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Congregation of Holy Cross
Congregation of Holy Cross
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The Congregation of Holy Cross (Latin: Congregatio a Sancta Cruce), abbreviated CSC,[1] is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of pontifical right for men founded in 1837 by Basil Moreau, in Le Mans, France.

Key Information

Moreau also founded the Marianites of Holy Cross for women, now divided into three independent congregations of sisters: the Marianites of Holy Cross (Le Mans, France), the Sisters of the Holy Cross (Notre Dame, Indiana), and the Sisters of Holy Cross (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).

History

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Two Societies

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Basile Antoine-Marie Moreau was born at Laigné-en-Belin, near Le Mans, France, on February 11, 1799, in the final months of the French Revolution. When Moreau decided to enter the priesthood, he was forced to undergo his seminary training in secret for fear that the French government would arrest him. He completed his studies and was ordained for the Diocese of Le Mans in 1821. The French government continued to work for the removal of the Church from the educational system, which left many Catholics without a place to be educated or catechized.[2] In 1835, Moreau had formed a group, which he called "Auxiliary Priests", to serve the educational and evangelization needs of the Diocese of Le Mans.[citation needed]

On July 15, 1820, a priest of the Diocese of Le Mans, Jacques-Francois Dujarié, brought together a group of zealous men to serve the educational needs of the people in the French countryside.[3] Fr. Dujarié named this group the Brothers of St. Joseph. By 1835 this group was well established in the diocese, but Dujarié was getting older and they were in need of a new leader. Dujarié and Moreau had met previously and discussed their views on the future of the Church in France and so Dujarié knew that Moreau was just the man he was looking for. With the consent of the bishop, Moreau was given control of the Brothers of St. Joseph on August 31, 1835. He was now the head of two organizations, the Auxiliary Priests and the Brothers of St. Joseph.[citation needed]

The Association of Holy Cross

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In 1837, Moreau made the decision to combine his two communities into one society so that the priests and brothers could share resources and ministries in common.[3] On March 1, 1837, the priests and brothers gathered in the church of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix, Le Mans, in the Sainte-Croix district of Le Mans to sign the Fundamental Act of Union which legally joined them into one association. This new group took on the name of where they met and became the Association of Holy Cross. Initially Holy Cross was a diocesan group and so they primarily served in whatever capacity the bishop asked of them. In 1840 this changed when Moreau received a request to send a delegation from his society to Algeria with the purpose of establishing schools and a seminary. It was at this point that Moreau shifted the focus of Holy Cross and after the first missionaries left in April 1840 the association took on the identity of a religious institute. On August 15, 1840, Moreau and four others became the first professed religious in the Association of Holy Cross. As part of his plan to form this religious institute, Moreau also brought together the first group of women who would become the Marianites of Holy Cross.[citation needed]

In 1841, he sent a group to the United States, establishing the first Holy Cross institution in North America at Notre Dame in Indiana. The institute expanded further by establishing missions in Canada in 1847 and in East Bengal in 1852.[3]

This association of priests, brothers, and sisters, would continue in roughly the same form until May 13, 1857, when Pope Pius IX approved the first constitutions of the priests and brothers. From that point on the Association officially became the Congregation of Holy Cross. Doubting the propriety of a mixed congregation of men and women, Rome separated the women into an independent community at that time. Moreau, in his role as their founder, continued to work for Rome's approval of the sisters' constitution. In 1865, Rome approved the constitutions of the Marianites of Holy Cross, granting them the status of an Apostolic congregation.[citation needed]

Holy Cross and The Holy Family

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St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Moreau saw a visible image of the Holy Family in this Congregation of Holy Cross which he had conceived as an association of religious men and women working together on equal footing for the building of the reign of God. He intended that this Congregation, composed at its origins of three distinct Societies, namely, Sisters, Priests, and Brothers, be an apostolic institute. Calling on the spiritual aid of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Moreau gave to each of the three groups a patron: he consecrated the priests to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; he consecrated the brothers to the pure heart of St. Joseph; and he consecrated the sisters to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He also established Mary, under her title of Our Lady of Sorrows, as special patroness for all of Holy Cross, whose members in their several congregations continue to cherish these devotions.[4] As Moreau stated in one of his letters, he envisioned that: "Holy Cross will grow like a mighty tree and constantly shoot forth new limbs and new branches which will be nourished by the same sap and endowed with the same life."[5]

Superiors General

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  1. Fr. Basil Moreau, CSC (1837–1866)
  2. Most Rev. Pierre Dufal, CSC (1866–1868)
  3. Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC (1868–1893)
  4. Fr. Gilbert Francais, CSC (1893–1926?)
  5. Fr. James Wesley Donahue, CSC (1926–1938)
  6. Fr. Albert Cousineau, CSC (1938–1950)
  7. Fr. Christopher O'Toole, CSC (1950–1962)
  8. Fr. Germain-Marie Lalande, CSC (1962–1974)
  9. Fr. Tom Barrosse, CSC (1974–1986)
  10. Fr. Claude Grou, CSC (1986–1998)
  11. Fr. Hugh Cleary, CSC (1998–2010)
  12. Fr. Richard Warner, CSC (2010–2016)
  13. Fr. Robert Epping, CSC (2016–2022)
  14. Br. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC (2022–present)

Provinces, Districts, and Vicariates

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  • United States Province of Priests and Brothers (USA)
    • District of Chile-Peru
  • Midwest Province of Brothers (USA)
  • Canadian Province of Priests and Brothers (Canada)
  • Moreau Province (USA)
    • District of Brazil
  • Province of East Africa
  • Province of West Africa
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (Bangladesh)
  • St. Joseph Province (Bangladesh)
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province (Haiti)
  • Province of North East India
  • South India Province
  • Province of Tamil Nadu (India)
  • St. Andre Province (India)
  • Mother Province (France)

Notable members

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Saints & Blesseds

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Members of the Hierarchy

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Others

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Location

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Holy Cross Priests and Brothers can be found across the globe, including these countries (date of first appearance in parentheses):

Foreign Missions

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The Mission of Holy Cross in Bangladesh

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The first group of Holy Cross missionaries to reach India left England January 17, 1853. It was composed of three brothers, three sisters, one priest and one seminarian. (Two priests dropped out due to severe illness when the first attempt to sail in November 1852 failed due to storms.) The group arrived in Calcutta in May 1853. Fr. Verite took the sisters to Dhaka, while the brothers and seminarian went to Noakhali. Fr. Verite soon joined them as pastor of Noakhali, which included Agartala and Sylhet in its territory. Chittagong became the headquarters of Holy Cross in December 1853.

The East Bengal mission was called at the time, "unquestionably the most destitute in East Asia and perhaps in any other part of the world." Because it was such a difficult and dangerous place to live and work, no other religious congregation showed any interest in it. For many years, priests had to face difficult situations. For example, in 1897, the Bishop of Dhaka, Bishop Peter Joseph Hurth, saw his diocese destroyed by an earthquake and a typhoon.Though the mission was named East Bengal, the Church jurisdiction and the political territory or civil jurisdiction called East Bengal were quite different from each other. The Province of East Bengal was first created in 1905. The Church territory was officially called the Vicariate of East Bengal, set up in 1845 by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith at the Vatican. Its first superior was Bishop Thomas Olliffe, an Irish Jesuit. The Vicariate of East Bengal embraced the present-day Archdiocese of Dhaka, Diocese of Mymensingh, and Diocese of Chittagong, as well as a large part of Assam, the Arakan district (former name of the Rakhine State of western Burma, and the Diocese of Agartala in eastern India. It was a huge area, but when Holy Cross arrived in 1853, there were only three priests working there - a Portuguese Augustinian and two young Irish diocesan priests, both of whom were dead of disease by 1854. There were about 13,000 Catholics in the area. In Dhaka, there was no church or chapel at all under the jurisdiction of Rome.[6][better source needed]

The Mission of Holy Cross in Chile

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The District of Chile is the longest-running mission still overseen by the United States Province. Three Holy Cross religious arrived in Santiago, Chile, on March 1, 1943, at the invitation of Cardinal José María Caro, Archbishop of Santiago (Chile), to administer Saint George's College. Fathers William Havey, Alfred Send, and Joseph Dougherty believed they were going to do university work. Little did they know that "college" in this context meant a school of first through 12th graders.

Today, Saint George's College serves 2,650 students. Its history is rich and is closely tied with the history of Chile, including the 1970s when the school was taken over by the military government and Holy Cross was ousted. The Congregation returned to the school in 1986. Strong faith formation and service have been a hallmark of Saint George's. Over the decades, the college has formed many influential leaders in Chilean society. Also Holy Cross' first Chilean vocation, Fr. Jorge Canepa, was a 1946 graduate of the school.

Additionally, the District administers Colegio Nuestra Señora de Andacollo, located in the older sector of Central Santiago. The Congregation took responsibility for the school in the 1970s, after its expulsion from Saint George's. The student body, numbering 1,100, is made up primarily of children from working-class families. With improvements to the physical plant and the strong Holy Cross commitment, the school has been able to reach new heights academically.

From the beginning, the mission of Holy Cross in Chile also included parish ministry and social service. Within three years of arriving, the Congregation had begun both its ministry at San Roque, a parish in the sector of Penalolen in Santiago, as well as its outreach to abandoned children in Santiago and later in Talagante. Today, the District administers two parishes in addition to San Roque: Nuestra Señora de Andacollo, in the same area as the school; and Nuestra Señora de la Merced, in Calle Larga, in the Diocese of San Felipe. The parishes are known for their youth ministry and social justice work. Then through Fundamor and Fundación Moreau, the District continues its work with abandoned children. Currently there are approximately 50 children in residence, ages 4 to 18. There is also a new prevention program ministering to 100 children that has been recognized as the first of its kind in Chile.[7][better source needed]

The Mission of Holy Cross in Mexico

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Initially the members of the Congregation of Holy Cross were sent to Mexico from Texas. In 1972, Fr. Frederick Schmidt, CSC, was sent to Mexico for a "sabbatical" by Fr. Christopher O'Toole, CSC, the Provincial of the Southern Province at the time. In 1973 Fr. Fred assumed the pastoral responsibility for a large parish in Ahuacatlan, San Luis Potosí, Nuestro Padre Jesús. He served as pastor for 25 years. In 1998 when Fr. Francisco Garcia, a priest from the Diocese of Ciudad Valles, was appointed pastor, Fr. Fred became the pastor emeritus. When Fr. Schmidt died in 2003, he was buried at the parish in the crypt of the convent church that he helped build. With his death, Holy Cross withdrew from this parish, although one of its members has become a Holy Cross priest. The relationship with the parish and pastor continues to be one of friendship and Holy Cross offers occasional assistance.

In 1987, the Southern Province assumed the responsibility for the pastoral care of Santo Tomas Moro parish in the Archdiocese of Monterrey, Nuevo León. The parish grew dramatically and eventually gave birth to a new parish, Nuestra Madre Santisima de La Luz. Holy Cross opted to shift from Santo Tomas Moro to this new parish with greater needs. Holy Cross continues to serve this community.

In 1993 the Southern Province founded a program of vocation promotion and initial formation for young Mexican men who believe they are called to religious life and priesthood in Holy Cross. The Southern Province established a program for postulants and a program for professed seminarians. The novitiate for the formation program is in Peru.

In 1999, Holy Cross Family Ministries founded Family Rosary in México. Their offices and meeting rooms are located in an Archdiocesan pastoral center in San Francisco Javier parish, close to La Luz parish in the Archdiocese of Monterrey. Their offices serve as a "hub" for the growing Holy Cross apostolate of fostering family prayer, especially the rosary, as well as devotion to Mary throughout Mexico.

In 2000, the local Holy Cross community in Monterrey established an immersion program at La Luz parish. This program provides an intercultural experience of life and ministry with and for the poor. It is offered principally to students from Holy Cross universities, high schools, and parishes in the United States. One group of Chilean laywomen also participated. The program has been temporarily suspended due to the wave of violence in Mexico.

In 2010, Fr. Marín Hernández, CSC, and Fr. Paulino Antonio, CSC, the first two Mexicans to be ordained as Holy Cross priests, were assigned to Parroquia San José in Tamán, San Luis Potosí. The Bishop of the Diocese of Ciudad Valles offered this parish to Holy Cross in part because of the indigenous community's need for pastoral care and evangelization. Frs. Hernández and Antonio speak Nahuatl, the language of the people, and Fr. Antonio comes from this indigenous group.

In 2011 the Holy Cross community in Mexico became a part of the newly formed U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers.[8][better source needed]

The Mission of Holy Cross in Peru

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The mission of Holy Cross in Peru began with an exhortation of Pope John XXIII to religious orders to send missionaries to Latin America, and Holy Cross arrived in the north of Peru in Cartavio in September 1963. The presence soon included Chimbote in the early 1960s and expanded for a time to Puno and Tacna, on the border of Bolivia and Chile, and finally came to develop an organized presence and pastoral strategy in the Diocese of Chosica. The parish, El Señor de la Esperanza, is about the size of a small diocese in the U.S. Approximately 250,000 Catholics live in a parish that has 19 chapels. In 1982, within the boundaries of Lord of Hope Parish in Canto Grande, the Congregation established "Yancana Huasy" (literally "House of Work" in the language of the Incas). Yancana Huasy attends to the needs of children who live with physical and mental challenges, including Downs' Syndrome, and their families.[citation needed]

The Mission of Holy Cross in Uganda

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In November 1958, four Holy Cross priests arrived in Entebbe, Uganda to begin their ministry. The dioceses of Toro and Bunyoro were too large for the bishop to handle. He granted Holy Cross permission to minister to the people of Fort Portal and Butiti. Soon thereafter Holy Cross began administrating St. Leo's College, a high school in Kyegobe, Fort Portal diocese. Near Christmas of 1960, Holy Cross began its first parish at Bukwali. Around the end of February 1961, Cardinal Agaginian, the Armenian Patriarch at the time, told Fr. Christopher O'Toole, CSC, the superior general of Holy Cross, that missionary Vincent J. McCauley was to be made Bishop of Fort Portal. In 1967, a house, and later novitiate (in 1984), was built on the shores of Lake Saaka in Fort Portal. During the military dictatorship of Idi Amin, the Congregation decided at one point to leave the Diocese of Fort Portal. This proposal was later abandoned. Bishop McCauley died on November 1, 1982.

By 1962, the institute had begun accepting Ugandan religious aspirants to the community. Along with other religious institutes, they began a seminary in Kenya called Tangaza in 1986. By 1989, Holy Cross and a consortium of religious congregations and societies established the Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jinja ("PCJ") due largely to the political crises between Kenya and Uganda. It was then difficult[clarification needed] for Ugandans to study at Tangaza.[citation needed] PCJ was to be a seminary for philosophical and religious studies for these (mostly Ugandan) postulants.

On August 17, 1991, Holy Cross ordained its first Ugandan priest, Fr. Fulgens Katende. Five Holy Cross Brother's and one priest died in the genocide of 1994. In Bugembe and Wanyange, two villages of the Jinja Diocese, a primary school and secondary were opened: Holy Cross Primary and Holy Cross Lakeview Secondary respectively. In 1998, Lakeview made world news when United States President Bill Clinton landed in a helicopter on the school's compound for discussions with Ugandan President Museveni. A third parish opened in 1994 at Kyrausozi.

In the new millennium the first [East] African district superior of Holy Cross was named in 2003. This was a step towards congregational and district maturity as the past nine superiors had been Americans.[citation needed]

Holy Cross educational institutions

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Higher education

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Waldschmidt Hall, formerly West Hall, at the University of Portland.

Secondary schools

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Bangladesh

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Brazil

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Canada

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Chile

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France

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  • Saint-Michel de Picpus, Paris. France
  • Saint-Michel de Saint-Mandé, Saint-Mandé. France
  • Notre Dame de Garaison, Monléon-Magnoac. France
  • Notre Dame d'Orveau, Nyoiseau. France
  • Institution Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix, Neuilly-sur-Seine (independent since 1903)

Ghana

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Haiti

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  • Collège Notre-Dame, Cap Haitian, Haiti (1904)
  • École Père Pérard, Plaisance, Haiti
  • École Père Joseph Lepévédic, Limbé, Haiti

India

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  • Holy Cross Matriculation Higher Secondary School , Salem, Tamil Nadu, India (1963)
  • Notre Dame of Holy Cross School [CBSE ], Gundukallur, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. [2008]
  • Holy Cross International School [CBSE], Salem, Tamil Nadu, India (2021)
  • Holy Cross School, Whitefield, Bangalore, India
  • Holy Cross School, Agartala, Tripura India (1970)(CISCE)
  • Holy Cross School, Tuikarmaw, Tripura (TBSE)
  • Holy Cross School, Katalcherra, Tripura (TBSE)
  • Holy Cross School, Panisagar, Tripura (TBSE)
  • Holy Cross School, Kumarghat, Tripura (TBSE)
  • Notredame Holy Cross School, Moharpara, Tripura (TBSE)
  • St. Andre English Medium School, Bodhjungnagar, Tripura (CBSE)
  • Good Shepherd School, Jongksha, Meghalaya (MBOSE)
  • Holy Cross School, Umkiang, Meghalaya (MBOSE)
  • Holy Cross School, Mawkynrew, Meghalaya (MBOSE)
  • Jeevan Jyothi Technical Institute, Honavar, India
  • Holy Cross School, Mizoram, India
  • Holy Cross School, Trichy, TN (2002)
  • Holy Cross School, Aymanam, Kerala (2003)
  • Holy Cross School, Ghanpur, AP (2003)
  • St Louis School, Dahisar, Mumbai (2002)
  • Abhayadhama, Human Development Centre, Whitefield, Bangalore, Karnataka State (1976)
  • Holy Cross School, Ballia, U.P, India

Liberia

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Uganda

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  • Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School (Wanyange), Jinja District (1993)

United States

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Primary schools

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Uganda

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  • Holy Cross Primary School (Bugembe), Jinja District
  • Saint Andrew's Primary School (Wanyange), Jinja District
  • Saint Jude's Primary School, Jinja District

United States

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  • St. Edward High School, Lakewood, Ohio (1949)
  • St. Ignatius Martyr, Austin, Texas (1940)
  • Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, Ohio (1946)
  • Holy Cross School, New Orleans, Louisiana (1849)
  • St. John Vianney School, Goodyear, Arizona (1992)
  • St. Joseph Grade School, South Bend, Indiana (1854)
  • Holy Cross School, South Bend, Indiana (1929)
  • St. Adalbert Catholic School, South Bend, Indiana
  • Christ the King Catholic School, South Bend, Indiana (1953)
  • Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Portland, Oregon (1908)

Parishes

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Bangladesh

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  • Holy Cross Church, Luxmibazar, Dhaka
  • Church of St. Augustine of Hippo, Mathbari
  • St. Joseph Church, Srimangal
  • Our Lady of Holy Rosary Cathedral, Chittagong
  • Fatima Rani Church, Bandarban
  • Shanti Raj Girja Catholic Church, Thanchi
  • Church of the Sacred Heart, Gournadi
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Khalibpur
  • Corpus Christi Church, Jalchatra
  • St. Paul's Church, Pirgacha
  • St. George's Church, Mariamnagar

Brazil

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  • Paroquia São José do Jaguaré, São Paulo, SP
  • Paroquia São Felipe Apostolo, Maua, SP

Canada

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  • St. Kevin's Church, Welland, ON
  • Holy Name Parish, Toronto, ON
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Sherwood Park, AB
  • St. Ann Parish, Toronto, ON
  • Unité pastorale de Saint-Laurent, Saint-Laurent, QC
  • Unité pastorale du Saint-Esprit, Cap-Pelé, NB
  • Saint-Gregoire-le-Grand, Mont Saint-Gregoire, QC
  • Notre-Dame-des-Champs, Saint-Polycarp, QC
  • Saint-Martin de Val-Bélair, Québec, QC

Chile

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France

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Haiti

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  • Sainte Rose de Lima, Pilate
  • Saint Charles Borromée, Le Borgne
  • Saint Albert Le Grande, Ravine Trompette, Pilate
  • Sainte Marie Madeleine, Duchity
  • Notre Dame de l'Esperance/ND du Mont Carmel, Magagnosse/Labadie
  • Notre Dame de Guadalupe, Waney, Port-au-Prince
  • Saint Jules, Petit Bourg du Borgne
  • Paroisse Sainte Elizabeth, Caracol

India

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  • St. Joseph Church, Agartala, Tripura
  • St. Andre Mission, Bodhjunagar, Tripura
  • Good Shepherd Church, Kathalcherra, Tripura
  • St. Paul's Catholic Church, Kumarghat, Tripura
  • Immaculate Conception Church, Moharpara, Tripura
  • St. Mary's Church, Tuikarmaw, Tripura
  • Holy Cross Parish, Bagbasa, Tripura
  • Good Shepherd Parish, Jongksha, Meghalaya
  • Holy Cross Parish, Mawkynrew, Meghalaya
  • Holy Cross Parish, Umkiang, Meghalaya
  • Holy Cross Church, Champhai, Mizoram
  • St. John Parish, Khawzawl, Mizoram
  • Holy Cross Parish, Koloriang, Arunachal Pradesh
  • St. Sebastian Church, Loliem, Goa
  • St Vincent De Paul Church, Katapady, Karnataka
  • Nirmal Matha Church, Abadi Ghanpur, Andhra Pradesh
  • Christ the King Parish, Pune, Maharashtra
  • St. Joseph Church, Chengalam, Kottayam, Kerala
  • St. Louis Parish Centre, Dahisar, Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Dindigal, Tamil Nadu
  • St. Sebastian Church, Idukki, Kerala

Kenya

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  • Holy Cross Parish Community, Dandora, Nairobi

Mexico

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  • Parroquia Nuestra Madre de la Luz, Monterrey, Nuevo León (1996)
  • Parroquia San José, Tamán, San Luis Potosí (2011)

Peru

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  • Parroquia El Señor de la Esperanza, Canto Grande, Lima

Tanzania

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  • St. Brendan Parish, Kitete

Uganda

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  • Holy Cross Parish Community, Bugembe, Jinja
  • St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Community, Kyarusozi, Fort Portal

United States

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  • Christ the King Parish, South Bend, Indiana (1933)
  • Holy Cross Parish (1929) and St. Stanislaus Parish (1899), South Bend, Indiana
  • Holy Cross Parish, South Easton, Massachusetts (1967)
  • Holy Redeemer Parish, Portland, Oregon (2002)
  • Sacred Heart Parish, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1984) (Including Mission Parishes of Holy Rosary and Our Lady of Perpetual Help)
  • Sacred Heart Parish, Notre Dame, Indiana (1842)
  • Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Parish, Bennington, Vermont (1854 & 1880)
  • St. Adalbert Parish, South Bend (2003) and St. Casimir Parish, South Bend, Indiana (1897)
  • St. Ignatius Martyr Parish, Austin, Texas (1938)
  • St. John Vianney Parish, Goodyear, Arizona (1981)
  • St. Joseph Parish, South Bend, Indiana (1853)
  • St. André Bessette Parish, Portland, Oregon (2001)
  • St. John the Evangelist Parish, Viera, Florida (2001)

Other

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Congregation of Holy Cross (post-nominal letters: C.S.C.; Latin: Congregatio a Sancta Cruce) is a pontifical-right Catholic religious congregation composed of priests and brothers, founded on March 1, 1837, by Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau in Sainte-Croix, near Le Mans, France, through the union of auxiliary priests and Brothers of Saint Joseph. With over 1,200 perpetually professed members organized into 16 provinces, districts, and vicariates across five continents, the congregation pursues an apostolic mission to make God known, loved, and served by educating hearts and minds in faith, evangelizing through preaching and sacraments, and fostering community via ministries in parishes, schools, and social outreach. Modeled on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, its spirituality emphasizes communal life, vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and the motto Ave Crux, Spes Unica ("Hail, Cross, our only hope"), reflecting a focus on the redemptive power of the cross amid post-Revolutionary France's spiritual and social needs. The congregation's most notable achievement is the establishment of the University of Notre Dame in 1842 by Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., which grew into a leading Catholic institution, alongside sponsorship of other universities such as the University of Portland, Stonehill College, King's College, and St. Edward's University. Like other Catholic clerical orders, it has confronted sexual abuse scandals involving some members, prompting the maintenance of a public list of those credibly accused and implementation of policies for allegation response and victim support.

History

Origins and Founding in France

The Congregation of Holy Cross originated in post-Revolutionary , amid efforts to restore Catholic and evangelization disrupted by the secularizing upheavals of 1789–1799. Basil Anthony Moreau, a diocesan priest ordained on August 12, 1821, in , responded to these needs by organizing the Auxiliary Priests of Le Mans in August 1835 to conduct parish missions in underserved areas of the diocese. On August 31, 1835, Moreau assumed leadership of the Brothers of Saint Joseph, a teaching brotherhood established in 1820 by Jacques Dujarié to staff small parish schools near Le Mans. These groups—priests focused on preaching and brothers on education—lacked formal structure and faced challenges in sustaining their apostolic work without unified governance. On March 1, 1837, Moreau formalized the merger of the Auxiliary Priests and Brothers of Saint Joseph through the Fundamental Act of Union, creating the Association of Holy Cross in the Sainte-Croix neighborhood of . The name derived directly from this locale, symbolizing the community's dedication to the cross as a source of redemption and mission. Moreau envisioned a collaborative of and brothers bound by vows of , , and obedience, working together to educate youth in faith and revive missionary zeal in a de-Christianized society. Initial headquarters were established in Sainte-Croix, where the group began addressing immediate local demands for schooling and . This founding act laid the groundwork for a distinct , though full pontifical approval as the Congregation of Holy Cross came later in 1857 under . Moreau's approach emphasized practical complementarity between clerical and lay vocations, prioritizing evangelization over isolation, which distinguished the early Holy Cross from more cloistered orders. By 1840, Moreau and four priests professed on , marking the first formal commitment within the nascent association.

Formation of the Auxiliary Priests and Brothers

The Society of Auxiliary Priests was established by in , , in 1835, comprising diocesan priests dedicated to supporting the local through parish missions, preaching retreats, and educating youth in seminaries and colleges amid the post-Revolutionary restoration of Catholic life. These priests, numbering about fifteen by 1837, relied on voluntary offerings and tuition fees for sustenance while focusing on evangelization and formation in rural and underserved areas. Parallel to this, the Brothers of Saint Joseph had been founded in 1820 by François Dujarie at Ruillé-sur-Loir to provide catechetical instruction and manual labor in support of priestly ministry, addressing the shortage of educated for teaching roles after the French Revolution's disruptions. When Dujarie's health declined around 1826, Moreau assumed leadership of the brothers, integrating their practical apostolate of and service with his vision for a unified religious family. On March 1, 1837, Moreau formally united the Auxiliary Priests—seven in number—and the fifty-four Brothers of Saint Joseph through the "Fundamental Pact," creating the Association of the Holy Cross as a single entity of priests and brothers vowed to mutual support in apostolic works, particularly and mission. This merger emphasized the brothers' auxiliary role to the priests, fostering a collaborative model where brothers handled teaching and temporal duties, enabling priests to prioritize sacraments and preaching, all under the patronage of the Holy Cross for redemptive suffering and evangelization. The pact outlined shared governance, poverty, chastity, and obedience, laying the groundwork for the congregation's expansion despite initial episcopal approvals limited to a diocesan society.

Early Expansion and Separation into Societies

Following its establishment in 1837, the Congregation of Holy Cross rapidly extended its apostolic works beyond . On April 28, 1840, Basile Moreau dispatched the first missionaries to , inaugurating the society's foreign evangelization efforts amid the region's colonial context and need for and . In August 1841, a group led by departed for the , arriving in to found educational institutions, including what became the in 1842, and to serve immigrant communities. Expansion continued with missions to shortly thereafter and to (modern and eastern ) in 1852, reflecting Moreau's vision of global outreach through teaching, preaching, and pastoral care. Complementing this growth, Moreau established the Marianites of Holy Cross in 1841 as the sisters' society, completing his conception of a unified religious patterned on the , with priests, brothers, and sisters collaborating in shared ministries. However, Vatican scrutiny of mixed-gender congregations led to mandates for structural distinction. In 1855, the Holy See required the men and women to function as independent entities, separating governance and operations to align with canonical norms on religious institutes. This separation formalized in 1857 with papal approval of the constitutions for the priests and brothers as the Congregation of Holy Cross, a pontifical-right society of men dedicated to apostolic works, while the Marianites received separate approbation in 1867. The division preserved the men's congregation's unity under Moreau's leadership but allowed the sisters' society to evolve autonomously, foreshadowing their later subdivision into three independent women's congregations by the late due to geographical and administrative divergences.

19th-Century Challenges and Global Outreach

In the aftermath of the (1789–1799), the Congregation of Holy Cross faced profound challenges in , where revolutionary upheavals had dismantled social institutions, resulting in widespread deficiencies in education, healthcare, and access to sacraments, compounded by the seizure of Church properties and persecution of clergy through arrests and executions. Founded by in 1837 near to restore pastoral services amid this void, the congregation encountered persistent political instability, including mid-century turmoil that hindered development, such as opposition from civil authorities to school expansions at Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix. Internal strains intensified these external pressures, with financial crises, leadership controversies, and factional disputes eroding cohesion; by the 1860s, accumulated debts and ongoing scheming prompted Moreau to resign as Superior General on June 21, 1866, after nearly three decades of stewardship marked by personal sacrifice and institutional wrangling. Despite such adversities, the congregation demonstrated resilience, growing to 72 priests and 322 brothers across 102 establishments by circa , reflecting adaptive governance under Moreau's foundational vision. Global outreach emerged as a strategic response to domestic constraints, beginning with an unsuccessful mission to in the early 1840s, but achieving traction in where opportunities for evangelization and education aligned with the congregation's charism. In August 1841, Father and six brothers departed as the first U.S. missionaries, arriving in New York before proceeding to ; on November 26, 1842, they reached 524 snow-covered acres near South Bend, promptly founding the to serve frontier Catholic communities amid immigrant hardships. Parallel efforts in , initiated in the 1840s, involved severe sacrifices—such as rudimentary living conditions and isolation—but yielded steady institutional growth, establishing schools and parishes that bolstered the congregation's presence beyond by century's end, with North American apostolates becoming the primary locus of expansion due to relative stability and demand for clerical services.

20th-Century Growth and Institutional Development

Following the suppression of religious orders in in 1903, the Congregation of Holy Cross shifted its primary focus to , where the and emerged as centers of expansion and institutional consolidation. This relocation spurred the establishment of numerous educational institutions, including secondary schools and colleges, alongside parishes and ministries emphasizing service to the poor and immigrant communities. By the early decades of the century, Holy Cross and brothers had founded or assumed administration of over a dozen high schools and preparatory academies across the Midwest and Northeast, such as those in , , and , integrating Catholic education with vocational training and social outreach. Mid-century developments marked a phase of global institutional outreach, with new foundations in beginning in and in 1943, followed by in 1944 and in 1963. In , missions commenced in (1957) and (1958), where Holy Cross members like Vincent McCauley established parishes, schools, and the Diocese of , emphasizing evangelization and amid post-colonial challenges. These efforts paralleled domestic advancements, notably at the , where Father Theodore Hesburgh's presidency from 1952 to 1987 transformed the institution into a major research university with expanded enrollment exceeding 10,000 students by the 1980s and initiatives in lay leadership and . Missionary apostolates, such as Brother Flavian Laplante's work in from 1932 onward, further diversified institutions through rural education and care centers. The latter half of the century witnessed both consolidation and adaptation, with further presences in (1978), (1987), and (1999), alongside the formalization of provinces like the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers. However, vocational declines in —driven by and cultural shifts—reduced membership there by approximately half from peak levels around mid-century to 2000, prompting reliance on growth from Asia (e.g., , ) and to sustain global operations totaling around 1,700 members by century's end. This period also saw internal reforms aligning with Vatican II, including updated constitutions in 1967 that emphasized collaborative ministry and adaptability in education and foreign missions.

Spirituality and Charism

Devotion to the Holy Family

The Congregation of Holy Cross, founded by in 1837, centers its spirituality on devotion to the of , Mary, and , modeling its community structure and apostolic mission after their life in . envisioned the congregation as a spiritual family emulating the humility, obedience, and chastity exemplified by the , with members serving others as one would serve their own kin. This devotion reflects 's emphasis on and familial unity amid post-Revolutionary France's social disruptions, guiding the congregation's expansion into and parish ministry. Specific patronages within the Holy Cross family align with aspects of the : priests are consecrated to the of Jesus, emphasizing priestly charity and zealous service; brothers to Saint Joseph, fostering a life of loyal obedience and humble labor; and sisters to the or , highlighting maternal compassion and acceptance of suffering. The entire congregation falls under the patronage of , whose feast on serves as its patronal celebration, symbolizing hope amid the Cross and linking the Holy Family's trials to the congregation's charism of redemption through suffering. Moreau consecrated the community to these patrons early in its formation, integrating this devotion into the constitutions to sustain apostolic endeavors in evangelization and family-oriented service. This devotion informs the congregation's vows and daily practices, promoting a balanced life of , , and mission that prioritizes educating hearts and minds in faith, much as the household nurtured . It underscores a commitment to viewing all people as family, countering with relational rooted in Christ's redemptive love.

Core Vows, Principles, and Apostolic Mission

The members of the Congregation of Holy Cross profess perpetual vows of consecrated poverty, consecrated celibacy, and consecrated obedience, known as the evangelical counsels. These vows constitute a public and perpetual commitment to discipleship, mirroring Christ's detachment from material goods, his chaste love for humanity, and his obedience to the Father. By professing them, members renounce worldly attachments to wealth, sexual expression outside chastity, and self-directed autonomy, instead relying on divine providence and communal discernment as a witness to transcendent joy. The vow of consecrated celibacy binds members to lifelong chastity, forgoing marriage and biological parenthood to cultivate undivided love for God and fraternal bonds within the congregation. Consecrated poverty requires the surrender of personal possessions to communal administration, fostering simplicity and trust in God's provision amid material insecurity. Consecrated obedience entails submission to legitimate authority, including superiors and the Church's magisterium, while collaboratively seeking God's will through prayer and dialogue. These vows are typically professed after temporary commitments, with solemn perpetual profession marking full incorporation into the congregation. Guiding principles emphasize the fraternal unity of priests and brothers as a single society of , founded by Basil Anthony Moreau to address pastoral and educational needs through shared life, , and mission. Central to this charism is the motto Spes Unica ("The Cross Our Only Hope"), which underscores bearing daily trials with hope, rejecting despair in the face of and . Community life prioritizes common table, mutual support, and formation in virtues like and resilience, ensuring apostolic endeavors flow from contemplative roots. The apostolic mission directs members to proclaim by educating others in faith, serving parishes, and engaging foreign missions, with particular attention to the poor, afflicted, and marginalized. This involves adapting to local contexts—such as schools, healthcare, and initiatives—while fostering a and Church renewal. Periodic evaluation ensures alignment with evolving needs, historically expanding from French revitalization in the to global outreach in and evangelization.

Governance and Organization

Superiors General

The Superior General leads the Congregation of Holy Cross, overseeing its , missions, and adherence to its constitutions, with elections held every six years by the General Chapter. The role originated with the congregation's founding by Blessed Basile Moreau in 1837, though formal papal recognition came in 1857. Successive Superiors General have navigated challenges including political suppression in , expansion into education and foreign missions, and internal reforms, often balancing priestly and brotherly vocations.
Superior GeneralTermKey Contributions
Blessed Basile Moreau, C.S.C.1857–1866Founded the congregation in 1837; secured papal approval of constitutions in 1857; dispatched early missionaries to and ; resigned amid internal tensions but retained influence until his death in 1873.
Bishop Pierre Dufal, C.S.C.1866–1868Served briefly after Moreau's resignation; focused on stabilizing the community during transitional strife; previously missioned in as a bishop.
Fr. , C.S.C.1868–1893Established the in 1842; expanded U.S. presence amid French anti-clerical laws; led until his death, emphasizing educational apostolate.
Fr. Gilbert Français, C.S.C.1893–1926Revived French communities post-persecution; extended missions; resigned due to health, dying in 1929.
Fr. James W. Donahue, C.S.C.1926–1938Reorganized French province after 1901–1904 expulsion laws; visited missions; died in 1943.
Fr. Albert Cousineau, C.S.C.1938–1950Initiated South American missions; strengthened n growth.
Fr. Christopher J. O’Toole, C.S.C.1950–1962Relocated general administration to in 1954 for international coordination.
Fr. Germaine-Marie Lalande, C.S.C.1962–1974Participated in Vatican II; adapted to post-conciliar reforms.
Fr. Thomas O. Barrosse, C.S.C.1974–1986Formalized Province in 1984; promoted scholarly renewal.
Fr. Claude Grou, C.S.C.1986–1998Oversaw approval of revised constitutions in 1988.
Fr. Hugh W. Cleary, C.S.C.1998–2010Advanced Blessed Moreau's cause, achieved in 2007.
Fr. Richard V. Warner, C.S.C.2010–2016Developed strategic planning; established Moreau shrines for devotion.
Fr. Robert Epping, C.S.C.2016–2022Emphasized unity across provinces; prior General Council experience.
Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C.2022–presentFirst non-priest (brother) elected to the role; from Moreau Province, U.S.; focuses on chapter directives for renewal.
The General Council, assisting the Superior General, comprises six assistants representing diverse provinces and districts, elected concurrently. This structure ensures representation from the congregation's approximately 1,200 members across 17 countries as of 2022.

Provinces, Districts, Vicariates, and Administrative Structure

The Congregation of Holy Cross organizes its global ministries and communities through provinces, districts, and a designated mother province, with governance structures that emphasize regional autonomy under the overarching authority of the superior general and general council. Provinces represent the primary administrative divisions, established by the general chapter to manage the common life and apostolic works of members within defined regions; each is led by a provincial superior and council elected by a provincial chapter, which periodically reviews missions, establishes policies, and appoints local leadership. Districts function as extensions of provinces, comprising mission areas beyond a province's core geographical boundaries yet remaining under its jurisdiction; these have been formalized since 1968 to support emerging apostolic endeavors. Vicariates, historically dependent directly on the general administration rather than provinces, are referenced in the congregation's governance framework but do not currently form prominent operational units. The mother province in maintains a distinctive status as the congregation's origin point in , governed by a superior and council analogous to other provinces. As of recent organizational data, the congregation comprises 13 provinces alongside this mother province, plus two districts: These divisions enable localized adaptation of the congregation's charism while ensuring fidelity to its constitutions and the directives of general chapters, which convene delegates from all units to address congregation-wide matters every six years.

Notable Members

Saints and Blesseds

Saint , C.S.C. (1845–1937), born Alfred Bessette, was a Canadian Holy Cross brother renowned for his devotion to Saint Joseph and his role in founding the Oratory of Saint Joseph in . Joining the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1870 despite initial health-related rejections, he served as doorkeeper at the College of Notre-Dame in Côte-des-Neiges for over 40 years, where he welcomed thousands seeking and counsel, attributing to Saint Joseph's intercession. Bessette's cause for advanced after his death, with declaring him venerable in 1987 and beatifying him in 1996; he was canonized by on October 17, 2010, becoming the first saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross. His life exemplified and faith amid personal frailty, drawing pilgrims to the oratory he helped build, which grew into a major basilica attracting millions annually. ![Oratory of Saint Joseph, Montreal][float-right]
, C.S.C. (1799–1873), the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, established the society in 1837 at , , by uniting priests and brothers under a shared mission of and evangelization modeled on the . Amid 19th-century political upheavals that suppressed religious orders, Moreau's leadership expanded the congregation internationally, including early missions in the United States and , while emphasizing vows of , , obedience, and stability. His cause opened in 1946, leading to declaring him venerable on April 12, 2003, followed by beatification by on September 15, 2007, in on the feast of . Moreau's writings and governance shaped the congregation's charism, focusing on apostolic zeal despite internal divisions and external persecutions. No other members of the Congregation of Holy Cross have been canonized or beatified as of 2025, though processes continue for figures like Venerable , C.S.C., and Brother Columba O'Neill, C.S.C.

Members of the

Several members of the Congregation of Holy Cross have been appointed to the Catholic , primarily in mission dioceses in and , reflecting the congregation's emphasis on evangelization and in challenging regions. These elevations began in the late with apostolic administrators and vicars in (now ) and continued through the , with two members reaching the . The first Holy Cross cardinal was John Francis O'Hara, C.S.C. (1888–1960), who served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1951 until his death and was elevated to cardinal-priest by in 1958. Ordained in 1916, O'Hara had previously been president of the (1934–1939) and Military Vicar for U.S. Armed Forces (1939–1945), roles that highlighted his administrative and pastoral leadership. The second cardinal, Patrick D'Rozario, C.S.C. (born 1943), served as of from 2010 to 2020 before retiring; created him cardinal-deacon in 2016, making him the first Holy Cross member from to attain this rank. Other notable hierarchs include:
NameTitle and Key DatesLocation and Notes
Pierre Dufal, C.S.C.Apostolic Administrator (1860–1876)Eastern Missions; early mission leader.
Peter J. Hurth, C.S.C. of Dacca (1894–1909)First Holy Cross in ; focused on formation.
Frederick Linneborn, C.S.C. of Dacca (1909–1915)Continued mission expansion amid political challenges.
Joseph Legrand, C.S.C. of Dacca (1916–1929)Oversaw growth during era.
Alfred Lapailleur, C.S.C. of (1927–1950)Long-serving amid partition tensions.
George Joseph Finnigan, C.S.C. of Helena (1927–1932)First U.S. Holy Cross ; died in office at age 47.
Lawrence L. Graner, C.S.C. of (1950–1967)First archbishop of the see; navigated independence of .
Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C. of (1967–1977)First Bengali Holy Cross ; declared in 2017 for sanctity amid persecution.
Vincent J. McCauley, C.S.C. of (1961–1982)Served in ; noted for missionary zeal.
Living hierarchs include auxiliary and diocesan bishops such as Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C. (emeritus auxiliary of ) and Ponen Paul Kubi, C.S.C. (bishop in ), continuing the congregation's hierarchical presence in .

Other Notable Priests, Brothers, and Lay Associates

Rev. , C.S.C. (1917–2015), served as the 15th president of the from 1952 to 1987, during which time the institution's undergraduate enrollment more than doubled to over 8,000 students, research funding increased substantially, and new colleges in engineering and business were established. Ordained a of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1943, Hesburgh advised four U.S. presidents on civil rights and foreign policy, including participation in the 1964 drafting and leadership of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 1969 to 1972. Rev. William Corby, C.S.C. (1833–1897), acted as a Union Army chaplain during the , attached to the Irish Brigade of the , where he administered general absolution to approximately 1,200 soldiers moments before their charge at the on July 2, 1863, an event later commemorated by a on the . He joined the Congregation in 1858, served as president of Notre Dame for two nonconsecutive terms (1866–1872 and 1893–1897), and wrote Memoirs of Chaplain Life (1893), detailing his wartime experiences. Rev. , C.S.C. (1909–1992), dubbed the " Priest," founded the Family Crusade in 1947 to promote daily family recitation of the , organizing over 100 rallies worldwide that attracted more than 28 million participants, including events in the (1951) and at the in (1953). A Holy Cross ordained in 1937 after recovering from attributed to miraculous intervention, Peyton produced films and radio broadcasts emphasizing Marian devotion and family unity, with his cause for declared venerable by in 2017. Among brothers, Rev. Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. (born 1955), was elected the first brother Superior General of the Congregation in , overseeing its global structure of approximately 1,200 members across 16 countries and emphasizing fraternal in and missions. Lay associates, formalized through groups like Spes Unica Associates, participate in the Congregation's charism of and evangelization without vows, supporting ministries in parishes and schools, though specific prominent individuals remain less documented in compared to clerical members.

Global Presence and Missions

Current Locations and Membership Demographics

The Congregation of Holy Cross maintains an international presence organized into provinces, vicariates, and districts across , , , and the . Its core administrative units include the Province (headquartered in , encompassing ministries in the U.S. and ), the Canadian Province (, ), the Mother Province of France (), multiple Indian provinces (North East India in , ; St. André Province and South India Province in Bangalore, Karnataka; Province in Trichy), two Bangladeshi provinces (Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Joseph, both in ), the Vicariate (, , covering , , and ), the Province (, ), the Province (, ), and districts in (Campinas, São Paulo), as well as Chile-Peru (Santiago and ). These entities oversee educational institutions, parishes, and missions tailored to local contexts, with the U.S. Province alone supporting 15 parishes across states including , , , Florida, Massachusetts, , , and . Membership comprises religious priests and brothers united in a single apostolic congregation, with no formal incorporation of lay associates as vowed members. Globally, the congregation includes more than 1,600 priests and brothers as of recent assessments, operating in over a dozen countries on four continents. The U.S. Province accounts for approximately 500 members, including both priests and brothers dedicated to and ministry. Other estimates place the worldwide total at around 1,200 priests and brothers under the direction of the Superior General in . Demographic data indicate a predominantly clerical composition, with priests forming the majority alongside a dedicated society of brothers focused on supportive apostolic roles. The membership reflects geographic diversification, with substantial concentrations in (particularly and ) and amid stable but aging cohorts in and ; however, detailed breakdowns by age, nationality, or priest-brother ratios remain limited in public sources. Vocations continue in regions like the U.S., where over 50 men were in formation as of the early 2020s.

Foreign Missions in Asia

The Congregation of Holy Cross initiated its missionary endeavors in Asia during the mid-19th century, focusing on , evangelization, and amid challenging socio-political conditions. The order's entry into the region began with the entrustment of the Vicariate of Eastern (present-day ) to the congregation in 1852 by ecclesiastical authorities, marking one of its earliest foreign missions outside and . This assignment aligned with the congregation's apostolic mission under founder Basil Anthony Marie Moreau, emphasizing perseverance in adversity, as early efforts faced opposition, natural disasters, and cultural barriers yet yielded gradual growth in local communities. In , Holy Cross established a permanent presence in 1853, with operations centered in and expanding to rural parishes and educational institutions. The mission evolved into two distinct provinces: the of Jesus Province and the St. Joseph Province, both headquartered in , which oversee priestly formation, retreats, and community outreach. Recent developments include the expansion of the Holy Cross Pastoral Center into a four-story facility in 2024 to accommodate increased seminars and retreats for local clergy and laity, reflecting ongoing institutional investment despite periodic flooding and regional instability. The congregation's work here has produced notable figures, such as Theotonius Ganguly, an born in 1916 who advanced interreligious dialogue and education before his death in 1978. Holy Cross extended its Asian footprint to around the same foundational period, initially linked to subcontinental evangelization efforts, before concentrating in the Northeast states of , , , and starting in the late . Activities emphasize parish ministry, schools, and vocational training, adapting to diverse ethnic groups and contributing to Catholic minority communities in Hindu-majority regions. These missions prioritize integral human development, including literacy programs and healthcare support, though specific membership figures remain integrated within broader provincial statistics without isolated reporting. The Philippines mission commenced in 1952, leveraging the country's established Catholic infrastructure for advanced theological studies and priestly formation. Holy Cross religious utilize local universities for graduate education while engaging in parish work and , positioning the as a regional hub for the congregation's Asian vocations. This presence supports cross-border collaboration, such as exchanges with Bangladeshi and Indian counterparts, fostering a unified Asian network under the congregation's .

Foreign Missions in Africa

The Congregation of Holy Cross initiated its modern African missions in 1957 with the establishment of a presence in , marking a return to the continent following the closure of its initial Algerian mission in 1873 after originating there in 1840. This effort focused on pastoral and educational ministries amid post-colonial church development, evolving into the by January 1, 2023, with headquarters emphasizing local vocations and community service. In , Holy Cross missionaries from the arrived in in 1958 at the invitation of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, prioritizing the building of local churches through and parish work. Expansion followed to in 1978, where priests founded Holy Cross Parish in the Dandora slum of to serve marginalized urban populations with sacraments, schooling, and social outreach. By 2000, the mission extended to in response to emerging local vocations, including acceptance of pastoral duties at of Jesus Parish in Sombetini in 2015, integrating schools and healthcare initiatives. The East African District, operational since 1958, achieved provincial status on January 8, 2023, in , , reflecting sustained growth in membership and self-sufficiency, with over 10 parishes now managed that incorporate attached schools, hospitals, and evangelization programs. These missions emphasize formation of indigenous and brothers, adapting to regional needs like alleviation and while maintaining the congregation's charism of cross-bearing service. Across both East and West African provinces, Holy Cross operates in diverse contexts, from rural Ugandan dioceses to Ghanaian urban centers, fostering Catholic presence without supplanting local hierarchies.

Foreign Missions in Latin America

The Congregation of Holy Cross established its first missions in during the early , expanding southward from North American provinces amid post-World War II efforts to address pastoral needs in underserved regions. Initial efforts focused on and , with missionaries arriving in Santiago, , on March 1, 1943, and in , , in December 1943, primarily from Canadian Holy Cross communities. These foundations emphasized education, parish ministry, and service to marginalized populations, reflecting the congregation's charism of evangelization through teaching and direct apostolic work. In , Holy Cross priests and brothers operate schools such as Saint George's College and the Andacollo Institute, alongside parishes and a formation house for religious training. Their ministries include support for abandoned children and rural communities, with sustained presence marking the 75th anniversary of arrival in 2018. The mission forms part of the broader District of Chile-Peru, coordinating efforts across Andean regions. In , activities center on residential schools and urban parishes in and , evolving from initial 1943 establishments to address educational deficits in growing industrial areas; the District of oversees these operations. Peru missions began in 1963, targeting field hands and factory workers at a sugar plantation in Cartavio before expanding to impoverished areas including Chimbote, Canto Grande (serving approximately 200,000 residents), and . Holy Cross personnel provide pastoral care, basic education, and social services to the poor, often in collaboration with local dioceses. Mexico's involvement started later, in 1987, with assignment to the large urban parish of Santo Tomás Moro, focusing on immigrant and working-class communities; this operates as the Region of Mexico. Haiti, established concurrently with early South American efforts around 1943, involves parish work and disaster response, though specific metrics remain limited in congregational reports. These Latin American missions collectively house dozens of Holy Cross members, with ongoing formation evidenced by first professions in countries like , , , and as recently as 2017. Challenges include adapting to local cultures while maintaining fidelity to the congregation's educational apostolate, amid regional issues like and . Administrative structures, such as the Chile-Peru District, facilitate resource sharing and priestly formation, sustaining a presence that prioritizes direct service over expansion for its own sake.

Foreign Missions in Other Regions

The Congregation of Holy Cross established its presence in in 1847, marking the third mission outside France after and the , with initial missionaries comprising two priests, eight brothers, and four sisters sent by founder Basile Moreau to Saint-Laurent near . By the late , activities expanded coast-to-coast, including classical colleges like College Saint-Laurent and St. Joseph’s University in , alongside in six parishes serving French- and English-speaking communities. The Oratory of Saint Joseph in , developed under Saint (canonized 2010), remains a key apostolate, drawing over two million pilgrims annually and administered by the Canadian Province based in . In Europe, the congregation's origins in trace to its 1837 founding in , where it sponsors schools such as Ensemble Scolaire Saint Michel de Picpus in and College-Lycée Notre-Dame d’Orveau in Nyoiseau, while administering Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix Parish and hosting the International Shrine of Blessed Basile Moreau since 2014. Designated the Mother Province in 2022, supports global outreach despite historical challenges like the 1903 suppression of religious orders that dispersed members abroad. In , presence began in 1850 when Moreau led four brothers to at Pope Pius IX's invitation to educate orphans, initially at Santa Prisca and later Vigna Pia for agricultural and industrial training until 1868. The generalate, relocated to Via Framura after 1969, serves administrative functions, with a renovated completed in 2014 featuring iconography of key figures including and Blessed Moreau. In , the congregation launched its first mission in on November 15, 2023, in the of Bougainville, following a year of exploration; this marks the first new foreign mission in nearly 40 years, focused on parish ministry, , and community development at Holy Family Mission.

Educational and Pastoral Works

Higher Education Institutions

The Congregation of Holy Cross maintains a commitment to higher education as a core , sponsoring institutions that integrate intellectual formation with spiritual development to foster educators in the faith. These universities and colleges emphasize the holistic of minds and hearts, drawing from the congregation's founding principles under Blessed to prepare students for service in a just world. In the United States, the in , stands as the flagship institution, established in 1842 by Rev. , C.S.C., as the first Holy Cross foundation in the Americas. Originally envisioned to educate youth in faith amid frontier challenges, it has grown into a leading Catholic while retaining Holy Cross sponsorship and influence through resident priests and brothers. Other U.S. institutions include the in , assumed by the congregation in 1901 from its prior incarnation as and focused on forming faithful leaders; in , founded in 1946 as a serving working-class communities with 35 majors and a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio; in , established in 1948, offering 32 majors and emphasizing whole-person education for , with over 20,000 alumni since 1952; in , which hosts the Holy Cross Institute to advance the congregation's mission across affiliated schools; and Holy Cross College in , a Catholic liberal arts institution providing residential degrees. Internationally, Holy Cross sponsors higher education in regions of mission activity, such as Notre Dame University in , , alongside affiliated colleges in Motijheel and , which extend the congregation's educational outreach in . In India, Holy Cross College in serves similar purposes amid local needs. These institutions collectively animate the congregation's charism of zeal for education, adapting to cultural contexts while upholding Catholic identity and apostolic formation.

Secondary Education Institutions

The Congregation of Holy Cross operates or sponsors 88 institutions worldwide, emphasizing Catholic intellectual and alongside rigorous academics, in line with the educational vision of founder Blessed . These schools serve diverse regions, from urban centers in to rural areas in and , often integrating vocational training and to prepare students for leadership in church and society. In the United States, the Congregation sponsors 17 secondary schools, including Archbishop Hoban High School in , which provides college-preparatory curricula with a focus on faith-based character development. Other examples include Holy Cross High School in , New York, established to extend Holy Cross educational principles from the , serving over 1,000 students in a co-educational setting with strong emphasis on STEM and athletics. Similarly, Holy Cross High School in , draws from a network of over 120 Holy Cross institutions to foster holistic growth among students from more than 30 towns. Internationally, the Congregation maintains significant presence in Asia, with 24 secondary institutions in India, such as Notre Dame of Holy Cross School in Salem, Tamil Nadu, and 18 in Bangladesh, including St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Haiti hosts 15 schools like Collège Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours in Cap-Haïtien, while Brazil (3), Chile (2), and Peru (1) feature institutions such as Colegio Santa Cruz in São Paulo and Saint George’s College in Santiago. African operations include 3 schools in Ghana, exemplified by St. John’s Secondary School in Sekondi, and 2 in Uganda, such as Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School in Jinja. Europe and Canada contribute smaller numbers, with 2 in France (e.g., Collège Notre Dame d’Orveau in Nyoiseau) and 1 in Quebec (Collège Notre-Dame in Montréal).
CountryNumber of InstitutionsNotable Examples
Bangladesh18St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Dhaka
Brazil3Colegio Santa Cruz, São Paulo
Canada1Collège Notre-Dame, Montréal
Chile2Saint George’s College, Santiago
France2Collège Notre Dame d’Orveau, Nyoiseau
Ghana3St. John’s Secondary School, Sekondi
Haiti15Collège Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours, Cap-Haïtien
India24Notre Dame of Holy Cross School, Salem
Peru1Fe y Alegría 25 School, Lima
Uganda2Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School, Jinja
United States17Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron

Primary Education, Parishes, and Other Ministries

The Congregation of Holy Cross maintains a commitment to through Catholic elementary schools in the United States and mission regions, emphasizing faith formation alongside academic instruction. In the United States, Holy Cross School in , founded in 1929, ranks among the state's oldest Catholic elementary institutions and serves students from preschool through eighth grade. Similarly, Holy Cross School in New Orleans, , provides education rooted in Catholic tradition, with a focus on developing character in male students. Holy Cross in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, operates as part of the North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools network, offering pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade programming. In Africa, the Congregation's Province of East Africa oversees primary schools in Jinja, Uganda, such as St. Kizito Kalungami Primary School, St. Andrew's Day and Boarding Primary School, and St. Luke Day and Boarding Primary School, addressing local educational needs in underserved areas. St. Jude Primary School in Uganda, supported by Holy Cross, completed construction of new classrooms in February 2024 to handle rising student numbers, reflecting ongoing infrastructure investments in mission education. The Congregation staffs and administers parishes as a core pastoral ministry, with priests and brothers providing sacraments, preaching, and community support. In the United States, it oversees 15 parishes, including St. John Vianney Parish in ; Sacred Heart Parish in ; St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in ; Sacred Heart Parish, St. Joseph Parish, Holy Cross Parish, St. Adalbert/St. Casimir Parish, and Christ the King Catholic Church—all in the South Bend and , area; Holy Cross Parish in South ; Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in ; St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in ; Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Parish in ; and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in North . In Mexico, it administers at least one parish, contributing to local diocesan efforts. Internationally, parishes include St. Louis Parish in ; Holy Cross Parish in Umkiang, ; St. Thomas Church in Aizawl, ; and Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, . Beyond primary education and parishes, Holy Cross members pursue diverse apostolic works, including outreach via the Holy Cross Mission Center, which aids impoverished communities in 16 countries through direct support and evangelization. In , they engage in health ministries alongside educational and parish roles. initiatives form another focus, often integrated with lay collaborators who serve as ministers, community leaders, and staff in outreach programs. The Holy Cross Retreat House in North , facilitates spiritual retreats and formation programs, drawing participants including students from affiliated institutions like .

Controversies and Criticisms

Sexual Abuse Allegations and Institutional Responses

The Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross has identified 15 priests and brothers against whom credible allegations of of minors have been made, with incidents spanning from the 1940s to the early 1990s. An allegation is deemed credible if an independent review board, provincial council, and administration determine it more likely true than not based on factual evidence, or if the accused admits to the abuse or faces civil . None of the listed individuals remain in active ministry, and all were removed upon substantiation of claims. A notable U.S. case involved Brother Stanley Repucci, who allegedly abused John Lousteau on two occasions in the while serving as director of a at Holy Cross in New Orleans, . In June 2025, a federal awarded Lousteau $2.38 million, finding the Congregation negligent in supervising Repucci, though no prior institutional knowledge of his misconduct was specified in trial details. Repucci, deceased in 2018, was included on the Congregation's credible accusations . The order contested the verdict's implications for mitigation of damages but provided no financial support to the victim pre-trial. In , the Congregation settled lawsuits from over 100 victims alleging abuse by members at institutions including St. Joseph's Oratory in , covering incidents from 1950 to 2001, for approximately $17 million CAD in 2011, accompanied by a formal apology. An $18 million compensation fund was established for claimants, with processing extended into 2013 due to application volume. The U.S. Province's institutional response follows the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, mandating immediate reporting of allegations to civil authorities and the Victim Assistance Coordinator, followed by independent investigation and consultation with a Province Review Board. Credible claims result in removal from public ministry, psychological evaluation, and potential dismissal; victims receive pastoral outreach and counseling referrals. The Province cooperates fully with law enforcement and undergoes certification by Praesidium, Inc., for safe environment training, though specific audit outcomes or settlement totals beyond individual cases remain undisclosed. The 2019 public release of accused names aimed to promote transparency amid heightened scrutiny of clerical abuse.

Financial and Administrative Scandals

In the mid-19th century, the Congregation of Holy Cross encountered significant financial difficulties exacerbated by internal opposition to founder Basil Moreau's leadership, which strained resources and governance during the order's formative expansion. More recently, affiliated institutions under the congregation's oversight have grappled with fiscal mismanagement. Holy Cross College, operated by the congregation in , accumulated $27 million in debt by 2017, alongside annual deficits ranging from $4 million to $5 million, leading the to mandate a recovery plan to avert loss of accreditation. These issues stemmed from prior administrative decisions, including unchecked spending and enrollment declines, prompting a strategic pivot that included selling 75 acres of land to the for financial relief. Administrative responses to these challenges highlighted lapses in oversight, as the college's board and faced for delayed corrective action amid mounting liabilities. By contrast, the , also stewarded by the congregation, navigated early financial stringency through resilient fundraising but avoided comparable modern crises due to diversified revenue streams. No congregation-wide or schemes have been publicly documented, though local Holy Cross-staffed entities have reported isolated thefts unrelated to central administration.

Theological Disputes and Cultural Conflicts

In the mid-20th century, the Congregation of Holy Cross experienced internal tensions between its and brothers regarding governance and authority, culminating in the establishment of separate provinces for each group in to address disputes over parity and decision-making power. These conflicts reflected broader cultural divides within religious orders, where emphasized clerical while brothers sought greater in vocational roles, leading to structural reforms rather than outright . Post-Vatican II implementation brought further strains, as the congregation navigated shifts in religious life amid declining vocations and mission reevaluations, including temporary withdrawals from and alongside closures of most European houses in the and . Some members, influenced by emerging theological currents like , pursued social justice initiatives in , such as Fr. Robert Pelton's work among Chile's poor, which integrated with critiques of structural inequality but drew Vatican scrutiny for potential Marxist undertones. Critics within Catholicism contended that such approaches risked subordinating doctrinal fidelity to political activism, though proponents viewed them as faithful extensions of the preferential . At the , governed by Holy Cross priests, theological debates intensified over institutional identity, exemplified by the 1967 Land O'Lakes Statement, endorsed by then-president Fr. , C.S.C., which asserted Catholic universities' autonomy from direct ecclesiastical oversight to prioritize . Conservative critics, including figures like Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., argued this framework eroded confessional rigor by elevating secular scholarly standards over evangelization, fostering a cultural drift toward pluralism that diluted the university's Catholic mission. These tensions manifested in specific controversies, such as the 1997 dispute surrounding Fr. Michael J. Baxter, C.S.C., whose appointment to a faculty position sparked opposition for his advocacy of integrating Catholic social doctrine directly into academic , clashing with perceived institutional preferences for broader intellectual engagement over explicit orthodoxy. Similarly, the 2009 invitation extended by Fr. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., to President for Notre Dame's commencement—despite Obama's support for abortion rights—drew protests from over two dozen bishops and internal dissent from at least 10 Holy Cross priests, who warned of harm to the university's on issues. Such events highlighted ongoing cultural conflicts between accommodating progressive societal norms and upholding traditional Catholic teachings, with detractors citing them as evidence of compromised fidelity amid pressures from alumni, donors, and secular academia. More recently, Notre Dame's 2024 launch of the Jenkins Center on Catholicism and Global Democracy under Fr. Jenkins elicited conservative backlash for allegedly prioritizing policy advocacy over doctrinal clarity, while 2025 hiring guidelines equating diversity initiatives with core Catholic identity fueled accusations of conflating social ideologies with . These disputes underscore persistent divides within the congregation between adaptation to modern cultural contexts and rigorous adherence to first-principles Catholic realism, often attributing institutional challenges to post-conciliar emphases on over confrontation with .

Recent Developments and Legacy

Initiatives Since 2020

In 2020, the Congregation of Holy Cross marked the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Brothers of St. Joseph by Jacques-François Dujarié with educational webinars, video productions such as "Educators in the " and "Sons of the Church," and dedicated online resources emphasizing the brothers' historical contributions to Catholic and service. These efforts, coordinated internationally, aimed to renew appreciation for the congregation's fraternal charism amid the challenges of the , which limited in-person events. The same year saw the formal establishment of the unified United States Province of Priests and Brothers on July 1, 2020, merging prior provincial structures to streamline governance, formation, and mission coordination across 112 communities and institutions in the U.S. and abroad. This reorganization, approved by the congregation's general chapter, enhanced resource allocation for educational ministries, including support for universities like the , and addressed declining membership by fostering collaborative vocation efforts. In July 2025, the congregation launched its first International Final Vows Program in , , gathering 22 religious from 13 jurisdictions for a two-week formation retreat focused on spiritual preparation for perpetual vows of , , and obedience. This initiative represented a novel approach to globalized training, integrating theological reflection, community discernment, and cross-cultural exchange to bolster the congregation's international cohesion amid growing membership in regions like and . On 22, 2025, the Congregation of Holy Cross, partnering with Holy Cross Family Ministries, hosted the Global Rosary for Peace, a live-streamed event that united over 65,000 participants from multiple countries in collective prayer for during the Marian month of . Organized in response to ongoing global conflicts, the event featured prayers led by the Superior General and drew on the legacy of Venerable , C.S.C., to promote family-based evangelization through digital accessibility.

Enduring Impact on Education and Evangelization

The Congregation of Holy Cross has profoundly shaped Catholic through its foundational role in establishing institutions that integrate intellectual rigor with faith formation. Founded by Blessed Basile Moreau in 1837 amid post-Revolutionary France's spiritual and educational voids, the congregation prioritized "educators in the faith," emphasizing the development of both mind and heart to prepare individuals for earthly citizenship and eternal salvation. This charism manifests in sponsoring prominent universities, including the , established in 1842 by Holy Cross priest , which has grown into a leading Catholic research institution influencing global scholarship and leadership. Other enduring contributions include the (1901), (1946), and (1948), alongside over a dozen U.S. elementary and secondary schools, fostering communities where academic excellence serves apostolic ends. In evangelization, the congregation's mission intertwines with the proclamation of , viewing schooling as a primary vehicle for restoring faith in marginalized regions. From early expansions to (1840), the (1841), and beyond—reaching 16 countries across five continents by 2008—the Holy Cross brothers and priests have established parishes, missions, and schools to catechize and serve the poor. In the U.S. Province alone, 15 parishes with attached schools in the and one in continue this work, prioritizing underserved areas to cultivate zeal for Christ's message. Globally, initiatives in , , and exemplify sustained efforts to evangelize through holistic formation, yielding lasting societal impacts like community upliftment and vocational training that embed Catholic values. The congregation's legacy endures in its fivefold educational pillars—intellectual pursuit, heartfelt , zealous action, fraternal , and missionary outreach—which counteract secular drifts by grounding in truth and virtue. This approach has produced generations of who advance evangelization, as seen in Notre Dame's output of , scholars, and lay leaders committed to the Church's renewal. Despite membership declines, the Holy Cross network sustains Catholic identity in academia, resisting cultural dilutions and prioritizing empirical over ideological conformity.

References

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