Dec. 11, 2000

Bishop Raymond L. Burke is still committed to building a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, even though a year after plans were announced no ground has been broken for the $25 million project.
Burke, referring to delays because of what he calls "civic matters" related to getting the former town of Shelby land annexed to the city of La Crosse and negotiations over roads in the area, said last week he hopes that all of the hurdles might soon be cleared and building can start in the spring.

"I have so many hopes for the good that will come from having such a beautiful place of pilgrimage," the bishop said. "We just need to get started on it now."

The last of the governmental hurdles — getting a portion of Justin Road that runs south from the shrine access to Hwy. 14-61 annexed to the city — might be completed this week if approved by the La Crosse Common Council.

The request, introduced last month, so far has sailed through several city com mittees and is expected to come to the Committee of the Whole Tuesday and the council on Thursday. As proposed, the shrine organization would be responsible for any costs associated with upgrading the portion of the road that is the entrance to the shrine.

If the road annexation goes through, Burke said a formal blessing of the 80-acre site could occur before the end of the month.

The blessing would be a good way to update supporters of the shrine about the project's progress, Burke said.

"A number of people are very interested in the shrine," and have written to ask what is being done on the project, he said. "This one woman, who is up in years, wrote, 'I surely hope it can be done before I die.' "

Burke said he is aware that some parishioners in the diocese still oppose the project as not appropriate or necessary, but he believes the shrine will be valuable in enhancing the spiritual life of people both within and outside of the diocese.

He said he's tried to respond to the people who have written or called to oppose the project, but because of time constraints has not been able to contact all of them.

Burke announced the shrine last Dec. 14, and construction was anticipated to begin in spring of 2000. However, groundbreaking was delayed by the annexation process and other issues.

Since the announcement of the shrine was made, some 200 people from around the 19-county diocese and from other areas have sent contributions toward the project, said Julie Hogan, who this summer was named administrator for the pro ject.

Hogan, previously special projects director for the diocese, said her duties include working with architects, landscapers and designers to coordinate their efforts.

The shrine, while proposed by Burke, is not a diocesan project and no diocesan funds will be used to pay for it.

Money for the project is to come from donations and a separate corporation has been set up to oversee the fund and keep it separated from diocesan funds. A corporate office for the project was opened late in November at 308 Main St., in downtown La Crosse.

Hogan said a model of the project is displayed in the window and has attracted the attention of several passersby who have stopped in to ask about it. She and associate administrator Christine Engstrom also are working on informational brochures.

"We're looking forward in the next couple of months to being more visible and having information available that people can read," Hogan said.

As of last year, more than $15 million had been donated toward the project. Burke said he isn't sure how much more has come in since then. A formal fundraising campaign was put on hold pending a resolution of the governmental issues, but Burke said he plans to begin meeting soon with prospective major contribu tors.

The cost of the project is estimated at $25 million, with an additional $5 million to be set aside in an endowment for operations and maintenance.

The land for the project, located on an 80-acre bluffside off Hwy. 14-61 between Hwy. MM and Justin Road, was donated by the family of the late Robert Swing and his wife, Lucille Swing. The Swings' son, the Rev. John Swing, is a priest of the diocese.

The project is to include a church, visitors center, a center for doctrinal and spiritual renewal of catechism teachers, a residence for the director of the shrine, a convent for contemplative religious sisters and several smaller chapels and grot tos.

The first building on the agenda will be the visitors center and parking area, to be located off Justin Road. The church, which is to be situated at the top of the bluff, is to be built after the visitors center is completed.

Burke and Hogan said the project is expected to take several years.