Senior Visit to "Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament" & "Ave Maria Grotto" and BBQ

     Most of the senior missionaries met at the mission office and piled into the van for a trip to Hanceville, AL where we visited "Our Lady of the Angels Monastery" and "Ave Marie Grotto" in Cullman, AL.
     Our tour guide had grown up for part of her life in Buhl, ID and was a delightful college girl who answered our questions and showed us through the Monastery and surrounding grounds and castle gift shop.  Five anonymous families donated fifty million dollars to make Catholic Mother Angelica's dream a reality. "The nuns invite all people of all walks of life and faith to join them in prayer and see what the Lord has accomplished here."  Only the nun's cloistered quarters were off limits.  In a basement room there were life size photos and negatives of the "Shroud of Turin" the Savior's burial cloth.  The inside of the Sanctuary was really beautiful art, intricate woodwork,  multiple statues, with real gold ornamentation, and marble and semi precious stone inlay patterned after Solomon's Temple. A few people were worshiping and the grounds were all so clean and well kept.


 

                                                Back Row:  Barfuss's and Johnsons
                                        Bottom Row:  Barkers, Turnbows, and Ensigns


      Brother Joseph's life work after shoveling coal all day for a different monastery was to build miniatures of famous Catholic churches and sites from all over the world. Originally from Bavaria, he immigrated to become a priest, but due to a back injury was trained to be a "brother" monk.   He had no craftsmen training and took most of his ideas from photos, but created out of rock, shell, peoples cast off and donations, two blocks of miniature buildings that are amazing along an outdoor circular path through an old quarry.  There was a gift shop and a movie about his life that we also enjoyed.


















 


Barkers organized a potluck where they BBQ'd some New York rib stakes and had everyone over to their apartment picnic area.  Elder and Sister Barfuss brought two potato salads.  Steve made his killer variety with bacon and cheese and Rosie made a plain one with onions.  Green salads, chips and cantaloupe completed the meal.  President and Sister Sainsbury, Elder and Sister Christenson and Elder and Sister Owens  joined us for dinner and great conversation.










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