The 1960s
The 1960s were years of great social upheaval. The Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the Rolling Stones were challenging Americans to look at the world in a new way. Even in the Church, Vatican II was introducing reforms that would dramatically change the look and feel of Mass, our understanding of ministry and the sacraments, and our idea of what it means to be Catholic.
Here at Holy Cross, though, parish life had settled into a quiet, comfortable routine.
After the hard work of building throughout the 50s, Father McMonagle and the parishioners were ready to take a break and the next few years were relatively uneventful.
Growth in the parish was beginning to slow somewhat. The number of families increased from 1542 to 1750 between 1960 and 1969. Enrollment in the school hovered around 1,000 students until 1966, when it began dropping steadily every year. Meanwhile, enrollment in CCD classes was on the rise.
Religious vocations were at an all-time high and 22 young people from the parish entered religious communities and the priesthood during the 1960s.
The parish was saddened to learn of Dr. Kirby's death on September 18, 1961. Euclid city council issued a memorial resolution to honor him for the contributions he had made to the city as the founding pastor of Holy Cross Church.
The associate pastors in the early 60s loved chidren, especially Father Tezie and Father Sawhill. The neighborhood kids often knocked on the rectory door and asked if the priests could come out to play. (Fr. McMonagle usually said it was OK as long as they were home before dark.) The kids (ordained and not) played all kinds of games in the schoolyard together.
Preschool
In early 1969, the parish began to explore the possibility of a religious preschool for four- and five-year olds during the 9:30 Sunday Mass. It was understood that parents are the most important teachers of religion, and the preschool was not intended to relieve parents of that responsibility, but rather to support them and reinforce the learning that was (hopefully) taking place at home. Some of the suggested topics for the classes were prayer, church celebrations and holy days, and a demonstration of the sacrament of baptism.
The preschool officially began in May. The women who organized it educated themselves by observing an established preschool, reading early childhood catechisms, attending teachers' workshops, and seeking the advice of elementary school teachers. The first year there were 72 children in two classes of 5-year olds and 3 classes of 4-year olds. Many of the parents got to know each other as they waited in the parking lot to pick up the children after Mass. This group of parents was instrumental in forming the PTO at Holy Cross in 1970.
