Reverend Carlos Jimenez, our Pastor
Fr. Carlos Jimenez is of Filipino ethnicity. He was ordained Priest as a member of the Religious Missionary Society of the Divine Word (SVD, founded by St. Arnold Janssen) for 17 years before he came to the Archdiocese of Regina. Prior to his studies for the Priesthood, he was educated as an Electrical Engineer and was licensed as a registered Electrical Engineer in the Philippines. He studied for the Priesthood at Divine Word Seminary in the Philippines, administered by the Society of the Divine Word. When he was ordained in December 1991, he was assigned as a Finance Officer, first at Divine Word Formation Center in Davao, Philippines, and after two years, appointed the same responsibilities at the two universities administered by the SVD for all his 17 years in the congregation.
Fr. Carlos speaks the three major languages of the Philippines: Ilocano, Tagalog, and Cebuano. Aside from English (the language used in schools and universities for instruction in the country), he learned to read and speak a little French Canadian. While unable to speak fluently, Fr. Carlos can celebrate Mass in French with passable French pronunciation.
Fr. Carlos came to the Archdiocese of Regina in 2008 and obtained his Canadian Citizenship in April 2015. After serving for 10 years in the Archdiocese, he decided to be incardinated into the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Regina in 2018. While working in the Archdiocese, he was first assigned as Assistant Priest at Holy Rosary Cathedral under Fr. Brian Meredith. After serving for 8 months, he was appointed Pastor of Church of Our Lady in Moose Jaw. After Moose Jaw, he was appointed Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Regina.
After serving for 3 years, he was recalled by the SVD and said farewell to the Archdiocese. But the leadership of the Society in Rome reneged his approved transfer to the Canadian District of the USC Society of the Sacred Heart Province. After much discernment and prayer, Fr. Carlos decided to stay in the Archdiocese.
With that, Fr. Carlos requested Archbishop Don Bolen to accept him back to the Archdiocese in August 2017. Bishop Don agreed and assigned him to replace Fr. Lorne at St. Anne’s Parish in Regina, while Fr.Lorne took a medical leave to the United States. After serving for 4 months at St. Anne’s Parish, Fr.Carlos on November 27, 2017 was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral Parish in Gravelbourg. In March 2023, Fr. Carlos was reassignment as Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Regina, where he is shared with St. Mary’s Parish.
Our Parish Staff
Deacon Martin Kondzielewski
Office Administrator and Pastoral Assistant
Jacob Antony
Caretaker
Our Pastoral Council
Pastoral Council members :
Pastor, Fr Carlos Jimenez
Chair, Patrick McGinn
Vice-Chair, Brigitte Leibel
Secretary, Lori Garchinski
Pastoral Council Committee Chairs :
Liturgy, Connie Todd
Finance, Gerard Woynarski
Fundraising, Wayne Rutten
Personnel, Ron Adams
Hospitality, Marie Lebersback/Susan Leier
Social Action, Rita Gareau
Members at Large, Jan Genert, Ron Adams, Elise Paquin
Finance Council members :
Pastor, Fr. Carlos Jimenez
Bookkeeper, Rita Gareau
Chair, Gerard Woynarski
Past Chair, John Lebersback
Pastoral Council Chair, Patrick McGinn
Secretary, Brigitte Leibel
Finance Council Committee members :
Collection Counters, Gerard Woynarski
Buildings and Grounds, Wayne Rutten/Ray Fenrick/Garry Kraushaar
Condo Rep, Peter Bresciani
1959 to 2024 : 65 Years of Worship at Holy Cross Parish
The movement for a new parish in the now Douglas Park area of Regina began in September 1959 when Reverend Michael J. Hogan was appointed pastor and began daily masses at St. Andrew Elementary School to approximately 300 families. On December 1, 1959, Archbishop O'Neill issued a decree of erection for the new parish of Holy Cross. Designed by Regina architect E.J. McCudden, the modern structure was built by Piggott Construction Limited, of Saskatoon. A Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Most. Rev. M.C. O'Neill, Archbishop of Regina, on November 5, 1961 marking the official opening of Holy Cross Parish. Unique features of the building are the louvred walls and a magnificent sculpture of Christ on the Cross, made of Manitoba Tyndall stone, the work of Hubert A. Garnier, of Winnipeg, who was also responsible for the fine stonework on the front of the church. In 1961, parishioner Paul Cloutier began the design and construction of the tiled mosaic Stations of the Cross, each containing between 2500 to 3000 pieces of byzantine glass. The tiles were refurbished and framed by parishioner Jim Butchko, who approached Paul Cloutier to create an additional tile of the Resurrected Christ. Additional pieces of art that adorn the church are the Tabernacle and candlesticks by Lumsden sculptor John Nugent, and the stained glass of the Three Empty Crosses, the Ascension, and Christ’s Robe Left on the Cross, by parishioner John Kress, which took almost 400 hours to complete. The Catholic Women's League was established in 1961, and in 1988 the Knights of Columbus Msgr Gerein Council #9859 was established. In 1967, the Altar was moved forward so the Eucharist could be celebrated with the Priest facing the people and it was consecrated on September 13, 1968. A major expansion of parish facilities took place in 1983 with the addition of the Gerein Centre. The condo at 327 - 20th Avenue was purchased in 1990 for the pastor's residence and the former Rectory was converted into parish offices. Holy Cross celebrated its 25th anniversary in September 1984 and a “Silver Anniversary” album was published. At that time, a design contest for the parish logo was held and Miller High School student Steve Jacquin was the winner. The first parish pictorial directory was published in 1991. In 2011, a 50th anniversary album “Celebrating 50 Years” was published. Since then, events that have notably impacted Holy Cross Parish were the opening of Resurrection Parish in 2000, the closing of St. Andrew Elementary School in 2017, and the Covid pandemic. The number of registered families peaked at 1,490 in 1990 and dropped from 1,260 in 1999 to 710 in 2001. With the closing of St. Andrew Elementary School, the parish lost its hall and gathering space for events such as Knights of Columbus pancake breakfasts and annual harvest suppers. It also resulted in the parish’s declining numbers for Sacramental preparation, and less opportunity for Liturgical celebrations with the youth. In 2020 the Covid pandemic gripped the country, and in March parishes were closed, and virtual masses became the norm. Over the remainder of the year, guidelines were introduced in phases such as limited capacity, physical distancing, masking, no Holy Water, no communion of the Precious Blood, no hand shaking and no singing. Attendance and volunteerism were greatly reduced, and the ripple effect is felt to this day. In the summer of 2022, Fr. Richard Jasiak, Holy Cross’ permanent priest, was moved to a different parish. Twelve priests were temporarily assigned to Holy Cross until March 2023 when Fr. Carlos Jimenez was assigned as permanent pastor to be shared with St. Mary’s Parish. Since 2024, dedicated parishioners continue to volunteer their time and talents to remain a vibrant parish, working together in fellowship and in support of each other, and to be welcoming to new parishioners. Over the last 65 years, many have laboured for this. Let us be grateful and find strength in prayer together. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20