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About this place
Heilig Kreuz church in Zurich is a Roman Catholic parish church on Saumackerstrasse in the western part of the city, in the Altstetten district (postcode 8048). It dates from the late 1970s and shows how Swiss parish churches were built in the postwar decades.
Where is Heilig Kreuz and how do you get there?
The church stands at Saumackerstrasse 81b, with the parish office listed at number 83. It lies west of the city centre, around 47.384 N, 8.488 E. The parish pilgrimage starts at Altstetten railway station, the area's main transport hub, so that is a sensible orientation point. Check the Zurich public transport timetable for your route before you set out.
Who designed it and when was it built?
The Bern inventory of Zurich's sacred buildings gives the construction years as 1978–1979 and names Dezsö Ercsi as the architect. The same entry also records an original design, a later redesign and an earlier church that stood on the site, so the present building replaced an older one. For architectural detail, the inventory points to "Katholische Kirchen Zürich" (2014, pp. 198–199) and to Boll (1979).
Which community does it belong to?
The church belongs to the Diocese of Chur and the deanery of the city of Zurich. The Heilig Kreuz parish runs its own website, heiligkreuz-zuerich.ch, and a parish foundation registered in 2017 whose stated purpose is to enable regular worship for the parish's Catholics.
When are services held?
According to a directory from October 2024, Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 10:00, on Saturday evening at 17:30 and on Tuesdays at 8:30. Times can change, so confirm the current schedule in the parish announcements. During services, keep any sightseeing to a quiet look at the interior.
Who should visit?
Heilig Kreuz is not a postcard landmark. It is a working neighbourhood church, of interest to people following late 20th-century sacred architecture and to Catholics looking for Mass in Altstetten. If you are nearby, drop in outside service times, provided the doors are open.
Frequently asked questions
When was Heilig Kreuz in Zurich built? In 1978–1979, according to the inventory of Zurich's sacred buildings.
Who was the architect? Dezsö Ercsi.
Where exactly is it? At Saumackerstrasse 81b in Zurich, in the Altstetten district (8048).
Is there Sunday Mass? Yes. An October 2024 directory lists 10:00 on Sunday and 17:30 on Saturday evening. Check the parish for current times.
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