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Former Archbishop Dolan says Mass at Holy Hill New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan drew a large crowd of Catholics and well-wishers to Holy Hill on Saturday for a special Mass of Thanksgiving, some arriving as early as 4:30 a.m. to ensure a spot in the historic Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. The enthusiastic throng filled the basilica hours before Dolan celebrated Mass there, and hundreds of others spilled into the chapel on the lower level, where they watched the service on big screens. He later greeted those who had gathered in the lower chapel. In...

In his tenure as archbishop of Milwaukee, soon-to-be Cardinal Timothy Dolan forged a special relationship with the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, at Holy Hill. A Mary devotee, Dolan helped to win the Hubertus shrine's Vatican designation as a basilica, and he presided over a special Mass celebrating that honor in November 2006. Dolan will return to Holy Hill on April 28, this time as a cardinal, for a Mass of Thanksgiving to commemorate his elevation in the Roman Catholic Church. "It's a great honor. We're very excited. We think this is the first time a cardinal has...

David Groth Tyler Groth West Bend - Two cousins were charged with a felony crime each on Friday in the desecration of Holy Hill and, according to authorities, the older of the two admitted what he did but had no regrets.Tyler B. Groth, 21, of Neosho and David J. Groth, 17, of Hartford each face up to 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of criminal damage to religious property. Tyler Groth told investigators that he and his cousin used red spray paint in a spree of vandalism at Holy Hill on Tuesday, according to...

ERIN, WI (AP) -- Vandals defaced one of Wisconsin's most historic religious shrines, celebrating the date 6-6-06. The vandals hit the Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, sometime between 8 p.m Tuesday and 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, Washington County Sheriff's Department Lt. Steve Gonwa said. Holy Hill, a U.S. and state registered landmark, is a shrine-church-monastery complex that stands 1,350 feet above sea level about 25 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The vandals attacked the monastery, spray-painting in red "Hell on Earth" on the front door along with a pitchfork and "666" on its walls, Gonwa said. Some believe...