About Holy Cross Catholic Parish · Dallas, Texas
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Dallas located at 5004 Bonnie View Road in South Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1956 by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman, the parish has long been recognized for its diverse, multicultural congregation — African American, Latino, and Anglo families worship side by side — and for its deep commitment to social-justice ministry. The parish marked its 70th anniversary in 2026 and is currently led by Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán (ordained for the Diocese of Dallas in 2020), who is being assigned a new pastoral role effective July 1, 2026. Worship is offered in the historic main church, with weekday Masses, confessions, and adoration celebrated in the newly dedicated Sacred Heart Chapel in the parish's Administration Building at 4910 Bonnie View Rd.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a rare bilingual parish where African American, Latino, and Anglo families have worshipped together for nearly seven decades, and where the legacy of the 1983 Sanctuary Movement still shapes a culture of welcoming the stranger. The parish runs a working-poor Food Pantry, a Mobile Food Pantry open to the wider community, a Cross Family Center for independent seniors, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and children's faith formation, a Legion of Mary praesidium, altar servers, Knights of Columbus and Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Spanish Eucharistic Ministers, and a Sunday Kitchen — giving newcomers many ways to plug in.
Mass times at Holy Cross Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM (Bilingual English/Spanish)
- Monday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Friday 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- First Friday 6:00 PM (Spanish, before Misa con la Devoción al Sagrado Corazón)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Administration Chapel, 4910 Bonnie View Rd.)
- Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Administration Chapel, 4910 Bonnie View Rd.)
Welcome to Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dallas
Holy Cross is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Dallas serving the South Dallas and Oak Cliff neighborhoods from its 10-acre campus at 5004 Bonnie View Road. The parish's mission, in the words of its outgoing pastor Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán, is that 'we are one family on a mission in Christ for the glory of God.' Visitors are welcomed at Sunday Masses (5:00 PM Saturday vigil, 9:00 AM English, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM Spanish) and at daily Masses, confessions, and adoration held in the Administration Chapel next door at 4910 Bonnie View Rd.
- 70th Anniversary: 1956–2026
- Diocese of Dallas
- Bilingual English/Spanish worship
- Holy Cross Relics are venerated on the parish's devotional grounds
History of Holy Cross
Founded by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman in 1956 to serve the developing South Dallas and Oak Cliff area, Holy Cross grew into one of the most socially engaged parishes in Texas. Father Tim Gallob arrived in 1969 and began offering a Spanish Mass in the early 1970s — drawing Mexican-American families from across Dallas who had felt unwelcome elsewhere. In 1983 the parish made national history as the only Catholic church in Texas to declare sanctuary for Central American refugees, sheltering the Martell family of El Salvador after 67% of parishioners voted in favor. The parish celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026.
- 1956 — Parish established by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman
- 1969 — Father Tim Gallob assigned to Holy Cross
- Early 1970s — First Spanish Mass offered; Latino community grows
- 1976 — 20th anniversary liturgy celebrated in Spanish, Ibo, and English
- 1978 — Mural depicting Mexican heritage unveiled
- June 25–26, 1983 — Parishioners vote 67% in favor of Sanctuary for Central American refugees
- October 1983 — Martell family of El Salvador sheltered in Bethany House on parish property
- 2023 — Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán arrives as pastoral administrator
- June 27, 2025 — Sacred Heart Chapel dedicated
- 2026 — Parish celebrates 70th anniversary
Clergy and Staff
Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán — a native of El Salvador who moved to Texas at age 12 and was ordained for the Diocese of Dallas in 2020 — has served Holy Cross since 2023 and is being assigned to a new pastoral role effective July 1, 2026. He is assisted by a Dominican priest in residence, two permanent deacons, and a seminarian on pastoral formation.
- Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán — Pastor
- Fr. Carmen Mele, O.P. — Dominican priest in residence
- Rev. Deacon Randy Neese
- Rev. Deacon Salvador Pina
- Steven Michael Kirk — Seminarian, Discipleship Pre-Theology I
Outreach and Social Ministry
Continuing its decades-long tradition of serving the surrounding low-income neighborhood, Holy Cross operates both a parish-based Food Pantry for working-poor and senior parishioners (by appointment only, Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and a Mobile Food Pantry open to the wider community, distributing free food starting at 9:30 AM until supplies run out. The parish also runs the Cross Family Center, which supports independent senior citizens with social, emotional, and physical-wellness resources and connections to community services.
- Food Pantry (working poor & seniors) — Gail Roberson, 214-375-3715
- Mobile Food Pantry — 9:30 AM, until food is depleted
- Cross Family Center — senior services
- Sunday Kitchen — parish hospitality
Faith Formation and OCIA
Holy Cross offers formation for both children and adults. Children's Faith Formation and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) registration is held in mid-June, while adult OCIA (RICA en español) registration for those 18 and older takes place the first Saturday of August in the Administration Building. A Vocation Awareness Program is offered annually for Catholic Church vocations.
- 2026–2027 Faith Formation & OCIA for Children — Registration June 13, 2026
- 2026–2027 OCIA Enrollment for Adults 18+ — Saturday, August 1, 2026, 9 AM–1 PM, Administration Building (4910 Bonnie View Rd.)
- Vocation Awareness Program 'Is God Calling Me?' — June 12–14, 2026
Parish Organizations and Lay Ministries
Lay faithful at Holy Cross serve through a range of long-standing ministries, several of which have been honored by Bishop Edward Burns for their service. Moises Vega of the Legion of Mary and Jackie Rodgers of the Altar Servers received diocesan volunteer awards during Father Elmer's tenure.
- Legion of Mary (active praesidium)
- Altar Servers (English and Spanish)
- Spanish Eucharistic Ministers (Ministros de Sagrada Comunión)
- Knights of Columbus
- Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 414
- Food Pantry volunteers
- Cross Family Center volunteers
Sacred Heart Chapel and Campus Renovation
Since arriving in 2023, Father Elmer Herrera-Guzmán led an ambitious multi-phase renovation project to 'beautify and dignify' the parish campus. The first phase — funded entirely by parishioner second-Sunday collections and exceeding $80,000 — included demolition of the old rectory and conversion of the remaining structure into the Sacred Heart Chapel, dedicated June 27, 2025. The chapel features restored wood floors and unifying religious iconography, and sits at the center of three outdoor devotional spaces on the parish's 10 acres: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary (a garden being completed with dedication planned for October), and the planned Chaste Heart of St. Joseph. Additional repairs to plumbing, air conditioning, and gas lines will bring the total investment above $150,000.
- Sacred Heart Chapel — dedicated June 27, 2025
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Garden
- Chaste Heart of St. Joseph (planned)
- Total project investment > $150,000, funded by parishioner contributions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Tim Gallob1969–(as of mid-2000s documentation)
Long-tenured pastor credited with introducing the Spanish Mass in the early 1970s and guiding the parish's social-justice and Sanctuary Movement work; reportedly asked the bishop for 'the poorest parish in the diocese'.