31 December 2024, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Steven Zimmerman – I have a history of religion and faith that goes beyond my faith. The bulk of my history as a reporter and photojournalist has been covering the tapestry of faiths held by humanity.
A little of my history: I come from a Jewish background, having begun and completed the RCIA San Elceario Catholic Church in San Elizario, Texas, in 2020.
Liturgical Churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, have always held a special place in my heart, even before my conversion and baptism. With the Roman Catholic Church, the Apostolic succession can be traced back to Christ. In the Orthodox Church, the liturgy’s richness and icons are captivating.
In Las Cruces, New Mexico, there is a Church as captivating as a Latin Mass or any number of icons I have seen: Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Holy Cross Church has a rich history that dates back to the dedication of a small chapel constructed on the Feast Day of St. Genevieve in 1859. The history of their timeline is below:
The Catholic Church has a long and storied history in Las Cruces. From the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces website, we find the following:
Las Cruces was a very small town when a chapel was built to take care of the spiritual wants of the Catholic population it may have been a tiny hut, perhaps even a jacal, used for the purpose of saying Masses on such days as the padre from Dona Ana could make it from his parish in the older and larger settlement six miles to the north. In 1859 a separate parish was formed in Las Cruces and a church was built around and over the little adobe church. On January 3, the feast day of the young woman who saved Paris from the Huns, the new little Church named St. Genevieve’s in her honor received a pastor of its own, Father Manuel Chavez.
Holy Cross Church, when I first visited, was filled with people deep in prayer during Eucharistic Adoration. Peace, love, and the Mercy of Christ permeated the sanctuary.
As I sat, prayed, and spent time with Jesus Christ, I was taken by a sense of belonging, of being home. I could almost imagine ranks of angels flanking Christ in the Monstrance and each person there praying.
The Church itself was set for Advent. The baby Jesus was in the manger, lights and trees were behind the altar, and it all pointed your focus toward the miracle that occurred with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Along the walls, the serien gaze of Saints calls to mind the holiness of each one and the level of love God has for us.
Some of the photos I captured that day are below. You can click any image to see it full size.
Visit Holy Cross Catholic Chruch online, below, and plan to attend Mass there one day soon!
Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church
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