Holy Family Shrine
Gretna, Nebraska 68028
48 ft 9 in (14.86 m) at ridge
The Holy Family Shrine is a Roman Catholic shrine located along Interstate 80 outside of Omaha, Nebraska, near the town of Gretna.
History
The idea to build a shrine for travelers on the Interstate was conceived in 1993 when four Catholics—a priest, two architects, and another layperson—were all inspired to build a chapel for travelers "of the road and of the spirit". The land was purchased in 1995, but funding and administrative difficulties delayed the project for two years. Construction of the parking lot and visitor center began in 1997, but further funding to begin construction of the chapel was not secured until 1999. The chapel building topped out in July 2000. The following week, a windstorm destroyed the structure. The chapel was opened to the public in July 2002.[1]
A path of life-size depictions of the stations of the cross was built in 2013.[2] 20,000 people visited the chapel in 2016.[3]
Architecture
The project was designed by Jim Dennel of the Omaha-based firm BCDM Architects. The chapel stands on bluffs that overlook Interstate 80. The chapel building, inspired by Thorncrown Chapel, is made of western red cedar beams and glass walls. The southern window features an etching of the Holy Family, the namesake of the shrine. The primarily glass construction was chosen to allow for unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape. A visitor center inspired by a prairie dugout contains a gift shop, meeting spaces, and restrooms. The entrance to the visitor center is meant to evoke the tomb of Jesus, and a sculpture hanging from a skylight to evoke his shroud. A 40-foot (12 m) cross is located past the front of the shrine, towering over the interstate below.[4]
Gallery
- The entrance to the visitor center
- The interior of the visitor center, showing the shroud-like sculpture
- Detail: cedar beams and glass facade
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References
- ^ "Our Mission & Story" (PDF). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "Gretna, Nebraska: The Holy Family Shrine". The Catholic Travel Guide. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "Holy Family Shrine – Roadside chapel welcomes all near Gretna, Nebraska". The Walking Tourists. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ "The Holy Family Shrine". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
External links
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Official website
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- Cathedral
- St. Cecilia Cathedral
- Parishes
- St. Anthony's Church, Cedar Rapids
- St. Leonard Church, Madison
- Holy Family Shrine
- Holy Family Church, Omaha
- Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha
- Sacred Heart Church, Omaha
- St. Frances Cabrini Church, Omaha
- St. John's Church, Omaha
- St. Joseph Church, Omaha
- St. Bonaventure Church, Raeville
- Higher education
- Creighton University
- College of Saint Mary
- High schools
- Archbishop Bergan High School, Fremont
- Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington
- Central Catholic High School, West Point
- Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha
- Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Bellevue
- Duchesne Academy, Omaha
- Holy Family High School, Lindsay
- Marian High School, Omaha
- Mercy High School, Omaha
- Mount Michael Benedictine School, Omaha
- Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk
- Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School, Elgin
- Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha
- St. Francis High School, Humphrey
- St. Mary's High School, O'Neill
- Scotus Central Catholic High School, Columbus
- V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha
Catholicism portal
41°04′31″N 96°16′41″W / 41.075252°N 96.278174°W / 41.075252; -96.278174