Serving Alongside the Sisters
By Tess Hayes '25
For nearly two centuries, the Sisters of the Holy Cross have established ministries on a global scale, in addition to sponsoring Saint Mary’s College. As the number of women discerning professed life declines in North America, according to an expert on the topic, there is no time like the present for Saint Mary’s students and alumnae to become a Holy Cross Associate.
“Do you see yourself in that description?” Sister Mary Margaret Weber ’67, CSC, questioned after reading the official description of the Holy Cross Associates:
Holy Cross Associates are called by God to live the Gospel Message in a mutually supportive relationship with the Sisters of the Holy Cross and one another.
The description is intentionally broad to emphasize the inclusivity of the Associates program; the definition alone is an invitation to recognize oneself in the mission of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, as lay women. Associates are people already living the Holy Cross values—whether one realizes it or not.
The role of the Sisters is shifting. Holy Cross Associates are stepping into the role of representing the Sisters’ congregation in their own communities. “
The purpose of this program is that you will be the Holy Cross presence,” Weber stated, meaning that Associates will be the “face” of Holy Cross in the near future.
Being a Holy Cross Associate is quite simple. It is not a program based on merit or accomplishments; rather, it is rooted in relationship-building with fellow Associates and Sisters. Weber made it clear that this program is based on the internalization of Holy Cross values, which gives Associates a sense of identity, awareness, and belonging to the family of Holy Cross.
Rhetorically, Weber asked, “What makes an institution Holy Cross? We’re there.”
Earlier in June, on the Feast of Pentecost, Sister Mary Margaret invited everyone attending Sunday Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto to a meeting for prospective Associates before the service. Weber shared that there were only four lay people in attendance, in addition to five Holy Cross Sisters.
“If you look at the number of people who attended, one could say that it was not a successful event. That is not how we measure success,” Weber said. “It was successful because of the nourishment and discussion that was shared between the nine of us.”
Success, in this context, was not measured by numbers, but by the depth of connection—an accurate reflection of Holy Cross relationships.
At the forefront of many people’s minds—the Sisters, members of Saint Mary’s College, Holy Cross Associates, the Holy Cross Family, and more—is the concept of legacy. Weber was clear that the Associate program is a way for the Sisters of the Holy Cross to be self-sustaining.
“In North America, we are the elders now. We are the ones that started all of these missions throughout the world. We are not going to found any new ministries at our age, but we are the wisdom figures— the wisdom of our years of experience in the congregation. [Holy Cross Associates] are taking over the presence of the ministry, even if there are no Americans joining the North American congregation.
Sisters and Associates bear witness to one another by sharing lived experience.
Symbols and Public Commitment
For those who choose to become a Holy Cross Associate, there is an opportunity—though not a requirement—for public commitment. Each local Holy Cross Associate community has its own ritual for this pledge, but all include a pin featuring a symbolic cross and tree, adapted from the Marianites of Holy Cross, from which the Sisters of the Holy Cross evolved, as were the Sisters of Holy Cross, the Canadian branch.
Weber quoted Fr. Moreau’s Circular Letter 65:
“Holy Cross will grow like a mighty tree.”
— Circular Letter 65 – Moreau
There are four branches on this pin, symbolizing the four branches of Holy Cross: Holy Cross Priests (University of Notre Dame), Holy Cross Brothers (Holy Cross College), the Sisters of the Holy Cross (Saint Mary’s College), and Holy Cross Associates (anyone who identifies with the Holy Cross charism).
The College’s Role
Sister Mary Margaret believes the connection to Saint Mary’s College is a rich source of potential Associates, as students typically spend four years being formed by Holy Cross values. There is even an active online group called “SMC Alumnae and Friends,” which includes Saint Mary’s alumnae and friends of the College, and currently welcomes any and all who feel they identify with the Holy Cross Associate description.
They meet virtually to build community through shared experiences, learn about Sisters’ local ministries, share, and reflect. This group is facilitated by Liza Felix ’17 and by Sister Verónica Fajardo, CSC.
The group also offers an optional group trip tied to the six-session annual cycle. In the past, the Sisters and Associates traveled to Utah and Maryland to learn more about Holy Cross histories. This fall, the Associates will travel to Ventura, California, to explore the Holy Cross presence there.
A Living Mission in New Hands
The call to live the Holy Cross mission isn’t reserved for those who have taken religious vows. It’s shared by all who embody the spirit of compassion, community, and Gospel-rooted service in their daily lives. Whether you are a Saint Mary’s alumna, a longtime friend of the congregation, or someone newly moved by the Sisters’ example, the invitation is open.
The motto Ave Crux, Spes Unica—“Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope”—still echoes today. You, too, are called to carry that hope forward, to be the living witness the Sisters have entrusted to you.
June 30, 2025
Tess Hayes ’25 is a Marketing and Communication Specialist for the College’s Advancement Division. Hayes is also the creator and host of the Stories of Our Sisters: A Living History, a series of oral histories with the Sisters of the Holy Cross, now in its second season.