HOLY
CROSS CHURCH HISTORY
In October of l964, Rev. John P. Lawler was appointed
as Administrator of the Mission of Holy Cross prior to its formation as a
parish. The parish territory was
taken from St. Jude Cathedral in St. Petersburg and Sacred Heart in Pinellas
Park. At that time there were 238
families registered in the new parish. Ten
acres of land, located at 54th Avenue and 79th Street,
North, St. Petersburg were purchased for parish use.
On February l5, l965, the parish of Holy Cross in Northwest St.
Petersburg was canonically erected by Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the Diocese of
St. Augustine. The Diocese of St.
Petersburg was established on June l7, l968, under Bishop Charles McLaughlin.
The first Mass was celebrated in Dixie Hollins High School’s auditorium
on March 7, l965. The new parish
grew quickly with the formation of organizations, purchase of a school bus and
beginning of CCD classes for grades 2 through l2, which were held in classrooms
at Dixie Hollins High School. The
parish met for six years at Dixie Hollins High School.
In January l970, plans were approved for a new church. By coincidence on February 15, 1970, exactly five years after the establishment of the Parish, Bishop Charles McLaughlin officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony. On April 3, l97l, Rev. Michael Madden, Pastor, celebrated the first Mass in the newly built church. Bishop McLaughlin celebrated the dedication of the church on April 18, 1971.
Father Frank Mouch
became the third pastor of Holy Cross in March of 1973 and continued developing
the church with a strong focus on religious education. His leadership
helped guide the parish through a turbulent time in the early 70s. In
March of 1974 Father Bernard Caverly became pastor and began construction of the
parish office that autumn. Like his predecessor Father Caverly’s talents
were recognized by the bishop and needed elsewhere in the diocese. In June
1976 Father Caverly became the rector of the Cathedral and Father Patrick Irwin
became the fifth pastor of Holy Cross. For the next ten years, Holy
Cross continued in growth and became a spiritual, active and dynamic parish.
In order to serve more fully the increasing number of parishioners (2600
families in 1982), Bishop W. Thomas Larkin officiated at a groundbreaking for
the new Parish Center on September l8, l98l, the feast day of Holy Cross parish,
the Triumph of the Cross.
Bishop John C. Favalora appointed Rev. Robert L. Schaeufele as pastor of Holy Cross in June of l99l. His steadfast and spiritual leadership of ten years has brought the parish through the difficulties of a changing identity. These changes were due in part to the trimming of the parish boundaries in 1986 when the parish of St. Matthew was founded. Holy Cross has emerged as a smaller neighborhood parish which continues to be a vibrant and welcoming community.
In July of 2001 Bishop Robert N. Lynch appointed Rev. Thomas J. Anastasia as the seventh pastor of Holy Cross Church. Father Tom brings a youthful spirit to Holy Cross. Like Father Pat Irwin before him, this is his first pastorate. In his first six months, Father Anastasia has continued the work of collaboration with the building committee, the finance committee, and the parish staff. The renovation project is now moving forward with the possibility of construction on the first phase of the project in the summer of 2002. We now have a children’s chapel and a more conveniently located food pantry for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The vision for the future continues to unfold but with the Holy Spirit as our guide and true active participation from the many gifted parishioners of Holy Cross, the parish is sure to grow and develop.
Copyright © 2003, Church of the Holy Cross