St. John is the home of the beautifully crafted and utterly inspiring Shrine of Christ's Passion. Located just north of U.S. 231, the shrine sits on the west side of U.S. 41.
The Shrine of Christ's Passion is a collection of 40 life-size bronze statues, crafted by renowned sculptor Mickey Wells, that depict Jesus' journey from the Last Supper to his ascension into heaven. The statues are arranged into 14 stations of the cross, the Last Supper, Jesus in the Garden and the Resurrection along a half-mile path that begins behind the religious gift shop.
I must say that upon walking into the shop, I was pleasantly surprised.
Everything from books to kids' toys to jewelry was present. I was not expecting to spend so much time just looking at everything the shop had to offer. Everything was beautifully displayed and the store was ridiculously clean.
The store's sales help to support the shrine itself. It is maintained and run by 50 volunteers.
Neither the shrine nor the gift shop caters to any one branch of Christianity. The entire package is nondenominational.
As I began my walk along the path, I passed the area of the Last Supper. Then comes the station where I saw Pontius Pilate condemning Jesus to death. Next I saw Jesus carrying his cross and falling. Each station plays out Jesus' final moments.
The statues themselves are quite breath-taking. Each one depicts true-to-life facial expressions and suffering. It was almost as if I was watching the events unfold for the first time because I was face to face with the man who sacrificed himself for all of mankind. I could touch the very cross to which Jesus was condemned.
It was an experience that was so inspiring I have trouble even putting it into words.
Every station became more and more heart-wrenching. By the time I got to the station where Jesus is nailed to the cross, I had to look away because the agony in the statue's face was just too much to bear.
After passing the three crosses and the sepulchre, I came to the area for the Ascension. Thirteen of the 40 statues have yet to arrive, the Ascension being one of them. Once the shrine is complete, music will be played along the path and every statue setting will have a listening station that will deliver information on the current scene and a prayer.
For more information on the Shrine of Christ's Passion, visit shrineofchristspassion.org.
My experience from the shrine has inspired me to see everyday things in a different light. It has also reminded me that that which we do unto others is a true reflection of ourselves.
One such effort was Project H20 Connect, and I'd like to thank all those that donated to it. The project raised enough money for the family in need to replace the dried-up well with a functioning pipeline. After about a year without being able to turn on a faucet, the family now has running water in their home.
- Sophia Bairaktaris is a 2008 Lake Central High School graduate. Her opinions are her own. She can be reached at sophiabairaktaris@yahoo.com.
