About Holy Cross · Bertram, Texas
Holy Cross is a Catholic mission church in the small Hill Country town of Bertram, Texas, in Burnet County. Founded in 1943 by the Congregation of Holy Cross priests and brothers, the mission is closely twinned with the parent parish of Our Mother of Sorrows in nearby Burnet, and the two share one pastoral team, one office, and one website. Holy Cross priests served the Bertram mission exclusively until the summer of 2005, when Bishop Gregory Aymond appointed the first diocesan priest to the church. Today Holy Cross is celebrated as a faith-filled, family-oriented community that continues to draw Catholic families from Bertram, Liberty Hill, Leander and the surrounding area.
- Established
- 1943
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) — named for the founding Congregation of Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Joshy Kandathil, C.M.I. (Parochial Administrator of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Burnet and Holy Cross Mission in Bertram, effective July 6, 2026); succeeded Rev. Jose Luis Comparán, who served as Pastor of the combined parish and mission.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a small, faith-filled mission where Catholic families from Bertram, Liberty Hill, Leander and the wider Burnet County Hill Country gather for Mass, the sacraments, CCD religious education, the Knights of Columbus, the parish food pantry, altar service, choir, and Bible study. Because the mission shares its pastoral team, ministries, website and outreach (including the OMOS Thrift Store) with Our Mother of Sorrows in Burnet, parishioners have the warmth of a close-knit country parish backed by the full sacramental and formation life of a larger community. Confession is offered regularly, weekday and Sunday Masses are celebrated in English (with the parent parish providing a Spanish Sunday Mass), and parishioners of every age are invited to take an active role.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (or by appointment) at Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet
- Saturdays 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment) at Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet
- First Thursday 6:00 PM at Holy Cross Mission, Bertram
- Communal Reconciliation: seasonally
History of Holy Cross Mission
Holy Cross Mission was formally founded in 1943 by the Congregation of Holy Cross priests and brothers, but Catholic life in the Bertram area goes back much further. Beginning around 1920, traveling priests celebrated Mass in private homes, baptizing, witnessing marriages and burying the dead for the Catholic families scattered across Bertram, Liberty Hill and Leander. The 1943 chapel took its name, Holy Cross, directly from the religious congregation that planted it. For the next sixty-two years, Holy Cross was served exclusively by Holy Cross priests, until Bishop Gregory Aymond appointed the first diocesan priest to the mission in the summer of 2005. Today the mission continues as a faith-filled Hill Country community growing alongside the parent parish of Our Mother of Sorrows in Burnet.
- Catholic Mass celebrated in homes around Bertram, Liberty Hill and Leander since 1920
- Mission formally founded in 1943
- Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross priests and brothers
- Served exclusively by Holy Cross religious until 2005
- First diocesan priest appointed by Bishop Gregory Aymond in summer 2005
Mass and Worship Schedule
Because Holy Cross is a mission rather than a stand-alone parish, only one weekly Mass is celebrated in the Bertram chapel itself — Sunday at 11:00 AM in English. All weekday Masses and the Saturday Vigil are celebrated at the parent church, Our Mother of Sorrows in Burnet, where the faithful of Holy Cross are warmly welcomed. The combined OMOS/HCC schedule offers Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Sunday 11:00 AM — English — Holy Cross, Bertram
- Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil — English — Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet
- Sunday 9:00 AM — English — Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet
- Sunday 1:00 PM — Spanish — Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet
- Wednesday 8:00 AM, Thursday 8:00 AM, Friday 12:10 PM — English — Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet
- Monday and Tuesday: No Mass
Sacraments Celebrated
Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Cross together celebrate all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation is required for parents and sponsors before Baptism, and couples are asked to contact the parish office at least six months in advance of a wedding. The Anointing of the Sick is available by request — simply call the parish office and a priest will come to visit and anoint.
- Baptism — usually celebrated at a weekend Mass
- Confirmation
- Eucharist / First Holy Communion
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Holy Orders
- Holy Matrimony — contact the parish 6 months in advance
Parish Ministries (OMOS & HCC)
The pastoral team of Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Cross Mission includes the pastor, administrative staff, Pastoral Council, Finance Council, CCD secretary and coordinators of the various ministries and committees. Liturgical ministers must complete a confidential online application with the Diocese of Austin and attend the Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) training before serving. Lay faithful are invited to take an active role in nearly every aspect of parish life.
- Liturgical: Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Ushers, Choir, Liturgy Committee, Homebound Ministry, Altar Society, Flower Committee
- Formation: CCD Teachers, Adult Formation & Bible Study, Youth Ministry
- Service & Outreach: HCC Food Pantry, OMOS Thrift Store, Prison Ministry, St. Ann's Sewing Sisters
- Community: Knights of Columbus, Social & Hospitality, Festival Committee
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical worship is described by the parish as 'the lifeblood of the parish,' and properly expressing the liturgy requires the help of parishioners in several ministerial roles. Each liturgical minister is asked to discern their call, receive training and education for their specific ministry, and complete the diocesan application and Ethics and Integrity in Ministry training.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers (MHC)
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
- Choir
- Liturgy Committee
- Homebound Ministers
- Altar Society
- Flower Committee
Faith Formation & CCD
Religious education for the children of the mission is provided through the combined CCD program of Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Cross. CCD teachers serve as one of the key lay ministries of the parish, preparing students for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
- CCD Teachers
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Reconciliation (First Penance) preparation
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of the combined parish, with two flagship efforts tied directly to each church: the HCC Food Pantry (Holy Cross Mission, Bertram) and the OMOS Thrift Store (Our Mother of Sorrows, Burnet). Other service ministries extend help beyond the parish to prisoners and to neighbors in need of clothing and household goods.
- HCC Food Pantry (Bertram)
- OMOS Thrift Store (Burnet)
- Prison Ministry
- St. Ann's Sewing Sisters
Clergy & Staff
Holy Cross Mission is served by the pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Burnet. The parish office and administrative team are based in Burnet and serve both communities together.
- Rev. Jose Luis Comparán — outgoing Pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows / Holy Cross Mission
- Rev. Joshy Kandathil, C.M.I. — incoming Parochial Administrator effective July 6, 2026
- Gladys Arredondo — Administrative Assistant
Contact, Location & Office
The mission's mailing address is on East Highway 29 in Bertram, but the day-to-day parish office is shared with Our Mother of Sorrows in Burnet. Office hours are typically Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Holy Cross Mission address: 520 E. Hwy 29, Bertram, TX 78605
- Parish office: 507 Buchanan Dr., Burnet, TX 78611
- Phone: 512-355-2972
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.omoscc.com/
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM