The Congregation of Holy Cross

The History of Holy Cross at Sacred Heart Parish: Video Series

​​Our former Associate Pastor Fr. Randy Rentner, C.S.C. (2018-2024) offered a series of short video clips that explain and celebrate the history of Holy Cross at Sacred Heart Parish. Clip 1 is on Holy Orders. Clip 2 discusses the history of religious life, and the history of Holy Cross in clip 3. Clip 4 covers the process of how one becomes a priest or brother in Holy Cross, and clip 5 introduces you to important C.S.C. luminaries in our community’s past. Starting with clip 6, Fr. Randy dived more into Holy Cross’ presence at Sacred Heart Parish. Fr. Randy hopes that you enjoy the videos! 

Clip 1: Holy Orders

Clip 2: Religious Life

Clip 3: History of Holy Cross

Clip 4: Holy Cross Formation

Clip 5: Holy Cross Luminaries

Sacred Heart Parish before Holy Cross, 1860-1984

The Congregation of Holy Cross at Sacred Heart Parish

Sacred Heart Parish has been staffed by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross since 1984.

In 1984, Bishop Richard Hanifen was installed in the newly-created Diocese of Colorado Springs. He requested assistance from the Congregation of Holy Cross, based in South Bend, Indiana, for pastoral duties at Sacred Heart Church and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Manitou Springs and Holy Rosary Chapel in Cascade as mission churches of Sacred Heart Church.

In the spring of 1984, Fr. LeRoy E. Clementich, C.S.C. was appointed as Pastor along with Fr. Ronald P. Raab, C.S.C. as Associate Pastor. Holy Cross Priests have served Sacred Heart Parish ever since.

Pictured Above Left: Deacon Kevin O'Connell and Fr. Ronald Raab, C.S.C. in 1984.

Pictured Above Right: Fr. LeRoy Clementich, C.S.C. and Fr. Ronald Raab, C.S.C. in 2017. Fr. Clem celebrated his 95th birthday in October 2019. Sadly, Fr. Clem passed away in 2021.

From 2004-2013, Fr. Robert Epping, C.S.C. served as the Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. After leaving the parish, Fr. Bob served as the 13th Superior General of The Congregation of Holy Cross from 2013-2022. Fr. Bob is now retired. 

Pictured Left: Fr. Bob Epping, C.S.C. and former Sacred Heart Pastor Fr. Ronald Raab, C.S.C. (2013-2022).

The Congregation of Holy Cross Novices

Each year, Sacred Heart Parish welcomes a new class of Holy Cross Novices. The Novices spend a year in prayer and discernment at the Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade, CO. During the year, they participate in parish life as they continue on their journey of discernment, learning the history of Holy Cross and learning the meaning of the vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

Pictured Above: Holy Cross Novices class of 2023-2024 and Novitiate Staff

The Holy Cross Novitiate in Cascade, CO

The Holy Cross Novitiate is located in Cascade, CO.

The former Cusack mansion was donated to the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1978.

The main house was built in Cascade, CO prior to 1920. The Cusack family, originally from Chicago, built the large home with materials from a Chicago bank that had been destroyed in a fire. The marble and other materials were shipped from Chicago to make a home for the Cusack family. 

The family lived in the home for only a few years. Even before the home was completed, the mother of the family passed away. The children built Holy Rosary Chapel in 1931 to honor their parents who built the mansion on Highway 24. 

Ann Cusack was one of the children from the original family. She offered all the property, including the large, original cottage, the main house, and the barns to the Congregation of Holy Cross. At the time, Holy Cross was looking for a second novitiate in the United States. The first novitiate was in Vermont. 

The first Novice Master who served in Cascade was Rev. Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C.

Pictured Above Left: Our Sacred Heart Parish Community now owns the ordination chalice of our first Master of Novices in Cascade, CO, Fr. Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C. beginning in 1978. Fr. Nick's chalice is from his ordination as a priest in 1959. Fr. Nick served as Director of Novices until the mid-1980's. 

Pictured Above Right: Fr. Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C. with Fr. Ronald Raab, C.S.C., former Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish (2013-2022). Fr. Nick was the Novice Master when Fr. Ron attended the Novitiate in 1978.

The Congregation of Holy Cross

According to The Congregation of Holy Cross' website, "To serve with zeal 'to make God known, loved, and served, and thus save souls'” – that was the charge that Blessed Basil Moreau, our founder, gave the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Moreau founded the Congregation on March 1, 1837, in Sainte-Croix, which at the time was a small village outside of Le Mans, France. We are an apostolic religious congregation composed of two distinct societies of religious brothers and religious priests “bound together in one indivisible brotherhood.”

Pictured Above (Center): Bishop William Wack, C.S.C., former Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish (1994-1997) with the 2017-2018 Class of Holy Cross Novices. Bishop Bill is now serving in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.

Throughout our history, our mission has been to share in the Church’s mission by working as educators in the faith. In all of our ministries, whether schools, parishes, or other works of missionary outreach and social justice, we serve side-by-side with our collaborators through educating hearts and minds and building communities of the coming kingdom.

Today, the Congregation of Holy Cross consists of over 1,200 perpetually professed religious brothers and religious priests. Through our vowed religious life, our apostolic work, and our conviction that “the cross is our only hope,” we strive to be men with hope to bring in the 16 countries in which we live and serve.

The Congregation is under the leadership of Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., the 14th Superior General in the history of Holy Cross. Along with his assistants on the General Council, they oversee the 17 Provinces, Districts, and Vicariates that constitute the Congregation."

Click here to learn more about vocations with the Congregation of Holy Cross.

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