Page 97 - ROCHESTER

Holy croSS cHurcH
Holy Cross Church was established as a mission church near Lake Ontario in the City of Rochester in 1863, before the Diocese of Rochester was established.
Bishop John Timon of the Diocese of Buffalo blessed and dedicated the original Holy Cross
Church on May 3, 1863.
Father John M. Maurice of Our Mother of Sorrows served as pastor for the rst 10 years, and Father John J. Donnelly became the parish’s rst resident pastor on July 7, 1873.
Over the course of a century, a bell tower, a baptistery and south entrance were added to the original structure, which was completed in 1881. The church, at 4492 Lake Ave., was remodeled in 1985 and an addition built in 1998. The latter project enlarged the assembly area and added a large meeting area and a new kitchen. The new addition was dedicated by Bishop Matthew H. Clark in January 1999.
The Sisters of St. Joseph ran the parish school, which opened in 1887. The current school building was constructed in 1930 and more classrooms were added in 1955. Holy Cross School currently serves students in kindergarten through sixth-grade.
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