An Oasis for Thirsty Souls: A Tribute to Trinity Heights/Queen of Peace, Sioux City, Iowa
Stainless Mother, Stainless Son
 On a windswept bluff overlooking the east side of Sioux City, Iowa, above the hustle, bustle, and cacophony of the city below lies a serene spiritual oasis of peace and tranquility containing some of the most beautiful monuments to the Christian faith anywhere. It may be one of the best-kept secrets in the country; yet it is a secret that should not be kept, for this place was meant to be shared by all persons of faith—to inspire, invigorate and remind us of the foundations of our faith.
What has now become collectively known as Trinity Heights/Queen of Peace, was the brainchild of the late Father Harold Cooper of Sioux City. Father Cooper visited a statue of the Blessed Virgin during a trip out west and was inspired to create a memorial to the faith in his hometown, to aid believers in their spiritual journey. What began 1992 with the erection of a thirty-foot statue of the Holy Mother atop a hill on the former site of Trinity College, has now, by the grace of God and the work of dedicated believers, expanded into seventy four acres of verdant serenity—a veritable outdoor cathedral, inspiring no less awe, wonder, and reverence than one would experience entering a place of worship. One has only to walk quietly around the beautiful grounds to know that the Holy Spirit is moving in this place.
Visitors are greeted at the entrance by an impressive metal sculpture of the Archangel Michael doing battle with the serpent. He is the protector of this place, who serves as a reminder of the constant battle between good and evil. As one drives up the steep incline to the top of the hill he is invited to tour the grounds, which contains a myriad of beautiful monuments, plaques, shrines, grottos commemorating the faith, and statues honoring various saints–all beautifully situated along paths and walkways leading to private areas where visitors may stop awhile to meditate or pray. The Way of the Cross invites the pilgrim to visit the stations privately, reverently, under the azure skies above in a contemplative setting. A small brook, whose soft babbling adds to the serenity of the place traverses the western portion of the grounds and empties into a pond. And everywhere there is green, calm serenity and blessed quiet.
One of the most impressive and inspiring offerings of Trinity Heights is the life-sized, beautifully carved and true to life sculpture of da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Painstakingly fashioned for seven years by world-class sculptor Jerry Traufler of Le Mars, Iowa—a devout Christian who travels extensively to visit religious shrines and has himself created a masterpiece–Traufler’s The Last Supper is a magnificent rendition of the Lord’s last meal and a work unmatched anywhere. Using hometown folks and family members as models, Mr. Traufler has created a unique and awe-inspiring work of religious art—and one of a very few life-sized depictions of The Last Supper in the entire world. One cannot look at his work and fail to conclude that the Holy Spirit worked powerfully through the hands of this devout man, who was kind enough to donate his masterpiece to Trinity Heights. The sculpture vividly brings to life The Last Supper in a way that words or pictures cannot. Viewing Jesus and the Twelve reclining at table in the eerie quiet of the dimly lit wood-domed room that houses Traufler’s work, the visitor feels as if he or she is actually present in the Upper Room on the night He was betrayed. Were The Last Supper the only attraction in Trinity Heights, it alone would be worth the visit.
Outside the St. Joseph Center which houses The Last Supper, the grounds are generally separated into two venues—one presided over by the Holy Mother, who stands atop the Mound of Mary, the other by her Son, who presides over the “Outdoor Cathedral.” On the east side of the grounds stands a magnificent statue of Mary with her arms outstretched—beckoning to the visitor as a mother would welcome a child. It seems that there was some debate and even an element of mystery about the placement of the statue of Mary itself. In the end, whether by happenstance, divine intervention, or coincidence (the name God uses when He wants to remain anonymous) the Mound of Mary, on which she stands, ended up precisely on the spot where the Trinity College Chapel had been located years before. It seems that the only spot suitable for Mary was the exact location of the former chapel. The placement of the Holy Mother on the grounds was, like the rest of the project, guided by an unseen hand.
The stainless steel sculpture of Mary, created by world-famous sculptor Dale Lamphere, is majestic, elegant in its simplicity, and poignantly captures the dignity and beauty of the Holy Mother. Her beautiful robe sweeps gracefully toward the east, as if brushed by the gentle zephyrs that perennially sweep over the bluffs of Northwest Iowa. Her pensive, soulful expression invites the visitor to tell her his troubles. She seems to inquire of us, “What would you have me ask my Son?” Surrounding Mary are pathways leading to the twenty decades of the Rosary, and beautiful seasonal plants and flowers. A short distance away lies a beautiful monument to the sanctity of life, which one enters through an ornate wrought iron gate. Herein lies the tomb of the unborn child, which commemorates the victims of abortion, and a statue of Rachael weeping for her child. Mary’s domain is an inviting place, reminiscent of a mother’s undying love of her children. Fittingly, Mary arrived at Trinity before Jesus—as if waiting for her Son, who came six years later. Her right hand—as if by divine design—points toward her Son.
On the opposite side of Trinity Heights stands Mary’s Son, Jesus, whose thirty-three-foot statue, also sculpted by Mr. Lamphere, dominates the western portion of the grounds. The stainless steel sculpture of Jesus faces toward his Mother—and invites the visitors to lay their burdens at His feet. His face is serious, confident, and peaceful. His robe falls gracefully down to His feet and His outstretched arms welcome the pilgrims beneath Him. His reassuring pose evokes the words of Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” As you ponder the imposing statue of Christ you are tempted to sit for a time and lay your burdens at His feet. This is truly a place of awe and reverence.
Jesus presides over beautiful gardens, the Stations of the Cross, the monuments to the saints, the Eight Beatitudes which line the way to His statue, shrines to the Blessed Virgin, tributes to three score saints of the church, and other reminders of our faith. Trinity’s Outdoor Cathedral is a perfect place to clear your mind. I go there now and then to sit and contemplate. This is a perfect place to take your worries, or simply be alone with God and meditate. Trinity Heights is truly a church; missing only are the walls and ceiling. I often think how many times I have driven hundreds or thousands of miles to view monuments or attractions far less worthy than Trinity Heights—which is in my own back yard. Here, in the middle of Sioux City, Iowa, is an oasis of peace and tranquility–a little piece of Heaven on earth.
Trinity Heights invites the pilgrim to recharge his spiritual batteries, escape the busy-ness of the world for a few blessed moments, and view some of the most beautiful monuments to the faith anywhere. It reminds us of that which is important, majestic, mysterious, and inspiring about our faith. One has only to view the amazing hand-carved figures of The Last Supper, cast eyes upon the beautiful Mother of God, sit at the feet of her Son, or tour the perfectly-manicured grounds, to be inspired and filled with the Holy Spirit. Trinity Heights reminds us of what we believe and why. It is a feast for the hungry soul, and all are invited to partake—Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
Trinity Heights is a place where the Two Hearts beckon; where the sun rises over Mary in the morning and sets over her Son at dusk. Here you can visit them, be awed by them, and inspired by them. Perfect and without stain in life, now perfectly captured in metal—Stainless Mother, Stainless Son.
Special thanks to Ms. Mary Stevens, Director of the Trinity Heights St. Joseph Center (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)), Ms. Terry Moran, Director of the Trinity Heights Marian Center (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)), and Duane Sudbeck—tireless workers for the faith and spirit-filled servants of God. Please visit their website at: trinityheights.com.
Thanks also to Ms. Judi McLeod, Publisher of the renown Canada Free Press, for her unwavering support of the Church and religious freedom.
| | William Kevin Stoos
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Copyright © 2012 William Kevin Stoos
William Kevin Stoos (aka Hugh Betcha) is a writer, book reviewer, and attorney, whose feature and cover articles have appeared in the Liguorian, Carmelite Digest, Catholic Digest, Catholic Medical Association Ethics Journal, Nature Conservancy Magazine, Liberty Magazine, Social Justice Review, Wall Street Journal Online and other secular and religious publications. He is a regular contributing author for The Bread of Life Magazine in Canada. His review of Shadow World, by COL. Robert Chandler, propelled that book to best seller status. His book, The Woodcarver (And Other Stories of Faith and Inspiration) © 2009, William Kevin Stoos (Strategic Publishing Company)—a collection of feature and cover stories on matters of faith—was released in July of 2009. It can be purchased though many internet booksellers including Amazon, Tower, Barnes and Noble and others. Royalties from his writings go to support the Carmelites. He resides in Wynstone, South Dakota.
“His newest book, The Wind and the Spirit (Stories of Faith and Inspiration)” © 2011, is scheduled for release in the summer of 2011. All the author’s royalties go to support the Carmelite sisters.”
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