Welcome!

Here, you will get a glimpse into the real life of our community. From the routine task of cooking a meal to the challenges of running a university, we seek to allow God to use us as “simple instruments” in His plan of salvation. When we believe that the Lord is truly present and active in even our smallest actions, our whole day can become an offering to God.

Holy Cross Cup Winners!

Winners of the Holy Cross Cup at St. Edward's University
All are from St. Francis High School, Mountain View, CA
 

At this year's annual Brothers' reception for St. Edward's students from Holy Cross schools, over 70 students and Brothers attended the gathering at St. Joseph Hall. 

As a part of the welcome and dinner, we once again hosted our annual HOLY CROSS CUP competition - a quick quiz based on knowledge of Holy Cross facts. Graduates from each school teamed up and tried to win the Cup for their school. This year's winner by a tiebreaker - was St. Francis High School, Mountain View, CA. Congratulations to the winners! They now proudly keep the cup for the year until they try to repeat next year.

Last year's winner was the joint team from Holy Cross High School, Flushing, NY, Holy Cross High School, Waterbury, CT, and Notre Dame High School, West Haven, CT. Their enthusiastic attempt at a repeat came up a point short.

Come, Holy Spirit!

Members of the Holy Cross community at St. Edward's University joined new students and their families at the opening Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sunday, August 25, 2013.  Bishop Joe Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, presided at the liturgy accompanied by Frs. Peter Walsh, CSC, Campus Minister, and Fr. Bill Crumley, CSC (retired) of the US Province.  Bishop Vásquez gave thanks for the ministry of Holy Cross in Catholic education at St. Edward's University.  After communion, families and other members of the Campus Ministry staff, including Bro. Larry Atkinson, CSC, blessed all of the entering students as they began their studies.

A Feast Day for All!

The Holy Cross community on the campus of St. Edward's University celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows with over 70 SEU students who are graduates of our Holy Cross secondary schools both in the States and abroad.  It makes all of us feel very proud to know that we have succeeded so well in educating the minds and hearts of our students that they chose to continue their university education with us!

Tukusanyukidde!

Tukusanyukidde, (Welcome) Fr. Fulgens Katende, CSC, to New York City!

What is he eating?  It looks good!

Fr. Fulgens arrived in the States from the District of East Africa where he was most recently the director of André House, the District's candidate program, in Jinja, Uganda.  Fr. Fulgens will be a full-time student at Fordham University, studying spiritual direction.  He will live at Mt. Carmel parish in the Bronx and affiliate with the local Holy Cross community at Holy Cross High School in Queens, NY.  Attached is a photo of Fr. Fulgens enjoying an authentic Cantonese meal in downtown Flushing.  We look forward to having Fr. Fulgens with us for the next couple of years!

"This Vocation is Vital to the Church"

From L to R: Bro. Nich Perez, CSC, Bro. Jesus Alonso, CSC, Bro. John Paige, CSC, and the late Bro. Joseph Umile, CSC; Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Indiana

By Beth Griffin
Catholic News Service

RYE, N.Y. (CNS) -- Religious brothers say they are an invisible group in the church, but that it's not such a bad thing because it allows them the freedom to be ordinary men performing an extraordinary ministry.

That's the view of brothers and other participants at a think tank convened last fall to examine their vocation.

"Our vocation is one of the church's best-kept secrets," Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, Executive Director the National Religious Vocation Conference, told Catholic News Service. "We are vowed religious who commit ourselves to a particular ministry, live in community and share prayers.

A Courageous Man of God!

Today is the 175th anniversary of the death of Fr. Jacques Dujarié, the founder of the original Brothers of St. Joseph who later became the first brothers within the Congregation of Holy Cross. Read below a reflection on his life written by Steven Scardina, a photographer, who visited the birthplace of this remarkable man. Fr. Dujarié, pray for us!

8 New Brothers!

Bro. Binoy  Gomes, CSC, Novice Director for the Holy Cross community in Bangladesh, has sent us great news!  Read more to find out the details.

Outstanding Holy Cross Educator!

Mr. Hector Garza, Art Instructor at Holy Cross of San Antonio, was recently recognized as an "Outstanding Leader in Catholic Education."  This "Teacher of the Year" is an accomplished artist who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Masters of Education from the University of Notre Dame. His art exhibits include the First Friday Art Show, numerous exhibits through Centro Cultural Aztlan, and his work has been featured as the cover artwork for publications.  Mr. Garza is pictured below with his newest creation, the Three Arches of Life, modeled on the bronze altarpiece found at Basilique Notre-Dame in Montréal, Québec. 

To see more of Mr. Garza's artwork, visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hector-Garza/141064689294813

Carving a Prayer

Saint Brother André Bessette, CSC

Brother James Kane, CSC, currently serves as the Director of Technology at Holy Cross High School in Flushing, NY.  He is also an accomplished artist, working in a variety of mediums including watercolors and wood.  His photographs of New York City line the main hallway of our community residence.  Read below his insightful reflection on how an ordinary piece of wood becomes his prayer.

Bro. James carves a pumpkin for Halloween

This is my basswood carving of the face of Brother André Bessette, C.S.C. It is a work in progress; there is no timeline for completion. While carving – or while doing any artwork, like drawing or watercolor painting - I become part of a timeless interlude where my attention becomes sharply focused and a creative spirit controls my hands. Brother André has always been an inspiration to me. Carving his face is a very intimate experience. I find myself imagining that Brother André is with me, almost looking at me. I am reminded how he often repeated that what he did was the work of God and of St. Joseph, not his own. I quickly find myself thanking God for the eyes to see and the hands to create. If the image emerging from this piece of wood can help to raise the spirits of another, can inspire another, can bring hope to another, then I will consider it to be a prayer.

Answering the Call

Bro. Larry, second from left, with former members of the Moreau House community.

Gregory J. Scott of St. Edward's University in Austin, TX recently interviewed Bro. Larry Atkinson, CSC, for the Spring 2012 edition of St. Edward's University Magazine.  Bro. Larry, a graduate of this Holy Cross school, currently serves there as an assistant director of Campus Ministry and director of the Moreau House program where young men can explore their own calling by God.  

Celebrating Our Vocation to Religious Brotherhood

Bro. Harold

Bro. Harold Hathaway, CSC was recently interviewed by Linda Andrade Rodrigues of the Standard-Times in New Bedford, MA.  Read about what attracted Bro. Harold to religious brotherhood in the Congregation of Holy Cross.

A Difference-Maker

Hasan Ali

The Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross speak about the powerful witness of men who live and work together so closely that others might look at them and remark, "See how they love one another."  This sentiment is more than mere words, particularly in our Holy Cross institutions.  A shining example of our value on brotherhood recently took place at our high school, Holy Cross of San Antonio.  Read below how a young man found that he was more than just accepted at Holy Cross, but was made a part of our extended family.

Social Justice -- Food Security

Bro. David Andrews, CSC, of Food & Water Watch in Washington, DC reports on his recent participation in an international meeting in Rome, Italy, on food security issues.  Continue reading to find out what happens when nongovernmental and grassroots organization challenge the staus quo on behalf of those who do not have a voice in our world . . .

Halloween Fun!

Demons waiting to scare community members who came into the kitchen Halloween night!

The Holy Cross community at Holy Cross High School in Flushing, NY let out their "inner child" on Halloween and had some fun carving pumpkins.  Bro. Roger carefully cleaned all of the seeds which we roasted afterwards.  See some of the creepy creativity below!

"Exuding the Brotherhood of Man"

St. Joseph Center on Rt. 9 in Valatie, NY

The following story was written by Mr. James Breig of The Record in Troy, NY.  Mr. Breig captures well the unique ministry and community at the St. Joseph Center in Valatie, NY.

On a recent chilly morning, members of the Congregation of Holy Cross who live at St. Joseph Center in Valatie gathered in the chapel to honor one of their own: St. Andre Bessette. Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI last October, he became the congregation’s first saint.

St. Andre, a Canadian brother who died in 1937, was renowned for his humility and devotion to St. Joseph, so it was appropriate that the residents of the center named in the latter saint’s honor recently marked St. Andre’s feast day with prayers and reflections. As might be expected, statues and photos of the new saint are dotted throughout the facility.

People who drive south along Route 9, perhaps headed for Kinderhook or the Golden Harvest roadside farm stand, pass alongside the sprawling acres of St. Joseph Center, which is located off Maple Lane. As its website notes, the “property was given to the Congregation of Holy Cross by Mrs. M. Brady Farrell. It consisted of a house and 170 acres [since expanded to 400]. Brothers stayed in the house and farmed the land. The first Mass was celebrated on the property in 1935.”

Bro. John R. Paige, CSC, PhD, Inaugurated as President

Bro. John Paige, CSC (my former principal and novice director) was installed as the fourth President of Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana.  Read the following story from the Holy Cross College website and listen to Bro. John invoke the blessing of our founder, Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC, on the College and himself as he begins his ministry of leadership.

The "Year of the Brother" Begins!

In honor of the first anniversary of the canonization of Bro. André, the Congregation of Holy Cross will observe a special "Year of the Brother" to celebrate and promote the vocation to religious brotherhood in the Church.

Bro. Joel Giallanza, CSC, explains the theme of this year, "Lives Given to God, Love Given to All." . . .

Going Strong!

Meet Bro. Donard Steffes, CSC, a Holy Cross Brother!

Bro. Donard is not just an ordinary individual. He is 96 years old and still as energetic as a 21-year-old young man.

Bro. Donard has been a Holy Cross educator all his life, traveling around the world to educate hearts and minds. Currently, he is at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, where he continues his ministry and hobbies.

He is also an athlete, an artist, an amateur ham radio operator, a volunteer for the Red Cross and a man of many talents, which he honed as a Holy Cross Brother.

He is not "just" a Brother. He is a Holy Cross Brother!

This is a short video of his story.

                                   Respond to the call.
                    Spread your wings. Anchor your soul.

Directed, Photographed and Edited by Bro. Nich Perez, CSC.
All Rights Reserved. Holy Cross Brothers 2011.
HolyCrossBrothers.org

Brother Donard Steffes - Not Just A Brother. from Nich Perez CSC on Vimeo.

CAMPing with the Brothers

The Brothers of Holy Cross recently hosted for dinner this wonderful group of young women and men from the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. 

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, an important part of the St. Edward's University mission is providing an academically rigorous education to a culturally, economically and religiously diverse student body.   First offered in 1972, CAMP at St. Edward's is the longest continuously running migrant education program in the nation and has served more than 2,200 migrant students.   In addition to the Star Award, the University's program has been honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a national model and has been recognized by the Association of American Colleges and Universities as a national model for multicultural teaching and learning.   CAMP has made national headlines -- the program was featured in a segment on ABC World News by former migrant worker and journalist John Quiñones.

Join us in praying for these new students as they begin one of the most exciting times of their lives.  May God bless them and their families.