Cross in the Woods facts for kids
The Cross in the Woods is a special Catholic place located in Indian River, Michigan. It became a national shrine on September 15, 2006. This means it's a very important religious site in the United States.
Standing 55 feet tall, it's the second largest crucifix (a cross with a figure of Christ) in the world. The biggest one is 60 feet tall in Bardstown, Kentucky. The largest Christian cross overall is in Valley of the Fallen, Spain, at 492 feet!
The Cross in the Woods is one of the most famous and visited shrines in Michigan. Its main feature is a huge wooden cross with a bronze figure of Christ. This figure was made by the famous artist Marshall Fredericks. The site also has churches, smaller shrines, and even a nun doll museum.
The Cross in the Woods is open every day of the year. The church there holds services daily, all year long. Each year, between 275,000 and 325,000 people come to visit this amazing shrine.
Contents
History of the Shrine
How the Cross in the Woods Started
In April 1946, Bishop Francis J. Haas wanted to build a new church in Indian River. People had to travel far to attend church services. A local resident, Mr. James J. Harrington, helped find land. He tried to get land from Burt Lake State Park, but the state said no.
In June 1946, Father Charles D. Brophy became the leader of the future church. He wanted to name it after Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. She was a Native American woman who liked to put small crosses in trees. However, he couldn't name it after her yet because she wasn't a saint.
Before a church was built, services were held in a town hall. A parishioner, J.J. Harrington, suggested an outdoor church. Father Brophy liked the idea of both an indoor church for winter and an outdoor one for summer visitors. He thought it would also attract tourists.
In May 1948, the state finally gave them the land for just $1.00. The first church was built in a "long house" style. It was designed by Alden B. Dow, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The church was finished by May 1949. Today, this building holds the gift shop and the nun doll museum.
Building the Giant Cross
Father Brophy decided to build the world's largest wooden crucifix on Calvary Hill. This hill is north of the Long House Chapel. In July 1952, they got permission to start the project.
The Cross needed a strong base of steel and concrete. This base was 15 feet high. It was covered with soil to create a hill 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. In the summer of 1952, special redwood timber was cut in Oregon. It was shipped by train.
It took two days to put the Cross together. Cranes lifted it into place on August 5, 1954. It stands 55 feet tall.
Marshall Fredericks, a famous Michigan sculptor, agreed to create the figure of Christ. This took four years, from drawings to a plaster mold. The figure was then made from bronze in Oslo, Norway. It weighed seven tons and was 28 feet tall. It was one of the biggest statues ever shipped across the Atlantic Ocean.
Workers lifted the sculpture onto the Cross on August 9, 1959. It was attached with 13 large bolts. The official dedication happened seven days later.
The site was first called the Indian River Catholic Shrine. In 1983, it became known as Cross in the Woods.
In 1992, the bronze figure of Christ was cleaned and waxed. Volunteers now wax it every two years to protect it from weather.
The Holy Stairs
In 1956, 28 stairs were added leading up Calvary Hill to the Cross. These stairs are called The Holy Stairs. They represent the 28 steps Jesus climbed to Pontius Pilate's throne.
The New Church Building
For 50 years, people prayed outdoors or in the smaller Long Chapel. The Long Chapel could only hold 250 people. Parishioners wanted a bigger church where they could always see the Cross.
On June 27, 1997, a new church was opened. It can hold 1,000 people. It has large windows that let people see the Cross during services.
Becoming a National Shrine
The Cross in the Woods asked to become a national shrine. In 2006, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops agreed. It is one of only two national shrines in Michigan. There are 120 national shrines in the United States.
Other Shrines at the Site
Besides the main Cross, there are many smaller shrines on the grounds. These shrines honor important people and figures in the Catholic faith.
- Our Lady of the Highway – This statue is made of marble. It was a gift in 1957. She is the protector of all travelers who visit the Cross in the Woods.
- Saint Peregrine – He is the patron saint for people with cancer. His shrine was first built in the 1960s. It is now in a newly built gazebo.
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha – This statue honors Charles D. Brophy, who founded the Shrine. It is in the outdoor church area, looking towards the Cross. Kateri was important because she used to place small crosses in forests to pray. She became a saint in 2012.
- Saint Francis of Assisi – This statue was added in 1994. It is placed next to the Cross, looking at it. It shows Francis receiving orders from the Cross to help Christ's church. Saint Francis is the patron saint of peace and the environment.
- The Holy Family – This statue is in the outdoor church area. It shows the closeness of a family. It was carved by Timothy P. Schmalz and is called A Quiet Moment.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross show the steps leading up to Jesus' death. They are 14 specific events that happened before Jesus was crucified. These events are shown through 14 pictures. They help people remember what happened. At the Cross in the Woods, the Stations of the Cross are outside in the pine forest. There is also a statue of the resurrected Jesus, which is sometimes called the fifteenth Station.
Nun Doll Museum
The Nun Doll Museum has the largest collection of dolls dressed in traditional clothes of religious communities in the United States. Sally Rogalski started collecting and dressing these dolls in 1945. In 1964, she gave 230 dolls to the shrine. She asked that no one ever be charged to see them.
The collection has grown to 525 dolls and 20 mannequins. They represent different religious orders and clergy. You can see them in glass display cases in the lower part of the Long House Chapel.
See also
- Valle de los Caídos, Spain - Location of the largest Cross in the world.
- Roman Catholic Church
- Christianity
