Leadership
At Holy Cross Parish and Friary, leadership is understood as a sacred trust of service. In the Old Catholic tradition, clergy and lay leaders alike are called to proclaim the Gospel, care for souls, guard the faith of the Church, and serve the people of God with humility, reverence, and compassion.
Our leadership is rooted in apostolic continuity, shaped by prayer and sacramental life, and guided by a desire to reflect Christ’s love in pastoral care, worship, and service. We seek to lead not as masters, but as servants of the Servant Lord.
Our Understanding of Leadership
Holy Cross Parish and Friary understands leadership as a ministry of faithfulness. Those who lead in the Church are called to preserve the apostolic faith, uphold reverent worship, serve God’s people with tenderness, and help the parish remain rooted in prayer, charity, and truth.
In the Old Catholic tradition, leadership is not about status or privilege. It is about responsibility, service, and stewardship. Whether in episcopal ministry, parish administration, pastoral care, or daily service, leadership exists to strengthen the life of the Church and support the people entrusted to its care.
Episcopal Leadership
The Right Reverend Ben Williams, OSFoc
Bishop Ordinary and Pastor
Bishop Ben Williams serves Holy Cross Parish and Friary with episcopal oversight, pastoral leadership, and sacramental care. His ministry reflects the Old Catholic commitment to apostolic continuity, reverent worship, and compassionate service.
As bishop and pastor, he is entrusted with guarding the faith of the Church, celebrating the sacraments, teaching the Gospel, and shepherding the faithful with wisdom and charity. Episcopal ministry in the Church is a ministry of unity, sacramental oversight, and apostolic witness. Through the historic episcopate, the Church remains linked to the apostolic life and order handed down through the centuries.
Clergy and Parish Ministry
The clergy of Holy Cross Parish and Friary share in the ministry of preaching, teaching, worship, sacramental care, and pastoral presence. Clergy serve the parish by celebrating the sacred liturgy, hearing the concerns of the faithful, accompanying families in times of joy and grief, and helping to form a community rooted in Christ.
In this parish, clergy leadership is meant to be both reverent and approachable: faithful to the ancient life of the Church while attentive to the pastoral needs of people today. Through prayer, preaching, pastoral counsel, and sacramental care, clergy help guide the community in holiness, peace, and Christian hope.
The Friary
As both a parish and a friary, Holy Cross is shaped not only by public worship and pastoral ministry, but also by a deeper rhythm of prayer, devotion, and spiritual discipline. The friary enriches the life of the parish by bearing witness to contemplation, intentional Christian life, and a steady commitment to prayer.
This dimension of Holy Cross gives the community a distinctive character: sacramental and prayerful, welcoming and grounded, pastoral and contemplative. The friary’s presence reminds the parish that the Church’s visible ministry must always be sustained by prayer and rooted in the presence of God.
Lay Leadership and Parish Service
Darlene Williams
Parish Administrator
Darlene Williams serves Holy Cross Parish and Friary through administrative leadership, practical support, and faithful service to the life of the parish. Her work helps sustain the daily ministry of the Church and supports the mission of Holy Cross in hospitality, communication, organization, and care for the parish community.
Lay leadership is an essential part of parish life. The Church is strengthened by the service of those who give their gifts of time, wisdom, compassion, and skill to support worship, hospitality, outreach, administration, and the shared work of the community. Holy Cross gives thanks for all who serve faithfully in visible and quiet ways alike.
The Character of Our Leadership
The character of leadership at Holy Cross Parish and Friary is shaped by fidelity, reverence, compassion, humility, and steadiness. We believe the Church should be led with spiritual maturity, pastoral sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our hope is that all who encounter Holy Cross will find a parish where leadership reflects not self-importance, but service; not distance, but care; not harshness, but grace; and not novelty, but the enduring life of the Church rooted in apostolic faith.
A Word of Welcome
Whether you are visiting for the first time, searching for a church home, exploring the Old Catholic tradition, or seeking pastoral care, you are warmly welcome at Holy Cross Parish and Friary. We invite you to worship with us, get to know our community, and learn more about the life of faith we seek to share.
Contact and Visit
Phone: (832) 900-0304
Email: bishopben@myholycross.org
Location: The Woodlands, Texas 77380