A Chapel on the Side of the Road

We were almost to our next destination outside of Omaha, NE when this building up on a hill overlooking the highway caught my eye.

After we got to the campground and settled in, I went to the office and grabbed some brochures of the area. Luckily, the mystery building was identified - it was called "Holy Family Shrine" and was located only 3 miles away!

We visited the shrine the following morning. It is tucked away down a hilly gravel road. We seem to have a strange attraction to gravel roads!

And then, over the next hill, we spotted the shrine off to the right.

This is the path that leads to the Visitor's Center, which is carved out of the side of a hill "to evoke Christ's tomb".

Once inside the center, you see this large spiral sculpture suspended from an opening from the ceiling. "This sculpture represents the shroud of Christ as it fell to the tomb during the resurrection".

"From the sculpture, water appears." (enlarge above photo to see water drop from sculpture.) "The pool fills with water, and we with the Holy Spirit."

The water runs from the pool and follows through stones to the chapel.

These sculptures graced the hallway.

"Root of Jesse"

"Papal Madonna and Child"

Water leads the visitor directly to the shrine.

To the left of the chapel is a small sitting area with a statue of the Virgin Mary.

"The arching members of the trusses were cut out of 850 single boards and were designed to 'bypass' as they rise from the floor until they are spliced together to complete each arch. The chapel sits on natural quarry limestone blocks."

The trusses on the front of the chapel interlace like waving wheat in a field.

This is the holy water fount. It gives good advice.

Because listen is what you want to do in this beautiful chapel. You can hear the gently running water as it makes its way under the floor to the front of the shrine.

Do you see those rectangles by each pew? It is an opening cut into the stone so you can see the water and small stones.

I sat in the front pew and listened to the running water. It was so peaceful. I could have spent a long time there!

The altar.

It was a beautiful experience, a beautiful chapel. For more information visit http://www.holyfamilyshrineproject.com/

(Note: Descriptions in quotes above was taken directly from the Holy Family Shrine brochure.)

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