I was blessed to go to church with a cousin this morning. She told me that her family was founding members of the church. And it was named my dad’s patron saint. More family and God connections. Then I started on my trip back home. I planned my route so I could see couple more interesting places along the way. My first stop was the Grotto and Shrines in Dickeyville, WI. They are the works of Father Matthias Wernerus, a German-American priest who served the parish from 1918 until his death in 1931. The main Grotto is an artificial cave created out of stone, mortar, and brightly colored materials and found objects collected from all over the world. It was built without the use of blueprints, and is supported underground with almost as much material as is visible above ground. In addition to the main Grotto, Father Wernerus constructed several other religious and patriotic shrines throughout the garden area surrounding the Holy Ghost Church. My next stop was the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, in Dyersville, IA. It is perhaps one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the Midwest. Original construction began in the year 1887 and was finally completed in 1889 when the church was dedicated on the feast of St. Francis Xavier (December 3). All of the basilica’s interior decorative painting was subsequently completed by the year 1905 and was then restored in 2000-2001. The 2 places of worship were almost opposite from one another in construction, but both were beautiful in their own unique way. Then, since Dyersville is where they filmed “Field of Dreams”, I had to stop there too. I was grateful for another blessed, fun day, safe travels, and good weather.

I Found God today in the beauty of differently constructed churches.