Holy Cross

Welcome & Parish Identity

Holy Cross's welcome page describes the parish as 'a culturally diverse, historically Black Catholic faith community that welcomes all people to membership and participation in the life of our parish.' The community gathers to worship Jesus Christ in joy and to proclaim the Gospel by evangelizing, educating youth, and practicing a spirituality that finds God in all things. The parish's Mission Statement adds a commitment to addressing the needs of the Durham community through direct service and the promotion of social justice. Its Vision Statement expresses the desire to be 'a Catholic community of faith, characterized by praise, reverence and service to God our Lord… a fire that kindles other fires.'

Our History — From 1939 Mission to Diocesan Parish

The Our History page traces the parish from its 1939 founding through three eras of pastoral leadership: the Jesuits (1939–2014), the Conventual Franciscans (2014–2021), and diocesan leadership (2021–present). The current sanctuary on S. Alston Avenue was dedicated in December 2007, and the original 1953 sanctuary was preserved as NCCU's Centennial Chapel in 2010. The full chronological narrative, with names, dates and pastoral transitions, is detailed above in the 'history' field.

Parish Staff

The About Us page lists the parish's current staff, and the Contact page extends that with each staff member's email and phone extension. Together they form a small, dedicated team of lay professionals serving alongside the pastor and deacon.

• Pastor — Fr. Pius Wekesa ([email protected]; main line 919-957-2900; rectory voicemail 919-908-9950)
• Deacon — Michael Brown ([email protected]; appointed June 2025)
• Director of Religious Education — Kiersten Abernathy-Brown ([email protected]; ext. 4)
• Pastoral Associate / Business Office Manager — Lauren Green ([email protected]; [email protected]; ext. 5)
• Office Administrator — Toni K. Hall ([email protected]; ext. 1)
• Choir Director — contact via [email protected]
• Facilities Manager — contact via [email protected]

Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation

Children age 7 and older who have not yet received Baptism or First Communion are invited into Holy Cross Faith Formation. Class sessions are held after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass in the Parish Hall and other parish spaces, and parish volunteers serve as catechists. All catechists complete the Diocese of Raleigh's Safe Environment training and receive grade-appropriate teaching materials; they also chaperone an annual Faith Formation field trip. Sacramental preparation covers Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation under the Director of Religious Education.

• Director of Religious Education: Kiersten Abernathy-Brown ([email protected])
• Children's music lesson held in the choir space before Faith Formation classes
• Annual Faith Formation field trip (e.g., to an amusement park)
• Safe Environment training required for all catechists
• Youth Ministry Sunday — second Sunday of the month during the school year (children serve as lectors and ushers)

Becoming Catholic — OCIA (RCIA)

The parish describes OCIA (formerly RCIA) as a communal process of study, exploration, faith-sharing and formation with specific liturgical rites for non-baptized adults seeking full initiation and for baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. The process typically runs from Fall to Easter, with the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation — celebrated at the Easter Vigil. Deacon Michael Brown leads the 2025–26 Adult Faith Formation / OCIA at Holy Cross. Two Flocknote groups — for OCIA candidates and OCIA catechists — are used to keep participants and volunteers connected, alongside the parish's FORMED account (extensive video lectures and films on Catholic topics) and a Young Adults 'Road to Sainthood' track.

• Period of Inquiry (Pre-Catechumenate)
• Rite of Initiation / Acceptance into the worshipping community
• Catechumenate — extended period of learning and formation
• Rite of Election — catechumens and candidates received by the bishop
• Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation)
• Mystagogy — post-Easter reflection and sending forth
• Contact for OCIA: Deacon Brown (appointed June 2025)

Liturgical & Prayer Ministries

Liturgical life at Holy Cross is supported by a robust team of lay ministers coordinated through the Liturgy & Worship cluster. Music is a defining element of the parish's identity: a Gospel choir sings at the 10:00 Sunday Mass, and all children in Faith Formation participate in a brief music lesson in the choir space before class. The parish also lists a Prayer Group (via Zoom), a Rosary group, and a Mother's Perpetual Help devotion on its calendar.

• Altar Servers — Jackie Ellis
• Altar Society — Jackie Ellis
• Choir — [email protected]
• Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist — Eric Crump
• Lectors — Christine Cameron
• Liturgy & Worship — Deacon Michael Brown ([email protected]; 919-961-0205)
• Sacristans — Harriette Nichols
• Ushers / Mass Volunteers — Anthony Wilson
• Anointing and Funerals — Fr. Pius; Funeral Repasts — Betty Blackmon

Parish Life, Outreach & Service Ministries

The parish organizes its non-liturgical ministries into clusters designed to help parishioners put faith into action. The Service and Outreach cluster includes Community Outreach and Social Justice, Hospitality and Evangelization, and Stewardship of Parish Resources, while Communications & Technology supports the parish's digital life. Garden and grounds ministries — Landscaping and a (Vegetable) Sharing Garden — round out opportunities for hands-on service.

• Community Outreach and Social Justice — A va Thompson
• Communications & Technology — Don Baker (communications); Kevin Green (technology)
• Hospitality and Evangelization — cluster contact role currently vacant; inquiries to Pastoral Council Chair Reginald Ross-Weaks
• Men's Society — James Turner
• Pastoral Council — Reginald Ross-Weaks
• Stewardship of Parish Resources — Sharon Baker
• Landscaping and (Vegetable) Sharing Garden — see Ministries & Organizations pages

Sacraments & Devotions

Beyond weekday and Sunday Mass, Holy Cross's calendar lists monthly Mother of Perpetual Help services, Friday-evening Stations of the Cross during Lent (in person and via a virtual link), and the full Paschal Triduum (Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday, Holy Saturday vigil with initiation of new Catholics at the Easter Vigil). The parish also celebrates an annual Multicultural Celebration honoring St. Kateri Tekakwitha in partnership with AAMEN/NAC of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, and occasionally Eucharistic Adoration (typically listed at 8:30 AM on the calendar).

• Baptism — scheduled with the Faith Formation office
• First Communion — preparation through Faith Formation; First Communion class details announced via the parish News Blog and Faith Formation Flocknote
• Confirmation — preparation through Faith Formation and sacramental prep
• Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. Pius
• Marriage — contact the parish office
• Funerals and Repasts — Fr. Pius (Anointing & Funerals); Betty Blackmon (Funeral Repasts)
• Mother of Perpetual Help — monthly devotion (per calendar)
• Stations of the Cross — Friday evenings during Lent

Liturgical Calendar & Seasons of the Church

The parish's Liturgical Calendar page walks through the seasons of the universal Church — Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time — and notes parish-specific observances: Friday-evening Stations of the Cross during Lent and the Easter Vigil celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation for those who have journeyed through OCIA.

Visit, Register & Get Involved

The Welcome page invites new arrivals, returning Catholics, and inquirers to make themselves known — registering as a new parishioner, expressing an interest in returning to the faith, or beginning a conversation about joining the Catholic Church. Visitors are asked to refrain from talking in the gathering space before Mass so that confessions can be heard. Once settled, parishioners are encouraged to explore the Ministries & Organizations pages, contact a cluster coordinator by email, and introduce themselves (mentioning that the parish website sent them). Office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM.

Contact, Address & Hours

Mailing address and parish office: 2438 S. Alston Avenue, Durham, NC 27713. Main phone (919) 957-2900; fax 919-957-2901; rectory voicemail 919-908-9950. Office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Email the office at [email protected]; reach the pastor at [email protected]. An interactive map with driving directions is available on the website.