About St. Michael. Holy Cross Parish · Sioux City, Iowa
Holy Cross Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Sioux City, Iowa, formed in 2017 through the merger of two historic city parishes — Blessed Sacrament Church (3012 Jackson St.) and St. Michael Church (2223 Indian Hills Dr.) — under the Diocese of Sioux City's "Ministry 2025" pastoral planning initiative. Worship and daily Mass are split between the two worship sites: weekend Masses at St. Michael (Saturday 4:30 PM and Sunday 10:30 AM, live-streamed) and Blessed Sacrament (Sunday 8:30 AM), with daily Mass in St. Anthony Chapel and Blessed Sacrament. The parish is led by Father Randy Schon, pastor, and is served by a parish life director, business director, liturgy coordinator, director of parish religious education, four deacons, and the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of the Holy Cross Convent (established 2018).
- Established
- 2017
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Father Randy Schon
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
Holy Cross Parish presents itself as a welcoming, compassionate Christian community that deepens its love for Christ through lifelong faith formation, prayer, the celebration of the Sacraments, and outreach to others. A new parishioner can plug into a wide range of ministries — Choir, Musician, Lector, Usher, Altar Server, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (including homebound), Knights of Columbus, Youth Ministry (EDGE for grades 5–8), Religious Education, Adult Faith Formation, RCIA sponsorship, Finance Committee, Parish Grounds Crew, and Prayer Line. Daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and frequent Confession schedules at both worship sites make this a parish built around the Eucharist and ongoing conversion.
Mass times at St. Michael. Holy Cross Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30–9:50 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church
- Sunday 11:30–11:45 AM at St. Michael Church
- Monday–Friday 7:15–7:35 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church
- Tuesday 6:00–6:20 PM at St. Michael Church
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM at St. Michael Church
- By appointment — call the parish office at 712-277-2949
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00–7:00 PM at St. Michael Church (sponsored by the Holy Cross Knights of Columbus)
- Tuesday 7:15 AM – 3:00 PM at Blessed Sacrament Church
- 24-Hour Adoration the first Tuesday of the month in St. Anthony Chapel, beginning at 6:00 PM Tuesday through 6:00 PM Wednesday
About Holy Cross Parish
Holy Cross Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Sioux City, Iowa, belonging to the Diocese of Sioux City. It was formed in 2017 when the diocese's "Ministry 2025" pastoral plan merged eight Sioux City parishes into four. The parish operates across two historic worship sites — St. Michael Church on Indian Hills Drive and Blessed Sacrament Church on Jackson Street — together with a parish center, the St. Anthony Chapel, and the Holy Cross Convent of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
- Parish office: 3012 Jackson Street, Sioux City, IA 51104
- St. Michael Church: 2223 Indian Hills Drive, Sioux City, IA 51104
- Pastor: Father Randy Schon
History
The Diocese of Sioux City announced its long-range "Ministry 2025" plan in 2016 in response to a shortage of priests and declining Mass attendance, reducing 108 parishes across the diocese to 67. In Sioux City, eight parishes were clustered into four. On June 9, 2017, Blessed Sacrament Church (cornerstone parish since 1922) and St. Michael Church came together canonically as Holy Cross Catholic Parish, with Fr. Randy Schon as registered agent. Less than a year later, on August 15, 2018, Bishop Walker Nickless invited the Missionary Benedictine Sisters to found the Holy Cross Convent on-site, beginning a permanent Benedictine presence dedicated to prayer, sacramental ministry, and parish outreach.
- 2017 — Holy Cross Parish canonically established (June 9, 2017)
- 2016 — 'Ministry 2025' plan announced by the Diocese of Sioux City
- September 23, 1922 — Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church originally incorporated in Iowa
- August 15, 2018 — Holy Cross Convent of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters established
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Father Randy Schon, supported by four deacons, a parish life director, business director, liturgy coordinator, and director of parish religious education. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Holy Cross Convent form a resident religious community whose main work is ministry to Holy Cross Parish and the Diocese of Sioux City.
- Father Randy Schon — Pastor
- Patty Kime — Business Director
- Allison Liska — Parish Life Director
- Mary Jayne Mousel — Liturgy Coordinator
- Sr. Lumen Odom, OSB — Director of Parish Religious Education
- Mary Clause — staff
- Deacon Pat Brockhaus (also Maintenance Director & EDGE Youth Group)
- Deacon Fred Karpuk
- Deacon Rich Kallsen
- Deacon Dale Tigges
Faith Formation for Children
Faith formation at Holy Cross centers on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based program hosted in a specially prepared atrium for children ages 3 through grade 6. Sessions run both Sunday morning (9:45–11:15 AM) and Wednesday evening (4:15–5:45 PM) so families can choose the time that best fits their week. Holy Cross parishioners receive enrollment priority, and grants from the Diocese of Sioux City and CGSUSA help lay people cover registration and catechist training costs.
- Level 1 (age 3 by Sept. 15 through Kindergarten)
- Level 2 (grades 1–3)
- Level 3 (grades 4–6)
- Open house/catechist volunteer contact: Beth Diehl
- Sunday morning and Wednesday evening sessions
Youth Ministry
EDGE is the parish's middle-school youth ministry for students in grades 5–8. The program intentionally builds Christian friendships, pairs students with young adult small-group leaders, and introduces them to the sacramental life of the Church — especially Mass and Reconciliation — as a stepping stone toward the high-school Life Teen program. EDGE nights include games, a message, and small-group discussion, with service projects in the wider Sioux City community (such as a Warming Shelter burrito outreach).
- EDGE for grades 5–8
- Service projects in the Sioux City community
- FLOCKNOTE parent communication channel
- Confirmation preparation for 9th graders (annual Confirmation Mass at St. Michael Church)
Adult Formation, Small Groups, and Men's Group
Beyond the children's atrium and EDGE, Holy Cross offers Adult Faith Formation and ongoing small-group opportunities for parishioners. The Holy Cross Men's Group meets weekly to pray together and encourage each other to be spiritual leaders of their families. Parishioners can also become RCIA sponsors for those entering the Church, join the Prayer Line, or read with the Lector or Choir/Musician ministries.
- Holy Cross Men's Group (weekly)
- Adult Faith Formation and Small Groups
- RCIA Sponsorship
- Prayer Line
Parish Ministries and Service Opportunities
The parish's registration form lists more than a dozen ways to serve at weekend Masses, in faith formation, and through the wider community. New parishioners are encouraged to mark the ministries they'd like to learn more about so the Parish Life Director can connect them with ministry leaders.
- Lector
- Choir / Musician
- Usher
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Server
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- EMHC Homebound
- RCIA Sponsor
- Religious Education
- Adult Faith Formation
- Finance Committee
- Money Counter
- Small Group Participant
- Parish Grounds Crew
- Prayer Line
- Youth Ministry
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion), celebrates Reconciliation frequently throughout the week, and extends Holy Communion to the homebound through the EMHC Homebound ministry. Parents preparing for a child's baptism must register for and complete the Baptism Preparation Class held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Parish Center.
- Baptism Preparation Class — third Tuesday of each month, 7:00 PM, Blessed Sacrament Parish Center
- First Communion (prepared within Catechesis of the Good Shepherd)
- Confirmation (annual Mass for 9th graders at St. Michael Church)
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule
- Homebound Communion visits
Holy Cross Convent and the Missionary Benedictine Sisters
On August 15, 2018, Bishop Walker Nickless formally invited the Missionary Benedictine Sisters to establish a convent at the parish. The sisters act as a prayerful presence at Holy Cross and serve the broader Diocese of Sioux City through homebound visiting, spiritual direction, youth ministry, adult formation, and pastoral ministries.
- Convent founded August 15, 2018
- Sisters named at founding: Sr. Mary James Ngotolwa, Sr. Lumen Odom, Sr. Sarah Elizabeth McMahon, Sr. Pia Portmann, and Sr. Gabrielle Marie Oestreich
- Ministries: Homebound Visiting, Spiritual Direction, Youth Ministry, Adult Formation, Pastoral Ministries
Visit, Register, and Contact
The parish welcomes new members and asks visitors to register so they can be better served by the parish office. Those wanting to join a ministry are encouraged to indicate their interests on the registration form. The parish office at the Blessed Sacrament campus (3012 Jackson Street) is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and bulletins, Mass times, and live-stream links are available at holycrosssc.org.
- Parish office phone: 712-277-2949
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Live-stream: holycrosssc.org/live-daily-mass
- Online giving available via the parish website
- Bulletin submissions due by noon on Fridays