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Logo by Ginger Cisewski

Holy Cross Parish is among the oldest in the State of lowa. It is known that by 1840, a goodly number of Irish immigrants settled in what is now known as Concord Township. The exact date of its beginning is uncertain. As early as 1842, Bishop Mathias Loras said Mass in the Sweeney home. Also, in 1842, Bishop Loras blessed a large cross hewn from wood and erected it on the present grounds. "Beneath the shade of this cross" were laid the dead in what is now Holy Cross Cemetery.

Feeling the need of a church rather than a gathering in homes or under the open skies, the early settlers built a church of white oak logs in 1845. Priests from St. Raphael's Cathedral, in Dubuque, came once a month to administer the sacraments and offer Mass.

The early records are incomplete but do show that Bishop Loras himself baptized High McGuire and George Beard on Nov. 28, 1847. According to the abstract of title, President Zachary Taylor signed the deed that secured for Bishop Loras 40 acres of land for Holy Cross Parish. On this site, a new stone church, in the form of a cross, was erected by Father Lynch in 1852. This church was later used as a parish hall when, in 1888, Father Patrick Farrelly erected the church still in use and constructed by parishioners from brick kilned on the grounds.

The first school established in 1846, near the present church, was a county school. Bishop Loras had sold a quarter-acre of land to School District No. 1 of Concord Township. It was on this property the Holy Cross School, part district and part parochial, was erected in 1874. It was not until 1883 that Father Farrelly was able to secure the Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque to teach in the school.

High School wos begun in Holy Cross with the admission of the 9th grade, in 1934. Not until 1947 did it become a complete high school when, under the direction of Father Anthony Sigwarrh, a new building to serve both grade and high school was completed. A gymnasium-auditorium was added to this building by Father Sigwarth in 1954. In 1964, a Central High School was organized to serve the parishes of Balltown, Luxemburg, North Buena Vista and Rickardsville, as well as Holy Cross. A separate building was constructed for grade school use and additions were made to the original building, both to supply more classroom space and more room in the convent. This construction was accomplished under the direction of the present pastor, Father John W. Hemesoth.

Holy Cross Parish is located in the town of Holy Cross. Originally the town was known by the name, Georgetown and the Post- Office, Pin Oak. In 1899, the name was changed to Holy Cross to commemorate the cross that Bishop Loras had planted.

Priests who administered to the needs of Holy Cross Parish, along with Bishop Loras until 1847, were: Rev. Anoine Godfert ;Rev. John Healy and Rev. Joseph Cretin, later to become the first bishop of St. Paul, Minnesota. Others were: G. H. Plathe, 1848-50; John W. McEvoy, 1851-52; Michael Lynch, 1852-64; Daniel Maloney, 1864-70; R.A. Byrne, 1870-77; P.F. Farrelly, 1877-95; b, 1895-1903; G.T. Nagle, 1903-15; J. F. McCaffery, 1915-25; A. L. Lorenz, 1925-30; Augustine Bomholt, 1930-40; Francis Vallaster, 1940-44; Lester Kuenzel, 1944-45; Antony W. Sigwarth, 1945-56; and John W. Hemesath, 1956 to 1969.

Source: 1967 Atlas of Dubuque County
Compiled by the Title Atlas Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota