Carrying the Cross: After an Act of Vandalism, Catholic Students Resurrect a Symbol of Hope

Students from Cardinal Newman High School and St. Rose Catholic School restored a hilltop cross on the grounds of the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa on October 14. The monument was vandalized and cut down in September 2026.

To replace the landmark, students organized fundraisers and worked with local benefactor Lind Marine to craft a new cross. During the restoration, football players from Cardinal Newman High School carried the new monument up the hill. Bishop Robert F. Vasa of the Diocese of Santa Rosa joined the students, the Marian Sisters, and local parishioners for the installation.

Bishop Vasa told the gathering that the cross and the love of Christ endure.