In the wake of yesterday’s Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, here’s an inspiring story from Saint Mary parish in Westphalia.
Parishioner Brian Flynn studied abroad at the Austrian campus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville back 1997. While there, Brian was struck by the wayside crosses that are to be found in the towns, villages, and countryside of Austria and other Catholic lands in Europe.
“Then in 2024 my daughter was studying in the same Austrian program,” explains Brian, “and my wife and I were blessed to be able to go over to Europe and visit her, and we saw those crosses again, and I was like, ‘gosh, why don't we do that kind of thing in the United States?”
And that is exactly what Brian did!
“So, I just threw some texts out, and a bunch of guys were interested.”
The group of men from Saint Mary parish met earlier this year upon the Saturday prior to Palm Sunday.
“We gathered for a morning, morning Rosary, and some coffee and donuts, and in a friend's shop with all the tools that we needed, and then we just took the day and started building these crosses.”
And if you go to Westphalia today? You can see the crosses throughout the town and surrounding countryside. And if you encounter a cross? Don’t forget to offer a prayer of veneration: "We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen."