The Crucifixes of Holy Cross
There are many crucifixes in Holy Cross (at least one in most rooms). Most of them have been donated by parishioners or donated in memory of someone.
On this page, only three of the crucifixes are mentioned. At least two of them are main focal points in the decor of the church, and the third is representative of an old Slovene tradition.
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Sanctuary Crucifix
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This crucifix dates back to 1915 and was originally placed along the communion rail in the sanctuary of the church on Pine Streetby Reverend Golob. It was called the Mission Crucifix. In Slovenian tradition, all parishes had a Mission Crucifix as a reminder of parish missions held during the years (this tradition is no longer upheld in newer churches). An inscription on the crucifix reads "Clovek Resi Svojo Duso" or "Man Save Your Soul". When Reverend Farkas became pastor, he had the Mission Cross relocated because it obstructed the view of the altar to the entrance hall where people could see it when they first entered the church. When the parish moved to Tahmore Drive, the corpus of the crucifix had been damaged and was destroyed accordingly. Reverend Hribsek saved the cross and kept in the basement of the 'new church' with the intent of finding a place for it in remembrance of the Pine Street church. Sometime in 2002, Reverend Dimic gave permission (and received diocesan permission)for the Holy Cross Seniors to raise money for restoring the crucifix and placing it in the sanctuary. When Reverend Fitspatrick became pastor in 2003, he let the restoration and placement of the crucifix proceed. In the summer of 2003, when the Holy Cross Seniors had raised enough money, the restored crucifix was placed on the back wall in the sanctuary.
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This crucifix dates back to 1972. In the 1960s, Reverend Hribsek purchased a corpus made by an immigrant Slovenian Sculptor of considerable renown, Frank Gorse. The corpus was comprised of a material made of a powder from ground walnut shells (Mr. Gorse's specialty). Reverend Hribsek had bought the corpus for two reasons: to help the Slovenian artist and because he already dreamed of building a new Holy Cross Church. Some time later Bishop Curits gave permission for us to build the new Holy Cross Church. In the summer of 1972 with the construction already in progress, the niche appeared in the vestibule - without a plan of what should be placed in it. While on vacation at Balmbeach in Canada, Reverend Hribsek had met a man named William Cekuta, an architect by profession. During their conversation, Reverend Hribsek had mentioned his recent idea of putting a crucifix in the niche of the vesibule - a Slovenian Roadside Crucifix using the corpus made by Mr. Gorse. After more communications with Reverend Hribsek, Mr. Cekuta donated the design for the Roadside Crucifix as a gift to our church. Reverend Hribsek donated the corpus in memory of his parents and a local craftsman, Mr. Drago Kuharec, made the cross out of wrought iron to the design of Mr. Cekuta. The Roadside Crucifix was then placed in the niche in the vestibule.
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Slovenian Roadside Crucifix
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Mission Crucifix
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This crucifix dates back to 1972-73. After the parish relocated to Tahmore Drive, Reverend Hribsek occasionally heard nostalgia for the old Mission Crucifix. So he provided a new Mission Crucifix in which he purchased the corpus and a parishioner, Mr. Frank Berden, made the cross. Mr. Berden also fitted the corpus to the cross and placed the new Mission Crucifix on the wall. The inscription on the crucifix reads "In Remembrance of Our Parish Missions".
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