About Holy Cross · Freeville, New York
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Freeville, New York, situated in the Town of Dryden in northern Tompkins County. It is one of three parishes that together form the N.E.T. Catholic (North East Tompkins) community, alongside All Saints in Lansing and St. Anthony in Groton — a cluster formed in 2005 and served since June 28, 2023 by Fr. John F. Gagnier as Parochial Administrator. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Rochester and offers weekly Sunday Mass, weekday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration. All liturgies are livestreamed and recorded on the NET Catholic Facebook page and YouTube channel.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the True Cross of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. John F. Gagnier (Parochial Administrator, NET Catholic)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Holy Cross offers a warm, faithful Catholic community in rural northern Tompkins County with the steady rhythm of weekly Sunday Mass, midweek weekday Mass, and a dedicated Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration with Confession each Tuesday evening. As part of the NET Catholic cluster, parishioners benefit from shared ministries, a bilingual parish community that welcomes Spanish-speaking families and migrant workers, and the convenience of livestreamed liturgies for those who cannot attend in person. Small enough to know one another and rooted in over 70 years of local Catholic history, Holy Cross is a place where families can worship, receive the sacraments, and serve together.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (with Adoration)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Holy Hour with Confession, led by Deacon Dan)
Welcome to Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Rochester, located at 375 George Road in Freeville, NY — in the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County. It is one of three parishes in the NET Catholic (North East Tompkins) community, a pastoral cluster that also includes All Saints Church in Lansing and St. Anthony's Church in Groton. The parish invites all to join in its Sunday Mass, midweek Mass, weekly Tuesday Holy Hour, and shared parish life.
Parish History
The parish was begun in 1950 to serve Catholics in the Dryden/Freeville area. For its first two decades, the community celebrated Mass in a chapel at the George Junior Republic, a residential facility for at-risk youth. In 1970, Holy Cross opened its first dedicated church at 375 George Road. Its founding pastor, Fr. Thomas K. Cleary, served for 35 years until his retirement in 1985.
- 1950 — parish established; Masses celebrated at George Junior Republic chapel
- 1970 — first Holy Cross church opened at 375 George Road
- 1985 — founding pastor Fr. Thomas K. Cleary retires after 35 years
- 2005 — Holy Cross joins with All Saints (Lansing) and St. Anthony (Groton) to form the NET Catholic cluster
- 2023 — Fr. John F. Gagnier appointed Parochial Administrator (June 28, 2023)
Clergy & Staff
Holy Cross is served through the NET Catholic cluster, with Fr. John F. Gagnier serving as Parochial Administrator since June 28, 2023. Fr. Gagnier was ordained a priest on April 28, 1978, and recently celebrated his 45th anniversary in Vatican City with an audience with Pope Francis. Deacon Dan is referenced on the parish site as leading the Tuesday evening Holy Hour/Adoration at Holy Cross when the priest is unavailable.
- Rev. John F. Gagnier — Parochial Administrator, NET Catholic (ordained April 28, 1978)
- Deacon Dan — assists with Tuesday Adoration at Holy Cross
NET Catholic Cluster (All Saints, Holy Cross, St. Anthony)
Since 2005, Holy Cross has been part of the NET Catholic (North East Tompkins) cluster, a pastoral grouping of three rural parishes in northern Tompkins County. The cluster combines resources for faith formation, sacramental preparation, outreach, and livestreamed liturgies, while each parish retains its own identity, sanctuary, and weekly Mass schedule. Cluster offices and offices for All Saints are at 347 Ridge Road, Lansing, NY 14882.
- All Saints Church — 347 Ridge Road, Lansing, NY (Sunday Mass 10:30 AM)
- Holy Cross Church — 375 George Road, Freeville, NY (Sunday Mass 8:30 AM)
- St. Anthony's Church — 312 Locke Road, Groton, NY (Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30 PM, Sunday 2:00 PM)
- Main parish office: 347 Ridge Road, Lansing, NY 14882 — (607) 533-0145
Parish Office & Visiting
The Holy Cross parish office is open on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 375 George Road, Freeville, NY 13068. Visitors coming from Route 13 should look for church signs posted along the highway; Holy Cross is approximately one-quarter mile off Route 13 in the Town of Dryden. The main NET Catholic parish office, open Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., is at 347 Ridge Road, Lansing, NY 14882.
- Holy Cross office hours — Wednesday 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- NET Catholic main office — Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 347 Ridge Road, Lansing
- Located ~1/4 mile off Route 13 in Dryden; church signs on Route 13
Outreach & Ministries
Holy Cross participates in several NET Catholic outreach efforts. Most notably, the parish and its sister parishes welcome Spanish-speaking migrant workers in the Tompkins County area: Spanish-language Masses are celebrated weekly at St. Anthony in Groton, and Fr. Jorge Ramírez (parochial vicar) coordinates sacramental preparation for adults seeking Christian initiation. The parish also hosts ecumenical and charitable activities — including a group that makes sleeping bags for the homeless, meeting at Holy Cross on Fridays from 10 AM to 3 PM through April each year (no sewing experience required).
- Spanish-language sacramental preparation for migrant workers (RCIA)
- Sleeping-bag ministry for the homeless — meets Fridays 10 AM–3 PM (seasonal)
- My Brother's Keeper ecumenical group (referenced on NET Catholic site)
- NET Catholic Safe Environment program
Diocese & Deanery
Holy Cross is a parish of the Diocese of Rochester, served through the East Deanery, which spans three counties in the Rochester region's eastern reaches. The Diocese of Rochester's Pastoral Services Directory lists Holy Cross as a recognized parish under the care of its Parochial Administrator.
- Diocese of Rochester
- East Deanery (three-county deanery)
- Listed in the Diocesan Pastoral Services Directory under Dryden-Freeville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas K. Cleary1950-1985
Founding pastor; served the parish for 35 years from its establishment until his retirement.