The National Shrine of St. Thérèse overlooks the Lynn Canal in Juneau, Alaska, US. Situated on 46 acres, the site contains a stone chapel, crypt, labyrinth, columbarium, lodge, cabin, and retreat.[1]
History
In 1925, St. Thérèse of Lisieux was named the patroness of Alaska. In the 1930s, the Jesuit priest, Father William LeVasseur came up with the idea of a retreat center in her name. Bishop Joseph Raphael John Crimont provided support for its establishment, buying federal land.[2] Thousands of stones were used to construct the chapel and other structures, which were gathered by volunteers.[3] The first mass was held in 1941.[1] In 1945, Bishop Crimont died and was buried at the shrine's crypt.[4]
In 1953, Bishop Robert Dermot O'Flanagan started The League of the Little Flower to help make the shrine self-sufficient.[4] The shrine fell into disrepair and stopped holding retreats in the 1960s but underwent renovation under the leadership of Fr. James Manske from 1968 to 1969.[4] For financial reasons, the shrine was forced to close in 1985 but reopened the following year after 25 locals came together to save the shrine.[4]
In 1998, the columbarium was built and is open to all Christians who want their cremains placed at the shrine.[5] In 2000, a new cabin was built to commemorate the Great Jubilee, and in 2001, the Merciful Love Labyrinth was built.[4]
On October 1, 2016, Bishop Edward J. Burns announced that the Shrine of St. Thérèse had been raised to the status of national shrine.[6]
References
- ^ a b Regalbuto, Robert J. (5 July 2010). Monastery Guest Houses of North America: A Visitor's Guide (Fifth ed.). Countryman Press. ISBN 978-1-58157-663-4.
- ^ Kelly, Marcia; Kelly, Jack (1998). The Whole Heaven Catalog: A Resource Guide to Products, Services, Arts, Crafts, and Festivals of Religious, Spiritual, and Cooperative Communities. Bell Tower/One Spirit. ISBN 978-0-609-80120-8.
- ^ Devaughn, Melissa; Vanasse, Deb (February 2008). Alaska: A Guide to Unique Places. Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 978-0-7627-4534-0.
- ^ a b c d e "History of the Shrine". National Shrine of St. Thérèse. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ "Columbarium". Shrine of St. Thérèse. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ "Shrine of St. Therese Raised to National Shrine Status". Diocese of Juneau. October 1, 2016.
External links
Media related to Shrine of St. Therese, Juneau at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
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58°28′20″N 134°47′14″W / 58.47222°N 134.78722°W
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