Ypsilanti Catholics To Have New Shrine

Ypsilanti Catholics To Have New Shrine

YPSILANTI--Landscaping of a vacant lot at Cross and Hamilton Sts. and construction there of a shrine to the Virgin Mary is being carried out as a volunteer project by the men of St. John’s Catholic church here.

The lot, formerly the site one of the older residences here, razed several years ago, is directly across the street from the St. John’s church, and has been permitted to grow up to weeds and brush.

Beautification of the site and the construction of the shrine have been under the direction of Fr. Bernard Kearns, assistant pastor of the church, who is being transferred this week to Ann Arbor. The work will be continued, however, under the direction of Fr. Erwin A. Lafebvre, pastor of the church, and Fr. John F. Bradley, the new assistant pastor.

The foundation for the statue of the Virgin Mary has already been constructed, and the life-sized figure will be placed in position as soon as possible. Because of the impossibility of obtaining Carrera marble, imported from Italy, some substitute material will be used in the making of the statue.

The shrine will stand at the rear of the lot, directly in front of a group of small trees, and will adjoin the home of the sisters of St. Dominic, who conduct the parochial school here.