Hidden Gems to air episodes featuring shrines of diocese

LUMEN MEDIA REPORT – It was just over a year ago when a four-person production crew was in the Diocese of Sioux City to record video footage and interviews at the two diocesan shrines.

The Shrine of Trinity Heights Queen of Peace in Sioux City and Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend will soon be featured in EWTN’s series called Hidden Gems: Catholic Shrines in America.

According to Terry Hegarty, executive director of Trinity Heights, the Sioux City shrine will be featured in an episode to air on EWTN at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 10.

Msgr. Ed Girres, rector of the Grotto of the Redemption, said the West Bend shrine will be aired on Hidden Gems at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 8.

The episodes from both shrines are presently available to view on the EWTN website by clicking here: https://ondemand.ewtn.com/Home/Series/ondemand/video/en/hidden-gems.

The executive producer of Hidden Gems is Michael O’Neill.

In a Lumen Media article published last fall, the executive producer said, “The series presents the history and features of each shrine using on-location and drone footage, interviews with experts and high-end dramatizations.”

The host for Hidden Gems is Nell Andrzejewski of Chicago. She was on hand last fall when footage of the two shrines was recorded.

While in the diocese, she made comments about the diocesan shrines. She described Trinity Heights as a remarkable place, a place of peace.

“One might be drawn because of unique statuary, or the artists involved, but there is a depth of education and faith there that one can be fortified by,” she said, noting she was impressed by the visible support of the shrines with its many markers and memorials from those throughout the country. “There were so many places to sit, contemplate, pray and learn. The education aspect of that place is pretty phenomenal.”

The production crew for Hidden Gems while in West Bend last fall.

The show host said the West Bend shrine provided “a unique way of encountering Christ and learning about the mysteries of the church, mysteries of his life. It’s beautiful. It’s very grounded and yet very spiritual.” She added, “It expands your vision of the seen and unseen because some of these rocks were buried for (thousands of years) – there are literally fossils here.”

Both Trinity Heights and the Grotto of the Redemption were designated as diocesan shrines in 2017. These two shrines were also named as diocesan pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee Year of Hope that the Catholic Church is presently observing.
 
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