James Napora

Reprinted with permission as a public service by the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier, now the Preservation Buffalo Niagara

Houses of Worship: A Guide to the Religious Architecture of Buffalo, New York
By James Napora
Table of Contents

HOLY CROSS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH - 1915
Maryland at Seventh (NE)
Architect: Pascal Cimini
Founded 14 June, 1914

Throughout the 1910s, as the Italian population continued to spread through the West Side toward Porter Avenue, Bishop Colton perceived the need for another Catholic parish to serve the area. He felt that due to the distance residents had to travel for services, many were bringing their children up without religious influence. Despite the close proximity to St. Anthony's Church on Court Street, he was determined to see a second parish established in the area. In the fall of 1913, he assigned Rev. Angelo Luigi Strazzoni the task of finding a proper site on which to establish the new mission church of St. Anthony's. In theSpring of 1914, the Bishop selected the site on Niagara and Maryland as the land was already owned by the sisters of Mercy. On 14 June, 1914 he appointed Rev. Joseph Gambino to organize thenew parish.

With the parish boundaries established by October, the congregation began worshipping in the former West Side Presbyterian Church at 260 Busti. After several years of hardwork, Rev. Gambino began to see the results of his efforts. The Catechism classes were full and the congregation had outgrown its 85 seat chapel. He began efforts at securing a suitable site and after considering the meager resources of the members, selected the present site on Maryland at Seventh Streets. Upon seeing the rubble strewn lot, the Bishop objected to its purchase. After aperiod of persuasion, he granted his approval and on 11 December Rev. Gambino purchased the site for $7,000.

During the following three months, planning progressed for the construction of a church building. Architect Pascal Cimini prepared the plans and the congregation secured the necessary funding. On 25 March, 1915 Rev. Nelson Baker broke ground for the new house of worship. One month later they placed thecornerstone and on 5 September Rev. Nelson Baker dedicated the $57,500 house of worship.

In the following years, the church became the center of the Italian community. Additional priests were called to administer the parish and masses were added to the schedule. By 1919, the congregation found it necessary to purchase additional property bordering the church to allow for the further growth of its spiritual and educational mission. Two years later, the basementof the church was remodeled into a children's chapel.

The parish began to reach out into the neighborhoods far north of the parish boundaries during the 1920s. In 1925, it established the mission of Our Lady Of Loretto on 15th Street to provide for the spiritual needs of Italians residing north of Porter Avenue.

During the 1930s, with almost 18,000 members in the parish, an ambitious program for enlarging the church was initiated. In 1931, the current front to the church was added and in June, 1938 architect George J. Dietel drew up plans for furthermodifications to the building. The plans called for addingt thirty-two feet to the rear of the building, increasing the capacity to 1,200 people. In addition, the interior wasdecorated with murals by Luigi Avoglio.

In keeping with the Italian tradition, the interior of the church is decorated with a number of Madonna statues. Many of these were brought by immigrants from their former churches in Italy. Holy Cross Church currently serves a congregation of 850 families.

© 1995 James Napora