About Basilica of National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, at Holy Hill · Hubertus, Wisconsin
The Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians at Holy Hill is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine and minor basilica in Hubertus, Wisconsin, situated atop the highest elevation in southeastern Wisconsin on 435 wooded acres. Founded in 1863 by Father George Strickner and entrusted to the Discalced Carmelite Friars since 1906, the present Romanesque Revival church was completed and consecrated in 1931. Elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI on November 19, 2006, Holy Hill draws approximately half a million pilgrims and sightseers each year for daily Mass, confession, adoration, and Marian devotions.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- Mary, Help of Christians (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Help of Christians)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark DeVelis, O.C.D. (Rector & Prior)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
Holy Hill is not a typical parish but a national Marian shrine, so most people come as pilgrims, retreatants, or Sunday worshipers rather than registered members — yet it functions as a spiritual home for thousands. Daily and Sunday Masses, weekday confessions in the new Mercy Chapel, Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration, daily Rosary, First Friday Benediction, First Saturday devotions, and an annual pilgrimage calendar draw Catholics from across the Midwest. The Carmelite community welcomes individuals and parish groups for day-long or overnight retreats at the Old Monastery Inn and the renovated New Guest House, and there are abundant opportunities for parish groups to celebrate private Masses with their priest on pilgrimage. Behind the scenes, the shrine depends on volunteer and donor support (including St. Mary of the Hill parish volunteers who run the annual Arts & Crafts Fair), making it a place where visitors quickly become part of the Holy Hill family.
Mass times at Basilica of National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, at Holy Hill
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday — 9:30–10:30 a.m. (Mercy Chapel, Level 2)
- Wednesday — 9:30–10:30 a.m. (Mercy Chapel, Level 2)
- Thursday — 9:30–10:30 a.m. (Mercy Chapel, Level 2)
- Friday — 9:30–10:30 a.m. (Mercy Chapel, Level 2)
- Saturday — 9:00–11:00 a.m. (Mercy Chapel, Level 2)
- By appointment only outside of the above times — call (262) 628-1838
Adoration times
- Tuesday — following the 6:00 a.m. Mass until 10:45 a.m. (Shrine Chapel, Level 3)
- First Friday — Eucharistic Adoration following the 6:00 a.m. Mass, ending with 10:45 a.m. Benediction and 11:00 a.m. Mass
- First Saturday — Eucharistic Adoration following the 11:00 a.m. Mass
Welcome from the Discalced Carmelite Friars
The Discalced Carmelite Friars assumed stewardship of the Shrine in 1906, and on the centennial of their presence (2006) the Shrine was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI. The friars continue the ordinary and extraordinary ministries of Marian shrine life: daily Mass in English and Spanish, a full confession schedule in the new Mercy Chapel, Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays and First Fridays, a daily Rosary, First Saturday Marian devotions, individual retreat direction, and a robust formation program for new postulants. All funds raised through the Development Office support the Shrine's buildings and programs, the Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary's ministries, and the Discalced Carmelite mission in Kenya. The current Rector & Prior is Fr. Mark DeVelis, O.C.D.
- Stewardship began June 26, 1906
- Basilica status declared 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI
- Rector & Prior: Fr. Mark DeVelis, O.C.D.
- 12 priests and 3 friars in formation (per 2024 newsletter)
Daily Rosary and Lenten Stations of the Cross
The Carmelite community prays the Rosary Monday through Thursday and Saturday at 10:20 a.m.; on Fridays during Lent, the Rosary is prayed at 10:00 a.m. (followed by the Stations of the Cross). The life-sized outdoor Way of the Cross is open 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily for individual prayer; a Virtual Way of the Cross led by then-Archbishop Jerome Listecki is also available on the website for those who cannot attend in person.
- Rosary Mon–Thu and Sat: 10:20 a.m.
- Rosary Fri during Lent: 10:00 a.m.
- Stations of the Cross Fridays during Lent — outdoor life-size stations
History of the Shrine and Basilica
Three successive shrines have occupied the summit. The first — a log chapel — was dedicated May 24, 1863 by Father George Strickner as the Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians; a second, larger church followed in the 1880s; and the present Romanesque Revival church was completed and consecrated in 1931 (cornerstone August 22, 1926 by Archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer). Pope Leo XIII granted the Shrine the Portiuncula Indulgence in 1903, and Discalced Carmelites from Bavaria have staffed it since 1906. A 2002–2006 renovation ($6.1 million) by Conrad Schmitt Studios overhauled interior decoration and the slate roof, and Pope Benedict XVI raised the Shrine to minor basilica status in 2006. The property has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1992.
- 1863 — first log chapel and Stations of the Cross (1875)
- 1903 — Portiuncula privilege granted by Pope Leo XIII
- 1906 — Discalced Carmelites assume care (June 26)
- 1926 — cornerstone of the present church; consecrated 1931
- 1992 — listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2002–2006 — major renovation ($6.1 million) by Conrad Schmitt Studios
- 2006 — elevated to minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI
Architecture, Art, and Stained Glass
Architect Hermann J. Gaul (with Richard Philipp) designed the Romanesque Revival basilica. Exterior details include two 8-foot marble statues of St. Mary Help of Christians (left) and St. Joseph (right) at the main entrance (placed in the 1950s). Interior features include hand-carved oak pews, terrazzo floors, hand-wrought iron and bronze metalwork, and mosaics of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, founders of the Discalced Carmelites. Van Treeck Studios of Munich produced the stained-glass program, including fourteen tall Marian windows, ten smaller windows depicting the Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries, and the large Rose Window above the choir loft honoring the Immaculate Conception; the ceiling lamps carry the Greek inscription 'Hodegetria,' meaning 'Way-Guide.'
- Capacity — upper basilica 600; Chapel of St. Therese 400
- Architects — Hermann J. Gaul and Richard Philipp
- Stained glass — Van Treeck Studios, Munich, Germany
- Interior decoration — Conrad Schmitt Studios (renovation)
The Scenic Tower and Grounds
A 178-step observation tower rises above the basilica and offers views of the Milwaukee skyline from one of the highest points in southeastern Wisconsin. The Holy Hill grounds — 435 wooded acres within the Kettle Moraine — are open 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily and include the life-size outdoor Way of the Cross, the Lourdes Grotto (reproducing the apparition to St. Bernadette), and the Fatima Grotto used for Marian processions. The Cafe, Gift Store, and Monastery Office are centrally located, and elevators (installed 1962) link the lower level with the upper basilica.
- Scenic Tower — open May 1 – October 31
- Grounds — 435 acres; 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily
- Elevators to the upper church installed 1962
Guest House and Retreat Center
Holy Hill offers simple overnight accommodations in two buildings: the New Guest House (built 1962 and renovated in 2017 — 14 rooms above the Gift Store, each with two single beds and private bath) and the historic Old Monastery Inn (built 1919, converted from the original monastery — 15 retreat rooms on the third and fourth floors with shared bathrooms). Both are smoke-, alcohol-, and drug-free environments and are accessible only by stairs (not currently handicap accessible). A conference room (up to 50 people), lounge, retreat kitchen, chapel with 24/7 access, and complimentary daily Mass and reconciliation are available to retreatants. Parish groups often travel with their priest and may arrange private Masses; Holy Hill can also help craft pilgrimage itineraries.
- New Guest House — 14 rooms (2017 renovation)
- Old Monastery Inn — 15 rooms (built 1919)
- Reservations: (262) 628-5286; email [email protected]
Gift Store, Café, and Visitor Amenities
The Holy Hill Gift Store (phone 262-628-4735) offers religious articles, books, cards, and souvenirs; online ordering with in-store pickup and curbside pickup is available 24/7. Proceeds from the gift store support maintenance of the basilica and grounds. The Holy Hill Café is open seasonally for visitors. Visitors will also find the Lourdes Grotto, the Fatima Grotto (used in the annual Marian procession with the International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima), and a blessing ministry at the Monastery Office (Mon–Fri 1:00–3:30 p.m.) when a priest is available.
- Gift Store hours: Mon–Fri 9–4, Sat 9–4:30, Sun 9–4
- Café — open seasonally
- Blessings — Mon–Fri 1:00–3:30 p.m.
Carmelite Formation and ICS Publications
Holy Hill functions as the formation house of the Discalced Carmelite Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The community welcomes men into the postulancy (nine postulants accepted in August 2025 — the largest incoming class in more than 50 years), the novitiate, and continuing formation; some brothers go on to Brighton, MA for seminary studies at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and are later ordained at Holy Hill. The friars also staff the Carmelite publishing apostolate ICS Publications; Fr. Pier Giorgio Pacelli, O.C.D., ordained at Holy Hill in July 2025, serves as managing editor and co-host of the Carmelcast podcast.
- Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Discalced Carmelite)
- Nine new postulants in 2025
- ICS Publications and Carmelcast podcast
Events, Pilgrimages, and Fundraising
Major annual events include the Holy Hill Arts & Crafts Fair (now in its 51st year, co-run with parish volunteers) and the Saints & Sinners Golf Outing. Special Marian events have included a day-long veneration of the International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima and, in November 2025, the first-class relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Holy Hill is also a designated Jubilee 2025 pilgrimage site, with pilgrims often collecting the Holy Hill stamp in their Jubilee Pilgrim Passport Books as part of a three-Marian-shrine pilgrimage in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Capital projects underwritten by donors have included the 2021 Mercy Chapel, a Spanish-sculpted crucifix added to it in 2025, professional cleaning of the 25-foot exterior monastery crucifix, and ongoing repairs to the basilica's brass entry doors.
- 51st Annual Arts & Crafts Fair (2025)
- Jubilee 2025 pilgrimage site
- St. Thérèse relics visit — November 2025
Getting Involved — Volunteer and Donor Support
Volunteers from the Discalced Carmelite community, St. Mary of the Hill parish, and the wider pilgrim community help staff the Arts & Crafts Fair, the Saints & Sinners Golf Outing, gift-store operations, and grounds maintenance. Donations through the Development Office support the shrine's facilities and grounds, the Province's ministries, and the Carmelite mission in Kenya. Visitors wishing to volunteer or to support specific capital projects (recent examples include the Mercy Chapel crucifix, restoration of the basilica's brass doors, and maintenance of the 25-foot exterior monastery crucifix) are encouraged to contact the Monastery Office at (262) 628-1838.
- Volunteer at the Arts & Crafts Fair, golf outing, or gift store
- Donate through the Development Office
- Support the Carmelite mission in Kenya
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Strickner1863
Dedicated the original log chapel as the first Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians on May 24, 1863.
- Fr. Raess1879
Proposed to Archbishop Henni the building of a new, larger shrine.
- Discalced Carmelites of Bavaria1906–present
Formally assumed pastoral care of the Shrine on June 26, 1906 at the invitation of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer.
- Archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer1926
Placed the cornerstone of the present church on August 22, 1926.
- Fr. Mark DeVelis, O.C.D.
Current Rector & Prior (confirmed in Winter 2025 newsletter).
