About Holy Cross · Hutchinson, Kansas
Church of the Holy Cross is a Catholic parish in Hutchinson, Kansas, founded on June 14, 1957 by Bishop Mark K. Carroll as the third Catholic parish in the city. It belongs to the Diocese of Wichita and today serves about 1,070 families (roughly 2,741 registered Catholics) in northern Hutchinson and the surrounding Reno County townships. The parish campus at 2631 Independence Road includes a permanent 1980s church seating up to 1,000 and a grade school (Holy Cross Catholic School, Pre-K–6) that has operated on the grounds since 1962. It is currently pastored by Fr. Jerome Spexarth and has three priests serving the parish family.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- The Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Jerome J. (Jerome) Spexarth
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
Holy Cross offers the full sacramental life of a large, well-staffed parish — three priests serving the community, perpetual adoration, daily and weekend Masses, and a robust sacramental-preparation program — all in a single building shaped to seat up to 1,000 worshippers. Members grow in faith through a deep formation menu (OCIA/RCIA, PSR, ACTS retreats, Theology on Tap, Cursillo, Bible Study, and Trinity Catholic Jr./Sr. High School partnerships) and put faith into action through more than forty ministries, from St. Vincent de Paul, Birthright, Meals on Wheels, the Soup Kitchen and Respect Life, to the Hibernians, Cub Scouts, Rosary Leaders, Shawl Ministry and the Prodigal Prayer Group. Families also benefit from an on-site Catholic grade school (Pre-K–6) that has been forming students since 1962, alongside the parish's renowned M.P. Moller pipe organ and historic stained-glass liturgy.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday–Friday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- 30 minutes before each weekday Mass
- (Site note: while the church is being worked on, confessions are heard in the Holy Cross grade school nurse office.)
Adoration times
- Perpetual adoration (per the Diocese of Wichita parish directory)
Welcome & Identity
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Wichita that welcomes roughly 1,070 families (about 2,741 registered Catholics) in the northern half of Hutchinson, Kansas. The website opens with a clear invitation to weekend and daily Mass, confession and other sacraments, and a perpetual-adoration community. The parish identifies itself as the third Catholic parish of Hutchinson, founded to minister to families north of 14th Street and the northern tier of Reno County.
- Diocese of Wichita parish; ~1,070 families registered
- Three priests currently assigned (Pastor, Senior Parochial Vicar, Parochial Vicar)
- Perpetual adoration
History
The parish was created June 14, 1957 by Bishop Mark K. Carroll; the first Mass was in the 4-H building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on June 23, 1957, with Fr. Vincent G. Brown as founding pastor. A combined church and school building was completed in 1959 (church dedicated June 14, 1959), and Holy Cross Elementary School opened in fall 1962. From the beginning leaders viewed this first complex as interim, reserving land on the 27th and Plum site for a permanent church. That dream took shape in 1980 under Fr. Sean O'Shea through the OPUS DEI capital appeal, which raised about $1.8 million. Ground was broken November 1, 1981; the cornerstone laid April 24, 1983; the church dedicated and consecrated that October — only the fourth in the Diocese of Wichita to receive both ceremonies at once.
- Founded June 14, 1957 (Bishop Mark K. Carroll)
- First pastor: Fr. Vincent G. Brown (1957–1964)
- Interim church-school building dedicated June 14, 1959
- Holy Cross Elementary School opened fall 1962
- OPUS DEI capital campaign launched 1980 under Fr. Sean O'Shea
- Permanent church ground broken Nov 1, 1981; cornerstone laid April 24, 1983
- Dedicated and consecrated October 1983
Architecture & Features of the Church
The permanent church is built of cottonwood limestone from southeast Kansas and laid out as a Gaelic cross, with north and south transepts and seating for as many as 1,000. A 100-foot bell tower and steeple (assembled in Campbell, Kentucky) is topped by an 8-foot, ~4,000-lb gaelic cross. The carpeted sanctuary features a white Georgian marble altar flanked by lindenwood statues of the Crucified Christ, the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, with hand-carved Italian lindenwood Stations of the Cross.
- Cruciform / Gaelic-cross plan, cottonwood-limestone exterior
- 39 Willet stained-glass windows (Philadelphia, 1981–1983) including 8½-ft Rose Window
- 1,445-pipe M.P. Moller pipe organ (Hagerstown, MD)
- I.T. Verdin bell and angelus system (Cincinnati) — angelus three times daily
- Cry room in north transept, south transept known as "Our Lady's"
- Reconciliation Room, bride's room, library, lower-level kitchen & offices
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is staffed by three priests and a small office team. The Pastor is Fr. Jerome J. Spexarth (since 2023), assisted by Fr. Matthew D. Marney as Senior Parochial Vicar and Fr. Andrew J. Meng as Parochial Vicar. Office support is provided by Parish Secretary Tammi Ediger, Receptionist/Sacramental Records Molly Smith, and additional staff (Wasinger).
- Pastor: Rev. Jerome J. Spexarth (2023–present)
- Senior Parochial Vicar: Rev. Matthew D. Marney
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrew J. Meng
- Parish Secretary: Tammi Ediger
- Receptionist / Sacramental Records: Molly Smith
- Staff: K. Wasinger
Sacraments
Holy Cross prepares members for the seven sacraments through infant baptism classes, OCIA (RCIA) for older children and adults, Confirmation in the 6th grade (Diocesan norm, prepared via PSR or the Catholic school), First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, Marriage (contact the parish office), and Anointing of the Sick/pastoral care through the Ministry of Consolation.
- Baptism — infant class required; older candidates via OCIA/RCIA
- Confirmation — typically 6th grade in the Diocese of Wichita
- First Reconciliation / First Eucharist
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick / pastoral care
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Faith Formation
The parish frames formation as lifelong: "Faith is not maintained automatically. It is not 'finished'… constantly renewed." (Pope Benedict XVI). Programs include OCIA, PSR for grade-schoolers, ACTS weekend retreats (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service), Theology on Tap, Cursillo, CYM, and Bible Study & Faith Sharing. Adult ACTS retreats begin Thursday evening and close with the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass and potluck, with the main program and lodging at the Cross-Wind Conference Center. Students also feed into Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School (7–12) and Holy Cross Catholic Grade School & Preschool.
- OCIA
- PSR (Parish School of Religion)
- ACTS retreats
- Theology on Tap
- Cursillo
- CYM
- Bible Study & Faith Sharing
- Holy Cross Catholic Grade School & Preschool
- Trinity Catholic Jr./Sr. High School
Get Involved — Parish Ministries
Holy Cross organizes its ministries into four streams: Hospitality, Prayer, Formation and Service. The full roster exceeds forty active ministries and groups — from liturgical roles (Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans, Gift Bearers, Greeters, Ushers, Liturgical Art & Environment, Accompanists/Cantors/Instrumentalists, Teen Choir, Guitar Group) to outreach (St. Vincent de Paul, Birthright, Meals on Wheels, Soup Kitchen, Food for the Hungry, Respect Life, St. Dismas Prison Ministry, Faith & Light for persons with disabilities), to community life (Hibernians Fr. Sean O'Shea Division, Cub Scouts, Little Flower Girls' Club, Harvest House, Serra Club of Reno County, Welcome/Hospitality Committees, Shawl Ministry) and prayer (ACTS, Cursillo, Theology on Tap, Patriotic Rosary, Rosary Leaders, Prayer Chain, Prodigal Prayer Group).
- Hospitality: Greeters, Ushers, Welcome Committee, Hospitality Committee, Gift Shop, Altar Flowers
- Prayer: ACTS, Cursillo, Theology on Tap, Patriotic/Rosary Leaders, Prayer Chain, Prodigal Prayer Group, Shawl Ministry
- Formation: OCIA, PSR, Bible Study & Faith Sharing, CYM, Holy Cross Grade School, Trinity Catholic
- Service: St. Vincent de Paul, Birthright, Meals on Wheels, Soup Kitchen, Food for the Hungry, Respect Life, St. Dismas Prison Ministry, Faith & Light, Hibernians, Cub Scouts, Serra Club, Stewardship of God's Creation by Recycling, Service Projects, Building/Grounds/Maintenance
Liturgical Music & Environment
Music at Mass and liturgy is provided by the parish's 1,445-pipe M.P. Moller pipe organ (Hagerstown, Maryland), with volunteer accompanists, cantors, instrumentalists, a Teen Choir and a Guitar Group filling out the music ministry. The Verdin bell and music system also chimes daily and rings the angelus three times a day.
- M.P. Moller pipe organ
- Teen Choir, Guitar Group, Accompanists/Cantors/Instrumentalists
- Daily chimes and three-times-daily angelus
Outreach & Charitable Works
Service ministries put the parish in direct contact with those in need around Reno County. St. Vincent de Paul, Birthright, the Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, Food for the Hungry and St. Dismas Prison Ministry are anchor apostolates, joined by the Ministry of Consolation for the bereaved, Faith & Light for persons with disabilities, Respect Life, and a Recycling/Creation-care effort under the heading Stewardship of God's Creation.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Birthright Volunteer
- Soup Kitchen Ministry
- Meals on Wheels
- St. Dismas Prison Ministry
- Faith & Light
- Ministry of Consolation
- Respect Life
- Food for the Hungry
- Stewardship of God's Creation by Recycling
Community & Social Groups
Long-standing community organizations host members for fellowship and identity. The Hibernians Fr. Sean O'Shea Division of the Ancient Order keeps the parish connected to its Irish Catholic heritage and the legacy of the pastor who built the permanent church. Cub Scouts, the Little Flower Girls' Club, the Harvest House (parish seniors), the Serra Club of Reno County (vocations), and the Welcome/Hospitality Committees round out parish social life.
- Hibernians Fr. Sean O'Shea Division
- Cub Scouts
- Little Flower Girls' Club
- Harvest House
- Serra Club of Reno County
- Welcome & Hospitality Committees
Holy Cross Catholic School
The parish's Catholic grade school — Holy Cross Catholic Elementary — has operated on the parish campus since opening in fall 1962, when it shared the interim complex built in 1958–59. It currently serves Pre-K through 6th grade and is described on the site as "a Catholic Learning Community Building Disciples of Christ." The school publishes uniform-order forms (including Spanish-language versions), a one-page academic calendar for 2025–2026, an E-funds electronic-payments portal, and a school-news feed. Older students feed into Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School (grades 7–12), a regional Catholic school also referenced on the parish site.
- Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School (Pre-K–6) — opened fall 1962
- Built in the 1960s as part of the original 27th & Plum complex
- Uniforms, E-funds, calendar and news published online
- Feeder: Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School (7–12)
Visit & Contact
The parish office is at 2631 Independence Road, Hutchinson, KS 67502 (church) with the school office at 2633 Independence Road. The parish office can be reached at (620) 665-5163 and the school at (620) 665-6168 (fax 620-665-0368). Email contacts include the Parish Secretary ([email protected]), Sacramental Records/ Receptionist ([email protected]) and a third staff member ([email protected]). During current church work, weekend and weekday Masses are held in the Holy Cross grade school gymnasium and confessions in the grade school nurse office.
- Address: 2631 Independence Rd, Hutchinson, KS 67502 (church); 2633 Independence Rd (school)
- Parish phone: (620) 665-5163
- School phone: (620) 665-6168; fax (620) 665-0368
- Mass/confession temporarily in Holy Cross grade school during church work
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vincent G. Brown1957–1964
Founding pastor; celebrated first Mass at the Kansas State Fairgrounds 4-H building on June 23, 1957.
- Msgr. Irvin Lampe1964–1967
- Fr. William Wheeler1967–1973
- Fr. Sean O'Shea1973–1985
Led the OPUS DEI capital campaign and groundbreaking for the permanent church in 1981; the parish's Hibernians division is named in his honor.
- Fr. David Cushing1985–1987
- Fr. Robert HembergerOct 1986 – March 1987 (pro-tem)
Served as pastor pro-tem.
- Fr. Victor Bieberle1987–1995
- Fr. Brian Egan1995–2001
- Fr. Colin BoorApril 2001 – July 2001 (interim)
Interim pastor.
- Fr. Brian Bebak2001–2002
- Fr. Joseph Eckberg2002–2015
- Fr. Roger Lumbre2015–2017
- Fr. Aaron Spexarth2017–2023
- Fr. Jerome Spexarth2023–present
Current pastor; Diocese of Wichita directory lists him as Rev. Jerome J. Spexarth.