June 19, 2025

Holy Cross Parish celebrates 75th anniversary

REGIONAL
Story and photo by Michael Pedro

SPRINGFIELD – Plumtree Road’s Holy Cross Parish celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special Mass and banquet Saturday, June 14. Holy Cross pastor, Father Quynh Tran, celebrated the Mass, with several concelebrants, including Father David Darcy, Monsignor Christopher Connelly, Father Daniel Pacholec, and Father Thomas Shea, each with their own special memories and ties to the community. 

Founded in 1950 by Monsignor John Mitchell, Holy Cross Parish received its name from Mitchell’s alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.

“Parish lore says that Holy Cross Parish was originally named Holy Trinity,” said Father Shea, who served as pastor and co-pastor from 1989 to 2003. “The assistant priest… prevailed upon the pastor, Father John Mitchell, to name it Holy Cross,” he said.

The church was filled for the 75th anniversary Mass, which fell on the same day as the Feast of the Holy Trinity.

“Our faith in the trinity is not just a document of who we are. We are God’s children. We are transformed. We have God’s life, which brings us life, mercy, forgiveness, spirit of love and care. All of these come to us because of the Trinity, because Jesus is one with his father. Because Jesus is eternal,” Father Shea said in his homily.

“When we celebrate a parish, it’s that sense of unity that brings us together, that binds us as a people, and helps us to be joyful and loving,” he said.

 Following the Mass, several parishioners and priests went to the nearby Cedars Banquet hall to celebrate the church’s history.

“We started coming to Holy Cross when I went to Holy Cross School,” said Anthony Yacovone, a recent graduate from Elms College.  “My father’s family is from Mt. Carmel, and my mother’s family is from Holy Name,” he said.

Father David Darcy, the second-most recent pastor at Holy Cross Church, was also in attendance at the banquet. “The parish is a great parish filled with a lot of wonderful, wonderful people,” Darcy said. 

During the banquet, Springfield’s Mayor, Domenic Sarno, presented Father Tran with a proclamation.

“[This is] a strong, strong parish, a well-respected parish, and [it’s great] to celebrate 75 years…” Sarno said. “I, Domenic J. Sarno, Mayor of the city of Springfield, hereby recognize and proclaim Saturday, June 14, 2025 as Holy Cross Church Day in the city of Springfield,” he said, handing Father Tran the proclamation.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.