Holy Cross Church Introduction
In the 17th century, the Spanish brought Catholicism to Taiwan, but the missionary efforts were temporarily halted with the arrival of the Protestant Dutch. In 1859, Father Antonio of the Order of Preachers took over the legacy and officially began the history of the Catholic Church in Taiwan by establishing the first church in Kaohsiung. It was not until 1953 that Catholicism took root in the city of Ah Hou through the diligent efforts of Fathers Liang Ya and Du Ming De. The two priests initially set up a chapel in an old house on Yongfu Road, and as the congregants increased, the Order of Preachers decided in 1959 to purchase land on Gongyuan Road. After a decade of ups and downs, the current chapel was finally completed. Coinciding with the Catholic feast of "Holy Cross Day," it was named "Holy Cross Chapel." The exterior of Holy Cross Chapel is made of washed stone, simple yet dignified, reflecting the Catholic Church's consistent spirit of simplicity. The interior features a statue of the crucified Jesus, as well as statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, with a spacious area that can accommodate hundreds of people for sermons. Grand celebrations are held every year on Easter, during the September church feast, and at Christmas in December.
