About Holy Cross · Palmetto, Florida
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in Palmetto, Florida, situated in the Northern Deanery of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Founded in 1956 as a mission by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of Saint Augustine, it was the first Catholic church built north of the Manatee River in Manatee County. The parish serves a culturally diverse community of roughly 1,000 families — including longstanding Hispanic, Haitian, Polish, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, Dutch, German, and Brazilian communities drawn by the region's agricultural growth — and today offers weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, daily Mass, Confession, Adoration, RCIA, faith formation, and a range of lay apostolates.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- The Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Teofilo Useche
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Holy Cross offers a stable, deeply rooted Catholic community with the rare combination of a large, modern 1,300-seat worship space and a tightly knit, multigenerational parish family of roughly 1,000 households. Weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, a daily 8:00 a.m. Mass, Saturday and Sunday Confessions, weekday Rosary, Adoration, and a robust slate of ministries — Knights of Columbus Council 7414, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Pro-Life Group, Women's Cursillo Prayer Group, Men's and Women's groups, Youth Group, and a full Faith Formation program — make it a place where parishioners can both worship and serve. The parish also has a strong devotional and cultural identity, visible in the Holy Cross Circle of Honor, Garden of Peace Memorial Garden, and its care for Hispanic, Haitian, Polish, and other growing immigrant communities drawn to Manatee County's agricultural region.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM
Parish History
Holy Cross traces its origins to October 21, 1956, when Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of Saint Augustine sent Fr. Joseph O'Shea to Palmetto as Administrator of the first Catholic church to be built in Manatee County. The mission grew quickly: within two years the diocese had purchased 15 acres on U.S. 41, broken ground on a new church, and dedicated the Holy Cross Mission Church on December 12, 1958. Elevated to parish status on February 16, 1960, Holy Cross has since been served by a succession of pastors and has built a present-day 1,300-seat church, a parish hall, a five-bedroom rectory, the Holy Cross Garden of Peace Memorial Garden, and the Holy Cross Circle of Honor.
- Founded October 21, 1956 — first Mass celebrated at the Palmetto Women's Club
- Mission church dedicated December 12, 1958 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
- Elevated to parish status February 16, 1960
- Parish hall groundbreaking August 3, 1980; new rectory completed June 22, 1984
- Current 1,300-seat church dedicated December 3, 1989 by Bishop John J. Nevins
- Holy Cross Garden of Peace Memorial Garden established 2003
- Holy Cross Circle of Honor and four-flag garden dedicated December 16, 2007 by Bishop Frank J. Dewane
- Parish celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation (the parish's K-8 religious education program) is the heart of Holy Cross's catechetical mission. Registration for the 2025–2026 year opened June 30, and the program welcomes both parish children and adult volunteers. Citing the USCCB, the parish emphasizes that catechesis of children is primarily the responsibility of parents, with the parish providing an environment where young people can grow in faith. The old 1958 mission church — now called the Llaria Center in honor of longtime pastor Fr. Vicente Llaria — serves as the Religious Education building.
- Faith Formation classes for children (K-8)
- Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Religious Education Sponsorship Program ($40 sponsors a child)
- Volunteer catechists (must be active registered members)
- Llaria Center used for Religious Education and youth meetings
Youth & Young Adult Ministries
The parish's Youth Group meets Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM at the Llaria Center, giving middle- and high-school-aged parishioners a regular weekly gathering for fellowship, formation, and faith. The parish encourages teens to 'open wide' their adventure with Christ at a young age, and youth programming is integrated with the Faith Formation calendar.
- Youth Group — Wednesdays 6:30–8:45 PM, Llaria Center
- Coordination with parish Faith Formation program
Parish Ministries & Apostolates
Holy Cross maintains an unusually broad ministry roster, with both spiritual-works-of-mercy apostolates (Legion of Mary, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Pro-Life Group) and corporal-works groups (St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus Council 7414). Smaller prayer and fellowship groups — including the Women's Cursillo Prayer Group, Women's Group, and Men's Group — give parishioners of every age and stage a place to belong.
- Knights of Columbus Council 7414 — Catholic men's fraternal charity and faith-in-action
- Legion of Mary — lay apostolate under the patronage of the Blessed Mother
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Pro-Life Group — including Rosary Outside of Planned Parenthood
- Women's Cursillo Prayer Group
- Women's Group and Men's Group
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Servers (altar servers)
- Music Ministry
Knights of Columbus Council 7414
Council 7414 hosts one of the most active Knights of Columbus councils in the northern part of the Diocese of Venice. Open to practicing Catholic men 18 and older in union with the Holy See, the Council puts faith into action through charity, support for vocations, insurance programs, community events, pregnancy center support, and vigorous defense of the dignity of every human being at every stage of life.
- Charity and community events
- Support for vocations and pregnancy centers
- Defends dignity at every stage of life
- Membership free for eligible Catholic men
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary at Holy Cross is part of a worldwide lay organization under the patronage of the Blessed Mother, dedicated to bringing Christ to the world through both corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The local Praesidium invites all Catholics 18 and older to join, meeting Thursdays at 9:00 AM in the Llaria Center (the parish's Religious Education building).
- Worldwide lay apostolate under the patronage of the Blessed Mother
- Spiritual and corporal works of mercy
- Open to Catholics 18 and older
- Meets Thursdays at 9:00 AM in the Llaria Center
Campus, Memorial Garden & Circle of Honor
The Holy Cross campus on U.S. 41 includes more than just the present church. The original 1958 mission church was preserved as the Religious Education building (the Llaria Center), and in 2003 the Holy Cross Garden of Peace Memorial Garden was established on the grounds. Four years later, on December 16, 2007, Bishop Frank J. Dewane presided at a Mass followed by the dedication of the Holy Cross Circle of Honor and the blessing of its circle garden of four flags — a tribute to the parish's multinational Catholic heritage in northern Manatee County.
- Present 1,300-seat church (dedicated 1989)
- Llaria Center — former 1958 mission church, now Religious Education building
- Parish hall (renovated 2003)
- Five-bedroom rectory (completed 1984)
- Holy Cross Garden of Peace Memorial Garden (established 2003)
- Holy Cross Circle of Honor and four-flag garden (dedicated 2007 by Bishop Dewane)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Rev. Teofilo Useche (returned to Holy Cross as Pastor effective May 1, 2023), Parochial Vicar Rev. Leszek Trojanowski, and Deacon Craig J. Dutka. Fr. Useche, a Venezuelan native, previously led the parish from 2003–2011 and was called back to the parish by the Diocese of Venice in 2023. The parish office can be reached at (941) 729-3891 or [email protected], Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM.
- Rev. Teofilo Useche — Pastor
- Rev. Leszek Trojanowski — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Craig J. Dutka
- Parish office phone: (941) 729-3891
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM
Visiting and Contact Information
Holy Cross welcomes visitors at weekend and daily Masses, and the church is open for private prayer Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The parish office (505 26th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221) is open the same hours and can be reached by phone, email, or through the parish's online contact form. The Diocese of Venice lists the parish's official mailing address as 506 26th Street W., Palmetto, FL 34221.
- Address: 506 26th Street W, Palmetto, FL 34221
- Phone: (941) 729-3891
- Email: [email protected]
- Office and church open Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM
- Website: http://holycrossdov.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph O'SheaOctober 1956 – February 1957
Administrator; first priest sent by Archbishop Hurley to found Holy Cross Mission; celebrated first Mass at Palmetto Women's Club.
- Rev. James C. FaheyMarch 1957 – November 1959
Administrator; celebrated first Mass in the new mission church on November 30, 1958.
- Rev. Frank GoodmanDecember 1959 – June 1960
Administrator; oversaw acquisition of used building as parish hall and donation of rectory from St. Joseph Parish.
- Rev. Salvadore ProfetaJune 1960 – December 1961
Administrator.
- Rev. J. Normand HardyDecember 1961 – February 1964
Administrator.
- Rev. Daniel CarriganFebruary 1964 – April 1977
First Pastor of the newly constituted Holy Cross Parish (elevated February 16, 1960); long tenure as founding pastor.
- Rev. Vicente (Vincent) LlariaMay 1977 – October 1990
Pastor; built parish hall (1980), new five-bedroom rectory (1984), and current 1,300-seat church (dedicated 1989). Old church later renamed the Llaria Center in his honor.
- Rev. Patrick FarrellNovember 1990 – August 1993
Pastor.
- Rev. Nicanor LobatoSeptember 1993 – April 2002
Pastor.
- Rev. Christopher SenkApril 2002 – April 2003
Pastor.
- Rev. Teofilo UsecheApril 2003 – February 2011
Appointed Administrator April 23, 2003; installed Pastor May 1, 2005; a Venezuelan native called to serve the parish's growing Hispanic community.
- Rev. Marcial GarciaFebruary 2011 – January 2013
Administrator.
- Rev. Rafael Padilla, JCLJanuary 2013 – August 2015
Pastor; served with Associate Pastor Fr. Paul Kawalec and retired assist priests Msgr. Joseph A. Ferraro (Captain, USN, Ret.) and Fr. Kenneth Oldenski.
- Rev. Bernard P. EvanofskiAugust 2015 – August 2019
Pastor.
- Rev. Teofilo UsecheMay 1, 2023 – present
Re-appointed Pastor; returned to the parish he had first served as Administrator/Pastor from 2003–2011; his 2026 priesthood anniversary was publicly celebrated by the parish.