About Holy Cross Catholic Church · Kansas City, Missouri
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, located at 5106 St John Avenue in the northeast part of Kansas City, Missouri. The parish describes itself as a 'faith-filled community where everyone is welcome,' whose mission is to be 'disciples who make disciples' and whose vision is to build a community where all people are 'saved, healed, equipped, and serving.' Holy Cross serves a heavily Hispanic Northeast Kansas City neighborhood with a robust Spanish-language Mass schedule alongside its English liturgy, and its campus includes Holy Cross Catholic School (121 N Quincy Avenue), making it a long-standing anchor of Catholic life in the area.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- The Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Olvin Giron (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a welcoming, bilingual Catholic family in Northeast Kansas City where Mass is offered in both English and Spanish every day of the week. Parishioners can grow in faith through a Parish Youth Group (Grupo de jóvenes), two distinct music ministries (English and Hispanic), and Holy Cross Catholic School, whose vision is to make a Catholic education accessible to every child regardless of financial means. With daily and weekend Masses, regular confession times, Holy Hour on Thursdays, First Friday adoration, and a committed parochial administrator and staff, it is a parish where newcomers and long-time neighbors alike can pray, learn, and serve together.
Mass times at Holy Cross Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 PM (during Holy Hour)
- Friday 5:00–5:50 PM
- Saturday 5:00–5:50 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 2:00–6:00 PM (First Fridays extended to 8:00 PM)
About Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph called to serve the people of the Northeast part of Kansas City. Its mission statement describes the parish as 'a faith-filled community where everyone is welcome,' aspiring daily to bring people closer to Jesus and to present the Gospel in a way that attracts others to follow Him. The parish's vision is to build a great community where all people are saved, healed, equipped, and serving as disciples. The parish is intentionally bilingual, with every daily Mass offered in Spanish and one Sunday Mass celebrated in English.
- Parish name: Holy Cross Catholic Church
- Diocese: Kansas City-St. Joseph
- Area served: Northeast Kansas City, Missouri
- Mission: 'Disciples who make disciples'
- Vision: A community where all people are saved, healed, equipped, and serving
Parish History
Holy Cross has been a fixture of Northeast Kansas City since the early 1900s. Diocesan records list Holy Cross marriages beginning in 1903 and baptisms beginning in 1907, making it one of the older parishes serving the northeast side. A historical sketch of the parish notes that a new school foundation was laid in November 1905, the school was completed and blessed by Father Jajeski in October 1906, and Father Francis Matz was appointed the first assistant pastor in 1911. Photographs from the Pendergast era show Holy Cross School students posed with the Reverend J. P. Prendergast, pastor of Holy Cross. The Sisters of Mercy, who staffed many Kansas City Catholic schools, taught at Holy Cross School on St. John Avenue.
- Marriages on record from 1903; baptisms from 1907
- School foundation laid November 1905; school blessed October 1906
- First assistant pastor: Father Francis Matz (1911)
- Early pastor associated with the parish: Rev. J. P. Prendergast
- Historically served by the Sisters of Mercy
Weekend Masses
- Saturday 6:00 PM — Spanish
- Sunday 8:00 AM — Spanish
- Sunday 10:00 AM — English
- Sunday 12:00 PM — Spanish
Weekday Masses
- Tuesday 6:00 PM — Spanish
- Wednesday 8:30 AM — English (School Mass during the school year)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM — Spanish
- Friday 6:00 PM — Spanish
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Cross is led by a Parochial Administrator with a small parish staff supporting worship, faith formation, school leadership, and administration. The parish also lists diocesan contacts for child and youth protection matters.
- Rev. Olvin Giron — Parochial Administrator ([email protected], 816-231-2845)
- Deacon Daniel Esteban — Business Manager
- Sean Holland — Music Ministry ([email protected])
- Socorro Pizano — Hispanic Music Ministry
- Sofia Marin — Office Secretary ([email protected])
- Shelly Henn — Holy Cross School Principal (816-231-8874)
- Joe Crayon — Diocesan Ombudsman (816-812-2500)
- Kathleen Chastain — Diocesan Victim Advocate (816-292-0011)
Holy Cross Catholic School
Holy Cross Catholic School is located at 121 N Quincy Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64123 (phone 816-231-8874), on the parish campus adjacent to the church. Under Principal Shelly Henn, the school's mission is to provide a supportive, Christian-centered environment with a rigorous and comprehensive academic curriculum for every child. Its vision — that every child be able to attend Catholic school without financial barriers — is carried out through the Bright Futures Fund, which builds new foundations of education and faith by helping students in need receive a Catholic education. Holy Cross School is a proud member of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Schools.
- Address: 121 N Quincy Ave, Kansas City, MO 64123
- Phone: 816-231-8874
- Principal: Shelly Henn
- Bright Futures Fund — scholarships for students in need
- Bilingual mission and curriculum
- Member: Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Schools
Parish Ministries
The parish supports ministries that serve its English- and Spanish-speaking members alike. Two distinct music ministries accompany the English and Hispanic Masses, and a Parish Youth Group (Grupo de jóvenes) brings young parishioners together for faith and fellowship.
- Parish Youth Group (Grupo de jóvenes)
- English Music Ministry — Sean Holland
- Hispanic Music Ministry — Socorro Pizano
- Holy Cross Catholic School (catechetical and sacramental preparation)
Visit & Contact
Holy Cross Parish is located at 5106 St. John Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64123. The parish office can be reached at (816) 231-4845, and the Parochial Administrator can be emailed at [email protected]. The parish website at holycrosskcmo.org carries the full Mass schedule, staff listing, and information about the parish school.
- Address: 5106 St. John Ave., Kansas City, MO 64123
- Phone: 816-231-4845
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.holycrosskcmo.org/
- Facebook: linked from holycrosskcmo.org/facebook
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. P. Prendergast
Early pastor of Holy Cross; appears in Pendergast KC era photographs with Holy Cross School students.