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Yarnell shrine falls on hard times
By Gina Keating, news@catholicsun.org
October 16, 2008
YARNELL — The slow economy has reached a hillside shrine in the Weaver Mountains, forcing its volunteer board of directors to shutter some amenities in the new year.
Weekend visitors to the Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains in Yarnell during the months of December and January will find a closed gift shop and information center.
Maria Luisa Wasson, board president, said the closures could last through February as a result of declining donations for the past several years.
The shrine, which is free and open during daylight hours, relies solely on contributions from visitors and from volunteers for maintenance and growth.
It is not affiliated, nor does it receive funding from, a church or group.
“The people who visit are the ones who maintain the shrine. If we could get $1 from each person, we’d be able to maintain the grounds,” Wasson said.
High fuel prices are being blamed for keeping people away, making it no longer cost-effective to keep the gift shop open during those winter months.
However, it’s a two-hour trip from Phoenix that’s worth the drive.
Located northwest of Wickenburg and south of Prescott off U.S. Highway 89, the shrine is in the quiet, small community of Yarnell.
In 1939, the Catholic Action League of Arizona commissioned Felix Lucero, a Native American from Trinidad, Colo., to create the Stations of the Cross.
The stations are awe-inspiring. Lucero sculpted the life-size pieces out of reinforced concrete, and set them among a grotto of granite boulders and shady oak trees.
The shrine also features a chapel and replicas of the Garden of Gethsemane and the Last Supper.
Joe Milburn from St. Timothy Parish in Mesa has been volunteering at the shrine for the past six years.
A group of eight from the church arrive on a Friday night every spring, and then help around the grounds Saturday morning.
“There’s a lot of beautiful artwork there that helps you get connected to God. It’s beautiful to pray under the stars,” Milburn said. “We know the shrine survives on volunteer work, so it’s nice to be able to help when we go.”
The grounds also include the House of Joseph Retreat and Conference Center that is available for groups of up to 50 people.
With the onset of cooler weather, Wasson hopes to see more parish groups reserving the campus for spiritual retreats and pilgrimages.
“This is a retreat center, not a camp, so we only have one retreat at a time,” Wasson said. “Many people have been coming since they were very little. Sometimes, five generations come to the shrine and are excited to show the new ones the best kept secret, that of the shrine’s existence and location.”
And it really would be a secret if it weren’t for the helpful signage on the west side of the highway.
Guests at the retreat center have full access to the dining lodge, conference buildings and Martha’s kitchen, where they bring and cook their own food.
There are also recreational facilities for a game of basketball, volleyball, badminton or ping-pong, but a hike among the surrounding hills may reveal wily creatures like snakes, javelina, deer, fox, coyotes and mountain lions.
Lodging accommodations in the surrounding homes are named after the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Matthew’s House is ideal for small groups of up to 10 people and is handicap accessible. It has a fully equipped kitchen.
Mark’s House can accommodate 26 people. It is also handicap accessible and has its own conference room.
Luke’s House can house 14 people, and John’s House is the caretaker’s home that also has a small meditation room.
The shrine charges a fee of $19 per person, per day for the rooms. In addition, there is a minimal usage fee for each house to cover expenses.
For information, call (928) 778-5229 or visit the Web at www.stjoseph-shrine.org.
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