Oct. 26, 2007

A hand-carved wooden crucifix from Italy was hoisted more than 40 feet into the air at the Church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday, bringing construction one step closer to completion.

The crucifix that will hang from the chapel ceiling at the Shrine of Our Lady Guadalupe is hoisted to the cieling to be attached . Dick Riniker photo

The church is on target to be completed in time for its dedication July 31, 2008, said Sister Christa Marie Halligan of the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George, executive director of the shrine.

"There is a tremendous amount of work to be done," Halligan said, "but it will all get done."

The crucifix will be suspended in the air above the altar.

More than three-fourths of the church's marble floor is in place, and artists throughout the U.S. are working on pieces for smaller shrines along the side aisles of the church.

Awareness of the shrine is growing as well.

The shrine is on track in 2007 to have more than 50,000 visitors, Halligan said, which includes people from locations in Wisconsin and California interested in building classical churches.

Halligan said groups already have made reservations for pilgrimages to the shrine in late 2008.

The next major event will be Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, when the Rosary Walk will be dedicated. Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, founder and chairman of the board of the shrine, is scheduled to attend.