This fall we were finally able to make it to the Cross in the Woods Shrine in Indian River. According to the official website, "The Cross in the Woods is one of Michigan's best known and most visited shrines". I had been there as a kid and was glad to finally take my kids to see it. The boys were pretty excited about the outside grounds which include statues and the large Crucifix. The girls loved the doll museum and walking through the outdoor Stations of the Cross. It was a great experience for our family and we were able to take some time to pray and enjoy learning about saints old and new (the boys new favorite is St. Peregrine!). Our youngest son enjoyed it so much, we had to go back and climb to the foot of Jesus on the Cross one more time before we left for the day.

Here are a couple of links to learn more about Cross in the Woods Shrine, the Official Website has loads of info and you can also read an article from when Cross in the Woods was Designated as a National Shrine.

Here are a few of my pictures of the Shrine...

With St. Therese in the Hall of Saints

With now St. Kateri!

Cross in the Woods

Mary and the kids (unfortunately looking into the sun, haha)

6th Station of the Cross - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

"The Man on the Cross" weighs seven tons and is twenty-eight feet tall from head to toe

With St. Francis

St. Francis

The boys new favorite saint, St. Peregrine

A happy girl with Our Lady of the Highway

The boys liked the Doll Museum...

...and so did someone else!

A few of the over 500 dolls in the museum

With a couple of the mannequins!

Climbing the Holy Stairs

Still climbing

At the top

Beneath the Cross

Thanks for joining me on another Parish Road Trip. If you get a chance, take a drive over to Indian River and stop by the shrine and learn more about the Catholic Faith and spend some time in a very peaceful setting. As a bonus they have a huge gift shop with all kinds of great gift ideas!

read more from this topic.....