Welcome home | Holy Cross parishioners see a 44-year dream become a reality

“We are in our new home!” In his emotional closing remarks, Father Phil Ackerman, pastor of Holy Cross Church in West Fargo, addressed the congregation at the end of the Mass of Dedication for their new church. “It’s a great day for our parish and for our diocese, and for the Church at large,” he said. 

The newly dedicated Holy Cross Church has been a dream for parishioners since the parish was established in 1981. The need for a new parish in the ever-growing city of West Fargo was identified during a feasibility study conducted in the late 1970s, as it was clear the existing parish of Blessed Sacrament was growing faster than the church building could accommodate. At first, it was proposed that the new parish share a building with Lutheran Church of the Cross. But Bishop Justin Driscoll decided it would be better for the newly established Holy Cross community to have their own church building to call home. 

On June 1, 1981, Father David Wild, Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament Church, broke ground for the new Holy Cross Church on the same plot of land next to where Lutheran Church of the Cross stands. Two years later Father Wild was named the first pastor of Holy Cross Church, and Bishop Driscoll dedicated a new church building on June 6, 1983. It would be the home for Holy Cross parishioners for the next 32 years. In 1991 a shared gathering space/social hall was built to connect Lutheran Church of the Cross and Holy Cross Church. 

With the increasing population experienced by West Fargo, and as more Catholics moved to the city, it was clear that Holy Cross would need a larger space to accommodate the needs of the growing parish community. Land was purchased by the Diocese of Fargo at 26th Avenue East between 7th Street East and Bluestem Drive in West Fargo. Fundraising efforts for phase one of constructing a new parish home began, led by Holy Cross pastor Father James Meyer. In 2013, ground was broken for a large gathering hall that would serve as the temporary worship space until phase two, the new church, could be completed. At the same time, the St. John Paull II Catholic School System broke ground for the new Trinity Catholic Elementary school that would be connected to Holy Cross. Both the school and temporary worship space were dedicated and opened in 2015. 

As the Holy Cross community continued to grow, it was apparent that the design and construction of a permanent church needed to begin in earnest. Already the social hall was proving too small to hold those gathered for weekend Masses. Temporary chairs were set up to seat Mass attendees. Social gatherings, funeral lunches, and parish dinners were mostly held in the hallway. Father Meyer continued to oversee the fundraising efforts and designs for a new church, along with Bishop Folda and the parish and diocesan building committees. 

In 2020, Father Phil Ackerman was named pastor of Holy Cross and was assigned the task of continuing Fathers Meyer’s efforts. The original designs were constantly modified with the assistance of liturgical architects and artists, until Bishop Folda approved a final design concept in 2022. Normally, diocesan policy dictates that new construction projects can’t begin until the funds are pledged and half the money is in the bank. However, the pandemic of 2020 forced astronomical hikes in construction costs, and it was determined that construction needed to be financed immediately before prices grew out of reach. With over 2,100 registered families (over 6,800 members), the parish was now the largest in the diocese. The space was desperately needed. 

Ground for the new church was broken on May 11, 2022. Parishioners watched the building progress through the next two and a half years. A milestone event occurred on Jan. 10, 2024 when the final piece of the 138-foot bell tower was placed. The tower has become a focal point of the West Fargo skyline. The three bells, the “voice” of Holy Cross Church, were raised into place later in 2024. Original construction estimates put the opening of the new church between December 2024 and March 2025. MBA Development Company, the prime contractors for the project, delivered, and the certificate of occupancy was granted in mid-March, paving the way for a solemn dedication Mass to take place on March 20, 2025. 

The new Holy Cross Church building is just over 18,000 square feet and can seat over 1,200, with additional seating in the choir loft if needed. Every seat was taken at the dedication Mass. The event began with a solemn procession of clergy and the faithful, led by Bishop Folda, from the former worship space, through the hallway that leads to the new church. At the door of the new church, representatives from the architectural firm Zerr-Berg of Fargo handed the blueprints to Bishop Folda, who then asked Father Ackerman to open the doors, signaling the opening of the new space. 

The dedication of a new church mirrors the sacraments of initiation. First, the church is cleansed and blessed with holy water, which mimics baptism. Next, the walls and altar are anointed with chrism oils, much like the sacrament of Confirmation. Finally, the Eucharist is celebrated on the newly consecrated altar. 

In his homily, Bishop Folda explained that a church is a sacred place. “This will no longer be just a large meeting place or event center, a place where any big activity could be held. This church will now be consecrated and set apart as a temple of the Lord. The awesome shrine that Jacob spoke of, the gateway to heaven.” 

Bishop Folda went on to explain that the centerpiece of any church is the altar. The anointing of the altar is the most important part of the dedication. The altar is where the sacrifice of Christ is celebrated. 

“The altar is the most important element of any Catholic church, and the anointing with chrism shows us that the altar is truly sacred,” said Bishop Folda in an interview with New Earth. “As I anointed the new altar at Holy Cross, I was thinking of the many Masses that would be celebrated there for years to come. I thought of the countless souls who would receive our Eucharistic Lord from that altar.” 

There is still much work to be done on the interior of the new church. Much of the artwork must still be completed, which could take another year or more, and eventually stained glass windows will be installed. The entire project, including artwork, will cost about $26 million. A recording of the dedication Mass is available at www.holycrosswestfargo.com.