For more than four decades, Holy Cross Catholic Church has provided a spiritual home for the barrier island’s Roman Catholic faithful, and hope to locals in need through philanthropy. But after undergoing $7 million in renovations carried out since the Hurricane Milton tornado, the sheer beauty of the sanctuary now seems likely to attract pilgrims to immerse themselves in the artistry.
Before tornadoes ripped through Central Beach in October 2024 and a tree ripped a chunk out of the roof, the minimalist interior of Holy Cross Church was typical of post-Vatican II Catholic churches built in Florida.
Understated, underwhelming midcentury modern architecture, lots of neutral beige and cream tones, with nothing ornate or gilded, Holy Cross did not even have a crucifix to contemplate while doing penance after confession.
Now it looks like the traditionally adorned Catholic churches island residents from the north may have attended as they were growing up – not only a special place, but a sacred space.
Fr. Serge Dube, one of the assistant priests at Holy Cross during one of the first homilies preached in the newly unveiled space last month, explained, “What we do with sacramentals, like a crucifix, like an altar, is to be able to construct a sanctuary that is sacred and holy.
“There should be something different about our sanctuary, so that when we come in, our breath may be taken away, our voice and mind and heart quiet and slow down.”
Entering the building, the new baptismal font – encircled by a gorgeous pattern of Italian and Brazil marble, surrounded by expert miter work on the wooden accent walls and the aroma of newly installed wood – inevitably causes a visitor to stop and take in every detail of the surroundings.
“So we come into this place, because it’s a place of worship, and we don’t worship the statuary, we don’t worship the cross, we worship God and His Son, so that we can experience the love of the Holy Spirit, so we can come each week to be renewed, to be strengthened, to be empowered, so that when we go out, we can see Christ, who we have received in the Eucharist, in each other,” Dube said.
The pattern of striking deep blue marble, which is mined underwater in Brazil, is carried through the aisles and on the three wraparound steps leading to the new altar. The raised marble ambo features a relief sculpture of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” in white Italian marble.
Beyond the altar lies a stunning gold tabernacle where the communion host or bread is kept, more woodwork, new seating for the priests an impressive crucifix sculpture of Jesus on the cross hanging above it all.
Fortunately the church’s beloved stained-glass windows were not damaged, as Holy Cross Pastor Fr. Tom Barrett had the foresight to install impact glass on the exterior of each window prior to the storm. The rich blue tones prominent in the windows harmonize well with the new marble appointments.
In re-dedicating the renovated sanctuary and consecrating the new altar on Nov. 16, Bishop Gerald Barbarito of the Palm Beach Diocese praised the work done by Connecticut-based Baker Liturgical Art and said, “Congratulations on this achievement. Congratulations of the beauty, which matches the beauty of you, the people.”
Barbarito also conferred the Sacrament on Confirmation on 43 young men and women that day, a testament to the vibrance and promising future of Holy Cross parish.
The undertaking was spearheaded by Fr. Barrett and a group of parishioners in charge of the renovation funding called the Campaign Cabinet. Twenty-five-year parishioner and cabinet member Catalina Pines of Indian River Shores spoke about the renovation to her fellow churchgoers at 10:45 a.m. Mass on Sunday.
“As I look out at all of you this morning, I feel truly blessed and energized by the beauty of our church, Today, I see the familiar faces of the families whose journeys through the sacraments I’ve been honored to witness, just as my own children, who have grown in their faith within these walls. Holy Cross was built nearly 45 years ago by hands that believed, hearts that hoped, and a community that trusted God enough to invest in a future they could not yet see,” she said.
“As caretakers of these precious gifts that are our spiritual home, a little over a year ago, we were granted a moment of both responsibility and great promise. The devastating tornado we faced left in its wake the exciting opportunity to repair, update and beautify our church, giving us a chance to renew our sacred space and once again build our legacy for future generations,” Pines said.
All services moved into the parish hall while immediate repairs were completed. With damaged items removed, Holy Cross celebrated Mass in the old sanctuary for a handful of Sundays and Easter, then moved everything out to the parish hall again for more than seven months during construction.
“We rose to the challenge, because we believe that this parish has been wonderful, and even more, it can become something even greater for future generations that will follow us,” Pines said.
So far they’ve raised $3.5 million of the $7 million needed to cover the project of taking the sanctuary back to its bones and rebuilding it not only to wow, but to endure for generations.
Barrett oversaw the renovation of the cathedral of the Diocese of Palm Beach as rector there, and also served as longtime director of John Carroll Catholic High School in Fort Pierce, tackling numerous building projects.
He pointed out that certain aspects of the construction were done rather inexpensively in 1981 when Holy Cross opened, as workers discovered in the demolition process. The heavy coquina rock altar had a plywood foundation underneath, so the church was lucky it never caved-in or crumbled. The new altar is solid marble – much more costly, but built for posterity.
“God deserves this,” Barrett said, of the newly completed worship space.
To make Holy Cross a potential pilgrimage site, the church has obtained a rare First Class relic of World War II-era St. Maximillian Kolbe, a lock of his beard. First-class relics are typically reserved for the Vatican, or cathedrals and basilicas, with only a few in Florida. Barbarito interred the Kolbe relic plus a True Cross relic in the church altar during the re-dedication.
Statues of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and of St. Kolbe were procured from Italy and installed in lovely carved wooden alcoves.
“We wanted to incorporate some 20th century saints, and I personally have a special devotion to St. Maximillian Kolbe,” Barrett said.
All the pews have been replaced with high-quality wood – no more creaky seats – plus comfortable padding and stain-resistant cushions. The old sound system, previously staticky and prone to malfunction, gave way to modern equipment to broadcast the message and the music loud and clear. Extra-large monitor screens now display the prayers and hymn lyrics. Overall, the new sanctuary is designed to give worshippers and priests alike a distraction-free, aesthetically pleasing experience. Workers also resurfaced the parking lot.
To make sure the church keeps everything in top shape, the parish is raising an extra $2 million to establish a maintenance endowment. So a total of $5.5 total needs to be raised, and Barrett knows he’ll need the greater community to help out.
Holy Cross has begun a series of events for the community to spread the word about the massive renovation and how residents and visitors can help. The first event was scheduled for this Monday night, with more opportunities to come.
“There’s joy in committing to something enduring, and that every contribution becomes a part of a legacy way bigger than any single one of us. When we give, we declare that we believe in our mission, in our community, and in God’s work unfolding here,” Pines said on Sunday.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
