About Holy Cross · Tacoma, Washington
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Tacoma's North End, founded in 1915 by Bishop Edward J. O'Dea of Seattle and now part of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The parish sits at 5510 N 44th Street and serves as the home parish for the St. Peter Chanel Samoan Ministry, which draws Samoan Catholics from across western Washington for monthly Samoan Mass and faith formation. It is known regionally for its Perpetual Adoration chapel (open 24/7), its longtime pastoral tradition of the Mother of Perpetual Help novena, and its small but active lay community including the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. David Mulholland
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle
Why belong here
Holy Cross has served Tacoma's North End for more than a century and remains a small, welcoming community where families with children of all ages are encouraged to take their place in the Sunday Mass. The parish offers something uncommon for a parish of its size: Perpetual Adoration in a dedicated chapel, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; a vibrant Samoan Catholic community celebrating Mass in their own language twice a month; the Mother of Perpetual Help novena on Wednesday evenings; active Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters courts; and faith formation for children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium. It is a parish with deep roots and a lived sense of hospitality — Afio Mai — across cultures and generations.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- 30 minutes before daily Mass
- 3:00 pm during Lent & Advent
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (sign-ups required for chapel access)
Welcome & Mission
Holy Cross describes itself as a welcoming faith community in Tacoma's North End, inviting families with children of all ages — including babies and toddlers — into the Sunday Mass. Its stated mission is to offer every person in its community a life-changing encounter with Jesus, and its goals are to encourage parishioners to love God, love others, inspire hope, and transform lives.
Parish History
From a 1915 house Mass at 4924 N Orchard Street to the present-day church dedicated in 1957, Holy Cross has been shaped by the Dominican Sisters, a long line of pastors, and a parish community that rebuilt several times before settling into its North End home.
- 1915 – Parish established by Bishop Edward J. O'Dea; Rev. Aloysius Mlinar first pastor
- 1916 – Holy Cross School built and staffed by Dominican Sisters
- 1919 – Rectory built under Fr. Theodore Ryan (still in use as offices)
- 1921 – First dedicated (temporary) church building
- 1940 – Sisters establish a Convent on site; parish purchases it in 1952
- 1954 – School addition: five classrooms, furnace room, lavatories
- 1957 – Present church dedicated (December 1)
- 1977 – School closes
- 1983 – Perpetual Adoration Chapel dedicated
- 2000–2001 – New Parish Hall built and blessed by Archbishop Alexander J. Brunnett
- 2018 – Holy Cross named home parish of the St. Peter Chanel Samoan Ministry
Devotions
Devotional life at Holy Cross centers on the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady, and respect for life.
- Mother of Perpetual Help Novena — Wednesday 7:30 pm
- Mother of Perpetual Help Novena — Thursdays after the 9:00 am Mass
- Holy Hour for Life — 1st Friday of each month, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel
Faith Formation
The parish offers faith formation rooted in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), a Montessori-inspired approach used for children ages 3 through 12 in a specially prepared room called the atrium. CGS formation also serves adults who are discerning a call to serve as catechists; the parish participates in the Pacific Northwest consortium 'The Sheepfold' for sustainable CGS training.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atrium
- Children begin catechesis at age 3
- Adult formation for future CGS catechists
- Samoan Bible Study & Youth Faith Formation for ages 4–18 (2nd & 4th Sundays, 10:30 am)
St. Peter Chanel Samoan Ministry
Since 2018 Holy Cross has been the home parish of the St. Peter Chanel Samoan Ministry (SPCSM), a regional gathering of Samoan Catholics from parishes across western Washington — including St. Olaf (Poulsbo), Our Lady Star of the Sea (Bremerton), Sacred Heart (Lacey), St. John of the Woods (Tacoma), Our Lady Queen of Heaven (Spanaway), and St. Francis and St. John (Tukwila). The community gathers at Holy Cross on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month for Samoan-language Mass at 1:00 pm and for Bible study, faith formation, and Samoan language instruction for youth ages 4–18 in the Parish Hall beforehand. The ministry is named for St. Peter Chanel, the first martyr from Oceania, whose feast day is April 28.
- Samoan Mass — 2nd & 4th Sundays, 1:00 pm (Afio Mai — Welcome!)
- Youth Bible study & faith formation — 10:30 am–11:30 am in the Parish Hall
- Patron: St. Peter Chanel (feast day April 28)
- Leadership: chaired by Poasa Fa'aita
- Community outreach to Samoan Catholics throughout western Washington
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Holy Cross is supported by a network of lay organizations that serve both the parish and the wider Tacoma community.
- Knights of Columbus Council 16667 — meets 2nd Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall; small but active group of Catholic men serving charity events
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Blessed Mary of the Narrows #2003 — meets 4th Sunday at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall; part of a 63,000-member national organization
- Music Ministry / Choir — rehearsals Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the Choir Loft
- Pastoral Outreach — coordinated by Pastoral Assistant for Outreach Thom Ryng
- Funeral Receptions — coordinated by Paula Fiorino
- Altar Servers
- Holy Cross Quarterly Sale — clothing & goods; proceeds support community outreach ministries
Staff & Parish Leadership
Holy Cross is served by a priest team led by Pastor Rev. David Mulholland (who also pastors the wider Tacoma-Vashon Parish Family) along with Parochial Vicar Rev. David Mayovsky and a deacon and lay staff who keep the parish offices, music program, funerals, and outreach running.
- Pastor: Fr. David Mulholland — 253-383-2783 ext. 4102 — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. David Mayovsky
- Deacon: Steve Cano — [email protected]
- Pastoral Assistant: Georgina Rawlings — 253-759-3368 x 104 — [email protected]
- Pastoral Assistant for Outreach: Thom Ryng — 253-759-3368 — [email protected]
- Funerals: Paula Fiorino — [email protected]
- Music Director: Erica Minneman — [email protected]
Tacoma-Vashon Parish Family
Since 2018 Holy Cross has been grouped with St. Patrick Catholic Church (Tacoma) and St. John Vianney (Vashon Island) as Parish Family 36 of the Archdiocese of Seattle. All three parishes share Pastor Fr. David Mulholland and Parochial Vicar Fr. David Mayovsky, while retaining their own Mass schedules, schools, and communities.
- St. Patrick Church — 1123 North J Street, Tacoma, WA 98403
- St. Patrick School — 1112 North G Street, Tacoma, WA 98403
- St. John Vianney Church — 16100 115th Ave SW, Vashon, WA 98070
- Holy Cross — 5510 N 44th St, Tacoma, WA 98407
Visit, Contact & Get Involved
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office at 253-759-3368 or [email protected], or stop in Monday–Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Mass is celebrated Saturday at 5:00 pm, Sunday at 11:15 am (with a 1:00 pm Samoan Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays), Monday at 9:00 am, and Wednesday at 5:00 pm. Confessions are heard Saturdays at 3:30 pm and 30 minutes before daily Mass. The Perpetual Adoration chapel is open around the clock — sign up by calling or emailing the parish office.
- Office: 5510 N 44th St, Tacoma, WA 98407
- Phone: (253) 759-3368
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Website: holycross-tacoma.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Aloysius Mlinar1915–1918
First pastor; celebrated the parish's first Mass.
- Rev. Theodore M. Ryan1918–1922
Built the present Rectory (1919).
- Rev. T.J. Madigan1922–1925
- Rev. J.E. O'Brien1925–1931
- Rev. Joseph P. Brennan1931–1934
- Rev. Martin Duggan1934–1969
Long-tenured pastor who oversaw the 1957 dedication of the present church.
- Rev. Patrick Godley1969–1977
Pastored the closure of Holy Cross School in 1977.
- Rev. Raymond Heffernan1977–1985
- Rev. Desmond McMahon1985–1986
- Rev. Richard Gallagher1986–1988
- Rev. David White1988–1994
- Rev. Sean Heneghan1994–1995
- Rev. Robert F. Rekofke, S.J.1995–2009
Jesuit pastor; one of the longest tenures in parish history.
- Rev. John Renggli2009–2016
- Rev. Ronald Knudsen2016–2024
- Rev. David Mulholland2018–Present
Also serves as pastor of the Tacoma-Vashon Parish Family (Holy Cross, St. Patrick, St. John Vianney).