Holy Cross Church

Holy Cross Church
124 Cottage Road
South Portland, ME  04106

Parish History

In the late part of the nineteenth century, Catholics living in South Portland crossed the harbor to attend Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception or St. Dominic’s Church. In 1911, Bishop Louis S. Walsh decided to establish South Portland as a separate parish. His first act was to name Father John B. Sekenger as pastor, who celebrated the first parish Mass on June 4, 1911, in Union Hall, in Ferry Village.

The intersection of Broadway and Cottage Road was determined as the most central location for a church, and Father Sekenger purchased a house and established his rectory at this site. On Sunday, July 6, 1913 Bishop Walsh blessed the block of granite, which was to be the foundation stone of the new church.

Work moved forward rapidly and on September 14, 1913 the first Mass was celebrated on the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross. Shortly after the church completion, Fr. Sekenger’s health failed and he returned to Bangor where he died in 1919. The second pastor, Father Frederick A. Karpe served Holy Cross for 38 years of unbroken service. During his pastorate, Holy Cross School was built and to the present day provides an excellent education. In 1952, the Right Reverend Monsignor John J. Barrett was appointed the third pastor of Holy Cross. During the pastorate of Father Karpe, Holy Cross had outgrown the first church building, and a new place of worship was needed.

In June 1957, demolition of the old church began with Mass being celebrated in the School Hall. Building started immediately, and on Sunday, September 15, the traditional ceremony of laying of the cornerstone took place by the Most Reverend Bishop Daniel J. Feeney. Work moved forward on the construction of the church, and the completed church was dedicated on September 14, 1958. Following the completion of the new church and resolution of the debt, Msgr. Barrett was requested by Bishop Feeney and by the Mother General of the Sisters of Mercy to provide a convent for the Sisters teaching in the parish. Subsequently, a convent was built, and dedicated by Bishop Feeney on September 15, 1963. In the late 1960’s parishioners living in Cape Elizabeth requested a new parish be established in that area. Approval was granted by the Bishop, and St. Bartholomew Church was constructed and dedicated in 1968.

In 1966, during Msgr. Barrett’s pastorate, parish councils were being formed throughout the diocese and the Holy Cross Parish Council was established. From the beginning, many loyal parishioners have devoted countless hours of service to the Parish. Following the death of Msgr. Barrett in 1968, Father Roland C. Reny was appointed the fourth pastor in 1969. During Father Reny’s pastorate, changes made by Vatican II were implemented. The laity became more active in the Mass and church affairs. The altar rail was removed, and an Altar of Sacrifice placed so the priest faced the congregation during the celebration of the Mass.

Father James E. Knox was appointed the fifth pastor of Holy Cross following Father. Reny’s retirement in 1981. During his tenure, the choir loft was closed and the choir was moved to the side of the church. A pipe organ was donated to the church by Father Edward F. Lynch in memory of his parents, James and Sarah Lynch, and dedicated on December 11, 1983. Several seminarians were mentored by Father Knox and would spend their summers at Holy Cross serving the parish community. Father Knox was a strong supporter of Catholic Education and very active in the parish school. Father Knox retired as pastor of Holy Cross in June of 1996.After his retirement, Father Knox remained dedicated to his priestly vocation and continued to serve in our parish cluster and several churches throughout the diocese.

Work had begun in the 1990s to bring about the successful coordination, cooperation, and consolidation of South Portland’s Roman Catholic community. Following the retirement of Father Knox, Holy Cross and St. John the Evangelist were assigned one pastor, Rev. Paul E. Coughlin, and soon became known as the Roman Catholic Parishes of South Portland. 

After St. John the Evangelist Church closed its doors in September 2013, many of its parishioners joined Holy Cross Parish, with others moving to St. Bartholomew Parish or St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish. 

To read more about the history of St. John the Evangelist Church, click here.