Catholic residents at assisted living facilities within parish boundaries. The Bereavement Ministry walks with families who have lost a loved one, helps them prepare for the funeral Mass, stays in contact afterward, and hosts a candlelight memorial Mass each November.
Met Ministries' Culinary Arts Program operates from the parish center kitchen, providing students with hands-on training, professional certifications, and pathways to further education, while also preparing meals that serve 600 families in the Pinellas County community.
Music, Hymn, and Liturgical Art
Music holds a central place in parish worship. The Music Ministry draws together the voices and talents of the congregation, the choir, musicians, and a dedicated music director to lead sung prayer, working within liturgical guidelines to enhance the congregation's active participation. The parish's own hymn, composed by former music director Clara McCarthy, reflects the heart of the faith community and is shared in video as a piece unique to Holy Cross.
The Art and Environment Ministry works behind the scenes to design the church environment for each liturgical season, and on special feasts and holy days, transforming the worship space with flowers, plants, and interior decoration. Adults and teens are both welcome. The Screen Tech Ministry operates the projectors during Mass, integrating liturgical texts, hymns, and visual aids into the experience of worship. The Altar Linen Care Ministry washes and cares for the purificators, corporals, and priestly vestments in members' homes, while the Altar Society Sacristans prepare the church for every liturgy.
Lectors proclaim the readings at Mass. Altar Servers, open to boys and girls from third grade through high school as well as young adults and seniors, assist the priest and deacon at the altar. The Liturgy Committee, which meets four or five times a year, brings together representatives of eucharistic ministers, lectors, music, hospitality, and altar servers to plan the worship of the parish across the seasons of the liturgical year.
Community Life and Parish Ministries
Beyond the Mass schedule, Holy Cross runs a long list of ministries that fill the parish center, the small hall, and the homes of parishioners. Monday Night Bingo brings the parish together every week in the air-conditioned, handicapped-accessible parish center, with doors opening at 4:00 pm and games beginning at 5:30 pm. Forty-seven prizes are offered, sodas, snacks, pizza, hot dogs, and sandwiches are sold, and the proceeds support parish finances.
The Hospitality Ministry's greeters meet visitors from the parking lot to the sanctuary, while gift bearers carry the bread, wine, and collection to the altar at the offertory, and ushers help seat the assembly. Coffee and Donuts follow the 8:00 am and 10:00 am Masses in the small hall, hosted by a different parish ministry each month. The Social Club, also called the Coffee Crew, gathers after morning Mass in the small hall to share faith and life over a cup of coffee.
Marriage ministry takes a bilingual shape. The English-language Matrimonio, Dialogo y Seguimiento, known as MDS, hosts couples in a Wednesday evening meeting centered on a weekly testimonial presentation informed by biblical and Catholic sources, with prayer and a question-and-answer session. The Hispanic Heritage ministry extends the family of cultures represented in the parish through liturgies, meals, and an annual parade. The Prayer Line ministry is a network of faithful disciples devoted to praying for the needs of the parish, and the Buildings and Grounds Committee cares for the property with members who bring experience in architecture, construction, landscaping, cleaning, and maintenance.
The parish also prepares couples for marriage and young women for Quinceañera celebrations, accompanies families through the funeral liturgy, and walks couples through the wedding preparation process from the first meeting with the pastor to the celebration of the sacrament.
Visiting Holy Cross
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and on Friday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. The parish is closed on weekends. Parking is available on the east and west sides of the church, with handicapped accessible entrances at the front and back. The dress code is simple: come as you are. The parish encourages respectful attire, but casual dress is welcome. Visitors who are not Catholic are invited to follow the congregation's lead in sitting, standing, and kneeling, and to come forward at communion with arms folded across the chest to receive a blessing from the celebrant.
Online giving is available through the parish's WeShare portal, and the bulletin is published regularly in both English and Spanish, with online subscriptions available. New parishioners are invited to register by stopping by the office or by completing a registration form, which can be placed in the mail slot of the parish office or in the offertory basket on Sunday.
The parish prayer captures the community's identity in a few lines: "Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to build your Church, not of brick and mortar, but of living stones. Give us your Holy Spirit to transform us so that, nurtured by the Eucharist, we may courageously strive to respond to your call to make disciples for your glory and the salvation of the world."