Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

For the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, see Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

File:Guadalupe Shrine Front.jpg

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic shrine located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Construction of the Shrine Church began on May 13, 2004, with a dedication on July 31, 2008. The 100-acre (0.40 km²) grounds include a visitors' center, a rosary walk, stations of the cross, a friary, and a votive chapel. The shrine was founded and later dedicated by Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke. Mass is held daily by Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

History

The shrine was an inspiration of Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, while he was Bishop of La Crosse, who wanted to establish a place of lasting worship for Roman Catholics to go on pilgrimage to in the Diocese of La Crosse. On September 28, 1999 a letter was sent for consideration to the Vatican, and on November 11, 1999 the Holy See gave the project its approval and blessing. 70 acres (280,000 m²) of woodland near the south end of La Crosse were then donated by Robert and Lucille Swing. Groundbreaking began on June 17, 2001.

The first phase of construction included a Pilgrim Center, which features an orientation room, information desk, the Flores Mariae gift shop, and the Culina Mariana restaurant, and the Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel. This phase was completed and dedicated December 12, 2002.

The second phase included an outdoor stations of the cross, a devotional area to St. Joseph the Workman and a rosary walk, in addition to construction on the Shrine Church. Groundbreaking for the church was on May 13, 2004. The Stations of the Cross were dedicated December 9, 2004, followed by the devotional area to St. Joseph the Workman on September 21, 2007 and the rosary walk on December 8, 2007.

Excavation for the third phase, the Memorial to the Unborn, began on October 29, 2007.

On July 31, 2008 the Shrine Church was dedicated. The dedication Mass was also presided over by Burke, who by then had been named Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of Saint Louis and before that as Bishop of La Crosse, and who would be named a Cardinal in 2010. Burke was joined by Cardinals Justin Francis Rigali of Philadelphia, who had previously served as Archbishop of Saint Louis before Burke was named as his successor, and Francis Eugene George of Chicago, the closest cardinalatial see to La Crosse. The ceremony included an honor guard made up of members of the local area Knights of Columbus and Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. Also in attendance were over 100 priests, and members of the St. Juan Diego Guild and Marian Catechist Apostolate.

The Memorial to the Unborn was completed on December 12, 2008 and was also dedicated by Archbishop Burke.

Artwork

Architecture

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The interior of the Shrine Church was designed by Duncan G. Stroik, in collaboration with River Architects. The architecture is in a classical style, one of the first Catholic structures to be designed in such a way in 50 years.

Paintings

The art work inside the Shrine Church and around the grounds was a collaboration of many artists and includes a variety of styles.

A fresco inside the narthex inside the main entrance was done by Tony Visco, and is titled “Visions of Guadalupe.” The images are of the apparitions of Mary to Juan Diego from the time of his approach to the hill of Tepeyac until the time of the healing of his uncle. Surrounding the outside the fresco are images of workers of the faith.

On the aisles inside the church are six paintings of saints, five of whom lived in the 20th century: Saint Peregrine Laziosi, Saint Gianna Molla, Blessed Father Michel Pro, and Saint Terese of Liseux were painted by Neilson Carlin, and Saint Faustina Kowalska and Saint Maria Goretti by Noah Buchanan. There are also three paintings by Brett Edenton in the basement of the church that depict Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli O.P, Venerable Bishop Fredrick Baraga, and Venerable Father Solanus Casey O.F.M Cap.

Sculptures

The many sculptures inside and outside the church were sculpted in Italy of Carrara marble. Outside the church above the entrance is a statue of Jesus the Good Shepherd, to his right St. Peter, and to his left St. Paul. In the middle of the plaza is a statue of Juan Diego showing his tilma to Bishop Zumárraga.

Inside the church are statues in each of the transepts. The south transept holds statues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and of Juan Diego. In the north transept are statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of St. Joseph and Jesus.

Mosaic

The sanctuary of the church contains a mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe, created by The Vatican Mosaic Studio; it measures 9 ft (2.7 m) in height and 6 ft (1.8 m) in width.

Relics

1st Class relics

• Blessed Miguel Pro - in the altar of the church
• Saint Kateri Tekakwitha - in the altar of the church
• Saint Therese of Lisieux- inside the altar under the painting by Neilson Carlin

The grounds

Rosary walk

The Rosary walk has four stations, with each station made up of five blue tiles, each depicting a mystery of the rosary. The stations were designed by Tony Visco. The Rosary Walk was dedicated December 8, 2007.

St. Joseph the Workman devotional area

This area includes a fountain and a bronze relief designed by Fr. Anthony Brankin showing St. Joseph the Workman instructing Jesus. Background images depict Archbishop Burke, founder of the shrine, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Swing, donaters of the land. The St. Joseph the Workman Devotional Area was dedicated September 21, 2007

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha devotional area

This secluded devotional area features a larger-than-life-sized bronze statue of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks, by artist Cynthia Hitschler, and was dedicated July 30, 2008. The work depicts the Saint in native buckskin in a natural setting, kneeling in reverence to a rough, hand-made cross, with a basket at her side filled with strawberries, a calla lily and the three "sister" plants; corn, squash and beans.

Stations of the Cross

Each of the 14 stations were designed by Tony Visco and done in bronze relief. The Stations of the Cross were dedicated December 9, 2004.

Memorial to the Unborn

The Memorial to the Unborn is a series of plaques that include teachings of the Catholic Church on abortion, contraception, embryonic stem cell research, and the dignity of the human person. The Memorial was designed by River Architects.

Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel

The Mother of Good Council Votive chapel contains 576 candles. It is surrounded by seven stained glass windows, each depicting a different title of Our Lady. The central candle structure measures 14 feet (4.3 m) high, and 12 feet (3.7 m) across.

Culina Mariana

The Culina Mariana is a European bistro style restaurant in the Pilgrim Center.

Flores Mariae

The Flores Mariae is a gift shop in the Pilgrim Center that provides literature about the Catholic faith, and other religious items.

Friary

A friary next to the Shrine Church houses Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, who are responsible for the sacramental needs of pilgrims.

Images

• ShrineOfOurLadyOfGuadalupeChapel.jpg

  Votive Chapel

See also

• Peter Fehlner

External links

• Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• History of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
• Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe: the La Crosse Tribune
• Duncan G. Stroik's description of shrine
• Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Bedford, England