About Holy Cross · Bronx, New York
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in the Soundview / Clason Point neighborhood of the Bronx, New York, founded in 1921 and long served by the Franciscan Friars. Today it is an archdiocesan Eucharistic parish that celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish for approximately 2,500 families of varied ethnic and national backgrounds. The parish complex includes the present church (designed by Brother Cajetan Baumann, O.F.M.), Holy Cross School (est. 1923), a friary, and active faith-formation, youth, and outreach programs. It sits under the Archdiocese of New York and is pastored by Fr. John J. Higgins, with Fr. Vincent J. Druding serving as Parochial Vicar.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- The Holy Cross
- Rector
- Father John J. Higgins
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a bilingual Eucharistic parish that has served the Soundview / Clason Point community for over a century, currently welcoming roughly 2,500 families through Mass in English and Spanish every day of the week. It pairs a strong devotional life — daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, RCIA/OCIA, and the Surrender Novena — with concrete outreach like the Matthew 25 apostolate to the poorest of the poor, religious education for children, and the 100-year-old Holy Cross School with its Spanish-language immersion track. For a Catholic looking for a stable, pastorally staffed parish with deep local roots and active bilingual ministry, Holy Cross offers a place to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM in the church
- Sunday before Holy Mass (before the 8:30, 10:30, and 12:30 PM Masses)
- Anytime by request at the rectory
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday – Thursday 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration (Adoración Eucarística): Fridays 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Parish History
Holy Cross was canonically established on June 24, 1921, when Fr. Marcellus Kolmer, O.F.M., celebrated the first Mass at Kane's Amusement Park near the Clason Point Ferry for 92 families, after Archbishop Patrick Joseph Hayes asked the Franciscan Provincial Minister at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan to send friars to the growing Catholic population of the Soundview / Clason Point area. Fr. Vincent Kelly, O.F.M., became the first resident pastor in 1922, and a combined church-and-school building at Soundview and Randall Avenues was dedicated on May 20, 1923, with the Sisters of St. Francis of Allegany arriving the same year to teach and provide catechesis. A 1937 friary, a 1955 school/gymnasium/convent expansion under Fr. Benedict Joseph Dudley, O.F.M., and a 1968 new church and school annex dedicated under Fr. Edward Greene, O.F.M., trace the parish's growth through the 20th century.
- Founded June 24, 1921
- First Mass at Kane's Amusement Park for 92 families
- First combined church/school dedicated May 20, 1923
- New friary opened January 11, 1937 (capacity 40 friars)
- New school, gymnasium, and convent dedicated 1955
- New church and school annex dedicated October 13, 1968
- Franciscan administration ended 2008; archdiocesan clergy took over
- Centennial celebrated 2021
Architecture and Buildings
The present church was designed by Brother Cajetan Baumann, O.F.M., in a Modernist idiom that Wikipedia describes as a 'high-concept' concrete and stained-glass shell reminiscent of Hugh Stubbins Jr.'s 1957 Kongresshalle (Haus der Kulturen der Welt) in Berlin. The adjoining Holy Cross School is a typical mid-20th-century three-storey Modernist concrete and glazed-block building. Together the parish complex sits on the east side of Soundview Avenue at Taylor Avenue, with wheelchair-accessible entrances and a parking lot.
- Architect: Brother Cajetan Baumann, O.F.M.
- Style: Modernist concrete and stained-glass
- Church/school annex dedicated October 13, 1968
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances and on-site parking
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is pastored by Fr. John J. Higgins and served by Parochial Vicar Fr. Vincent J. Druding, four deacons, and an office staff. Fr. Druding, ordained in 2009 at St. Patrick's Cathedral for the Archdiocese of New York, previously served at Our Lady of Angels in the Bronx and at Assumption Church in Peekskill, and is a member of the Corpus Christi Movement of Priests.
- Pastor: Fr. John J. Higgins
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Vincent J. Druding
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. James Bello
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Luis Torres
- Deacon (Retired): Rev. Mr. Valentin Acabeo
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Angel Ramirez
- Parish staff: Escarlet Orbe, Alma Torres, Basia Cdno, Nicole Duarte
Sacraments
Baptisms are celebrated on Saturdays and Sundays on a rotating monthly schedule, and parents must first attend a Baptismal class — first Tuesday of the month in English, second Tuesday in Spanish. Couples contemplating Matrimony are asked to contact the rectory at least six months in advance. The Anointing of the Sick is available on request, with ministers also bringing Communion to the homebound and hospitalized. First Communion, Confirmation, quinceañeras, and funerals round out the parish's sacramental life.
- Baptism: Sat/Sun by monthly schedule; prep class required
- Reconciliation: see Confession times
- Matrimony: 6 months' notice to the rectory
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the sick and homebound
- First Communion & Confirmation via Religious Education and the school
- Quinceañeras celebrated bilingually
Faith Formation and Holy Cross School
Religious Education for parish children is coordinated by Ms. Lindsay Barbieri, with the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults coordinated by Mr. Jefferson Parra. Adjacent to the church at 1846 Randall Avenue, Holy Cross School — under Principal Ernie Zalamea — has educated Bronx children since 1923, originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Allegany. Today the school serves roughly 419 students from Pre-K through Grade 8, with a Spanish Language Immersion program and weekly Physical Education, Art, and Computer/Technology enrichment. In 2023 Cardinal Dolan concelebrated the school's 100th-anniversary Mass with Fr. Higgins and Fr. Druding.
- Religious Education (children): Lindsay Barbieri — [email protected]
- OCIA/RCIA (adults): Jefferson Parra — [email protected]
- Holy Cross School: Ernie Zalamea, Principal — (718) 842-4492
- Spanish Language Immersion program offered
- Weekly Art, PE, and Computer/Technology enrichment
- 100th anniversary of the school marked in 2023
Ministries and Outreach
The parish runs more than two dozen active ministries, including the Matthew 25 Apostolate to the poorest of the poor (founded by Fr. Druding and now serving Holy Cross), the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society, youth and young-adult groups, men's and women's fellowship groups, the choir, Eucharistic Adoration teams, and addiction recovery groups. The Mercy Project under Louis Sanchez coordinates parish outreach, and the parish hosts an annual Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic.
- Matthew 25 Apostolate (serving the poorest of the poor)
- Knights of Columbus
- Holy Name Society
- Youth Group and Young Adult fellowship
- Addiction recovery groups
- Rosary and Divine Mercy prayer groups
- Annual Dominican Mission Trip
- The Mercy Project — Louis Sanchez, (929) 459-7770
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is led by parish musicians David Lantz and Ricardo Solorzano, with Anna Paulino serving as Head Sacristan. Bilingual worship is central to parish life: every Mass is offered in either English or Spanish, devotional programs are published in both languages, and sacraments such as Baptism, quinceañeras, and weddings are scheduled to serve both communities.
- Musicians: David Lantz and Ricardo Solorzano
- Head Sacristan: Anna Paulino
- Full bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgical schedule
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Marcellus Kolmer, O.F.M.1921
Celebrated the parish's first Mass on June 24, 1921 at Kane's Amusement Park.
- Fr. Vincent Kelly, O.F.M.1922
First resident pastor; held services in a rented house at 406 Soundview Avenue while planning permanent buildings.
- Fr. Benedict Joseph Dudley, O.F.M.by 1952
Pastor and guardian of the friary; oversaw 1955 dedication of new school, gymnasium, and Sisters' convent.
- Fr. Edward Greene, O.F.M.1968
Directed construction and October 13, 1968 dedication of the new church and school annex.
- Fr. Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves, O.F.M.
Pastor of Holy Cross before being named Auxiliary Bishop of Boston in 1988; later Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Father John J. Higgins
Current pastor (archdiocesan clergy following the 2008 Franciscan withdrawal).