About Holy Cross · Kernersville, North Carolina
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a Latin Rite parish of the Diocese of Charlotte serving Kernersville, North Carolina, and the surrounding Piedmont Triad community. The parish was founded in 1973 as a mission of St. Benedict the Moor in Winston-Salem and has grown from seven founding families to over 2,000 families today. Holy Cross offers daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, along with a robust Faith Formation program, vibrant youth ministry, and a long-running immigration legal clinic that has served the local Hispanic community since the mid-1980s.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- The Holy Cross (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
- Rector
- Rev. Noah C. (Noah Christian) Carter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
Parishioners are drawn to Holy Cross by its deep sense of family and its bilingual, multicultural community that crosses generations and national origins. The parish offers a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses in English and Spanish, regular Eucharistic Adoration, a strong Faith Formation program from preschool through high school, EDGE middle school and Life Teen youth ministry, RCIA for adults, and a respected Daycare and Immigration Legal Services office that has served local families since the 1980s. With over 2,000 families and 50 years of history, Holy Cross offers both the warmth of a tight-knit community and the resources of a large parish.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to each Mass
- Friday at 5:30 PM
- By appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM – 6:45 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- First Friday/Saturday: nocturnal adoration 8:00 PM – 9:45 AM
- Vigil of the Two Hearts: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Parish History
Holy Cross began in 1969 as a mission of St. Benedict the Moor in Winston-Salem. The first Mass drew 69 attendees and was celebrated in borrowed spaces, including an antique store next to historic Korner's Folly. The parish was formally dedicated in 1973 under its first pastor, Father Leon Bolick, OSFS, beginning 46 years of Oblate leadership that ended in 2019 when Father Noah Carter, a diocesan priest, became pastor. Parishioners cleared the 6.5-acre site themselves in 1974, the first church was completed in October 1978, and a larger church — featuring Gothic wooden arches — was dedicated in 2003.
- 1969: Founded as a mission of St. Benedict the Moor, Winston-Salem
- 1973: Dedicated as a parish; first pastor Father Leon Bolick, OSFS
- 1974: Parishioners clear 6.5-acre building site
- October 1978: First church completed
- 1981: Weekly Spanish Mass begins
- Mid-1980s: Immigration Legal Services clinic launched
- 2003: New, larger church dedicated
- 2019: Father Noah Carter becomes first diocesan pastor
- September 14, 2023: 50th anniversary celebrated on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Our Patron
The parish is named for the Holy Cross, and its patronal feast is September 14 — the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The 50th anniversary Mass in 2023 was celebrated on this feast day, with a procession featuring a reliquary holding a fragment of the True Cross. Remarkably, the feast day also falls on the birthday of current pastor Father Noah Carter.
Mass & Worship Schedule
Holy Cross celebrates the Eucharist as the source and summit of parish life, in keeping with its Latin Rite tradition. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and three times on Sunday — including a Spanish Mass — with daily Mass Tuesday through Friday. Holy Days feature a vigil Mass and a full day of Masses including one in Spanish, and First Friday and First Saturday Masses are celebrated monthly in addition to the regular schedule.
Liturgy & Worship
The parish aims to 'worship God with joy and devotion,' offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the Roman liturgical books. Many lay faithful serve the liturgy through formal ministries, and the parish's Department of Sacred Music is led by Director of Sacred Music Oscar Hernandez (M. Mus.) and Pastoral Music Associate Arianna Bohning (M. Mus.).
Sacred Music
The Director of Sacred Music serves as the principal animator of liturgical music, curating the rich patrimony of the Church's musical heritage and directing the parish's choirs and concert series. The Pastoral Music Associate supports this work.
- Director of Sacred Music: Mr. Oscar Hernandez, M. Mus.
- Pastoral Music Associate: Ms. Arianna Bohning, M. Mus.
Faith Formation (Pre-K through 5th Grade)
Faith Formation classes for Pre-K through 5th graders are a core part of parish life, supported by Coordinator of Elementary and Hispanic Formation Juana Mayra Jasinto-Cruz. Vacation Bible School is offered each year.
- Pre-K – 5th Grade Faith Formation
- Vacation Bible School
- Coordinator: Juana Mayra Jasinto-Cruz
Youth Ministry (6th–12th Grade)
Holy Cross runs a full youth ministry program for 6th through 12th graders, including EDGE middle school ministry, a Life Teen high school youth group, Catholic Foundations classes for teens needing the Rites of Initiation, and Confirmation preparation.
- EDGE (6th–7th grade): meets Sundays 4:00–5:30 PM
- High School Youth Group (9th–12th): meets Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 PM (summer hours)
- Confirmation preparation (using Life Teen 'Purpose'): meets Sundays 6:00–7:30 PM; three consecutive years of Youth Ministry required
- Catholic Foundations (grades 7–12): meets Tuesdays 6:00–7:30 PM
- Coordinator: Geraldine Abinader
Adult Faith Formation
Adults at every stage of the Catholic journey are welcomed through RCIA, Adult Confirmation, Bible Study, and Young Adult Ministry. The parish supports parishioners in completing their Sacraments of Initiation and deepening their understanding of the faith throughout their lifetime.
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Adult Confirmation
- Bible Study
- Young Adult Ministry
Sacraments
Holy Cross prepares parishioners for the full range of Catholic sacraments, with detailed preparation programs for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Infant/Child Baptism — Sundays 3:30 PM; 6-month registration requirement; prep course within last 5 years
- Adult Baptism / Initiation / Confirmation — via RCIA
- First Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — three consecutive years of Youth Ministry; typically age 14
- Marriage — meet with priest or deacon at least 6 months before desired date
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment; Extreme Unction by calling the parish office; homebound visits via Parish Care
Parish Care, Music, and Maintenance
Lay ministers and staff accompany parishioners through every stage of life — bringing Communion to the homebound, coordinating funerals, sustaining music at every liturgy, and maintaining the parish campus.
- Parish Care (Homebound): Rosemary Vasko, 336-944-6049
- Parish Care (Funerals): Melanie Feeney-Lewis, 336-944-6049
- Director of Sacred Music: Oscar Hernandez
- Pastoral Music Associate: Arianna Bohning
- Maintenance: Richard Habib
Daycare
Holy Cross operates an on-site Daycare directed by Eva Kampwerth (336-996-5144), serving local families as an outreach of the parish community.
- Daycare Director: Eva Kampwerth
- Phone: 336-996-5144
Immigration Legal Services
Since the mid-1980s, Holy Cross has operated an Immigration Legal Services clinic. The clinic is described by Father Carter as a place where community members 'find welcome at Holy Cross through the Christ-centered immigration work of the dedicated attorneys and staff.'
- Director: Martin Mata, 336-996-5604
- Assistants: Maria Vienrich, Diana Hernandez, 336-996-5604
Administration & Staff
Parish operations are supported by an administrative team handling reception, finances, the bulletin, and Religious Education administration. An asterisk next to a name on the staff directory indicates that the staff member can communicate in Spanish.
- Administrative Assistant: Bernadette Goodman
- Receptionist: Diana Hernandez
- Weekend Receptionist: Laura Fasano
- Bulletin Editor: Ellie Bermudez ([email protected])
- Bookkeeper: Ann Arnold
- Bilingual staff indicated with an asterisk (*)
Community Life & Ministries
Beyond the liturgy, Holy Cross has a long tradition of lay-led community organizations, including the Knights of Columbus Council 8509 (founded by parishioner Al Livelsberger) and Boy Scout Troop 943 (also started by Livelsberger in 1980). The parish hosts an annual September festival — a longstanding tradition that doubles as a community reunion.
- Knights of Columbus Council 8509
- Boy Scout Troop 943
- Annual parish festival
- Spanish-language ministries and prayer groups
- Filipino Prayer Group
Visiting & Contact
The parish office welcomes visitors and parishioners throughout the week. Mass times, Confession times, Holy Day schedules, and parish news are kept up to date on the website and in the weekly bulletin. Parishioners can manage involvement through the parish's Realm account.
- Parish office: 616 South Cherry Street, Kernersville, NC 27284
- Phone: 336-996-5109
- Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation offices (Brisson House, upstairs): 336-515-3379
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Leon Bolick, OSFS1973–(founded the parish)
First pastor; member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, whose members ministered at Holy Cross from 1973 to 2019.
- Oblates of St. Francis de Sales1973–2019
Religious order that staffed the parish continuously for 46 years.
- Rev. Noah Christian Carter2019–present
First diocesan priest to serve as pastor; his birthday falls on the parish's patronal feast, September 14.