Holy Family Shrine — Attraction in Ashland

Visible from I-80, the Shrine is a beautiful piece of architecture, almost startling in appearance as it seems to be out of place and appearing unexpectedly among the rolling hills, trees, and other bits of nature that represents the beauty of Nebraska and an homage to the Holy Family as depicted in the gorgeous etched glass. There is tremendous beauty to be seen inside the church, as well as in the countryside stretching for miles in every direction. The little stream that runs into the church through the outer stone architecture harmonizes the balance of nature in and around the structure. The stone and wood building materials give the church the feel of any number of churches in the wilderness and near small towns throughout early U.S. history. The metal and wood arches combined with the large windows on three sides highlight the brilliance of modern architectural skills and design while still blending nicely with the simple design of a traditional and small house of worship that was the backbone of many towns in our country. Sitting inside or at any number of spots outside gives one a chance for peaceful meditation even for non-Catholics. For Catholics and those aware of the practices of that faith, the lit, red candle at the front of the church is a reminder that blessed hosts are present in the tabernacle asking for a quiet reverence and respect from believers and non-believers alike. This is not a museum, but rather a working Catholic Church with the Stations of the Cross, a beautiful altar, stained glass, statuary, and other elements that can be admired with the same manners expected of visitors to any house of God no matter one's beliefs, denominations, or lack thereof. Even outside, beneath the imposingly tall crucifix, it is polite to be silent or speak in hushed tones out of respect for those who may be praying and/or those admiring the beautiful pieces of art that the crucifix, the Holy Family etched glass, and the church itself represent. My simple camera and amateur skills don't do the justice to this monument that a professional would likely attain, but I hope you find these pleasing nonetheless and an enticement to...

On a picturesque summit, amid rolling hills and lush prairie grass outside of Omaha and adjacent to the east–west transcontinental freeway Interstate 80, sets one of America's most under publicized religious gems. The Holy Family Shrine.

"The story of the Holy Family Shrine begins with the intervention of the Holy Spirit within a small group of people – people from diverse backgrounds who had little chance to meet until the Holy Spirit united them spiritually with a vision of the Holy Family Shrine. Through a unique and divine series of events, they discovered they had been enlightened to the same idea: to create a place off of Interstate 80 for travelers to pray and discover the Catholic faith...The purpose of the Holy Family Shrine is to provide opportunity for all people to discover and develop their faith – a respite from the convoluted influences that camouflage and distort the origins of that faith." - https://holyfamilyshrine.com/our-mission-story/

From a sculpture in the visitor center representing the shroud of Christ as it fell to the tomb at the resurrection, water appears. The pool fills, flows from the Visitor Center, continues outside and leads pilgrims to the Church – and the Body of Christ.

The Shrine describes the symbolism, "Inside the chapel, the stream continues to cut through the floor, but splits to each side of the aisle, increasing in volume and velocity. Limestone “bridges” over the water allow you to enter each pew, recalling our baptism. The water culminates and flows into a pool beneath the altar, symbolically joining our spirituality with the Eucharist."

In addition to spending time with many of our friends and family members, this destination was one of the highlights of our summer travels. When we find ourselves traversing Interstate 80 or when we are in the Omaha/Gretna area again, like the water that flows here, we will find our way back to the Holy...

A spiritual oasis on the prairie!

If you're passing by Gretna, Nebraska on Interstate 80, do yourself a favor and stop in to this oasis of peace. No matter your faith, or lack thereof, you'll find something to appreciate here, even if it's just the architecture, the beauty of the natural surroundings, or the butterflies.

We stopped here on a recent family road trip and were so happy that we did. The place is beautiful. As a fan of the Cooper Chapel in Arkansas, If you're a fan of the architectural work of architect E. Fay Jones, you have to stop to see this. I really enjoyed spending some time here in prayer.

For those who are Christian, specifically Catholic Christians, you'll find much to appreciate in the design and the architectural elements of the shrine, from the tomb-like entrance, to the shroud-like sculpture in the entry, to the little creek that flows along the path and into the chapel and beneath the altar, which are to remind us of baptism. The views are terrific. As we sat praying, butterflies floated outside the windows in the natural flowers and grass planted next to the chapel. It's an awesome setting.

This would be a fantastic place to attend Mass, which is offered only once a week on Saturday morning. You can see the shrine from the freeway. It's a short drive to get to it. Future plans include large bronze Stations of the Cross on the property. There's also a small gift area that sells Rosaries and other devotional items.

This is a place well worth stopping, especially during a...