Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians
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| Basilica of Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | Erin, Wisconsin |
| Nearest city: | Hubertus, Wisconsin |
| Built/Founded: | 1930 / 1863 |
| Architect: | Hermann J. Gaul Richard Philipp |
| Architectural style(s): | Romanesque[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | July 16, 2006 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 92000139 |
Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians is a Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The centerpiece of the shrine is a minor basilica. It is located near Hubertus, Wisconsin, within the town of Erin, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The shrine has approximately 300,000 visitors per year.[2]
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[edit] Location
The shrine is located atop a high kame in 400 acres (1.6 km²) of woods. Visitors can climb a 178-step observation tower to view the Milwaukee skyline, which is located 30 miles (48 km) away.[3] [4] At approximately 1,350 feet above sea level it is one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin. It is located near Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail.
[edit] History
Tradition says that the hill was first discovered in 1673 by Father Marquette on his return from the discovery of the upper Mississippi River with Joliet.[5] It is now known that Fr. Marquette did not travel to this area.[3]
The United States government owned the land until 1855.[3] The hill was known as "Government Hill" for surveying work was done there. Forty acres was purchased by Fr. Paulhuber, from Salzburg, Austria.[3]
The first resident on the hill was a hermit named Francois Soubrio. A farmer found him living on the hill in around 1862. Soubrio had heard about the hill when he was working as an assistant to a retired professor in Quebec, Canada. Soubrio found an old French diary and map (dated 1676) showing a cone-shaped mountain in Wisconsin. The diary describes how the author placed a stone altar, raised a cross, and dedicated the hill to Jesus' mother Mary. The diary account corresponds with Jesuit missionary work in the area between 1673 and 1679.[3]
The name "Holy Hill" was first used by Father George Strickner when he was dedicating a log chapel as the first Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians on May 24, 1863.[6][3] A set of wooden crosses were placed for the Stations of the Cross in 1875. In the winter of 1879, Fr. Raess sent a proposal to Archbishop John Henni to construct a new shrine to Mary. Construction began that spring. Pilgrims began flocking to the shrine, and it was decided that a religious order should administer the shrine. A group of Discalced Carmelites came from Bavaria at the invitation of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, and the Shrine of Mary was put under their care on June 26, 1906.[3] The building now known as the Old Monastery Inn and Retreat Center was completed in 1920. The second shrine was removed in 1925 so that a third shrine could be built. The cornerstone of the third and present shrine was placed by Archbishop Messmer on August 22, 1926.[3] The present church was completed and consecrated in 1931.[3]
Another tradition describes a German priest who was recreant to his vows came to America for penance. He found a reference to the hill in Marquette's diary and decided to take a pilgrimage. He became ill in Chicago, and was paralyzed. He reportedly found the hill, crawled to the summit on his hands, and was cured of his paralysis.[5]
[edit] Worship site
The basilica hosts a weekend mass schedule. There are daily religious services and Marian devotions.
The main church was built in 1930.[2] The church has two eight-foot-tall statues at its entrance, which were placed in 1958. The left statue depicts St. Mary Help of Christians, and the right statue depicts Saint Joseph, protector of the Carmelites. The inside of the church (pictured) features mosaics of Carmelite founders St. Theresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross.
[edit] Repairs
The church underwent a $6.1 million renovation between 2002 and 2006.[2] The renovations include extensive interior decorative painting by a New Berlin decorative arts firm that has serviced the church since the 1920s and exterior repairs, including a new slate roof for the monastery, main church and bell tower.[2]
On June 6, 2006 (06/06/06) vandals spray painted the church and several shrines with expletives and references to Satan and the Number of the Beast.[2] It was later discovered the vandals were two teenage boys.[6] The cost of removing the graffiti was in excess of $33,000.00.[7]
[edit] Milestones
The shrine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On July 16, 2006, a mass was held celebrating 100 years of Carmelite stewardship at the site. During that mass it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI had named Holy Hill a minor basilica.[8] On November 19, 2006, Archbishop Timothy Dolan dedicated Holy Hill as a minor basilica during mass. There are fewer than 60 minor basilicas in the United States.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ National Register Information System, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Behm, Don. "Vandals desecrate grounds of Holy Hill on 6-6-'06", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 7, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Holy Hill Shrine, Wisconsin", Sacred Destinations. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ Tarnoff, Andy. "Holy Hill makes for festive day trip in winter or summer", On Milwaukee, January 2, 2001. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ a b "Term: Holy Hill", Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ a b Kertschner, Tom. "Cousins charged with felonies in Holy Hill vandalism; Authorities", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ Benson, Dan. "Judge scolds Holy Hill vandals; At sentencing, desecration called", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
- ^ Griesbach, Gay. "[http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2006/July_06/07172006_05.asp Papal blessing: Holy Hill upgraded to minor basilica]", West Bend Daily News, July 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ Sandler, Larry. "A DAY OF CEREMONY; Holy Hill dedicated as minor basilica", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, November 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
[edit] Additional reading
- Kearns, Mary, Holy Hill: its history/ written and published by Mary Kearns, 1987, Discaled Carmelite Fathers.
[edit] External links
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