The Congregation of Holy Cross Ordination Mass
The History of Holy Cross at Sacred Heart Parish: Video Series
Our Associate Pastor Fr. Randy Rentner, CSC is offering 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 CSC luminaries in our community’s past. Starting with clip 6, Fr. Randy will then dive more into Holy Cross’ presence at Sacred Heart Parish. Fr. Randy hopes that you enjoy the videos!
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Clip 1: Holy Orders
Clip 4: Holy Cross Formation
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Clip 2: Religious Life
Clip 5: Holy Cross Luminaries
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Clip 3: History of Holy Cross
Clip 6: History of Sacred Heart Parish before Holy Cross, 1860-1984, featuring slides from the Historic Preservation Alliance 2018 slideshow by Grace Donnelly.
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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.
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.
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Pictured Above Left: Fr. LeRoy Clementich, CSC, Deacon Kevin O'Connell and Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC in 1984.
Pictured Above Right: Fr. LeRoy Clementich, CSC and Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC in 2017. Fr. Clem celebrated his 95th birthday in October 2019.
Pictured Above Right: Fr. LeRoy Clementich, CSC and Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC in 2017. Fr. Clem celebrated his 95th birthday in October 2019.
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From 2004-2013, Fr. Robert Epping, CSC 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, CSC and former Sacred Heart Pastor Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC (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 2019-2020
Pictured Above: Holy Cross Novices class of 2019-2020
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, CSC.
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, CSC.
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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, CSC 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, CSC with Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC, former Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish (2013-2022). Fr. Nick was the Novice Master when Fr. Ron attended the Novitiate in 1978.
Pictured Above Right: Fr. Nicholas Ayo, CSC with Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC, 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 Basile 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 Left (Center): Bishop William Wack, CSC, former Associate Pastor for Sacred Heart Parish 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 18 Provinces, Districts, and Vicariates that constitute the Congregation."
Click here to learn more about vocations with 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 Left (Center): Bishop William Wack, CSC, former Associate Pastor for Sacred Heart Parish 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 18 Provinces, Districts, and Vicariates that constitute the Congregation."
Click here to learn more about vocations with the Congregation of Holy Cross.
