The Cross in the Woods is located about 30 miles south of Mackinac Michigan. It houses ‘the largest crucifix in the world’ on its grounds. This is a must visit shrine for any traveling near the Upper Peninsula or Mackinac Michigan.
We attended an outdoor Sunday morning Mass under this awe-inspiring crucifix.
It was declared a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB) on September 15, 2006. At 55 feet tall, it is the second largest crucifix in the world. The largest Crucifix is in Bardstown, KY, at 60 feet high.
Sitting atop ‘Calvary Hill’. The area in back of the property, adjacent to the State Park was cleared for the foundation. Plans for the hill called for a fifteen foot high concrete and steel foundation that would be covered by thousands of cubic yards of soil. The finished earthen knoll would be 150 feet long, 75 feet wide and 15 feet high.
The Crucifix has become one of the most famous and most frequently visited shrines in all of Michigan. The highlight of the shrine is a large wooden cross and bronze figure of Christ by sculptor Marshall Fredericks. The site also includes outdoor and indoor churches, numerous smaller shrines, and a nun doll museum. The Cross in the Woods is open 365 days a year and the Church built at this location holds Masses every day, year round.
On August 5, 1954, hundreds of people saw cranes lift and place the Cross on its foundation. At the dedication ceremony an estimated 3000 people heard Bishop Babcock state that “the Cross looks like an empty house without the figure of Christ on it”. He announced that renowned Michigan sculptor Marshall Fredericks had accepted the commission to design the figure of Christ.
With the completion of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 and the Interstate 75 Indian River Exit in 1962, it was easier for travelers to visit the Shrine.
Over the years, since the Cross In The Woods has become a reality, millions of visitors from around the world have visited to pray and gaze upon the “Man on the Cross”.
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha – It is located in the outdoor sanctuary, looking back towards the Cross. She was an important influence on the building of the Cross because of her habit of placing small crosses in the forest as places to stop and pray. She was canonized as a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012
