Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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National Shrine of the Holy Hill
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The Basilica of the Holy Hill
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1525 Carmel Rd., Hubertus, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 21 acres (8.5 ha) |
| Architect | Hermann J. Gaul, Richard Philipp |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000139 |
| Added to NRHP | March 12, 1992 |
The Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians at Holy Hill is a special Roman Catholic church and shrine in Hubertus, Wisconsin. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who Catholics believe helps Christians. Many people visit Holy Hill each year, making it a popular place for religious trips. About 300,000 visitors come here annually.
In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI gave Holy Hill the important title of "Minor Basilica." This means it is a church with special historical or religious importance.
Contents
Exploring Holy Hill's Location
The shrine sits on top of a tall hill called a kame, surrounded by 400 acres (1.6 km2) of woods. From an observation tower, visitors can climb 178 steps. From the top, you can see the Milwaukee skyline, which is about thirty miles (50 km) away.
At about 1,350 feet (410 m) above sea level, Holy Hill is one of the highest spots in southeastern Wisconsin. It is also close to Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail. The famous Erin Hills golf course, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2017, is about four miles (6.5 km) east of Holy Hill.
The History of Holy Hill
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Some stories say that Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet first found this hill in 1673. However, modern historians believe this story is not true. Still, priests from the Society of Jesus were likely the first Catholic priests to visit the hill.
The U.S. government owned the land until 1855. It was known as "Government Hill" because land surveys were done there. Later, a priest named Father Paulhuber from Salzburg, Austria, bought 40 acres of the land.
The first white person to live on the hill was a hermit named François Soubrio. Around 1862, a local farmer found him living there. Soubrio had heard about the hill from an old French diary and map from 1676. The diary described a cone-shaped mountain in Wisconsin. It said the author had placed a stone altar, put up a cross, and dedicated the hill to Mary. This story matches the work of Jesuit missionaries in the area between 1673 and 1679.
Irish settlers in the area first called the place "Holy Hill." Father George Strickner opened the first small chapel, made of logs, on May 24, 1863. This was the first Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians. In 1875, wooden crosses were placed along a path for the Stations of the Cross.
In 1879, Father Raess suggested building a new shrine to Archbishop John Henni. Construction began that spring. Many people started visiting the shrine. It was decided that a religious group should take care of it. A group of Discalced Carmelites came from Bavaria in 1906. They took over the care of the Shrine of Mary on June 26, 1906.
The building now called the Old Monastery Inn and Retreat Center was finished in 1920. The second shrine building was removed in 1925 to make way for a third, larger shrine. Archbishop Messmer placed the first stone for the current shrine on August 22, 1926. The church you see today was completed and opened in 1931.
Another story tells of a German priest who came to America for penance. He found a mention of the hill in Marquette's diary and decided to visit. He became ill in Chicago and could not move his legs. He reportedly found the hill, crawled to the top, and was cured.
The Basilica Church
The Basilica church was built in 1930. It holds Catholic Masses, services, and special prayers to Mary every day.
At the entrance of the church, there are two large statues, each eight feet tall, placed there in 1958. The statue on the left shows St. Mary, Help of Christians. The one on the right shows St. Joseph, who is seen as a protector of the Carmelites. Inside, you can see beautiful mosaics. These mosaics show the founders of the Discalced Carmelite Order, St. Teresa of Jesus (of Avila) and St. John of the Cross.
Repairs and Changes
The church had a big renovation between 2002 and 2006, costing $6.1 million. This included a lot of decorative painting inside. The outside also had repairs, like a new slate roof for the monastery, the main church, and the bell tower.
On June 6, 2006, some teenagers spray-painted the church and several shrines with bad words and symbols. The cost to clean up the graffiti was over $33,000.
On May 26, 2013, four new bronze entry doors were officially opened by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. Architect Duncan G. Stroik designed these doors. Artist Cody Swanson sculpted scenes on them, including St. Teresa of Avila, the Annunciation with St. Mary and St. Gabriel the Archangel, and St. John of the Cross.
Images for kids
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Interior prior to the restoration
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Restored interior
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Restored sanctuary
Important Moments
Holy Hill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place recognized for its history. On July 16, 2006, a special Mass was held to celebrate 100 years of the Carmelite order taking care of the site. During that Mass, it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI had named Holy Hill a minor basilica.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan officially dedicated Holy Hill as a minor basilica on November 19, 2006. There are about 85 minor basilicas in the United States.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York visited Holy Hill on April 28, 2012. Many Catholics came to see him for a special Mass of Thanksgiving. Some arrived very early to get a spot in the historic Basilica.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de Nuestra Señora María Auxiliadora para niños
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- List of shrines#United States
- Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
