Holy Cross Mission Appeals: Frequently Asked Questions for Parish Partners

Q: What is the Congregation of Holy Cross?

A: Founded in 1837 by Blessed Basil Moreau, the Congregation of Holy Cross today makes Christ known, loved, and served in 16 countries around the world. They live out the missionary vision of Blessed Basil Moreau through their ministries in primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, technical schools, women’s educational programs, seminaries and houses of formation, hospitals and pharmacies, family formation ministries, food pantries, and countless parishes. Wherever Holy Cross priests and brothers go, they go as “educators in the faith,” sharing the Gospel with their words and witnesses. 

Learn more at holycrossmissions.org. 

Q: Who is helped by Holy Cross Mission Appeals? 

A: Your parish’s support for this year’s Holy Cross Mission Appeal will go far. It will help mothers in Nairobi receive prenatal healthcare, children of Bangladeshi tea laborers receive educational scholarships, parents at Yancana Huasy in Peru support their children with special needs, and so many other life-giving causes. 

All funds raised through the Holy Cross Mission Center’s (HCMC) Mission Appeals support Holy Cross priests’ and brothers’ ministries in Bangladesh, Chile, Kenya, Peru, Tanzania, and Uganda. In special circumstances, funds raised in Mission Appeals can be set aside for La Luz Parish, a U.S. Province ministry in Monterrey, Mexico. In these seven countries, Holy Cross administers parishes, grade schools, colleges, universities, healthcare facilities, and social ministries where financial resources are needed. Once Mission Appeal collections are received by the HCMC, our office works with international Holy Cross Province and District Superiors in the above countries to fund formal project proposals that are priorities for their jurisdictions.

Thank you for supporting this year’s Holy Cross Mission Appeals!

Q: Does the parish priest have to be present during the Mission Appeal weekend? 

A: We at the Holy Cross Mission Center are happy to provide Holy Cross priests in good standing who can celebrate your parish’s Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses. If doing so allows for your pastor or associate pastor to enjoy the weekend off, he is welcome to enjoy that opportunity. All we ask is that you provide us with an emergency contact for the parish that we can pass along to the assigned Holy Cross priest who visits.

Q: How have other parishes assisted Mission Appeal efforts?

A: Typically, parishes have offered the following before, during, and after the Mission Appeal weekend:

1. Clear Communication: In order to align your parish needs with our Holy Cross priests, we require information about the available weekend dates between April and November, Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass times, locations, languages (typically either Spanish or English), and the availability of overnight accommodations for the parish. If your parish has specific instructions for visiting priests, please share them with us at hcmc@holycrossusa.org. 
2. Bulletin Announcements: Find premade full-page and half-page bulletin inserts here. We also have prepared social media posts for your parish accounts.
3. Accommodations: Occasionally, the parish is located far from a Holy Cross community house. In those instances, the Holy Cross priest will benefit from suitable accommodations, whether it’s in a guest room at the rectory, a nearby hotel, or with a parishioner who is willing to host.
4. Anonymous Feedback: In an effort to continuously improve our support for the ministries of Holy Cross, the HCMC solicits anonymous feedback from each participant in our Mission Appeals, both the CSC priests and the parishes that host us. Click here to submit feedback anonymously. For more immediate support, email mjezewak@holycrosssusa.org or call 574-631-8884  to speak with the HCMC’s Assistant Director for Community Engagement, Michael Jezewak.

Q: Where should parishes send funds that are collected for the Holy Cross Mission Appeal?

A: First, make sure to note your parish name and diocese. With that information included, submit your parish’s funds using our secure online donation portal (https://secure.qgiv.com/for/missionappeal) or by mailing a check with your parish and diocese in the subject line to the following address:

Holy Cross Mission Center
Attn: Mission Appeal at [Parish Name]
P.O. Box 543
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Published: June 14, 2024