Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, National Catholic shrine in Erin, United States.
Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians is a Romanesque Revival basilica in Erin, Wisconsin, built from brick on an elevation of roughly 1,350 feet. The structure includes a 178-step observation tower and several smaller chapels scattered across the wooded grounds.
An Austrian priest named Paulhuber purchased around 40 acres in 1855 after the United States government released the land. The current brick church rose later and replaced earlier wooden structures that no longer served the growing number of pilgrims.
The name honors Mary as Help of Christians and draws Catholic pilgrims who light candles and say prayers before smaller chapels. Visitors walk the outdoor Stations of the Cross that wind around the grounds, offering moments of devotion among wooded trails.
Trails of different lengths wind through woods around the main building and allow quiet walks before or after visiting the church. Climbing the tower requires moderate fitness, and on clear days the view reaches far across the surrounding hills.
Mosaics inside depict Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, two reformers of the Carmelite order, in bright colors and detailed robes. These artworks fill niches and walls and tell of the spiritual tradition that shapes the shrine.
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