About Holy Cross Church


Holy Cross Church of Butler has survived many different trials.  The parish began on March 23, 1910, with the arrival of the Dutch immigrants, and the families who lived in the surrounding areas.  The original church was wood-framed, and built in 1910.  It was later dismantled.  The second church was brick over tile, built in1929.  The building cost about $14,000.  On May 9, 1999 the church was struck by lightning and burnt to the ground.  Fortunately, the building was covered by enough insurance to almost pay for a new building.   The construction of the third church began in the summer of 2000. The completion date was December 15, 2000.  The first mass was celebrated December 23, 2000.  The total cost of the new building was about $575,000.

Holy Cross’ first priest was most Rev. William Van Dinter O.S.O. who belonged to the Crosier order.  Holy Cross Church of Butler was the first parish started in America by the Crosier order. The original plans were for a seminary to be built in Butler .  However, when the order found out that it was so far from the railroad, they built it in Onamia , Minnesota .   The Crosier Seminary exists there still today.

A complete history of the church can be found in the 1985 75th anniversary book


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