Mission Santa Cruz is located on Mission Plaza in Santa Cruz, California. The Roman Catholic Parish of Holy Cross is the home of Mission Santa Cruz, the 12th of 21 historic Spanish Franciscan missions that stretch from San Diego to Sonoma. The full Spanish name of the mission is "Misin la exaltacin de la Santa Cruz," named after a feast day in the Church calendar which occurs on September 14: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrating the Christian symbol of the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Mission Santa Cruz was founded by Father Fermn Francisco de Lasun, the successor of Father Junpero Serra.
The mission is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The mission is closed Monday, except after major holiday weekends.