Holy Cross Catholic finds beauty in simplicity with new church

Parishioners of Durham's Holy Cross Catholic, a fixture on Alston Avenue since 1952, will dedicate a new church building on Sunday at 10 a.m. in a festive ceremony.

It will begin when the keys to the new building are presented at the front door to Bishop Michael Burbidge, who will lead the processional into the new structure.

Singers and liturgical dancers will join representatives from the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh and the Maryland Jesuit Province along with members of the church, former pastors and city leaders.

Inside, Burbidge will anoint the walls of the church and the altar, and will offer special prayers.

"The amazing thing," said Etheldreda Guion, parish council president, "is that not many people have ever been to a church dedication before. Catholic churches sort of have always been there. Even the church priest [Father Frank O'Connor, 83] has never been to one."

Holy Cross was founded in 1939 when the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus established it as a mission to Durham's black community. The congregation remains predominantly black and has maintained a special character even though it now includes people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Over the years, its pastors have been Jesuit priests on loan to the Diocese of Raleigh.

Leaving the beautiful little stone church at 1400 S. Alston Ave. has not been easy for this congregation of about 300 families. The decision to build and move came slowly and was helped along by the fact that N.C. Central University, located next door, was looking to spread out at the same time the Holy Cross congregation was studying how it might expand.

The new church is about one mile south of the old one on a 20-acre parcel at 2424 S. Alston.

The old sanctuary seated only 85; the new one has pew room for 425 worshippers and can accommodate overflow crowds of up to 600.

"The new building is gorgeous," Guion said. "When you walk in you have a feeling of awe."

A round stained-glass window over the entrance to a large gathering space ("Almost as big as the old church sanctuary," said parishioner Charles Bynum) features the acacia tree, an ancient symbol mentioned in the Old Testament. The tree, native to Africa, has deep roots and is noted for its ability to survive drought and famine. Another significant symbol is that of the Jesuit order of priests. It is defined in Italian tile on the floor of the gathering space.

Bynum, who served as the liaison between the church, the architect and contractor -- and who served as a tour guide this week -- pushed open the door to the Carolina Room, a gigantic fellowship hall with an adjoining kitchen. The room features one Carolina blue wall and a floor pattern created with blue and white tile.

"And this is our 'famous kitchen,'" he said. "We all cook in this church, the men as well as the women."

The sanctuary is striking in its simplicity. Windows are tall clear glass, admitting much natural light. The wall behind the altar area is faced with stone from the old church. The cross from the old church is being used, but a new corpus has been commissioned. The vaulted ceiling draws the eyes upward and the Stations of the Cross are mounted on the outside walls. The oak pews were made in Burlington.

Durham architect Doug Griffin said his first and most important plan was to use stone from the old church in such a way that members of the congregation would feel they were still coming home. In addition to its use in the altar area, the same stone is used around the exterior of the baptismal font. Also reminiscent of the old church are the exposed beams of the new sanctuary.