What Is the Congregation of Holy Cross?

Did you know that January is "Holy Cross Heritage Month" here in the United States?

The inaugural Holy Cross Heritage Month was launched last year by the Congregation of Holy Cross’ U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers to celebrate the incredible family of Holy Cross, a family of which Holy Cross Family Ministries is a proud member and an important part. 

From local parishes to missions and schools around the globe, the Congregation of Holy Cross has built an incredible legacy of faith, hope, and service over its nearly two-hundred-year history. But beyond the beautiful schools and universities (with some pretty outstanding football programs — Go Irish!), the vibrant parishes, and the diverse ministries serving the needy around the world, you might be wondering: what exactly is the Congregation of Holy Cross, and what is the story behind the heritage we’re celebrating?

The Congregation of Holy Cross is a Catholic apostolic religious congregation of priests and brothers founded in Le Mans, France, in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Moreau. As an apostolic religious congregation, the priests and brothers of Holy Cross take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, living together in community and embracing a missionary lifestyle as they bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.

There are approximately 1,400 Holy Cross men serving in 22 countries worldwide, where Holy Cross is recognized for its innovative approach to education, excellent preaching, and devotion to the poor.

So how did Holy Cross get its start?

Resilience and Zeal

The Congregation of Holy Cross was formed in the aftermath of the French Revolution (1789-1799). The revolution, which was marked by violence, social unrest, and hostility to the Christian faith, brought unprecedented changes to France, including the dismantling of long-cherished social institutions and fierce persecution of the Catholic Church. 

The Church emerged from the revolution battered and bruised, but also resilient and full of zeal to bring the gospel back into the heart of the French people. However, the revolution’s hostility to religion led to the dismantling of most of the Catholic institutions around the country — schools, hospitals, orphanages, and parishes were all closed, leaving much of the French population without access to education and basic social services. 

In the town of  Le Mans, about 130 miles west of Paris, two remarkable priests — Father Jacques-François Dujarié and Father Basil Moreau — set to work rebuilding the Catholic community in their diocese. Father Jacques Dujarié was the pastor of Ruillé-sur-Loir, where he ministered to over a thousand Catholics.

During the revolution, Father Dujarié had ministered in secret to the people of his diocese; with the revolution now over, he established a small band of lay teachers that he dubbed the Brothers of St. Joseph. These men played a pivotal role in revitalizing the schools of the diocese, and their presence was soon sought after all over France as the Church sought to reestablish Catholic education in the country. 

Father Basil Moreau was a professor of Scripture at the diocesan seminary. Active as a retreat preacher around Le Mans, Father Moreau saw a pressing need for priests who could assist with retreats and lend a hand at understaffed parishes in the countryside. While on retreat in 1835, he conceived the idea of a band of priests who would do exactly this.

Just a few years later, in 1837, Moreau’s Auxiliary Priests and Dujarié’s Brothers of St. Joseph joined forces under Father Moreau to form the newly called “Association of Holy Cross,” so named after the neighborhood where they had their motherhouse — Sainte Croix. Officially recognized by Pope Pius IX in 1857, the priests and brothers of Sainte Croix were renamed the Congregation of Holy Cross. 

International Force for Good

From its humble beginnings in post-revolution France 188 years ago, the Congregation of Holy Cross has grown into an international force for good operating in 22 countries spread across six continents. Its schools educate over 110,00 students in 120 schools and universities, and its special commitment to educate the hearts and minds of young people remains at the forefront of the Congregation’s work. Its work with the poor and needy encompasses homeless shelters, drug rehabilitation clinics, and children’s homes from Bangladesh to Chile, and its commitment to the sacramental life is felt in over 80 parishes around the world.  

Its motto, “Ave crux, spes unica” — “Hail the cross, our only hope” — captures the heart of the Holy Cross message: to bring the good news of Jesus' redemptive life, death, and resurrection to a world hungry for hope. 

We invite you to take time this January to learn more about the Congregation of Holy Cross and its mission to bring hope to the world. Happy Heritage Month!