Adams in 1871 by John Baptist Purcell, the Archbishop of Cincinnati, to run Immaculata Church, founded in 1860.

With the encouragement and support of Sarah Peter, daughter of an early Governor of Ohio and a noted convert to Catholicism, the city stepped in and purchased the property from the heir.

The following year Matassi signed a 99-year lease with the City of Cincinnati for a building and a property atop Mt.

The first Church of the Holy Cross, made out of wood, was finished in 1873, standing next to the monastery, but in 1895 it was replaced by a large, permanent structure.

Immaculata parish had a Holy Week tradition of people praying the rosary while climbing the 125 steps to the church.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians annually re-enact St. Patrick's "liberation" and celebrate with a luncheon and Mass at Immaculata.

[3] The Passionists made the decision to close Holy Cross Monastery in 1976 and the building was sold.