Is it blasphemy to review churches on Yelp? I try to get out and see what's up in my city on weekends, and have visited Holy Cross twice. The priest is young, enthusiastic, and seems like an all-around great guy. I recently heard him give a homily where he drew a comparison between finding the spirit and feeling like he does when he canoes through the Boubdary Waters in Canada. (I'd have to give this church an automatic extra star for that alone.)
Holy Cross is really anchor for the Near East Side, which really took a nose-dive as a neighborhood about 50 years ago and has been experiencing a comeback recently. Though the area has a long way to go, Holy Cross has been a major force in keeping this part of Indianapolis together. Once you walk through the doors of this church, you can instantly feel how much community spirit drives these people.
Four stars because I can't stand their music. Sounds a like trip in an elevator to me. And the acoustics and hardwood floor make the building sound like a high-school gymnasium. Very much a "workingman's" church, very unpretentious bunch of people, bordering on "charismatic."
Overall, not solemn enough for my taste. But I have to give a shout-out to Holy Cross for the great work it does for the Near East Side, which has been coming back from the brink.
11/2014: sad to hear that Holy Cross parish is going to be closing soon. A big loss for the Near East Side. read more