A family of faith, growing together to show Christ's love to all. [read more]
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Holy Cross Catholic Church, located in East Bernard, Texas, In 1901, Catholic immigrants gathered to celebrate the first mass in the East Bernard area. The roots of faith these pioneers planted continue to grow and flourish, and today more than 700 families call Holy Cross Catholic Church their parish home.. When the early Czechoslovakian families settled in East Bernard, Texas, they brought with them their strong Catholic faith. These early pioneers sacrificed a great deal and realized the need to work together to ensure they would always have a sacred place to worship. That same spirit can still be found among the parish family today. Mass was celebrated in the home of parishioners from 1901 to 1905. As their numbers grew, they decided to build a church of their own. The first mass was held in September 1905 in a little frame church. The community and the Catholic population continued to grow and the building soon became too small to accommodate their growing numbers. The present church building was built in 1925, representing a Spanish colonial style exterior and interiorly decorated with elegant Czech and German inspirations. Angelic mosaics on the inside of the church were imported from Munich, Germany. Especially made for Holy Cross, the Stations of the Cross were hand painted on copper and imported from Czechoslovakia. One of the most striking features are the stained glass windows in which beautiful emblems and designs are worked in “roundel” glass made by the Otmar Vackar Company in Brno, Czechoslovakia. In 1997, a Texas Historical Marker was installed on the Parish Campus honoring the century year old parish. Another historical reminder is the Pioneer Chapel, built on the same site as the first wooden church, is a replica of the original church’s entrance. The Religious Education Building, across the street, was once the home to the Catholic school for 45 years Holy Cross Cemetery is a final resting place for many original parish pioneers. More than 100 years later, Holy Cross Catholic Church continues to provide for the liturgical, pastoral and educational needs of the parish. A multi-generational religious education program makes it possible for parishioners of all ages to study the faith and keep current on Catholic teachings. Each new member enriches the faith community and truly reflects the Body of Christ in today's society. Part of the Catholic Diocese of Victoria, Holy Cross offers weekday masses and four weekend masses. We invite you to come celebrate Mass with our parish family. Holy Cross Parish community is prominently involved in many groups. Some but not all are, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Knights of Columbus, the Czech organization KJT and KJZT, and the youth’s ACT NOW. Parishioners are greatly active in music, altar society, and Hispanic ministries. Each Fall, the parish gathers together as one family for the Church bazaar held that the local Riverside Hall to celebrate with neighboring parishes and communities. [read more]
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