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Sometimes, what is meant to tear down a community only serves to anchor it deeper in love.
When news broke in September 2026 that a beloved hilltop cross on the grounds of the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa had been vandalized and cut down, the loss was felt keenly across the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
To the students of Cardinal Newman High School and St. Rose Catholic School, the hilltop landmark was an anchor along their daily journey to class.
Yet, true faith is unwavering.
Rather than dwelling on the damage, local students took up the mantle of restoration. Organizing fundraisers and inspiring local benefactors like Lind Marine to craft a new monument, they turned a tragedy into a crusade of hope.
Bishop Robert F. Vasa poses for a photo alongside the Cardinal Newman High School football players after lifting the cross. Credit: Diocese of Santa Rosa
On October 14, that hope took on a visceral beauty. A group of Cardinal Newman High School football players hoisted the new cross and carried it up the summit step by step, alongside by Bishop Robert F. Vasa of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa, and generous local parishioners.
At the crest of the hill, as the cross was anchored back into the sky, Bishop Vasa reminded the gathering of the eternal truth behind their physical labor:
“The cross however endures, the love of Christ endures.”
An act intended to destroy ended up revealing the vibrant, enduring heart of Santa Rosa’s young Church — proving that light always prevails, and that love will always find a way to stand tall.
Marian Sisters help lead a procession as the cross is erected back into position.
