‘Shrine of Christ’s Passion’ is an intense personal journey

This bronze tableau depicts Christ’s body being carried to an empty tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus in one of the dramatic Stations of the Cross at the “Shrine of Christ’s Passion” in St. John, Ind. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

ST. JOHN, Ind.—Words and photographs cannot convey the intensity of experiencing the dramatic, life-size sculptures of Jesus’ journey to Calvary at the “Shrine of Christ’s Passion” in Lake County in northwestern Indiana.

It is a very personal spiritual journey that often brings people to tears as they pray at the interactive Stations of the Cross along a half-mile-long pathway.

The 40 bronze statues were created by renowned sculptor Mickey Wells of Amarillo, Texas, and are displayed in landscaped stone grottoes. Shrine volunteers have seen children try to lift the heavy cross off Christ’s back at the grotto depicting his fall for the third time. (See more photos from the shrine or purchase reprints)

Catholic adults and teenagers who traveled to the huge outdoor shrine on a motor coach with Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel, vicar general, and Servants of the Gospel of Life Sister Diane Carollo, director of the archdiocesan Office for Pro-Life Ministry, said the pro-life pilgrimage on July 30 was a faith-filled day to remember and an emotional experience to share with others.

Msgr. Schaedel said the highlights of the pilgrimage were celebrating the eucharistic liturgy at the new St. John the Evangelist Church on the hilltop above the shrine, visiting the Blessed Sacrament at the historic St. John Chapel in a log cabin nearby, and “the opportunity to follow the path of Christ beginning with the Last Supper right up until his ascension into heaven.

“We were able to immerse ourselves into the scene as it would have been a couple thousand years ago in Jerusalem,” he said. “... Christ was truly human and truly divine, and he sanctified the whole human race by being born into it. So in contemplating the humanity and suffering of Christ, we once again reminded ourselves of what a great gift the human person is and that all human life is sacred.”

Sister Diane said when the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants pro-life volunteers pray outside an abortion facility it is like going to Calvary with Jesus.

“They are standing at the foot of the Cross,” she said. “Christ is being crucified and the lives of the unborn are being taken. Mary and John stood at the foot of the Cross. Jesus did not die alone. Pro-life volunteers who go to an abortion facility are praying for the children that will die and also praying for their parents.”

St. Patrick parishioners Tom and Sandy McBroom of Terre Haute said the pro-life memorial near the entrance to the Stations of the Cross was very emotional.

“I think what touched me the most was looking at the [sculpture] of Jesus crying and holding an aborted baby,” Tom McBroom said. “I was amazed by that.”

McBroom said he has renewed hope for the future of the pro-life movement because of the number of teenagers that participated in the pilgrimage.

Sandy McBroom said she was quite taken by the sculpture depicting Jesus ascending into heaven.

“It pointed to where we’re all destined to go,” she said. “It was so beautiful, and gave us hope for all the struggles and trials that we go through, and that the end result is to be with our Lord.”

Casey Fricker, 15, a member of St. Nicholas Parish in Sunman and the Youth of Our Lady of America, said the life-size sculptures at the shrine are amazing.

“The music as we walked along really made it more like ‘Wow,’ ” Casey said. “Christ gave himself for us. He did all of that for us, and we’re destroying his beautiful creations [in abortion].”

Our Lady of the Greenwood parishioner Gina Jinks of Greenwood served as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion during the Mass.

“What meant the most to me,” she said, “was how everywhere we went there was always a true presence of the Holy Spirit.” †