Our Lady of the Sierras

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Sierras was the brainchild of Gerald and Patricia Chouinard. They had bought land on the side of the Huachuca Mountains for their retirement home. They went on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, where teenagers had visions of the Virgin Mary. While standing next to a large stone cross on Mount Kriscivac, they were immediately struck by the similarities of the impressive views of the mountains and valley before them with those of their new home in the Arizona mountains.

They decided to add a large cross, evoking the feeling they had in Yugoslavia to their new homestead. Facing hurdles of construction, permitting, and neighborhood opposition, they persevered to make this dream come true. It took them several years to get all approvals, but in 1997 they began construction.

The main feature of the shrine is the 75-foot Celtic Cross. It can be seen across the valley, rising above the river stone walls of the chapel. The letters V I T A which means “life” are emblazed on the arms of the cross. I didn’t know that at the time we visited, but it is more than fitting, it is life.

Next to the cross is a 31-foot statue of of Our Lady, Mary. She faces the San Pedro Valley with her arms outstretched pointing to both the cross and the Mexico-Arizona border. Winding 600 feet up the hill behind the cross are the 14 Stations of the Cross. It is a wonderfully peaceful place, perfect for quiet contemplation.

June of 2011 brought devastation to the Shrine. The Monument Fire swept through these mountains destroying many homes and structures. The chapel and surrounding hillside were devastated, but miraculously, the fire never touched the original cross and statue of Mary and neither were scorched nor damaged with soot. The chapel and hillside have since been rebuilt.

There are hundreds of shrines to Mary around the world, many of which are more impressive and ornate, like the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but this Shrine feels much more special and intimate. I find it admirable that it was constructed privately by a family, which only adds to its charm. The Diocese of Tucson now supports the Shrine and holds bilingual mass there each week.

I felt something come alive inside me while there. My dormant faith was stirring, and I thought about how my church was a big part of my life 20-30 years ago. I have fallen away from organized religion, with a distaste for televangelists, but have hung onto my beliefs, sometimes more successfully than others. It is time to restore the feeling of support and comfort from faith that has been missing in my life. It may not be easy connecting when I am on the road, but with the internet I will be able to do it remotely. Our friends go to a large non-denominational church in Sevierville, and with Tom’s encouragement, I will view their services online to try it out.

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