 "Photo: Vanessa Skocz")
The beat up 1990 Pontiac LeMans puttered down the gravel road, bumping and jerking its way up and down the hills of Pflug Road, off Hwy 31 in Gretna. A mile later, it coughed a final cantankerous breath as it came to a stop.
Its destination - a solitary, somber structure seemingly erected from the Nebraska plains themselves - stood upright, rigid and defined, welcoming and secure. The car's passengers joined the other visitors to behold the sight.
A shrine, modern in architecture but ancient in meaning, stood before them, offering at once solace and rejuvenation, peace and tranquility.
A Visitors Center, on the right, provided them with context for the holy building; the shrine's history and purpose could be found outlined on the walls.
The visitors signed the guest book and silently explored the center before exiting into the sunlit path that led to the Holy Family Shrine.
The Holy Family Shrine, 23132 Pflug Road in Gretna, rests among knee-high Platte Valley grasses and overlooks Interstate 80. Travelers along I-80 can't miss the structure; it is made almost entirely of glass.
Its story dates back to 1993, when four individuals received a calling from God to create a public shrine off an interstate so that travelers seeking solitude, peace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit would have somewhere to go.
The founders live by Catholicism, which is what the shrine offers and stands for.
After years of making plans, the four founders (all that they are known by today) saw their dream come true at the opening of the Holy Family Shrine in July 2001. Well known for its simplistic yet strikingly beautiful architecture, the shrine is modeled after the Cooper Chapel in Arkansas, part of the vision of the founders.
Nearing five years of existence, the shrine welcomes around 40,000 people annually, "the Caretaker" for the shrine, noted. Neither the founders, the Caretaker, nor any other individual involved with the shrine allow their names to be released.
"It's not about anyone that works here. It's the holy family and the holy spirit so that's the focus here," the Caretaker said.
While the shrine is undoubtedly the main attraction, the Shrine's Visitors Center stands as a symbol for the beliefs of the Catholic faith. Purposefully built underground, the center is symbolic of Christ's tomb.
In the center lays a pool of shallow water, with a layer of pebbles on the bottom. A structure, called the shroud, drips water continuously into the pool. This structure is symbolic of the resurrection of Christ, as if it is happening.
The story of the shrine can be found around the walls and on shelves within the Visitor's Center. Guests are encouraged to sign the guest book and make donations. The Shrine runs entirely off of "prayers and financial support" from its guests.
Guests exit the Visitors Center onto a stone path that leads directly into the Shrine. Openings run through the center of the stone path, where water trickles through, continuing into the shrine.
Once inside the shrine, a notice reads that Mass services are held every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. A prayer book sits beside the sign, open, allowing guests to write their troubles for others to offer up to God.
"The shrine was intended for people to have a chance to learn about the Catholic faith in a very simple form … It doesn't matter what faith people may be, they're all welcome here," the Caretaker said. "It's a chance for the individual to come and hopefully experience the Holy Spirit and find reconciliation with themselves, with God, and just find whatever help they might be seeking in their lives."
First time shrine visitors Ross and Brenda Heeren found the peace they were looking for.
They both found the tranquility and solitude intriguing and inspiring.
The couple had seen the shrine while driving but had never been able to find it.
"We made it a mission today to figure it out," Ross joked. Both are interested in attending a Mass at the shrine.
The shrine is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Saturday Mass service is the only official service, and the shrine does not do weddings, funerals, renewal-of-vows ceremonies or any similar ceremonies.
"It was decided (big ceremonies) should be kept away from here. So when the traveler needs to take a break from the highway, most of the time its just a quiet, peaceful place," the Caretaker said.
With the Holy Family Shrine in Nebraska, people of all faiths "have a place to come and pray and reflect."
For many people, the shrine may be less of a spiritual experience and more of a peaceful one.
"It's very impressive," Ross said.
Brenda agreed.
"It's very peaceful. It's like a Chinese garden, if the wind wasn't blowing."
