Thanks to a freeway, a church was born. In the late 1950s, St. Joseph's chapel was razed to make room for the new Highway 101 across the back of Santa Barbara's Mesa. But the devoted members of that Mesa Catholic community rallied together to create a new home that first became Holy Cross Church and then Holy Cross Parish. A 1958 fundraising drive, spearheaded by Fr. Matthew Kelly of Our Lady of Guadalupe, raised money to build the church itself, which was dedicated in 1960. The church grew as families filled the new homes popping up all over the Mesa, and in 1973, Holy Cross became an official parish of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Msgr. Thomas Hayes was the first pastor.

In 1979, a new parish hall was built and named Hayes Hall in gratitude for Msgr. Hayes' selfless work.

In September 1991 Msgr. John M. Young came as pastor to Holy Cross.  He retired in December 1995. He renovated the sanctuary and erected the welcoming Sacred Heart statue in front of the church. In the summer of 1996 the Josephite Fathers took over the pastorate of Holy Cross.

In 2010 the Parish celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its dedication.

Present day Holy Cross parishioners look back with gratitude on those early pioneers who built the home that we lovingly care for and help grow today.