Congregation of Holy Cross, US Province, Inc.

What Congregation of Holy Cross, US Province, Inc. does

The Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province, Inc. is a non-profit Catholic religious congregation of pontifical right, headquartered in Notre Dame, Indiana, that governs the U.S. operations of the broader Holy Cross religious family founded in 1837 by Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau in Sainte-Croix, France. The Province directs priestly and brotherly formation through three interlocking programs: Old College Undergraduate Seminary (undergraduate formation at Notre Dame), the Moreau Seminary Postulant Program (post-graduate formation at Notre Dame), and the Holy Cross Novitiate (Cascade, Colorado). It also staffs twelve parishes in the United States and one in Mexico, coordinates the Holy Cross Mission Center's presence in 16 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America, and operates ancillary ministries including the André House of Hospitality social outreach in Phoenix and the vocational discernment and summer-immersion programs for men discerning consecrated life.

The Province sponsors four U.S. universities as separately incorporated entities (University of Notre Dame, University of Portland, King's College, Stonehill College) and supports more than a dozen elementary schools, but the Province itself is a 66-employee coordinating entity rather than a direct operator of educational institutions. Revenue is generated entirely through donations and charitable contributions rather than commercial pricing: the Holy Cross Association runs a pastoral direct mail and email program reaching nearly 10,000 households, supplemented by planned giving/bequests, Mass intention offerings (some acquired internationally from East Africa, South America, and Bangladesh), and the sale of devotional products (prayer cards, Lourdes water, perpetual votive candle enrollments) via Givecloud donation portals. Commercial technology stack is minimal — primarily standard website CMS, email, LinkedIn/Indeed recruiting, and Givecloud for donations — and there are no proprietary software products, AI systems, or patents.

The organization is governed by a Provincial Superior (currently Rev. William M. Lies, C.S.C.) and ultimately accountable to the Superior General in Rome. Recent operational signals include Praesidium Accreditation renewed for 2022-2027, the launch of Virtual Retreats as a digital offering, and continued expansion of teaching-formation partnerships (ACE, PACE, Echo Ministry) credentialing Catholic educators across Holy Cross universities. The Province's structural model is unusual: it functions as a religious-order provincial headquarters with a small paid staff, a much larger volunteer/professed membership, and a network of legally independent but mission-aligned apostolates whose financial flows are not consolidated.

Name

Congregation of Holy Cross, US Province, Inc.

Legal name

Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers

Website

https://holycrossusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The U.S. Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross is a non-profit Catholic religious organization headquartered in Notre Dame, Indiana, directing priestly formation, 12 U.S. parishes, four sponsored universities, and Mission Center operations across 16 countries, funded primarily through donor contributions and devotional offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education and Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Religious education ministry
• Seminary formation programs
• Parish ministry services
• Catholic higher education
• Global mission outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Notre Dame

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue from donors supporting the operational needs of Moreau Seminary, Holy Cross House, and the United States Province. The Holy Cross Association maintains a pastoral direct mail and email program to nearly 10,000 households.
2. Planned Giving and Bequests: Legacy giving programs including wills, estates, and planned giving arrangements to support education of seminarians and care of retired/infirm priests and brothers.
3. Mass Intentions and Prayer Services: Mass intentions distributed to Holy Cross priests primarily in the United States, with some acquired in East Africa, South America, and Bangladesh. Also includes perpetual prayer enrollments.
4. Prayer Cards and Devotional Products: Holy Cross prayer cards commemorating occasions (weddings, birthdays, First Communion, Christmas) with options for Mass intentions, sold through online store.
5. Pilgrimage and Lourdes Water Distribution: Sale/distribution of Lourdes Water from the Grotto of Massabielle and perpetual votive candle enrollments at Notre Dame Grotto.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province is a pontifical-right religious congregation of priests and brothers that delivers Catholic priestly/religious formation, parish ministry, affiliated Catholic higher education, and global missionary outreach. It operates seminary formation programs (Old College, Moreau Seminary, Holy Cross Novitiate), staffs parishes across the U.S. and Mexico, sponsors four universities, and runs social-service apostolates such as André House of Hospitality. Auxiliary revenue-generating ministries include Ave Maria Press (Catholic publishing), Holy Cross Family Ministries, and the Holy Cross Association (Mass intentions, prayer cards, Lourdes water).

Product overview

The Congregation of Holy Cross US Province operates a portfolio of interconnected religious and educational ministries rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include seminary formation programs (Old College, Moreau Seminary, and Holy Cross Novitiate) that form priests and brothers for ministry; Ave Maria Press for Catholic publishing; Holy Cross Family Ministries for family-focused spiritual resources; and Holy Cross Association for prayer and Mass intention services. The organization also operates diverse apostolates including parishes, educational institutions, André House of Hospitality social ministry, and various mission outreach programs. These products and services serve Catholic clergy, religious, educators, and lay faithful seeking spiritual formation and educational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Old College Undergraduate Seminary Undergraduate seminary formation program on the University of Notre Dame campus allowing men to earn a degree while discerning their vocation in an intentional Holy Cross community. For Catholic men discerning a call to priesthood or brotherhood.
• Moreau Seminary Postulant Program Postulancy year at Moreau Seminary on the Notre Dame campus featuring philosophy coursework, ministry placement, and formation conferences for men who have obtained a four-year degree and are entering Holy Cross.
• Holy Cross Novitiate Year-long apprenticeship in celibacy, poverty, and obedience located in Cascade, Colorado, including daily silence, work periods, apostolic service, and study of Holy Cross history and spirituality for men entering religious life.
• Ave Maria Press Catholic publishing house offering books and educational resources for Catholics, educators, and parish ministries. Established by Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., and located at the University of Notre Dame.
• Holy Cross Family Ministries Family ministry encompassing Family Rosary, Family Theater Productions, Father Peyton Family Institutes, and Catholic Mom, dedicated to spreading devotion to the Blessed Mother and family prayer.
• Virtual Retreats Online retreat programs offered to support spiritual discernment and formation for those unable to attend in-person Holy Cross retreats.
• André House of Hospitality Social justice ministry in Phoenix, Arizona where Holy Cross religious and volunteers serve the homeless and unemployed through meals, job training, shelter assistance, and counseling.
• Holy Cross Association Parish-without-walls outreach offering Mass intentions, perpetual prayer enrollment, Lourdes Water, prayer cards, and devotional candles supporting Moreau Seminary and Holy Cross House; pastoral direct mail and email to nearly 10,000 households.
• Holy Cross-Affiliated Higher Education Catholic higher education programs at four universities (University of Notre Dame, University of Portland, King's College, Stonehill College) integrating faith and reason, supported by more than a dozen Holy Cross-affiliated elementary schools.
• Parish Ministry Staffing Staffing of Catholic parishes across the United States and Mexico by Holy Cross priests and brothers, with emphasis on parishes that have schools and those serving the poor.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 universities and more than a dozen elementary schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Notre DamecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoly Cross founded University of Notre Dame in 1842 through Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. The university remains the flagship Holy Cross institution and home to Moreau Seminary and Old College undergraduate seminary. University's Center for Campus Ministry publishes Holy Cross and Christian Education materials.
• Holy Cross CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoly Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana partners with University of Notre Dame to offer undergraduate seminary formation. Collegians earn degrees while discerning vocations in intentional community.
• ACE (Alliance for Catholic Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching program established at Holy Cross universities providing educators for Catholic schools. Collaborates with lay teachers integrating Holy Cross spirituality into teaching methods.
• PACE (Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching program at University of Portland providing Catholic educators. Part of Holy Cross commitment to forming educators in the faith.
• Echo MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching program established at Holy Cross universities supporting formation of Catholic educators integrating Holy Cross spirituality.
• André House of HospitalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhoenix-based ministry where Holy Cross religious and volunteers engage in social justice work with homeless and unemployed, providing meals, job training, shelter and counseling. Located at 243 West谁来帮助我?
• Holy Cross Family MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEncompasses Family Rosary, Family Theater Productions, Father Peyton Family Institutes, and Catholic Mom. Continues Servant of God Father Peyton's mass media ministry promoting family prayer.
• Ave Maria PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic publishing house established by Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. to print materials for instruction. Offers wide range of Catholic books and educational resources. Located at University of Notre Dame.
• LinkedInminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline job listing platform where Holy Cross posts employment opportunities for the U.S. Province workforce.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Society of the Divine Word (SVD): Catholic missionary congregation of priests and brothers with a strong international presence and U.S. headquarters. Highly comparable to Holy Cross in mission orientation, formation pipeline, and donor-supported cross-border ministry.
• Salesians of Don Bosco: Catholic religious congregation with a strong education and youth-ministry focus, parish network, and global missions. Comparable to Holy Cross in combining education, parish ministry, and formation under a single religious-society structure.
• Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province: Largest Catholic religious order of priests and brothers in the U.S., with a parallel higher-education, parish, and formation footprint. Directly comparable to Holy Cross across virtually every mission dimension, though operating at substantially larger scale.
• Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans): Major Catholic religious order with parishes, missions, and formation programs across the U.S. and globally. Comparable to Holy Cross as a peer religious community operating parish and mission ministries under a similar canonical governance structure.
• Paulist Fathers: Catholic society of apostolic life headquartered in the U.S. with strong media/communications heritage and parish ministry — comparable to Holy Cross Family Ministries' media mission and the Province's pastoral outreach model.
• Benedictine Monks (American-Cassinese Congregation): Major Catholic monastic religious order with U.S. abbeys, parish ministries, and schools. Comparable to Holy Cross as a Catholic religious community operating parishes, schools, and formation under canonical governance.
• Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers: Catholic religious society of priests and brothers dedicated to global mission work, with presence in multiple countries and a U.S. formation/pastoral model. Closely comparable to Holy Cross's 16-country mission footprint and reliance on U.S. donor support for foreign missions.
• Society of Mary (Marianists): Catholic religious congregation of priests and brothers with a parallel U.S. Province structure, a strong higher-education footprint (e.g., University of Dayton, St. Mary's University, Chaminade University), and parish and mission ministries — directly comparable in mission mix and operating model to Holy Cross.

Emerging players

• Congregation of Christian Brothers (Edmund Rice): Catholic religious brotherhood with a strong education-focused mission and global presence. Comparable to Holy Cross in formation and education emphasis, though smaller and more narrowly focused on secondary education.

Others

• Our Sunday Visitor: Catholic publishing and media organization serving the same donor and lay-Catholic supporter base that Holy Cross reaches through Ave Maria Press and Holy Cross Family Ministries — thematically comparable as a Catholic publishing/media peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congregation-of-holy-cross-us-province-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Congregation of Holy Cross, US Province, Inc.