About Holy Cross · Baltimore, Maryland
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood and the oldest faith community in South Baltimore, founded in 1858 by Redemptorist missionaries to serve roughly one thousand German-descent Catholics in the area. Today it is one of two canonical parishes that make up the Catholic Community of South Baltimore (CCSB) alongside Our Lady of Good Counsel, sharing a pastor, staff, and pastoral council. The current pastor is Rev. Kevin Ewing, appointed in 2024, leading a community that continues the parish's 19th-century legacy of German immigrant Catholicism into a diverse, multigenerational South Baltimore congregation.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the True Cross of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin Ewing
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Baltimore
Why belong here
Holy Cross offers a tangible connection to South Baltimore's deepest Catholic roots — the very first parish founded on Federal Hill — while remaining a lively, contemporary community. The parish is currently part of the Catholic Community of South Baltimore, which means members share worship, staff, and ministries with neighboring Our Lady of Good Counsel, giving parishioners a wider range of Mass times, formation programs, and outreach. With an active youth ministry (grades 6–12), sacramental formation for children and adults (OCIA/OCIC, Confirmation), Eucharistic adoration, a van ride ministry for seniors, visiting-the-sick and prayer-team ministries, and a working partnership with the Catholic Community School of South Baltimore, Holy Cross is a place where newcomers of any age can find a role.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 am – 8:30 am
- Sunday 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
- By appointment: [email protected]
Adoration times
- Monthly Adoration (times published in the bulletin; email list available for details)
- First Tuesday of the month, 7:00–8:00 pm (community-wide)
Parish History
Holy Cross traces its origins to an 1854 petition from the Society of St. Paul to the Redemptorists for a German Catholic Church in Federal Hill. A small German Catholic school with about 60 pupils opened in 1855 at 7–9 Cross Street, and the parish was formally founded in 1858 as a mission of St. Alphonsus Church. Mass was first said in a second-floor room of the St. Alphonsus School while a permanent church was being built.
- Founded 1858 as a mission of St. Alphonsus Church
- First church consecrated Easter Sunday 1860 by the Redemptorist Provincial
- Designed by German-born Baltimore architect Anton Pohl in Gothic Revival style, modeled on the Cathedral of Milan
- Parish attained full canonical status in 1869 with the arrival of Fr. Vogtmann
- Rectory built 1870–71 (later used as a convent by the Sisters of Christian Charity)
- Towering 200-foot steeple with copper cross added in 1885
- Centenary celebrated in 1958
The German National Parish Era
Holy Cross served as the center of the German Catholic community in South Baltimore from 1858 through 1959. All church services and activities were conducted in German until about World War I, and confessions and private devotions continued in German even longer. The parish was a full ethnic institution — religious, cultural, educational, and social — supporting German-American Catholics with sixteen or more societies for worship, charity, and entertainment.
- Reflected the surge of German immigration and the rise of the nativist Know-Nothing movement
- Listed as a German parish by the Archdiocese of Baltimore through 1959
- Fr. Leo Otterbein (pastor 1934–1968) reportedly insisted that the children greet him in German
- At least sixteen parish societies over the years for religious, charitable, and social purposes
- Holy Cross often joined other German national parishes for festivals and parades
Holy Cross School
Holy Cross School was the first Catholic school on Federal Hill, opening in September 1855 with 60 children. A larger school on West Street was begun in March 1857, and in 1866 the Sisters of Christian Charity came to staff the school. The current 1903 school building included a gymnasium and bowling alleys. In 1972 the school merged with the Saint Mary, Star of the Sea and Our Lady of Good Counsel schools to become the South Baltimore Area Community School, which became the Catholic Community School of South Baltimore in 1982.
- First Catholic school on Federal Hill
- Opened September 1855 with 60 children
- Sisters of Christian Charity arrived to staff the school in 1866
- Merged into South Baltimore Area Community School in 1972
- Became Catholic Community School of South Baltimore in 1982
Catholic Community of South Baltimore (CCSB)
In 1996 the Archdiocese asked the parishes of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Holy Cross, and Saint Mary Star of the Sea to study how best to serve God's people in South Baltimore. After St. Mary Star of the Sea and Holy Cross had already been twinned sharing one pastor, in 2003 Fr. Raymond Martin was named pastor of all three, formally creating the Catholic Community of South Baltimore — one pastor, one parochial vicar, one collaborative pastoral staff, and eventually a unified staff (April 2008). Today CCSB is comprised of Holy Cross and Our Lady of Good Counsel (St. Mary Star of the Sea having closed).
- Formed in 2003 with Holy Cross, St. Mary Star of the Sea, and Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Three canonical parishes, one pastor, one shared staff
- One unified pastoral council representing the parishes
- Shared Mass schedule and activities
- CCSB staff fully merged in April 2008
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental Formation at CCSB walks seekers of every age through the Catholic faith. OCIA (formerly RCIA) meets weekly on Monday evenings at 7 pm from October through May, with sacraments received at the Easter Vigil. OCIC (for children 8–17 not yet baptized or receiving First Communion) meets monthly on Sunday mornings. Adult Confirmation meets weekly for six weeks at multiple points in the year. Youth Confirmation (grades 6–9) meets monthly on the fourth Sunday from 6:15–7:30 pm, October through May, with Confirmation in the spring.
- OCIA — Mondays 7 pm, Oct–May; sacraments at Easter Vigil
- OCIC — monthly Sunday mornings, ages 8–17
- Adult Confirmation — weekly for 6 weeks, multiple sessions per year
- Teen Confirmation — 4th Sunday, 6:15–7:30 pm, Oct–May
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass
- Religious Education for younger children on Monday evenings
- Vacation Bible School each summer
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
Children in 6th through 12th grades gather as an extension of parish religious education to build on the core tenets of the faith taught to younger children. The program's focus is a communal learning experience that balances sacrament and service while giving middle and high schoolers an age-appropriate forum to engage their faith.
- Open to grades 6–12
- Balances sacrament and service
- Contact: Beth Mayr, [email protected]
- Middle school email list available for sign-up
Ministries and Volunteer Opportunities
CCSB organizes its ministries under Liturgical, Faith Formation, Spiritual, and Service/Outreach categories. Newcomers are encouraged to take a list of opportunities to prayer and let the parish know where they feel most called to serve. No prior experience is required — the parish will train anyone for the role they feel drawn to.
- Liturgical: Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers, Greeters, Sacristans
- Spiritual: Music Ministers (Praise Group and Good Counsel Choir), Prayer Team
- Faith Formation: Catechists, OCIA Team, OCIC, Vacation Bible School, PreCana Sponsor Couples, Baptism Sponsors
- Service & Outreach: Visiting the Sick, Van Drivers, Helping Hands, Service and Justice, Environmental Ministers
- Community groups: Women's Group, Men's Group, Young Adults (20s–30s)
Music and Liturgical Arts
Music ministry at CCSB includes both the Praise Group and the Good Counsel Choir, with openings for singers and instrumentalists. Environmental Ministers purchase and water plants for the churches and coordinate with Fr. Josh on seasonal and feast-day décor throughout the liturgical year.
- Praise Group
- Good Counsel Choir
- Environmental Ministers (flowers, seasonal décor)
Outreach and Pastoral Care
Pastoral care ministries make the parish's presence felt beyond the church walls. The Visiting the Sick ministry brings Communion to the homebound and hospitalized; the Van Drivers ministry brings seniors to weekend Mass; the Prayer Team prays weekly for those on the parish prayer list; and the new Service and Justice ministry is forming to put faith into action in South Baltimore.
- Visiting the Sick — home and hospital Communion calls
- Van Drivers — rides to Mass for seniors (call 410-752-8498 by Wed 3 pm)
- Prayer Team — weekly prayer for parish prayer list
- Service and Justice — new outreach ministry
- Helping Hands — hands-on parish tasks
Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross maintains a separate cemetery at 6020 Ritchie Highway, Baltimore, MD 21225, continuing the parish's ministry to South Baltimore Catholic families across generations.
- Address: 6020 Ritchie Highway, Baltimore, MD 21225
- Phone: 227-203-7251
Visit, Park, and Get Here
Holy Cross sits at 110 East West Street on Federal Hill, easily reached by streetcar-era streets. Parking is on West Street or nearby (mind permit times and avoid Ravens game days), with metered spaces on Light Street. During Ravens home games, Covington Street near Digital Harbor or the lots at Fed Hill Prep and Digital Harbor High School are alternatives. An accessible ramp entrance is on the left-hand side of the church as you face it.
- Street parking on West Street
- Metered parking on Light Street
- Covington Street / Fed Hill Prep / Digital Harbor HS on Ravens game days
- Accessible entrance ramp on the left side of the church
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Phone: 410-752-8498
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Hespelein (Redemptorist)1860–
First resident pastor after the church was completed in 1860; assigned an associate by 1864.
- Fr. Vogtmann1869–
Arrived in 1869 as the parish attained full status; built the rectory in 1870–71.
- Fr. Leo Otterbein1934–1968
Reportedly insisted that the children greet him in German; long-serving pastor.
- Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski1993–1999
Administered Holy Cross and St. Mary, Star of the Sea; now Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore.
- Fr. Tom Malia1999–
Became pastor in 1999.
- Fr. Ray Martin2002–
Also named pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, forming CCSB.
- Fr. Patrick Carrion2008–
Succeeded Fr. Martin in January 2008.
- Fr. Joshua Laws2019–
Became parish administrator July 2019; installed as pastor October 2020.
- Fr. Kevin Ewing2023–
Became administrator of Catholic Community of South Baltimore in 2023; appointed pastor in 2024.