Brussels in Door County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Brussels Cemetery Grotto
Photographed By Fitzie Heimdahl
1. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto Marker
Inscription.
The Brussels Cemetery Grotto. . The Belgian immigrants who settled in this region, beginning in the 1850s, built many churches and roadside chapels, reflecting the value of their Catholic faith. Brussels and its surrounding communities form the largest Belgian settlement in North America. The first Mass at St. Francis Xavier was in 1878. In 1909, a new brick church was constructed. Fr. Jerome Gloudemans, a Dutch Norbertine priest, was named pastor of St. Francis Xavier in 1919, serving for 31 years. Fr. Gloudemans, as a devotion to the Blessed Mother, designed and built a rock structure resembling a freestanding cave, topped by a large crucifixion scene. The grotto was built with field stones selected for their beauty by local parishioners. The Brussels Grotto includes similar features of the natural Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes in France, including statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Bernadette Soubrious, a cave like setting and flowing water. The Grotto was dedicated on October 29, 1935. Fr. Gloudemans, wanted to be buried among his faithful and built a crypt within the grotto. He died at the age of 80, and was called back to De Pere, WI to be buried with his Norbertine Brothers.
The Belgian immigrants who settled in this region, beginning in the 1850s, built many churches and roadside chapels, reflecting the value of their Catholic faith. Brussels and its surrounding communities form the largest Belgian settlement in North America. The first Mass at St. Francis Xavier was in 1878. In 1909, a new brick church was constructed. Fr. Jerome Gloudemans, a Dutch Norbertine priest, was named pastor of St. Francis Xavier in 1919, serving for 31 years. Fr. Gloudemans, as a devotion to the Blessed Mother, designed and built a rock structure resembling a freestanding cave, topped by a large crucifixion scene. The grotto was built with field stones selected for their beauty by local parishioners. The Brussels Grotto includes similar features of the natural Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes in France, including statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Bernadette Soubrious, a cave like setting and flowing water. The Grotto was dedicated on October 29, 1935. Fr. Gloudemans, wanted to be buried among his faithful and built a crypt within the grotto. He died at the age of 80, and was called back to De Pere, WI to be buried with his Norbertine Brothers.
Erected 2020 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 592.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic
Location. 44° 44.947′ N, 87° 37.279′ W. Marker is in Brussels, Wisconsin, in Door County. Marker is on Cemetery Road near County Road C. Located on St. Francis & St. Mary Parish Grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9716 Cemetery Rd, Brussels WI 54204, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (Built in 1909)
Photographed By Devon Polzar, June 2021
4. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto
Photographed By Fitzie Heimdahl
5. The Brussels Cemetery Grotto
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,476 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on June 20, 2021, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos:1. submitted on May 25, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 20, 2021, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on May 25, 2021, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
