Holy Cross Catholic Parish stands at the juncture of the Near Northwest and LaSalle neighborhoods of South Bend, Indiana. Its historic church is at 1050 Wilber Street, with the Smith Parish Center at 920 Wilber and Holy Cross School at 1020. Founded in 1929 by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the parish is known for Catholic worship centered on the Eucharist, education for children and adults, and service rooted in its surrounding neighborhoods.
A Welcoming Catholic Family on Wilber Street
Holy Cross defines itself as a community of disciples of Jesus in the Roman Catholic tradition, centered on the Eucharist and committed to knowing, loving and serving God and neighbor. Its vision is to be led by the Holy Spirit as a beacon of faith, hope and love in the neighborhood. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the charism of the Holy Cross Priests, Brothers and Sisters shape a community that seeks to share its life through worship, outreach and social justice ministries.
Pastor Fr. Jim Fenstermaker, C.S.C., describes a parish whose racial diversity and strong community spirit are matched by the pride and dedication of its parishioners. The parish and school have a long history together, and former parishioners and alumni frequently speak warmly of their experiences. Hospitality, warmth and a family spirit are hallmarks of the Congregation of Holy Cross that are carried into Holy Cross's worship, programs and service to the surrounding area.
From the First Meeting to the 1949 Church
The first meeting to discuss establishing Holy Cross Parish took place on September 17, 1928, when 200 people gathered at Muessel School. Bishop John Noll sought a new parish after the congregation at St. Patrick's Church had grown too large. Holy Cross was formally founded in 1929 with the construction of Holy Cross Church and School; the school auditorium served for Masses and other church services until the current church was completed. A preconstruction survey counted 267 families and 1,000 members. The cornerstone was laid on May 5, 1929, with a small relic of the true cross enclosed in a glass cross inside it.
Holy Cross School opened on September 16, 1929, with 161 students in eight grades. Four Sisters of the Congregation of Holy Cross formed the first faculty, led by Sister M. Hildegardis, C.S.C. The original church and school complex was dedicated on November 24, 1929, with approximately 500 people attending and Bishop Noll officiating. Additional classrooms and south and north wings followed through the 1950s. Enrollment reached 1,230 in 1961, when 21 Holy Cross Sisters and 10 lay teachers served the school. From 1929 through 1984, 173 Holy Cross Sisters taught or administered at Holy Cross School.
The present church grew from a cornerstone laid in October 1948. Its Italian Romanesque design matches the school, while Mankato stone from Minnesota, a red tile roof and marble from around the world distinguish the interior. Eleven varieties of marble were used, including Carrara marble for statues of the Blessed Virgin, the Death of St. Joseph, a Pieta and the Sacred Heart. The church was built to seat more than 1,000 people, and the first Mass in it was celebrated at Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in 1949.
Holy Cross also shaped the wider life of its parishioners. During the mid-1960s, a Parish Life Program organized the parish into zones with leaders and block couples. A Religious Education Committee was formed in 1968, followed in 1970 by the first full-time director of religious education. Fr. Bill Neidhart, C.S.C., established the first parish council in 1969. By 1976, Holy Cross served 1,500 families and 4,900 parishioners. In 1987, the former convent was remodeled into the Fr. Jacob Smith, C.S.C., Parish Center, now the setting for weekday Mass and many parish gatherings.
Holy Cross clergy assumed responsibility for nearby St. Stanislaus Parish in 2001 and served both communities until the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter began using St. Stanislaus for the traditional Latin Mass in 2015. Some St. Stanislaus parishioners then joined Holy Cross. A 2007 addition to the school created a large gymnasium with locker rooms, an industrial kitchen, offices and a more convenient entrance, making the building a central gathering place for parish as well as school functions.
Sunday Mass and the Church's Weekday Rhythm
Holy Cross Church hosts a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday Mass at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. The 10:30 celebration is strengthened by the Holy Cross Choir. On the third Sunday of each month, the 10:30 Mass is bilingual in English and Spanish. All three weekend liturgies are centered on the Eucharist and the parish mission of bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the neighborhood.
Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in the Mary Chapel inside the Smith Parish Center. When school is in session, Friday's 8:30 a.m. Mass moves to Holy Cross Church and includes the school children in attendance. Everyone is welcome at these weekday celebrations.
Greeters, including individuals, couples and families, meet people at the church doors and offer a bulletin with a smile and a welcome. Ushers take up the collection, carry the offertory gifts to the altar and assist the congregation as needed. During the liturgy, cantors lead the congregation in song and sing the prayer of the psalm, accompanied by either organ or piano. Vocalists, instrumentalists and the parish choir each contribute to the prayer of the worshiping congregation.
Monday Adoration and Saturday Reconciliation
Holy Hour Adoration takes place every Monday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the main church. The community gathers before the Blessed Sacrament for personal prayer, and all are welcome. Those who have never attended Eucharistic Adoration are told not to worry about doing it correctly or knowing what to do. There is no fixed formula, and people may come and go rather than remain for the full hour. Even a five-minute visit can be a meaningful beginning, with breathing and quiet helping the heart, mind and soul settle in Christ's presence.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated on Saturday afternoons in Holy Cross Church and is also available by appointment. Its purpose is reconciliation with God, described by the parish in the language of the Catechism as restoration to God's grace, peace of conscience and spiritual consolation.
Holy Cross also prepares families for the sacraments. Infant baptisms are generally celebrated once a month at designated Masses, with family or private baptisms available by request. First-time parents and new parishioner parents participate in pre-baptism formation. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to register in the parish and contact a priest six months before their proposed wedding date. Masses may be offered for the deceased, the living or a special intention, with a suggested stipend of $10 per Mass.
Children at the 10:30 Mass and in the Parish
Children's Liturgy of the Word is celebrated throughout the year at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. All children are invited forward for a blessing before the first reading. The celebrant then dismisses them with their catechists for a celebration that follows the structure of the Liturgy of the Word. Children return to their parents during the Preparation of the Gifts. They are invited to participate actively, and a coordinating coloring page helps them visualize the Gospel message.
Parish catechesis offers several paths for children. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I, welcomes children ages 3 to 6 on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Its Montessori-inspired approach supports experiential learning and religious values of childhood, especially contemplation and the enjoyment of God. Traditional catechesis is available for children not preparing for a sacrament. Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion begins in second grade, Confirmation preparation is for baptized students in seventh grade or above, and an adapted Order of Christian Initiation welcomes children over age 7 who have not been baptized or who belong to another religious denomination.
Holy Cross School: Education of the Whole Child
Holy Cross School has served South Bend families since 1929 and is one of the oldest Catholic schools in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Its educational philosophy seeks to bring faith, culture and life into harmony. Inspired by the ministry of Jesus, the school emphasizes compassion, personal responsibility, celebration of diversity and respect for self and others. Parents, administrators, staff and volunteers seek to educate children academically, spiritually, socially, emotionally, artistically and physically.
In 2018, Holy Cross School began a dual immersion program with support from the Alliance for Catholic Education, the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. That year the school also became a Level 3 Paths to Quality school for its commitment to early childhood education and supporting children's growth and development.
The school and parish reinforce one another through religious education, family involvement and the School Parish Team. A school scholarship fund accepts donations to keep Catholic education more affordable for families in financial need, while the parish's Giving Tree and school-support programs connect contributions with needs such as supplies, clothing and household necessities.
Evangelization in the Near Northwest and LaSalle
Holy Cross evangelizes through welcoming liturgies, the influence of its school, its location between the Near Northwest and LaSalle neighborhoods and service to local people. Its Missionary Discipleship Team has adopted an approach centered on evangelizing in the public square and forming seeker small groups suited to the parish. Its work is organized around four stages: Listen, Befriend, Proclaim and Invite. Conversation, testimony, one-to-one meetings, family prayer nights, regular faith-sharing groups and outreach to inactive parishioners and neighbors are all part of that approach.
The team has also considered neighborhood block parties, an open church and opportunities for families to ask questions about Catholic faith and life. A presence at the NNN Arts Café has included rosaries, holy water, medals, parish information and Catholic Bibles in English and Spanish. These efforts treat evangelization as the beginning of a relationship rather than an argument, with presence, kindness and prayer at the center.
Young adults in their 20s and 30s have served at Our Lady of the Road, a hospitality center founded as an outreach of the St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker House. The center offers breakfast every Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Volunteers help with setup, cooking, laundry, donations and cleanup, while also emphasizing friendly conversation with guests. The young adult vision includes regular gatherings after the 10:30 Mass for prayer, relationships and service to the parish and local community.
Each Advent, the Giving Tree places specific family needs on ornaments throughout the church. Needs can include clothing, baby items, household necessities and toys. Parishioners take an ornament, purchase the item and return it to the tree, with the purchases delivered to families before Christmas. The parish also supports the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Right to Life ministry, Walking with Moms and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Women's Group, while a prayer line offers a way to pray with the community.
Serving at the Altar, in the Choir, and Around the Parish
Holy Cross offers concrete ways to serve in the liturgy. Altar Servers assist priests before, during and after Mass and may also take part in school Masses, funerals and weddings. A server must have completed fourth grade, receives training and typically serves every four to six weeks. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist priests and distribute the Body and Blood of Christ, normally serving every few weeks at the Mass they attend. New ministers receive training. Lectors proclaim Scripture at Sunday and feast-day Masses, prepare with a guidebook and normally read every three or four weeks. Training is provided, and parish members age 14 and older may become lectors.
Sacristans assist priests by maintaining holy water fonts, preparing and cleaning sacred vessels, setting out books, lighting altar candles and helping before and after Mass. The Art and Environment Ministry decorates the church for Easter, Christmas and the ordinary seasons, then removes the decorations after the major liturgical feasts.
The Holy Cross Choir rehearses most Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. for its ministry at the 10:30 Sunday Mass. Cantors, vocalists and instrumentalists are welcome to participate in the parish's musical ensembles. The Journeying with the Word parish Bible study meets Tuesdays from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. in the Smith Parish Center, and adult formation seeks ongoing conversion, active membership in the Christian community and preparation for discipleship in the world.
The Parish Pastoral Council advises the pastor and pastoral team while focusing on five areas: school, hospitality, social justice, communications and evangelization. A Finance Council assists with budgeting and the administration of the parish's temporal goods. Together with the many liturgical, formation and outreach roles, these ministries allow people to take part in the parish's mission through their particular gifts of time, talent and treasure.
Eucharist at the Center
Holy Cross recognizes the seven sacraments instituted by the Lord: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist as sacraments of initiation; Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick as sacraments of healing; and Marriage and Holy Orders as sacraments at the service of communion. The outward form of each sacrament expresses an inward reality of God's grace, given freely so that people can participate in Christ's life and make the world holier.
The continuing mission of Holy Cross joins worship with love of neighbor. Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross and carried forward by priests, brothers, sisters and lay ministers, the parish remains a community centered on the Eucharist, open to those seeking faith and committed to the Holy Spirit's call to know, love and serve God. From its stone church on Wilber Street to its chapel, school, ministries and neighborhood service, Holy Cross Catholic Parish continues the work begun by 200 families meeting at Muessel School in 1928 and by a cornerstone laid the following year.