Building a society
of justice and love
Learn more about sisters’ ministries around the globe
Sisters of the Holy Cross focus on ministries that help build communities of justice and love, eradicate material poverty and end gender discrimination against women. The needs of people from many countries and cultures shape our missionary zeal. Our ministries respond to health and education needs; unjust social, political and economic systems; and issues such as nonviolence, human trafficking, and the environment.
Sisters of the Holy Cross live and work around the world as educators, nurses, administrators, counselors, social workers, parish and campus ministers, writers, attorneys and advocates for social justice and systemic reform. We currently serve in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ghana, India, Mexico, Peru, Uganda and the United States.
Some ministries are supported by the Ministry With the Poor fund. This fund provides annual grants for individual sisters to use in projects they are involved in personally that directly assist the materially poor, the powerless and those living on the fringes of society.
Select one the countries, below, to learn more about the ministries that are sponsored by Sisters of the Holy Cross or receive Ministry With the Poor funds. Support our ministries by donating now.
Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Holy Cross College is among the most highly rated schools in Bangladesh. It features a two-year program for women in humanities, science and business education.
Holy Cross Girls’ High School is a primary/secondary school for girls with an enrollment of approximately 1,800 students.
Holy Cross Students’ Hostel provides common living for around 40 young women attending Holy Cross College in Dhaka.
Bhadun, Bangladesh
Moreau Holy Cross School is a primary school for girls and boys that opened in January 2015.
Bhadun (Arunalaya) Sewing Center offers programs in sewing and machine embroidery to women with the goal of helping them earn income.
Kulaura, Bangladesh
Holy Cross Health Education Center provides basic health education and medication to area residents.
Kulaura (Pratasha) Sewing Center offers programs in sewing to women with the goal of helping create items that can be sold in commercial markets to provide a source of income.
Holy Cross School opened in January 2018 currently offers nursery and kindergarten classes. Additional primary school grades will be added on a yearly basis.
Ministry with the Poor grants in Bangladesh support:
- salaries for teachers and other employees, seminars for staff and parents as well as teaching materials such as science lab instruments at Moreau Holy Cross School — Sister Jamuna Magdeline Gomes, CSC
- staff salaries, health awareness classes, medication, nutrition, and physical and cognitive therapy for patients at Father Boudreau’s Medical Centre — Sister Nita Rozario, CSC
- young women who are discerning a life in Holy Cross with medical care, food, lodging, faith formation activities, English courses, leadership training and more — Sister Barnita Scholastica Mangsang, CSC
- the Holy Cross Afternoon Literacy program with staff salaries, books and a study tour for students in grades 1-5 — Sister Rani Catherine Gomes, CSC
- the Holy Cross Health Education Center with staff salaries, medicine, health education classes, food and winter clothing for very poor people who work in area tea gardens — Sister Thecla Dinila Nokrek, CSC
Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil
Colégio Santa Maria is a coeducational school with an enrollment of 2,900 students in preschool, primary and secondary classes.
Residencial Santa Cruz is a senior living facility that offers residence and healthcare services for the elderly.
Saint Martha’s Social Service Center provides programs for women to help them learn skills that allow them to support their families.
Ghana
Kasoa, Ghana
Our Lady of Holy Cross School offers coeducation to more than 900 students from nursery through junior high.
India
Barakathal, West Tripura, India
Our Lady of Holy Cross School and hostel offers coeducation to approximately 250 students, from nursery school through eight grade, as well as housing students in the hostel as needed.
Ministry With the Poor grants in India support:
- health education activities and workshops for those living in remote villages and schools far from hospitals — Sister Elmolin Lyngkhoi, CSC
- safe housing for poor girls attending a village school including providing bedding and computers, and subsidizing school and hostel fees — Sister Shadkmenlang Kharsahnoh, CSC
- empowerment workshops and leadership training for village tribal youth and women in a new mission in Nongstoin Diocese — Sister Parboti Gomes, CSC
- young women who are discerning a life in Holy Cross by providing computers, sewing machines and courses in music and English — Sister Rose Mary Marngar, CSC
- the purchase of a bus to transport students to Our Lady of Holy Cross School — Sister Joysline Mary Lyngkhoi, CSC
- students living at Our Lady of Holy Cross Hostel by providing food, lodging, school fees, books and furniture — Sister Mitali Mree, CSC
- workshops for village tribal youth and women by providing presenter fees, supplies and travel expenses — Sister Renuka Pegu, CSC
Mexico
Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico
Current Ministry With the Poor grants in Mexico support:
- CARITAS Parroquial San Matías program to help provide emergency assistance to clinic patients, the elderly poor, and immigrants deported from the United States and supplements the food pantry and soup kitchen — Sister Patricia Anne Clossey, CSC
- Children for Peace Program to teach conflict management skills to children and parents in an after-school/weekend program in conflictive areas and to assist them with school supplies and groceries — Sister Patricia Anne Clossey, CSC, and Sister Patricia Rodriguez Leal, CSC
Peru
Lima, Peru
The Center for Women provides leadership training and education on justice, political, social and religious issues.
A prison ministry program provides basic healthcare for incarcerated women and their children.
Ministry With the Poor grants in Peru support:
- travel, room and board expenses and instructors to teach an ongoing intensive course that prepares lay people to study the Bible — Sister Mary Josephine Delany, CSC
- meetings, transportation and materials for an intercongregational group that works with and advocates for the rights of transgender women — Sister Patricia A. Dieringer, CSC
Uganda
Kirinda, Uganda
Kyembogo Holy Cross Health Centre provides outpatient, maternity and postnatal care as well as outreach services in the adjacent villages, including immunizations and AIDS counseling.
Moreau Nursery and Primary School offers coeducation to more than 300 students from nursery school through the seventh grade.
Ministry With the Poor grants in Uganda support:
- St. John Mary Vianney’s Community Secondary School with English language textbooks for students and workshops for English teachers — Sister Martha Nambi, CSC
- Jinja home for the elderly and needy persons with the purchase and installation of an electric washing machine — Sister Mary Louise Wahler, CSC
- services at the Kyembogo Holy Cross Health Centre and its outreach stations such as supplies for maternity and newborn services and HIV/AIDS programs — Sister Angelica Birungi, CSC
- a women’s group with the purchase of sewing and craft materials to teach the women how to make items to sell for income — Sister Daisy Kabuleeta, CSC
- scholarships to Moreau Nursery and Primary School for needy students — Sister Edith Tumuhimbise, CSC
United States
Salt Lake City, Utah
Holy Cross Ministries of Utah addresses the needs of the underserved including parish health screenings, legal assistance for immigrants, a kindergarten, a preschool, after-school and summer learning programs
Kensington, Maryland
Academy of the Holy Cross is a college preparatory secondary school for girls with more than 500 students
Notre Dame, Indiana
Saint Mary’s College is a Catholic women’s college in the liberal arts tradition with an enrollment of more than 1,600 students
Los Angeles, California
West Adams District Nonviolent Communication Project is a program on nonviolent communication for parents and students in the West Adams District of Los Angeles.
Raleigh, North Carolina
A Place for Women to Gather provides opportunities for persons of diverse faith, race and ethnic background to explore areas of human development and spirituality.
Ministry With the Poor grants in the USA support:
California
- the Holy Cross Center for Women with staff salaries, field trips and supplies for this center that provides services to homeless and underserved women and children in Fresno, California — Sister M. Francis Christine (Alvarez), CSC
- the West Adams District Nonviolent Communication Project with funds for training and certification in strategies for nonviolent communication — Sister Mary Alice Bowler, CSC
Utah
- professional development for current and potential administrators of Catholic schools — Sister Catherine Kamphaus, CSC
- the Skaggs Tuition Assistance Program for Catholic Schools which provides students with uniforms, transportation, books, supplies and emergency living expenses — Sister M. Genevra (Rolf), CSC
- salaries for the School Readiness program staff who provide home visits and classroom-based education for 0–3-year-olds and their families through Holy Cross Ministries — Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski, CSC
- the salary for a promotora who assists clients in applying for government services such as health insurance, provides access to community resources, classes on prevention of domestic abuse and other life skills through Holy Cross Ministries — Sister M. Genevra (Rolf), CSC
Maryland
- tuition assistance for families who would otherwise not be able to afford a Catholic education at the Academy of the Holy Cross — Sister Sharon Ann Mihm, CSC
- Rosaria home for adults with intellectual disabilities with a sturdy family/gathering dining room table and chairs — Sister Katherine Kase, CSC
- Shepherd’s Table, food service program for the community's disadvantaged, to provide food, kitchen supplies and personnel — Sister Ann Shaw, CSC
- has a grant to provide financial support for a staff person at Solidarity with South Sudan working on an agricultural project in Riimenze — Sister Geraldine Hoyler, CSC
- individuals who cannot afford the daily fee to attend adult day care/respite care at Holy Cross Hospital Medical Adult Day Center through the Robert J. Grossman Scholarship Fund — Sister Kathleen Weber, CSC
Indiana
- an elementary school weekend backpack program that addresses food insecurity of low-income students through the St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital Foundation: Mission Service Fund-Backpack Program — Sister Eileen Wrobleski, CSC
- ministry with prisoners that provides food, clothing and communication materials — Sister Joan Marie Steigmeyer, CSC
- to help provide free emergency dental care for undocumented and uninsured persons who go without access to these services through Mahoney Free Dental Days — Holy Cross Sisters Frances B. O'Connor, Grace Watson, Carmel Marie (Sallows) and Suzanne Patterson
- partial salary for a full-time neighborhood networker to help address high lead levels and violence in the Near Northwest Neighborhood of South Bend, Indiana — Sister Mary Turgi, CSC
- St. Margaret's House in South Bend, Indiana, to help meet the immediate needs of women and children who live in economic poverty — Sister M. Rose Anne (Schultz), CSC
- partial salary for case management and programming, a new internship program and basic needs for individuals living at a transitional house after being released from prison — Sister Susan Kintzele, CSC
- Broadway Christian Parish United Methodist Church in South Bend, Indiana, food pantry and soup kitchen/breakfast ministry that provides food, clothing, laundry, shower supplies and other needs for marginalized and homeless individuals — Sister Suzanne Patterson, CSC
- Reins of Life, Inc., an equine-assisted program for children and adults with disabilities, helping to provide for horse care, utilities and program instructor salaries — Sister Theresa Diane Streif, CSC
Florida
- tuition assistance to families who otherwise would not be able to attend Holy Cross Catholic Preschool & Center in West Palm Beach, Florida — Sister Patricia McCabe, CSC