About Holy Cross · Dayton, Ohio
Holy Cross Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish located at 1924 Leo Street in the Old North Dayton neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio. Founded by Lithuanian immigrants on May 1, 1914, it is the only Lithuanian-heritage Catholic parish in southern Ohio and the cultural-spiritual heart of Dayton's Lithuanian-American community. The current church building was constructed in 1912–1915 and dramatically remodeled in 1963–1965 in a striking Lithuanian ethnic architectural style by Chicago-based Lithuanian architect Jonas (John) Mulokas, with Lithuanian craftsmen producing stained glass and folk-art motifs imported from France. The parish was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1991, and it is currently part of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, with Sunday Mass celebrated in English and Lithuanian.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- Holy Cross (chosen because Lithuania is known as the 'Land of the Crosses')
- Rector
- Rev. Kyle Schnippel (Pastor of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes; Rev. Anthony Cutcher is listed as pastor of Holy Cross on joinmychurch.com)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a living piece of Dayton's Lithuanian-American heritage and the only Lithuanian-heritage Catholic parish in southern Ohio, making it a unique destination for anyone interested in Lithuanian culture, language and folk-art Catholicism. Visitors are welcomed to a weekly Sunday Mass in which the readings and two hymns are still proclaimed and sung in Lithuanian, surrounded by hand-crafted stained glass and carvings executed by Lithuanian artisans in the 1960s. The parish offers a tight-knit, multi-generational community in the historic Old North Dayton neighborhood, the famous annual turtle soup and kugelis fundraiser each November, and a serene Shrine of the Three Crosses honoring Lithuanian martyrs for the faith—all on a single city block just off Stanley Avenue.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30pm at Our Lady of the Rosary (within the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes)
Adoration times
- Saturday 9:00am at Our Lady of the Rosary (within the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes)
History of Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross traces its origins to 1886, when the first Lithuanian immigrants settled in Dayton. By 1902 the community numbered around 300 and organized St. Peter's Fraternal Society to establish a Lithuanian national parish. Land at the corner of Leo and Rita streets was purchased in 1902, Father Joseph Gricius was appointed the first pastor on May 1, 1914, and the church—designed by William L. Jaekle—was blessed March 21, 1915. Under Fr. Leon J. Praspalius the parish debt was paid off by the end of 1941. In 1960 Fr. Titas Narbutas launched a sweeping Lithuanian-folk-art remodel that produced today's distinctive interior and exterior, and on November 5, 1991 the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1886: First Lithuanian immigrants arrive in Dayton
- 1902: St. Peter's Fraternal Society founded
- 1914 (May 1): Holy Cross Parish officially established; Fr. Joseph Gricius appointed first pastor
- 1915 (March 21): Church building blessed (cost $17,048)
- 1935: Fr. Leon J. Praspalius takes over; debt retired by end of 1941
- 1960: Fr. Titas Narbutas appointed; renovation planning begins
- 1963–1964: Major remodel by architect Jonas Mulokas
- 1965 (June 27): Shrine of the Three Crosses dedicated by Bishop Vincent Brizgys
- 1991 (November 5): Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2014 (June 22): Centennial Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer
Architecture & Lithuanian Folk-Art Design
The 1914–1915 church was designed by William L. Jaekle, but the building's present-day appearance comes from the 1963–1964 remodel by Lithuanian-American architect Jonas (John) Mulokas of Chicago, with contractor Valerijonas (Valerian) Sodeika of Cicero, Illinois. Lithuanian designs were embedded in the exterior brickwork, glass doors carry Lithuanian emblems, and a new Lithuanian-detailed bell tower was erected. Inside, walls were removed, faceted slab-glass partitions flank the altar, and the center aisle floor is laid with Lithuanian patterns. All windows are hand-made leaded stained glass depicting traditional Lithuanian wayside shrines.
- Original architect: William L. Jaekle (1914)
- 1963–64 remodel architect: Jonas (John) Mulokas of Chicago
- 1963–64 contractor: Valerijonas (Valerian) Sodeika of Cicero, Illinois
- Stained glass: Adolf Valeska Studios of Chicago; thick glass imported from France
- Panoramic picture behind altar: Hill of Crosses, northern Lithuania
- Windows depict Holy Trinity, Blessed Mother, Passion of the Redemption, Seven Sacraments
- Side altars: Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn and St. Casimir (patron of Lithuania)
- Architectural style officially: Lithuanian ethnic
- 1.2 acres (0.49 ha); NRHP #91001582, added November 5, 1991
Shrine of the Three Crosses
Erected in 1965 on the northeast corner of the parish grounds in celebration of the Golden Jubilee, the Shrine of the Three Crosses was proposed by Fr. Titas Narbutas and designed by Lithuanian Toronto architect Alfred Kulpavicius. It commemorates three crosses destroyed by Soviet authorities on a hill in Vilnius in 1950 that had honored Franciscan Fathers martyred for the faith in the 14th century, and honors all martyrs for the faith in countries occupied by Soviet Communists as well as all living and deceased parishioners and friends of the parish. The Shrine was dedicated June 27, 1965, with Most Rev. Vincent Brizgys, Bishop of Kaunas, presiding.
- Designer: Alfred Kulpavicius of Toronto, Canada
- Builder: Valerijonas Sodeika of Cicero, Illinois
- Wooden statuettes: V. Kulpavicius of Woodhaven, NY (architect's father)
- Crosses depict Our Lady of the Gates of Dawn, Christ of Sorrows, St. Casimir, Our Lady of Siluva, and the Crucifixion
- Inscriptions: 'In memory of all living and deceased parishioners and friends of the parish. Three crosses destroyed by the communists in Vilnius, Lithuania. In honor of the martyrs for faith and freedom in Lithuania and the other captive nations. Remember and pray.'
- Dedicated June 27, 1965 by Bishop Vincent Brizgys of Kaunas
Lithuanian Heritage & Cultural Identity
Holy Cross is the only Lithuanian-heritage Catholic parish in southern Ohio and serves as the cultural-spiritual center of Dayton's Lithuanian-American community. The parish's name comes from Lithuania's nickname, the 'Land of the Crosses' (kryžiai); Lithuanian cross-crafting is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. To this day the 10:30am Sunday Mass includes the readings and two hymns proclaimed and sung in Lithuanian.
Parish Organizations & Societies
A network of clubs and societies has historically made Holy Cross 'the center of religious, cultural and patriotic activity for the Lithuanians of Dayton and vicinity.' Many of these organizations remain active or are remembered as part of the parish's living heritage.
- St. Peter's Fraternal Society (founded December 7, 1902 — oldest parish organization)
- Knights of Lithuania Council 96
- Knights of Lithuania Juniors
- Lithuanian Roman Catholic Alliance of America Lodge 191
- Lithuanian Anglers Club
- Theatrical Circle
- Federation of Lithuanian Roman Catholic Societies
Turtle Soup & Kugelis Fundraiser
Each November the parish hosts its famous turtle soup and kugelis (Lithuanian potato pudding) sale. Although turtle soup is not a traditional Lithuanian dish, it was popularized in the Old North Dayton Lithuanian community during World War II when other meats were scarce and has since become the parish's signature annual fundraiser.
St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes — Staff
Holy Cross is pastored within the St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes (previously Dayton Pastoral Region XII). The current pastor of the Family of Parishes is Fr. Kyle Schnippel, supported by two parochial vicars, a Hispanic-evangelization priest, a Director of Worship, Director of Evangelization, Youth Ministers, school principals, deacons and administrative staff.
- Fr. Kyle Schnippel — Pastor
- Fr. Chibueze Asiegbulem — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Andrew Smith — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Carlos Moreno — Hispanic Evangelization
- Rev. Anthony Cutcher — listed as pastor of Holy Cross (joinmychurch.com)
- Deacons: Mark Bade, Leo Cordonnier, Robert Gutendorf, David McCray, James Menart, Norbert Nagy, Jack Rivetti, Daniel Wade
- Paula Kern — Director of Worship
- Elise Sas — Director of Evangelization / Children's Faith Formation
- Jeanne Fairbanks — Youth Minister
- Elena Pope — Youth Minister
- Cameron Haller — Chief Operating Officer
- Kelly Collier — Business Manager
- Samuel Ritze — Director of Stewardship
- Katy McCormick — Director of Music
National Register of Historic Places
On November 5, 1991, Holy Cross Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (reference No. 91001582), under the European Ethnic Communities, Dayton Multiple Property Submission. It satisfies National Register criteria A, C, and G and is one of five Dayton ethnic parishes documenting Eastern European immigration to the city between 1885 and 1915. The NRHP listing officially classifies its architectural style as 'Lithuanian ethnic.'
- NRHP reference No.: 91001582
- Date added: November 5, 1991
- MPS: European Ethnic Communities, Dayton MPS
- Criteria: A, C, and G
- Area: 1.2 acres (0.49 ha)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Gricius1914–
First pastor of Holy Cross Parish; appointed May 1, 1914, the official founding date of the parish. Oversaw construction of the original church building (architect William L. Jaekle), blessed March 21, 1915.
- Rev. Leon J. Praspaliusfrom 1935
Led Holy Cross out of its difficult financial period; by the end of 1941 the parish debt was fully retired.
- Rev. Titas Narbutas, STDfrom 1960
Appointed administrator in 1960 and then pastor. Led the 1963–1964 Lithuanian-folk-art remodel (architect Jonas Mulokas, contractor Valerian Sodeika) and chaired the Golden Jubilee (1964–1965) and Shrine of the Three Crosses dedication (June 27, 1965). Honorary Chairman of the Shrine sub-committee.
- Rev. Vincent Bartuska, JCD1965 (at dedication)
Served as deacon at the June 27, 1965 Solemn Mass dedicating the Shrine of the Three Crosses, presided over by Bishop Vincent Brizgys.
- Rev. Michael Holloranserved prior to 2014
Former pastor; concelebrated the parish's 100th anniversary Mass on June 22, 2014, with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer.
- Rev. Eric Bowman2014
Administrator of Holy Cross at the time of the June 22, 2014 centennial Mass; concelebrant.
- Rev. John Tonkineffective January 13, 2021
Appointed Parochial Administrator of Dayton Pastoral Region XII, which includes Holy Cross, while continuing as Pastor of St. Christopher, Vandalia, and St. John the Baptist, Tipp City.
- Rev. Kyle Schnippelcurrent
Current Pastor of Region XII / St. Gabriel the Archangel Family of Parishes, which includes Holy Cross, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Peter (Huber Heights), St. Adalbert, and St. Christopher.
- Rev. Anthony Cutchercurrent (per joinmychurch.com listing)
Listed as pastor of Holy Cross at 1924 Leo St. on joinmychurch.com directory; phone (937) 228-8902.
