Sept. 8, 2004

The foundations are going in for the church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Stations of the Cross are nearly complete. And finishing touches are being installed on the blacktop trail leading from Our Lady of Good Counsel Votive Chapel to the blufftop site of what will be the church plaza.
"We've got three projects going at the same time," said Sister Christa Marie Halligan, executive director of the $25 million shrine complex being built along Justin Road, off Hwys. 14/61 on La Crosse's far South Side.

The trail completion project includes the installation of a safety railing, decorative lighting and the placing of granite benches where visitors can pause to rest or pray on their way to the church site, Halligan said.

The Stations of the Cross, located on a path above the trail, are nearly complete, with 12 of the 14 stations installed, she said. Still to come are the bronze reliefs depicting Christ's Passion and death that are being created by a company in Philadelphia and will go on the face of each of the 14 stations.

"We are hoping we will be able to dedicate these by the first part of December," Halligan said.

Meanwhile, the footings are going in for the foundation of the church, and 20-foot forms are being put up for the walls, which will be of poured concrete, she said.

The construction project has drawn a number of visitors over the summer, especially on weekends, Halligan said. She said the trail is being kept open to allow visitors the opportunity to witness the work as it progresses.

The hope is that the church will be completed sometime in 2006. The actual date of completion is difficult to pin down because there are so many variables, including weather conditions, Halligan said.

When finished, the church is expected to cost between $16 million and $17 million, and several more million are needed, she said.

"There is plenty of opportunity left for anyone who would like to help" Halligan said. Donations so far have come from 42 states, she said.

As the shrine becomes more well known, the number of visitors is increasing, Halligan said. She said mechanical equipment was installed two weeks ago to keep track of the numbers. If the count for the two weeks holds true, there could be as many as 50,000 visitors in the next year, she said.

"I think people would be surprised how many people come out to visit," Halligan said.