Holy Cross

Holy Cross was formed in 1912 to serve the growing Italian population of Buffalo's West Side. Construction of the church, on Seventh and Maryland near Niagara Street, began in the Spring of 1915 and the church was dedicated that September.

Today, Holy Cross supports a diverse community, with representatives from four continents. Masses are held in both Spanish and English. This church is also home to a number of Sudanese refuges.

Every other year Holy Cross celebrates a homecoming for former parishioners. Not only a time to renew old friendships, the support of former members has played an important role in allowing the Church to continue to serve its community and to preserve the church building. Holy Cross has just recently completed restorations to its bell tower.

It seems that each church I research leads me into unexpected areas, in the case of Holy Cross, I was led to plight of the Sudanese.

The 20 year civil war in Sudan has killed more than two million and has displaced more than four million individuals. Sudan boarders Egypt to the north, to its east is the Red Sea and Ethiopia, it is about 1/4 the size of the United States. I am sad to say that this war is in a large part a religious war pitting black Christians and animists in the south against the Arab-Muslims of the north. There are hundreds of sites discussing the Sudanese war, this one from the April 2002 Crimes of War Project is well worth your time.

Animism is a western term used to describe primal religions with a belief in multiple spirit beings and souls that inhabit the universe. This link discusses Animism from an anthropological point of view. This link describes Animism from the point of view of an Animist.