About Holy Cross · Indiantown, Florida
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a multicultural parish in Indiantown, Florida, in the Diocese of Palm Beach. Founded in 1960 on the site of a former Baptist church, it has grown from a mission with 31 founding families into a vibrant bilingual (English and Spanish) community serving Indiantown's immigrant and farmworker population. The parish is led by Rev. Francisco J. Osorio and is anchored by its relic of the True Cross, the Eucharist, and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Today Holy Cross is known regionally for the annual Guadalupano Festival, Hope Rural School, the Catholic Charities Service Center, and the new church consecrated by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito in 2010.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- Holy Cross (Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated September 14)
- Rector
- Rev. Francisco J. Osorio
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a warm, bilingual Catholic family that takes seriously its call to welcome immigrants, accompany farmworkers, and serve the needy in Indiantown — a mission it has lived out since 1980 through Hope Rural School and the Catholic Charities Service Center. Worshippers find a full schedule of English and Spanish Masses, a relic of the True Cross, an active RCIA, faith formation for children, a strong youth presence (with a monthly Youth Mass), about 10 small faith communities meeting weekly in homes, and nine music/livestream ministries broadcasting on Catholic radio and Facebook Live. The annual Guadalupano Festival — held for over 20 years — has helped finance the new church and embodies the parish's Marian heart under the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
History of Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross was born in 1960 when Yvonne Famel donated a former Baptist church building and about 20 acres of land, and Monsignor Michael Beerhalter celebrated the first Mass on July 3, 1960, for 31 families and 78 worshipers. After nearly a decade as a mission, the community was officially erected as an independent parish in 1969 under Father Charles Clemens, an Indiantown native. The parish grew alongside the area's immigrant and farmworker population, founding Hope Rural School and the Catholic Charities Service Center in 1980, and outgrew its original sanctuary — leading Father Nestor Rodríguez to spearhead construction of the new church, dedicated by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito in 2010. Father Francisco J. Osorio has served as pastor since July 1, 2011, and on September 14, 2025, the parish joyfully marked its 65th anniversary on the universal Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
- 1960 — Parish founded by donation from Yvonne Famel; first Mass July 3, 1960
- 1969 — Erected as an independent parish; Father Charles Clemens first administrator
- 1980 — Co-founding of Hope Rural School and Catholic Charities Service Center
- 2010 — New church dedicated by Bishop Barbarito during 50th jubilee
- 2011 — Father Francisco J. Osorio appointed pastor (July 1, 2011)
- 2025 — 65th anniversary celebrated with Bishop Barbarito on Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Mission & Identity
Holy Cross describes itself as a family of people of diverse ethnic cultures committed to living the Gospel values and, in the example of Jesus Christ, open in the service of all to announce the Good News of Salvation — under the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and through the witness of charity to the needy of Indiantown. The Spanish-language mission statement mirrors this exactly, calling parishioners to be a family of diverse cultures serving the most vulnerable.
- Three cornerstones: the Cross (relic of the True Cross), the Eucharist, and the Virgin Mary
- Strong Marian identity under Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgical life
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Francisco J. Osorio and supported by a committed lay staff and pastoral councils. Father Osorio has shepherded the parish since July 1, 2011, working closely with the Hispanic Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, parish ministries, and many volunteers and benefactors.
- Rev. Francisco J. Osorio — Pastor
- Juan Carlos Lasso — Director of Religious Education
- Luis Nicolas — Office Secretary
- Janet Hernandez — Part-Time Accountant
- Gabriela Velasquez — Organist and Choir Director
- Maricela Ortiz — RCIA Director
- Sacristan team (including Venerado Cruzado)
- Hispanic Pastoral Council & Finance Council
Mass & Worship Schedule
Holy Cross offers a generous weekly schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, including a monthly Youth Mass. Masses are also broadcast through Catholic radio and Facebook Live, with the parish's music ministry helping lead worship.
- Saturday: 5:00 PM (English); 7:30 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 9:00 AM (English); 11:00 AM (Spanish); 1:00 PM (Spanish)
- 2nd Sunday of each month — 6:00 PM Youth Mass
- Weekdays: Tuesday 5:00 PM; Wednesday 8:30 AM; Thursday 7:00 PM; Friday 8:30 AM
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish offers online registration for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, with preparation available in English and Spanish. Sacraments are coordinated through the parish office at 772-597-2798.
- Baptism — birth certificate required
- First Communion — two-year preparation; birth and baptism certificates required
- Confirmation — birth and baptism certificates required; class language preference collected
- Marriage — pre-marriage registration via the parish website
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — directed by Maricela Ortiz
- Anointing / Ministry to the sick via Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is led by Director of Religious Education Juan Carlos Lasso and offers First Communion (two-year track), Confirmation preparation, and RCIA for adults. About 10 small faith communities (pequeñas comunidades) also meet weekly in homes and neighborhoods — a model the parish has nurtured for nearly two decades to read and pray with the Word of God together.
- First Communion — First and Second Year tracks
- Confirmation classes (English/Spanish)
- RCIA for adults
- Small faith communities — ~10 groups meeting weekly in homes
Music, Liturgy & Media
Liturgical music is coordinated by Organist and Choir Director Gabriela Velasquez. About nine ministries of liturgical music and livestreaming — many of which became more central during the COVID-19 pandemic — broadcast Mass and parish events through Catholic radio and Facebook Live. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also receive periodic workshop training.
- Parish choir and organist
- Livestreaming via Catholic radio and Facebook Live
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (workshops provided)
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Around 27 community ministries are housed within the parish, each an active part of parish life and the sacramental-missionary building of the community. The Hispanic pastoral council coordinates activities across ministries, including the annual Guadalupano Festival.
- Religious Education
- RCIA
- Music & livestream ministries (≈9 ministries)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Small faith communities (≈10)
- Annual Guadalupano Festival committee
- Service Center volunteers (clothing, furniture, non-perishable food collections)
Hope Rural School & Catholic Charities Service Center
Two of Holy Cross's signature social ministries were co-founded by the parish in 1980 and remain vital. Hope Rural School serves immigrant families with diverse origins under directors with strong social and academic commitment. The Catholic Charities Service Center, located at 15265 SW Adams Ave., Indiantown, distributes non-perishable food, clothing, and furniture to those in need (contact Mr. Brooks or Juan Carlos Lasso at 772-597-3382 or 772-597-2798).
- Hope Rural School — founded 1980; serves immigrant families
- Catholic Charities Service Center — 15265 SW Adams Ave., Indiantown, FL 34956; phone 772-597-3382
- Non-perishable food, clothing, and furniture collections
Annual Devotions & Festivals
The parish's Marian heart shows in a packed annual calendar of celebrations that bring the wider Indiantown community — including its strong Guatemalan and Mexican heritage — together. The Guadalupano Festival alone has been held for more than 20 years and has helped finance the construction of the new church and pay part of its loan debt.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival (December 6–8) — held 20+ years
- Festival of Barriletes (kites)
- Festivities of San Miguel, San Rafael, and San Pedro Soloma
- Day of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls') observance
- Anniversary celebrations of the parish's 27 community ministries
Visiting Holy Cross — Address & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Cross by phone, email, or in person. Office hours are available through the parish secretary; bulletins can be downloaded from the parish website, and weekly bulletin email updates are available through DiscoverMass.
- Address: 15939 SW 150th St, Indiantown, FL 34956
- Phone: (772) 597-2798
- Fax: (772) 597-2741
- Email: [email protected]
- Payments via Zelle to [email protected]
- Parish website: holycrossindiantown.org
- Weekly bulletins available via DiscoverMass
Notable Visitors & Connections
In October 2013, Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini of Huehuetenango, Guatemala — known for his work on social justice and indigenous rights — visited Holy Cross. He celebrated a multilingual Mass (Spanish, K'iche', and Kanjobal) with live marimba, reflecting the large Guatemalan population from Huehuetenango that calls Holy Cross home. The parish's relic of the True Cross, donated by founder Yvonne Famel, was again venerated publicly at the 65th anniversary Mass in September 2025.
- Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini of Huehuetenango — pastoral visit October 2013
- Relic of the True Cross — donated 1960 by Yvonne Famel, venerated at the 65th anniversary Mass
- Sister-parish ties across the Diocese of Palm Beach
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Michael Beerhalter1960 (first Mass; from St. Anastasia, Fort Pierce)
Celebrated the founding Mass on July 3, 1960, while Holy Cross was still a mission.
- Rev. Charles Clemens1969
Indiantown native; appointed first administrator when the mission was erected as an independent parish.
- Rev. Nestor Rodríguez
Led the construction of the new Holy Cross Church, which was consecrated in 2010; later installed as pastor of St. Joan of Arc, Boca Raton, in 2023.
- Rev. Francisco J. Osorio2011–present
Current pastor since July 1, 2011; previously installed in 2025 at 65th anniversary Mass with Bishop Barbarito.