Holy Cross Catholic Church and Community
historical marker
In Austin, Travis County, Texas, a historical marker erected in 2014 recognizes the Holy Cross Catholic Church and Community. Reverend Francis R. Weber founded the church in 1936, with its first Mass held in the home of William M. Tears. Holy Cross was Austin's first Catholic Church established to serve the African American community, many of whom lived in East Austin following the city's 1928 "Negro District" policy. The church building was completed in 1937. The community also established Holy Cross Hospital in 1940, the first in Austin to allow Black physicians to practice. Sister Mary Celine Heitzman, M.D., a pioneering Catholic nun and doctor, served at the hospital. The Holy Cross community significantly influenced educational, social, and political issues in Austin and Texas. This marker commemorates a vital institution in Austin's African American history.