Basilica of Holy Hill - Hubertus, WI
N 43° 14.646 W 088° 19.729
16T E 392119 N 4788779
Between 1862 and 1864, Francois Soubrio, a hermit was discovered living on Holy Hill. He built an altar and raised a cross. On May 24, 1863, a log chapel was built. The Discalced Carmelites came to Holy Hill in 1906.
Waymark Code: WM4MYP
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2008
Views: 22
The Basilica of Holy Hill sits on the tallest hill in this area of southeast Wisconsin. It is a beautiful building that is visible from many miles away. The buildings are gorgeous.
In 1906 members of the Carmelite order came to Holy Hill.
Visiting the Basilica:
The Basilica is open daily from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM
From the Basilica of Holy Hill web site:
"The Discalced Carmelites came to Holy Hill from Bavaria at the invitation of Archbishop Messmer on June 26, 1906. These first Carmelites were Fathers Eliseus Mackina and Irenaeus Berndi and Brothers Adam Modimayer and Alphonse Merl. The men were officially introduced to the local community by Fr. Bertram on the feast of the Visitation, July 2, 1906. Three more friars, Brothers Andrew and Martin and Fr. Otto, joined the Holy Hill community in September of that year.
The men braved their first Wisconsin winter in a farm house known as the old Whelan home. The conversion from house to friary was complete by December 8, 1907. Hardships were many. The men wanted to leave often, but Br. Adam insisted upon staying. He was convinced that God wanted the Carmelites to remain at Holy Hill. Br. Adam died on October 7, 1916 and was originally buried behind the second shrine. During excavation for the third shirne, his body was moved to the approximate location of his marker, which is near the tenth station just below the current friary parking lot. His actual grave site was covered over during construction of the present friary.
Fr. Kilian Gutmann, then superior of the Discalced Carmelite residence in Fond du Lac, replaced Fr. Eliseus as superior of Holy Hill in October 1906. Fr. Kilian remained as Holy Hill's superior until October 1914. His administration was responsible for digging a 230 foot well near the top of Holy Hill to provide water for the pilgrims. His greatest privilege was to celebrate the Hill's Golden Jubliee (1863 - 1913). Fr. Kilian was succeeded by Fr. Corbinian Penzkofer in April 1914. Fr. Corbinian's office commissioned sculptor Joseph Aszklar of Milwaukee to create the third (present) set of outdoor stations. These are life-size statues of Bedford Stone set in fieldstone grottos. Work on them began about 1918 and was completed in 1928. Fr. Corbinian also supervised construction of the building that is known as the Old Monastery Inn and Retreat Center."