About Holy Cross · Harding, Minnesota
Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church is a small, century-old rural parish in the unincorporated village of Harding, in eastern Morrison County, Minnesota. Founded in 1902 on donated land in the Town of Platte and formally incorporated as the Church of the Holy Cross in 1904, it is part of the Diocese of St. Cloud and is now joined with neighboring parishes in the Father Francis Xavier Pierz Area Catholic Community (ACC). The church is best known for its landmark copper bell tower and granite facade, and for a robust tradition of lay organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, Rosary Sodality, and Mission Circle. It is currently served by Father Aaron Nett and Deacons Craig Korver and Leo Wehseler.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Father Aaron Nett
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Cloud
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a tight-knit rural parish with deep roots in Morrison County, offering weekday and Saturday Mass, an adoration chapel, and a strong tradition of lay-led groups such as the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, Rosary Sodality, Mission Circle, and a parish choir. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into a community that has sustained itself for more than a century through individual generosity, an annual bazaar, and a deep devotion to the Eucharist and to the Rosary. While the parish is now joined with three neighboring parishes in the Father Francis Xavier Pierz Area Catholic Community, the Holy Cross church building itself remains an open, prayerful presence in Harding.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First weekend of the month, after the 6:00 PM Saturday Mass
- 30 minutes before weekday Masses (Wed 7:30 AM)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the adoration chapel (added in 2001); contact Gloria Woitalla (320-277-3783) for the current schedule
History of Holy Cross Parish
The parish traces its beginnings to 1902, when a log church and a small house for the priest were built on donated land in the Town of Platte in eastern Morrison County. It was incorporated in 1904 as the Church of the Holy Cross, with Father R. Wawrzynski as first resident pastor. The log church burned on New Year's Day 1917, and after almost a year of services in the parish house, a new church was built two miles east in the village of Harding. A full-time pastor was assigned in July 1923, and the parish house was built that same year. In the late 1950s, the present church was constructed just north of the earlier one; its copper bell tower and granite facade have been local landmarks ever since. A major accessibility renovation in 2000–2001 added a four-stop elevator, a gathering space, an adoration chapel, and a handicapped confessional. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in August 2004.
- 1902 – Log church and priest's house built on donated land in the Town of Platte
- 1904 – Parish officially incorporated as the Church of the Holy Cross
- 1904 – Father R. Wawrzynski becomes first resident pastor
- 1917 – Original log church burns on New Year's Day
- 1917 – New church constructed two miles east in the village of Harding
- 1923 – Full-time pastor assigned in July; parish house built the same year
- Late 1950s – Present church built with copper bell tower and granite facade
- 2000–2001 – Renovation adds elevator, gathering space, adoration chapel, accessible confessional
- August 2004 – Parish celebrates 100th anniversary
- 2025 – Merged with three neighboring parishes into the Father Francis Xavier Pierz Area Catholic Community
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Holy Cross has a remarkably full roster of lay-led ministries and devotional societies for a small rural parish, reflecting the long tradition of parishioner involvement. Each group is led by a designated contact person listed on the parish's contact page.
- Holy Name Society – Dan Kozulla, 320-277-3768
- Rosary Sodality – Gloria Woitalla, 320-277-3783
- Knights of Columbus – Allen Woitalla, 320-277-3860
- Mission Circle – Marcella Woitalla, 320-277-3878
- Pro-Life ministry
- Adoration – Gloria Woitalla, 320-277-3783
- Guitar Group
- Parish Choir – Gary & Val Matlock, 320-468-6396
- Flowers & Altar Care – Kathy Hoffman Tax, 320-630-1880
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound – Leonard Thesing, 320-360-9720
- Parish Council (multiple council members listed)
- Father Pierz School of Religion (FPSR) Board
- Holy Trinity School Board
Clergy and Staff
Holy Cross is served by a pastor and deacons, along with parish staff, trustees, and a parish council. The current pastor is Father Aaron Nett, who joined the Father Francis Xavier Pierz Area Catholic Community in June 2023. The two deacons assigned to the parish are Deacon Craig Korver and Deacon Leo Wehseler.
- Pastor – Father Aaron Nett – 320-468-6033 – [email protected]
- Deacon – Craig Korver – 320-468-6033 – [email protected]
- Deacon – Leo Wehseler – [email protected]
- Secretary – Teresa Thesing – 320-360-9720 – [email protected]
- Bookkeeper – Debbie Woitalla – 320-277-3860
- Trustees – Yvonne Kisor (320-277-3419) and LeRoy Woitalla (218-251-1332)
Parish Council
The parish is led by a council of elected members who serve alongside the pastor, trustees, and parish staff. The full roster of council members is published on the parish contact page, and council minutes are made available through the parish website.
- Yvonne Kisor (Trustee & Council)
- LeRoy Woitalla (Trustee & Council)
- Denise Young
- Gary Matlock
- James Persson
- Doug Knopik
- Dave Skwira
- Jeff Thomas
- Debbie Woitalla
- Tim Schubert
Father Pierz Area Catholic Community (ACC)
In 2025, Holy Cross became part of the Father Francis Xavier Pierz Area Catholic Community, a single parish corporation that also includes St. Joseph's in Pierz, St. Michael's in Buckman, and St. John Nepomuk in Lastrup. All four church buildings retain their original names, but regular weekend Masses are now celebrated at St. Michael's and St. Joseph's. Holy Cross and St. John Nepomuk remain available for weddings and funerals for at least one year following the change, with the long-term status of the Holy Cross building to be reviewed by the diocese, the ACC committee, and parish leadership. Daily Mass within the ACC is offered Tuesday evening at St. John Nepomuk, Wednesday morning at Holy Cross, Thursday morning at St. Michael's, and Friday morning at St. Joseph's.
- Combined parishes: Holy Cross (Harding), St. Joseph's (Pierz), St. Michael's (Buckman), St. John Nepomuk (Lastrup)
- ACC pastor: Father Aaron Nett (joined June 2023)
- Regular weekend Masses now at St. Michael's and St. Joseph's
- Holy Cross remains available for weddings, funerals, and private prayer
- Saturday confession at St. John Nepomuk, 3:30 PM; Sunday confession at St. Michael's, 7:30 AM
Bulletin and Communications
The parish publishes a regular bulletin with the weekly Mass schedule, the pastor's column, announcements, and the parish calendar. Recent bulletins (including the April 2025 issue) are available as PDF downloads on the parish website. Bulletins are also the source for current contact information for the pastor, deacons, parish offices, and ministry leaders.
- Bulletins archived at hardingchurch.org/bulletin/
- Pastor's column and weekly Mass schedule in each bulletin
- Contact directory for clergy, staff, and ministry leaders in every bulletin
Sacraments and Devotions
Beyond Mass and confession, Holy Cross offers Eucharistic Adoration in the parish's dedicated chapel and a range of traditional Catholic devotions led by parish societies. The parish also has an active ministry of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who bring the Eucharist to the homebound, and it supports funerals, weddings, and the anointing of the sick through the parish office.
- Eucharistic Adoration in the adoration chapel
- Rosary Sodality and Holy Name Society Rosary
- Parish Prayers and Office of the Dead (Knights of Columbus)
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound
- Funerals and weddings by arrangement
- Anointing of the Sick
Buildings, Facilities, and Cemetery
The parish building includes the historic church with its copper bell tower and granite facade, a gathering space added in 2001, an adoration chapel, an accessible confessional, and accessible restrooms. The groundskeeper and building-rental coordinator is Leonard Thesing (320-360-9720), and inquiries about cemetery lots are directed to the parish secretary.
- Church with copper bell tower and granite facade (late 1950s)
- Four-stop elevator (added 2001)
- Gathering space, adoration chapel, accessible confessional and bathrooms (2001)
- Building rental – Leonard Thesing, 320-360-9720
- Cemetery lot inquiries – Teresa Thesing, 320-360-9720
- Groundskeeper – Leonard Thesing
Giving and Annual Bazaar
The 1950s church was originally paid for through individual donations and the proceeds of the annual parish bazaar, which continues to be held each year on the Sunday before Labor Day. Donations to the parish are coordinated through the parish office; the parish bulletin publishes the regular envelope and plate giving totals. Stole fees and other fees are listed on the parish website under 'Rentals and Fees.'
- Annual parish bazaar – Sunday before Labor Day
- Donations – coordinated through the parish office
- Stole fees and rental/fees schedule posted on the parish website
Finding Holy Cross
The parish is located in the unincorporated village of Harding in eastern Morrison County, Minnesota, on 243rd Street, with a Pierz mailing address. The church building is fully accessible, with elevator service, accessible confessionals, and accessible restrooms added in 2001.
- From Brainerd: south on Highway 25 for ~18 miles, then east 3 miles on Morrison County Road 48 into Harding
- From Pierz: north on Highway 25 for ~8 miles, then east 3 miles on Morrison County Road 48 into Harding
- Address: 29482 243rd Street, Harding, MN (Pierz, MN 56364-9411)
- Fully accessible building – four-stop elevator, accessible confessional, accessible restrooms
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father R. Wawrzynski1904–c.1917
First resident pastor of the parish, served when the log church in the Town of Platte was in use.
- Father David Maciej
Officiated at parish funerals in 2011 and 2021 according to local obituary records; served the parish/Harding area in that era.
- Father Aaron Nett2023–present
Joined the Father Francis Xavier Pierz Area Catholic Community in June 2023; current pastor.