About Holy Cross · Detroit, Michigan
Holy Cross Hungarian Roman Catholic Church is a Catholic parish located in the Delray neighborhood of southwest Detroit, Michigan, at 8423 South Street. Founded on May 8, 1905, it is the only Hungarian Roman Catholic parish in the State of Michigan. The parish serves a community built around Hungarian Catholic tradition, with Mass celebrated in both English and Hungarian, and is known for its striking Neo-Gothic architecture, twin towers, hand-painted murals, and stained-glass windows honoring Hungarian saints.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the True Cross of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Barnabas G. Kiss, O.F.M.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Southwest Vicariate, Central Region; Family of Parishes: Central Southwest 1)
Why belong here
Holy Cross is the only Hungarian Roman Catholic parish in Michigan, making it a one-of-a-kind home for Hungarian Catholics and anyone drawn to the Hungarian Catholic spiritual and cultural tradition. Worship is offered in both English and Hungarian, with a warm Sunday 9:00 AM English Mass and an 11:00 AM Hungarian Mass, plus a Saturday Vigil in the chapel and weekday Masses Monday through Friday. Generations of families have poured their faith and craftsmanship into this Delray landmark — from the Von Gerichten and Schroeder stained-glass windows to the Daubner murals — so parishioners today belong to a living, deeply traditional community with a century of saints and stories behind it.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 10:55 AM (Hungarian)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:55 PM
- Also by request — half hour before weekend Masses and upon request
About Holy Cross Hungarian Parish
Holy Cross Hungarian Roman Catholic Church is a Catholic parish serving the Delray neighborhood of southwest Detroit at 8423 South Street, within the Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded in 1905 by Hungarian immigrants and their pastor Fr. Hubert Klenner, it remains today the only Hungarian Roman Catholic parish in the State of Michigan. The parish is built around three pillars the community itself names on its homepage: community, faith, and an overwhelming devotion to tradition. Worship is offered bilingually in English and Hungarian, and the parish is known for its striking Neo-Gothic architecture, twin towers, and an extraordinary collection of Hungarian and Renaissance-style sacred art.
- Parish name: Holy Cross Hungarian Roman Catholic Church
- Address: 8423 South Street, Detroit, MI 48209
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit (Southwest Vicariate, Central Region)
- Family of Parishes: Central Southwest 1
- Distinctive identity: the only Hungarian Catholic parish in Michigan
History of the Parish
Hungarian families in Delray organized to establish their own Catholic parish in the early 1900s, and on May 8, 1905, the Holy Cross Hungarian Parish was officially founded with Fr. Hubert Klenner, a Transylvanian-born Hungarian priest, as its founding pastor. The cornerstone for the first frame church was laid on the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross on May 3, 1906, and the first students were enrolled in the parish school in 1907. As the Hungarian community of Delray grew, a much larger and architecturally ambitious Neo-Gothic brick church was begun under Fr. Lajos Kovács in the early 1920s and consecrated by Bishop Gallagher on September 20, 1925.
- 1905: Parish founded May 8 by Fr. Hubert Klenner (born in Kolozsvár, Transylvania)
- 1906: First frame church cornerstone laid May 3, Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross
- 1907: First students enrolled in Holy Cross School
- 1921: Fr. Lajos Kovács becomes pastor and plans the present church
- 1924 (Nov 26): Cornerstone laid for new church; Pontifical Institute of Arts (Chicago) fashions altar, pulpit, font and statues
- 1925 (Sept 20): Bishop Gallagher consecrates the new church
- 1927: Fr. Kovács dies suddenly; Msgr. Dezső Nagy assigned — founds soup kitchen during Great Depression
- 1931: Pipe organ installed (Hitteler-Holt-Aperling Co., Cleveland, Ohio)
- 1932: Daughters of Divine Charity (Hungarian nuns) take charge of school; St. Elizabeth Orphanage and Home for the Aged established
- 1936: Stained-glass windows installed (Schroeder Glass Co. of Detroit for the sanctuary; Von Gerichten Studios of Columbus, Ohio for nave and transepts)
- 1941: Msgr. Nagy dies April 14; Fr. Ernő Rick serves briefly, then Fr. Daniel Trapp (9 months) who builds school additions
- 1942–1974: Fr. Andrew Jacobs, formerly Associate Pastor, serves as pastor until his death in 1974
- 1948–1949: András (Paul) Daubner paints the interior murals
- Mid-1960s: Construction of I-75 destroys parts of Delray and divides the community; Hungarian population declines
- 1970s: Parish school closes; Cardinal Dearden appoints Fr. Dominic Csorba, OFM
- 1980s: Fr. Vendel Pócsai, OFM organizes Hungarian school for adults and children; Bishop Schoenherr consecrates new altar February 14
- 1994: Fr. Barnabas G. Kiss, OFM appointed pastor and Fr. Angelus Ligeti, OFM associate — both Hungarian Franciscans
- Late 1990s–2004: Major renovations — paintings and statues restored, doors replaced, stained glass cleaned, new HVAC, school rooms converted to Parish Office, Chapel and Meeting Room
- 2000: 75th anniversary of the church observed (Sept 17, 2000)
- 2005: 100th anniversary of parish founding celebrated May 8; sanctuary floor reinforced, new carpet, sanctuary furniture fashioned after the original main altar installed; pew restoration in progress
Architecture, Art and Sacred Furnishings
The present Holy Cross church is a Neo-Gothic brick building with twin towers designed by Hungarian-born architect Henry (Henri) Kohner and constructed under Fr. Lajos Kovács beginning in 1924. The sanctuary was furnished by the Pontifical Institute of Arts of Chicago with the main altar, side altars, pulpit, baptismal font and many statues. A pipe organ by the Hitteler-Holt-Aperling Co. of Cleveland, Ohio was installed in 1931.
- Style: Neo-Gothic with twin brick towers
- Architect: Henry (Henri) Kohner — Hungarian of German descent
- Consecrated: September 20, 1925 by Bishop Gallagher
- Pipe organ (1931): Hitteler-Holt-Aperling Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Stained-Glass Windows
Holy Cross's stained glass was installed in 1936 and is one of the parish's most treasured artistic features. The five sanctuary windows, in Renaissance-style heavy enamel-painted glass by the Schroeder Glass Company of Detroit, depict the five great Hungarian saints: Stephen, Emery, Ladislaus, Elizabeth and Margaret. The nave and transept windows — depicting thirty-two saints — were made by the Von Gerichten Studios of Columbus, Ohio, with designer Ludwig von Gerichten (von Gerichten Studio paid $12,000 for the work). Among them is a pot-metal and painted enamel window titled 'The Assumption of the Virgin.' These windows give the church 'its most artificial value,' in the parish's own words. The windows were cleaned and repaired during the late-1990s to 2004 renovation campaign.
- Schroeder Glass Company of Detroit — 5 sanctuary windows, 5 great Hungarian saints (Stephen, Emery, Ladislaus, Elizabeth, Margaret)
- Von Gerichten Studios of Columbus, Ohio — 32 nave/transept windows; designer Ludwig von Gerichten
- 'The Assumption of the Virgin' — pot-metal and painted enamel window
Interior Murals
Between 1948 and 1949 the church interior was painted by András (Paul) Daubner, a Hungarian-descent artist. The murals were later repaired and renovated in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Artist: András (Paul) Daubner
- Date: 1948–1949
Clergy and Staff
The parish has been led since 1994 by Hungarian Franciscan Friars. Fr. Barnabas G. Kiss, OFM serves as pastor ('Primarily Responsible') and Fr. Angelus Ligeti, OFM as associate pastor. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Detroit's 'Central Southwest 1' Family of Parishes, and several other priests of the family are listed as 'Priest In Solidum' alongside the parish's own friars. Deacon Kenneth Fry serves the parish as deacon.
- Pastor: Rev. Barnabas G. Kiss, O.F.M.
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Angelus Ligeti, O.F.M.
- Deacon: Deacon Kenneth Fry
- Priests in Solidum (Family of Parishes): Rev. Adalberto Espinoza, Rev. Bernardo Cruz, Rev. Noel Emmanuel Cornelio
- Full-Time Priest Support: Rev. Zaid Chabaan
Devotions
The parish maintains a rich calendar of traditional Catholic devotions that rotate with the seasons of the Church year, with a weekly St. Anthony Novena every Tuesday morning after Mass.
- Tuesdays 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: St. Anthony Novena & Mass
- Advent: Christmas novena
- Lent: Loreto devotions
- May: Loreto devotions (month of Mary)
- June: Sacred Heart devotions
- July: Precious Blood of Jesus devotions
- October: Holy Rosary devotions
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full normal range of Catholic sacraments. In addition to the weekly Mass schedule and Reconciliation listed above, parishioners are invited to contact the parish office to arrange Baptisms, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacramental needs.
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- Marriage — by arrangement with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — upon request
- Reconciliation — see schedule above
- Eucharist — see Mass schedule above
Ministries, Outreach and Community Life
Throughout its 120-year history, Holy Cross has combined Hungarian Catholic cultural and linguistic identity with hands-on service to neighbors in need. The Daughters of Divine Charity, a Hungarian order of nuns, ran the parish school and the St. Elizabeth Orphanage and St. Elizabeth Home for the Aged from 1932. During the Great Depression Msgr. Dezső Nagy established a soup kitchen for the hungry. In the 1980s Fr. Vendel Pócsai, OFM organized a Hungarian school for adults and children, and the parish continues that tradition of Hungarian-language education today. The parish is part of the Archdiocese's Central Southwest 1 Family of Parishes, sharing clergy and mission with neighboring parishes.
- Hungarian language school for adults and children
- St. Elizabeth Orphanage and St. Elizabeth Home for the Aged (founded 1932)
- Daughters of Divine Charity (Hungarian order of nuns)
- Soup Kitchen for the hungry (founded by Msgr. Nagy during the Great Depression)
- St. Anthony Novena devotion (Tuesdays)
- Seasonal devotions for Advent, Lent, May (Mary), June (Sacred Heart), July (Precious Blood), October (Rosary)
- Family of Parishes: Central Southwest 1 (Archdiocese of Detroit)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hubert Klenner1905 – c.1921
Founding pastor, born in Kolozsvár, Transylvania. Built the first frame church, school, and rectory.
- Fr. Lajos Kovács1921 – 1927
Credited with building the present Neo-Gothic church. Died suddenly on July 22, 1927.
- Msgr. Dezső Nagy1927 – 1941
Established a soup kitchen for the hungry during the Great Depression. Died April 14, 1941.
- Fr. Ernő Rick1941 (short time)
Assigned briefly after Msgr. Nagy's death.
- Fr. Daniel Trapp1941 – c.1942
Successor, served about 9 months. Built additions to the school.
- Fr. Andrew Jacobsc.1942 – 1974
Former Associate Pastor who took over pastoral duties. Entered eternal rest in 1974.
- Fr. Dominic Csorba, O.F.M.1974 – 1980s
Appointed by Cardinal Dearden. Purchased twelve lots around the church, built a park and paved parking lots, and oversaw the 75th anniversary renovation in 2000 (anniversary observed in 2000 for 1925 church).
- Fr. Vendel Pócsai, O.F.M.1980s – c.1994
Organized a Hungarian school for adults and children. Returned to his home in Hungary after about 8 years.
- Fr. Barnabas G. Kiss, O.F.M.1994 – present
Hungarian Franciscan Friar appointed pastor in 1994 along with Fr. Angelus Ligeti as associate. Led extensive renovations through 2004 and the 100th anniversary celebrations in 2005.