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., Erin, 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 Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians is a special Roman Catholic church and holy place in Erin, Wisconsin, United States. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is honored here as "Help of Christians." This beautiful place is a popular spot for religious pilgrimages, and about 300,000 people visit it every year.
In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI gave the shrine the special title of Minor Basilica. This means it's a very important church in the Catholic world.
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Where is Holy Hill?
The shrine sits on top of a tall hill called a kame. This hill is part of a large area of woods, about 400 acres (1.6 km²) big. Visitors can climb a tower with 178 steps to see amazing views. On a clear day, you can even see the Milwaukee skyline, which is about 30 miles (48 km) away!
At about 1,350 feet (411 meters) above sea level, Holy Hill is one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin. It's also close to Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail, a long hiking path. About 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Holy Hill is Erin Hills, a famous golf course that hosted the U.S. Open golf tournament in 2017.
History of Holy Hill
People have told stories that the hill was first found by Europeans in 1673 by Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet. However, today's historians think this story might not be true. Still, it's likely that Jesuit priests were some of the first Catholic priests to visit the hill.
The U.S. government owned the land until 1855. During this time, the hill was known as "Government Hill" because it was used for land surveying. Later, a priest named Father Paulhuber from Salzburg, Austria, bought 40 acres of land there.
The first white person to live on the hill was a hermit named François Soubrio. A hermit is someone who lives alone, often for religious reasons. Around 1862, a local farmer found him living there. Soubrio had learned about the hill from an old French diary and map from 1676. The diary described a cone-shaped mountain in Wisconsin where a stone altar and a cross were placed, dedicating the hill to Mary. This story matches the work of Jesuit missionaries in the area between 1673 and 1679.
Irish settlers in the area were the first to call the place "Holy Hill." On May 24, 1863, Father George Strickner dedicated a small log chapel as the first Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians. In 1875, wooden crosses were put up for the Stations of the Cross, which are a series of images showing Jesus's final journey.
In 1879, plans were made for a new shrine. As more and more pilgrims came, it was decided that a religious group should take care of the shrine. In 1906, a group of Discalced Carmelites (a type of Catholic religious order) came from Bavaria and took over the care of the Shrine of Mary. The building that is now the Old Monastery Inn and Retreat Center was finished in 1920.
The second shrine was taken down in 1925 to make way for a third, even bigger shrine. The first stone of the current church was laid on August 22, 1926. The church you see today was finished and dedicated in 1931.
Another old story tells of a German priest who had left his vows and came to America to make up for it. He found a mention of the hill in Marquette's diary and decided to go on a pilgrimage there. He became very sick in Chicago and couldn't move his legs. The story says he found the hill, crawled to the top, and was then cured of his sickness.
Worship at the Shrine
The Basilica holds Catholic Masses every day. There are also other daily religious services and special prayers to Mary.
The main church was built in 1930. At its entrance, there are two large statues, each eight feet tall, that were added in 1958. The statue on the left is of St. Mary, Help of Christians, and the one on the right is of Saint Joseph, who is a protector of the Carmelite order. Inside the church, you can see beautiful mosaics of the Carmelite founders, Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint John of the Cross.
Repairs and Improvements
The church had a big renovation between 2002 and 2006, costing $6.1 million. This included lots of decorative painting inside, and repairs to the outside, like a new slate roof for the monastery and bell tower.
In 2006, the church and some shrines were damaged by graffiti. It was later found that two teenage boys were responsible. The cost to clean up the graffiti was over $33,000.
On May 26, 2013, four new bronze entry doors were dedicated. These doors were designed by architect Duncan G. Stroik and have scenes sculpted by artist Cody Swanson. The scenes show Saint Theresa of Ávila, the Annunciation (when the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would be Jesus's mother), and Saint John of the Cross.
Milestones and Recognition
Holy Hill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. On July 16, 2006, a special Mass celebrated 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, for a special Mass of Thanksgiving. Many people came to see him, some arriving very early in the morning to get a spot in the historic church.
Images for kids
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Interior prior to the restoration
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Restored Interior
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Restored Sanctuary
See also
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
- List of shrines#United States
- Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive
