HISTORY OF HOLY CROSS CHURCH

In 1785, a "league" of sixty families was formed in Maryland, all Catholics, and mostly from St. Mary's County, each one of whom was pledged to emigrate to Kentucky within a specified time. Their primary purpose of settling together was to secure as soon as possible the advantages of a pastorate and a church. Twenty-five families left Maryland early in 1785 and reached Kentucky before the end of spring. Father M. Whelan was assigned to Kentucky and reached the Pottinger's Creek settlement in the early summer of 1787 and remained until the spring of 1790.  Six months later the Reverend William de Rohan followed and it was he who built the First Holy Cross Church in 1792, the first erected in the State of Kentucky. The Reverend Stephen Theodore Badin arrived in Kentucky in 1795. The Reverend Charles Nerinckx arrived in Kentucky in July of 1805.

After the establishment of the Diocese of Bardstown, April 8, 1808, and the arrival of Bishop Flaget, the mission territory was divided up into other parishes and priests where assigned to them.

In the fall of 1812, the Very Reverent Charles Nerinckx was called to the temporary pastorship of the Holy Cross congregation. For several Sundays, he referred to the matter of a more suitable accommodation for their Lord and Master than the log structure that had served this purpose for more than thirty years. One Sunday morning, he astonished his listeners by telling them that he had fixed the following day for the beginning of the new church. he acknowledged that few among them were able to contribute large sums of money but all could give a little and most of them could give the labor of their hands to the undertaking. He invited everyone to come early the next morning with whatever tools and working stock they possessed. Timbers were felled and shaped by hand implements into girders, joists and rafters. Clay and sand were hauled for the making of bricks. According to Father Nerinckx's correspondence, the building was under roof by December of 1823 and must have been completed soon afterwards. Father Nerinckx left the Holy Cross congregation in the spring of 1824 and died August 12, 1824 at St. Genevieve, Missouri.

The Record, Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Newspaper, listed in February 1879 that a new rectory and school was built at Holy Cross, Kentucky. The school burned on February 14, 1958 and a new one was built.

Holy Cross school was served by the Mount St. Joseph Ursuline Sisters from 1914 until 1977. The county closed the school in May 1984.

The old Sisters home was torn down around 1962, at which time a new brick home was built. After the Sisters left, Father Patrick Warren, pastor, moved from the old rectory to the brick home in 1978.

No chronicled history of the church has been recorded, but from the snatches of writings it seems the vestibule and a large room where added to the church in the early part of the twentieth century, about 1914.

Over the years, Holy Cross Parish had provided a place of worship for many persons. Even today, Holy Cross Parish is a place where many come to touch the roots of their Catholic faith and tradition. Holy Cross Parish is proud of its rich heritage and tradition.

HISTORY OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

There was no Catholic church building in the Loretto-St. Francis neighborhood early in the 19th century and the people were probably feeling frustrated.

Due to the efforts of Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget, Fathers Charles Nerinckx and Stephen Badin and other great missionaries, there were churches in the midst of the neighboring towns.

Holy Cross Parish had been established in 1785, St. Charles in 1786, Loretto Motherhouse in 1812, St. Vincent de Paul in 1820 and St. Francis Xavier in 1837. Going to these places involved sacrifice-walking or riding a horse several miles in all kinds of weather.

The Loretto-St. Francis Catholics were longing for their own church and their own priest and were wondering when this was going to happen. They had to wait until the middle of the century.

In 1854, Father Francis Wuyts, a native of Holland, was appointed chaplain of the Loretto Motherhouse. He certainly had his hands full. IN addition to this assignment, he was also in charge of Holy Cross and St. Vincent de Pal parishes and he began having services at Chicago, now St. Francis.

The year 1859 had to have been a year of pride and joy for the St. Francis people. During this year the men of the parish helped Father Wuyts build the first church in the parish. It was a small frame building located on the hilltop.

Father Patrick Cassidy was the next pastor of St. Francis. He started coming over from Raywick in 1869. This only lasted one year. Father Cassidy died in 1870.

He was succeeded by Father John Creary. The first rectory was built in 1872 and Father Creary became the first resident pastor.

Father Edwin Drury came to St. Francis in 1874. he started the first parochial school in 1880. Father Thomas Hayes became pastor in 1885. During his pastorate a new rectory was built.

Father Anthony McHenry came to St. Francis in 1887. Under his supervision plans were made for a new brick church. The building of the present church began early in 1896. Father McHenry became very ill with pneumonia during this year and died at age 44.

The next pastor was Father Edward Hart. He arrived in October of 1896 and supervised the completion of the new church. The people of St. Francis were very proud of their beautiful new building. It was not dedicated until December 27, 1900. On that day, they had a big, joyful celebration.

From 'The Record' at that time: "The feast of St. John was a red-letter day for the good people of the congregation of St. Francis of Assisi, Chicago, KY. The joyful occasion was the dedication of their beautiful new church, a solid brick structure, build in 1896 and recently completed. There is not a more beautiful church in the Diocese."

Father Drury came back on this day to be celebrant for the Solemn High Mass. Father Hayes was on hand to deliver the sermon. Many parishioners labored tirelessly in building the church.

The first school was called St. Clare's Academy of Chicago, KY. This barn-like structure sat behind the church. It closed in 1958 when the new school and chapel was built in Loretto. This facility remained open until 1991.

A high school was built in Loretto in 1950 operating for about 20 years. Presently this building is the parish activity center.

The old convent at St. Francis burned on June 29, 1959. This called for the construction of a new home which began immediately. The Sisters moved into their new convent on November 21, 1959, which is now the St. Francis Nursing Center.

St. Francis has had many young men ordained to the Priesthood over the years. The first ordinations were Joseph A. Lyon and his brother James Percy Lyon on June 3, 1950.

Father Joseph "Doc" Lyon put together most of the writing of this history for which we are very grateful.