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Holy Family Shrine
41°04′31″N 96°16′41″W / 41.075252°N 96.278174°W / 41.075252; -96.278174
Location	23132 Pflug Road Gretna, Nebraska 68028
Country	United States
Denomination	Catholic Church
Website	holyfamilyshrine.com
History
Status	Shrine
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Jim Dennel
Years built	1997-2002
Specifications
Length	80 ft 10 in (24.64 m)
Width	26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Height	31 ft 9 in (9.68 m) at eave 48 ft 9 in (14.86 m) at ridge
Floor area	1,800 sq ft (170 m)
Administration
Province	Omaha
Archdiocese	Omaha
Clergy
Archbishop	George Joseph Lucas

The Holy Family Shrine is a Roman Catholic shrine located along Interstate 80 outside of Omaha, Nebraska, near the town of Gretna.

History

The idea to build a shrine for travelers on the Interstate was conceived in 1993 when four Catholics—a priest, two architects, and another layperson—were all inspired to build a chapel for travelers "of the road and of the spirit". The land was purchased in 1995, but funding and administrative difficulties delayed the project for two years. Construction of the parking lot and visitor center began in 1997, but further funding to begin construction of the chapel was not secured until 1999. The chapel building topped out in July 2000. The following week, a windstorm destroyed the structure. The chapel was opened to the public in July 2002.

A path of life-size depictions of the stations of the cross was built in 2013. 20,000 people visited the chapel in 2016.

Architecture

The project was designed by Jim Dennel of the Omaha-based firm BCDM Architects. The chapel stands on bluffs that overlook Interstate 80. The chapel building, inspired by Thorncrown Chapel, is made of western red cedar beams and glass walls. The southern window features an etching of the Holy Family, the namesake of the shrine. The primarily glass construction was chosen to allow for unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape. A visitor center inspired by a prairie dugout contains a gift shop, meeting spaces, and restrooms. The entrance to the visitor center is meant to evoke the tomb of Jesus, and a sculpture hanging from a skylight to evoke his shroud. A 40-foot (12 m) cross is located past the front of the shrine, towering over the interstate below.

Gallery

• The entrance to the visitor center
• The interior of the visitor center, showing the shroud-like sculpture
• Detail: cedar beams and glass facade
• 

References

1. "Our Mission & Story" (PDF). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
2. "Gretna, Nebraska: The Holy Family Shrine". The Catholic Travel Guide. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
3. "Holy Family Shrine – Roadside chapel welcomes all near Gretna, Nebraska". The Walking Tourists. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
4. "The Holy Family Shrine". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2023.

External links

Official website

v t e Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
Ordinaries	Bishops James Myles O'Gorman James O.Connor Richard Scannell Jeremiah James Harty Joseph Francis Rummel Archbishops James Hugh Ryan Gerald Thomas Bergan Daniel E. Sheehan Elden Francis Curtiss George Joseph Lucas
Auxiliary bishops	Daniel E. Sheehan Anthony Michael Milone
Churches	Cathedral St. Cecilia Cathedral Parishes St. Anthony's Church, Cedar Rapids St. Leonard Church, Madison Holy Family Shrine Holy Family Church, Omaha Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha Sacred Heart Church, Omaha St. Frances Cabrini Church, Omaha St. John's Church, Omaha St. Joseph Church, Omaha St. Bonaventure Church, Raeville
Education	Higher education Creighton University College of Saint Mary High schools Archbishop Bergan High School, Fremont Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington Central Catholic High School, West Point Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Bellevue Duchesne Academy, Omaha Holy Family High School, Lindsay Marian High School, Omaha Mercy High School, Omaha Mount Michael Benedictine School, Omaha Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School, Elgin Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha St. Francis High School, Humphrey St. Mary's High School, O'Neill Scotus Central Catholic High School, Columbus V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha
Priests	Blase J. Cupich William Joseph Dendinger Edward J. Flanagan Joseph G. Hanefeldt Edward Joseph Hunkeler Patrick Aloysius Alphonsus McGovern John Linus Paschang
Other	Boys Town Notre Dame Academy and Convent Mount Michael Abbey Christ the King Priory Immaculata Monastery & Spirituality Center
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41°04′31″N 96°16′41″W / 41.075252°N 96.278174°W / 41.075252; -96.278174

• Roman Catholic churches in Omaha, Nebraska
• Roman Catholic shrines in the United States
• Roman Catholic churches completed in 2002