Church Mission History

The Reverend Joseph Brown was succeeded by The Reverend Henry Getz in 1944, under whose leadership
land was acquired. A frame building was constructed at 1836 Steves Avenue at Broadbent. This building
was dedicated March 29, 1946 with Bishop Everett Jones officiating.

From 1946 to 1950 the growth of this congregation was such that a larger building was needed. Under the
leadership of The Reverend Arthur B. Geeson, who had become the rector in 1950, the original frame
building was moved to the new location at 3726 South New Braunfels Avenue at Ada St. in 1951. There it
served as an educational building and parish hall. The present sanctuary was dedicated in May, 1951 with
Bishop Everett Jones officiating. St. Stephen’s achieved parish status in 1955.

The Reverend Geeson retired in 1970, and The Reverend Charles Berry became the second rector of St.
Stephen’s. Korean services were held there in 1980, conducted by The Reverend David Lee. These
services ended in the late 1980’s when Reverend Lee became ill. Reverend Berry retired in 1991, and The
Reverend Frank Sierra became the congregation’s third rector. Reverend Sierra began Christian Education
classes for all ages immediately. Reverend Sierra remained the rector until the partnership was created in
May 2002.

The Reverend Sierra and the vestry of St. Stephen’s began making outreach a budget item and a priority for
the life of the church. During this time, some of the lectors took further training to become Eucharistic
ministers who can also take communion to the shut-ins. In 1951, the first annual fall fair along with a full
Mexican dinner and an annual spring barbecue were started and continue to this day. The Closette Thrift
and Gift Store was opened in 1958, to reach out and serve the community with a wide variety of donated
and consigned items. It ceased operation in 1993. The Evangelism Committee promotes community
outreach events focusing on music and testimonials to which other congregations and denominations are
invited to participate. Other outreach projects sponsored by St. Stephen’s include Boy Scout Troop #358, a
food pantry and a provider of warm clothing for the homeless in the area. Thanksgiving and Christmas food
baskets are provided for the needy families in the area. We are involved with the L.I.F.T celebration,
highway clean up, 30-hour Famine, Habitat For Humanity and the Christmas Shoe Box project. Members of
St. Stephen’s volunteer to work at the area San Antonio Food Bank. Members also serve as representatives
on the board of the Southeast Community Outreach to Older People (SCOOP) and The San Antonio
Community of churches. Twice a year, our group gathers on a Saturday morning to go and clean up a one
mile section of Highway 181. Use of our parish hall is encouraged for various public gatherings:
neighborhood groups, open hearings, health fairs, voter registration, civic training, etc. without a fee.

The Reverend David C. Penticuff became the first vicar on June 2, 1957. The men of the congregation
began work renovating the building and it was dedicated on January 22, 1958. A second building was
purchased the same year. Both buildings are still in use today. A new sanctuary was built in 1964 and was
dedicated by Bishop Jones. As of 2007 Holy Cross has been in their present location 52 years.

Several priests, serving as vicars, followed when The Reverend Penticuff left in 1965. They were The
Reverend James P. Gittings, The Reverend Paul Cochran, The Reverend Frank Ambuhl, The Reverend
Robert P. Holt, and The Reverend Albert Snyder. Reverends Cochran and Snyder were both ordained
while at Holy Cross. Sometime in the 1960’s the Crossroads Thrift and Gift was started and continued for
many years under the direction of volunteers, until a parishioner purchased and operated the store for
several more years. When the diocese launched its Habitat for Humanity program in 1995, all churches
were assessed a quota. Holy Cross has contributed 486 percent of its original goal and is third in the
Diocese in going over their goal.

Over the years, the membership of Holy Cross has grown and shrunk, but the congregation continues to
reach out to the community through the Palmer Drug Abuse Program to help those addicted to drugs and
alcohol. Holy Cross also had the very distinctive honor of being the only Episcopal Church in the world with
a St. Vincent de Paul Society in residence. In 1993, the vicarage became a community home used by
Mission Road Developmental Center, and some of their residents now attend Holy Cross. Other outreach
programs are, besides Habitat for Humanity, Children and Youth Ministry in partnership with New Song Bible
Church, providing practice fields for T-ball and baseball teams in the neighborhood, St. Jude’s Ranch, in
this diocese, the San Antonio Youth Ministry and the Battered Women’s Shelter in San Antonio.