About Holy Cross-Immaculata · Cincinnati, Ohio
Holy Cross-Immaculata is a Roman Catholic parish in Cincinnati, Ohio, perched atop Mt. Adams at 30 Guido Street and serving about 250 families. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and unites two historic communities that once served German and Irish immigrants on the hill. The parish is best known for the Immaculata Church, a Gothic Revival limestone shrine built by Archbishop John Baptist Purcell as a votive offering to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and for the famous Good Friday Pilgrimage of the Steps that has drawn the faithful since the 1870s.
- Established
- 1859
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Adam Puntel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
Holy Cross-Immaculata welcomes you to a living piece of Cincinnati Catholic history on Mt. Adams, where you can worship in the historic 1859 Gothic Revival Immaculata Church, walk the famous Good Friday steps, and join a parish that still serves the surrounding neighborhood through the Riverview Catholics St. Vincent de Paul Conference — visiting the homebound, providing food, clothing, rent, and utility assistance to neighbors in need, distributing Holy Communion to the sick, and partnering on annual outreach projects. With daily Mass, Monday Eucharistic Adoration, and a small, close-knit community of about 250 families, it is both a quiet prayerful shrine and a place of real service.
Mass times at Holy Cross-Immaculata
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, 6:30–7:30 PM (following the 6:00 PM Mass, during Eucharistic Adoration)
Adoration times
- Monday, 6:30–7:30 PM (following the 6:00 PM Monday Mass)
- Second Wednesday of the month, 2:00–4:00 PM
History of Holy Cross-Immaculata
The parish's identity is inseparable from its two predecessor parishes and the dramatic vow that gave rise to its shrine church. Archbishop John Baptist Purcell's 1843 storm-at-sea promise led to construction of the limestone Immaculata Church in 1859 atop Mt. Adams, with its first Mass on December 9, 1860. The Passionist fathers arrived in 1871 and built Holy Cross Church and Monastery two blocks west for the Irish immigrant community, while Immaculata continued to serve the German-speaking faithful. The Good Friday Pilgrimage of the Steps began in the 1870s, and the steps were rebuilt in concrete in 1911 with City of Cincinnati support. By 1970, demographic change on the hill led to the closure of Holy Cross Church and Monastery and the consolidation of the parishes. The Passionists left Mt. Adams in 1996 and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has since administered the combined Holy Cross-Immaculata Parish, which today serves about 250 families.
- 1843: Archbishop Purcell vows a votive church after a storm at sea.
- 1859: Immaculata Church (limestone, Gothic Revival) completed.
- December 9, 1860: First Mass celebrated at Immaculata.
- 1871: Passionists arrive; build Holy Cross Church and Monastery for the Irish.
- 1870s: Good Friday Pilgrimage of the Steps begins.
- 1911: Concrete steps replace the original wooden ones.
- 1970/1977: Holy Cross Church and Monastery close; parishes consolidate as Holy Cross-Immaculata.
- 1978: Immaculata complex listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
- 1996: Passionists depart Mt. Adams; Archdiocese of Cincinnati resumes direct administration.
Immaculata Church: The Shrine on the Hill
Built of native limestone in the Gothic Revival style and designed by architects Pickett & Sons and John Toby, Immaculata Church was completed in 1859 and is the heart of the parish. The interior features seven paintings by Joseph M. Kuriger over the main and side altars (1863–1870), and a painted scroll above the main altar in German asking Mary, conceived without sin, to pray for the conversion of America. The Immaculate Conception Church, School, and Rectory was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1978. The church perches on one of the highest points in Cincinnati, offering sweeping views of the Ohio River below.
- Architects: Pickett & Sons and John Toby
- Style: Gothic Revival, limestone
- Interior paintings by Joseph M. Kuriger (1863–1870)
- NRHP reference No. 78002079, listed December 29, 1978
The Good Friday Pilgrimage of the Steps
Since the 1870s, the faithful have climbed the steps leading up to Immaculata Church from the neighborhood below on Good Friday while praying the Rosary — the original 85 wooden steps were replaced with concrete in 1911 with the help of the City of Cincinnati, and an additional 65 steps now start at the base of Mt. Adams, connected by a pedestrian bridge over Columbia Parkway. The pilgrimage remains one of Cincinnati's most beloved Lenten devotions.
The Stealing of St. Patrick
Every February since 1971, members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians knock on the church door, ask the priest's permission, and remove the six-foot statue of St. Patrick from the church — with bagpipes leading a mini-parade through Mt. Adams. The custom unites the parish's Irish heritage (from Holy Cross parish days) with the surviving Immaculata community.
Our Staff & Clergy
Holy Cross-Immaculata is led by Pastor Fr. Adam Puntel, assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. Eric Roush and Fr. Jeremy Stubbs. The lay staff includes Pastoral Administrator Paul Roell, Director of Music and Worship Michael Johnson, Pastoral Associate Elaine Fuell, and Parish Secretary Letty Reifel Hater. The office can be reached at (513) 721-6544 or [email protected].
- Pastor: Fr. Adam Puntel
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Eric Roush
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Jeremy Stubbs
- Pastoral Administrator: Paul Roell
- Director of Music and Worship: Michael Johnson
- Pastoral Associate: Elaine Fuell
- Parish Secretary: Letty Reifel Hater
The Sisters of Charity on Mt. Adams
The Sisters of Charity served at both Holy Cross and Immaculata parishes, teaching at the affiliated schools from 1877 (Immaculata) and 1888 (Holy Cross) until 1976. At Immaculata they ran the elementary school until 1946, then led Immaculata Commercial High School until 1959. During the 150th anniversary celebration, the parish dedicated a statue of St. Elizabeth Seton with her children on September 12, commemorating 99 years of the Sisters' presence on Mt. Adams; native Sisters of the 'Holy Hill' joined the celebration, along with the SC leadership team.
- Sisters at Immaculata: 1877–1976
- Immaculata elementary school: 1877–1946
- Immaculata Commercial High School: 1946–1959
- Sisters at Holy Cross: 1888–1976
- St. Elizabeth Seton statue dedicated Sept. 12, 150th anniversary year
Outreach & Community Life
Holy Cross-Immaculata is part of the Riverview Catholics grouping and runs the Riverview Catholics St. Vincent de Paul Conference, which provides administrative support, home visits offering emergency assistance (food, clothing, rent, utilities, prescription drugs, furniture) and spiritual support, distribution of Holy Communion to homebound parishioners and nearby nursing homes on Sundays, and annual special projects. Parishioners can join by contacting Don Saelinger (513-543-9049 / [email protected]) or Sharon Weckel (513-235-1706 / [email protected]).
- Riverview Catholics St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Home visits for emergency assistance and spiritual support
- Sunday Eucharistic visits to nursing homes/homebound
- Annual special outreach projects
Visit, Tour & Contact
Parishioners, visitors, and school groups can request an HCI Historical Tour — a 45-minute guided experience including stops of significance and time for questions. Tours are free, photos are permitted, no tipping is expected, and a donation to the church is appropriate if desired. Tour requests are confirmed within one business day. The parish office is at 30 Guido Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1716, reachable at (513) 721-6544 or [email protected].
- Address: 30 Guido Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1716
- Phone: (513) 721-6544
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://hciparish.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HCIchurch/
- Historical Tour: 45 minutes, free, by appointment, donations appreciated