ABOUT US

The 1,100 families that make their home in Holy Cross parish, “the church on the hill,” see as their mission, have for one another. We journey together in prayer, friendship and service.

Holy Cross was established on October 5, 1967, by Bishop Joseph Green. At his arrival, its first pastor, Fr. Maurice L. Welsh, found a well-established plant. Originally in 1959 Bishop Robert J. Dwyer had purchased a site from the Hozi Ranch in northeastern Sparks. Later the pastor of Immaculate Conception, Fr. Gerard Fanning, built a convent and a school that opened in 1961 with three grades run by the Sisters of St. Philip Neri from Cuba. Three years later a rectory and Holy Cross Center, a multi-purpose structure seating 500, were added under Fr. Bill Avella, also from Immaculate Conception. In 1967 the church, now named Holy Cross, became a separate parish. It was a large physical plant with an even larger debt.

When the school closed in 1970 and the congregation diminished, the co-pastors, Frs. Robert Simpson and George Wolf eventually decided to sell the plant and move the parish to another site. Monies from the sales both repaid the debt and allowed for the purchase of a property in northeast Sparks. Services in the interim were held at Our Savior Lutheran Church. On March 15, 1976, ground was broken for a multipurpose facility that was dedicated in the fall by Bishop Norman McFarland.

Under Fr. George Wolf, named pastor in 1983, Holy Cross enlarged its facilities and the next 10 years saw a doubling of parish membership. In spring 2000 ground was broken for the new Holy Cross “church on the hill,” which from beautiful windows overlooks a valley with a view of the majestic Sierras. The all-inclusive, 17,000-foot complex on Vista Boulevard was dedicated by Bishop Philip Straling on December 29, 2001. It houses a vibrant and committed community identifying some 1,500 parish volunteers. It is the center for many ecumenical and interfaith efforts as well as outreach to the larger community. Father Wolf retired in July 2008 after 25 years of service to Holy Cross. Father Jose Issac was named pastor on July 1, 2008.