John Kraemer knows what he is doing is unusual. In fact, he relishes the improbable path God has laid out for him over the past quarter century.

Each year, Kraemer assembles some 30,000 Lego bricks to create a painstakingly complex model of a Catholic church. Although often inspired by the designs of actual churches he visited, each is a unique creation.

that of Kaemer Lego church projectnow in its 25th year, combines creativity, his Catholic faith and disability advocacy – a subject near and dear to Kraemer’s heart as a disabled person himself.

“I am grateful to God that I have a purpose in my life that is bigger than myself. Without God in my life, without the Church, I wouldn’t have anything to do,” Kraemer, who lives in east-central Michigan, told CNA.

“And yet God has given me this unique mission to share the faith creatively, to speak about disability issues, to show people what it means to live the faith and have a disability or challenges. I know there are many people who have their own struggles. So if I can provide some insight into how I deal with this issue, it might give them some wisdom on how to deal with their own issues they may be facing.

One of John Kraemer’s Lego creations. Credit: Photo courtesy of John Kraemer

Each year, Kraemer builds his church out of Lego, displays it in a number of parishes in the Saginaw, Michigan, area during the holiday season, then tears it down and starts again.

Kraemer’s first exhibition, in 2000, was held at St. Helen Parish in Saginaw, which has since been renamed Christ the Good Shepherd. In addition to singing in the choir, Kraemer still exhibits his creations there.

He also visited many other parishes and assisted living facilities with his creations, always generating a warm welcome and enthusiasm, especially from children, who were particularly attracted by the bright colors and interactive elements, such as the tower bells.

A foundation of faith

Like he previously told CNA, Kraemer loved playing with Legos as a child, but the spaceships his peers were building didn’t appeal to him. Looking for inspiration on what to build, the obvious solution quickly presented itself: churches.

“At that time, for me, church was at the heart of who we were… so there was a heavy emphasis on that, and as I grew up, it kind of grew from there,” Kraemer said.

What started as a hobby turned into something much more, when Kraemer realized he had a talent for large builds.

The dimensions of its Lego churches, which can weigh up to 80 pounds, are limited somewhat by the need to transport them by car, but they are still much larger than anything you’ll find in a toy store. Each is built on a plywood base and its latest effort measured nearly 4 feet long and 2 feet high.

When not in use, Kraemer stores the tens of thousands of Lego bricks needed for each church in his one-bedroom apartment. During the annual construction phase, Kraemer said he spends two to five hours each day laying bricks – or, as he calls it, “praying for the bricks.”

“As I build, I expose all my personal fears, all my personal anxieties, all the challenges that I personally face…I pray with my hands while I build because I’m trying to build faith in a way very creative,” he explained.

The interior of one of John Kraemer’s Lego churches. Credit: Photo courtesy of John Kraemer

An expression of faith

Like a true church architect, Kraemer is very intentional in his designs. Each item has significance and significance as part of a larger whole and also sends a message about the things Kraemer values. On the one hand, he explains that his models are “filled to the brim with people,” representing “a prayer for a future” where participation in mass is revitalized.

In light of the current situation National Eucharistic renewal, Kraemer said he takes care to make the tabernacle a prominent feature in each of his churches, a design preference that fits his own ideas of what a Catholic church should look like. Along with the tabernacle, he also undertook, for this anniversary season, a “completely new construction” of the model pipe organ he uses.

“When I walk into a building, I always pray about what I’m about to do and (find out) what story the Lord wants me to tell. What will I focus on overall in terms of design? » he said.

Kraemer said he enjoys the “exhibition” period each year because it allows him to answer questions about his Lego creations and enjoy people’s reactions to seeing his work, especially children’s reactions.

But he said it also allowed him to explain his deeper motivations for such a labor-intensive project.

“I show that no matter what the challenge, whether it’s medical, emotional or whatever, whatever challenge or disability you face, God can always use your talents,” Kraemer explained.

Take a tour

Kraemer’s passion for disability rights advocacy is personal: He suffers from a mild form of cerebral palsy, which affects his learning, balance, hearing and fine motor control.

His own identity as a disabled person manifests in his designs, where he is careful to include depictions of parishioners with special needs, using objects such as wheelchairs, adult strollers and guide dogs.

Transportation is a significant problem for Kraemer, who is unable to drive and, at least for car travel, has had to rely on the kindness of others for decades – although he speaks enthusiastically about how much he has been useful to become more adept at riding your trusty adult tricycle. Thanks to his online platform, Kraemer passionately advocates for better transportation solutions for people with disabilities and hopes to inspire others to address this often overlooked need in their own parishes.

“We don’t have a consistent path across the Church on how to get people to Mass who may not have a way to get there on their own. And I think that’s something that we absolutely need to look at,” he said.

“It’s a subject that comes up quite frequently for me because I’ve been there. I have been in these shoes. There were times when I wanted to attend a holy day of obligation, but I had no way out.

Kraemer said he feels a responsibility to advocate for other members of the Church who are struggling with their own disabilities and said he wants people to know that God can use everyone’s talents, regardless of their challenges.

“God has richly blessed me with this ministry, which means that while some of my own needs are mostly met, like going to Mass on Sunday, I know there are others that need to be met. wrong. So if I can use my voice and my platform in service to Christ, then I know I’m doing something right,” he said.

A depiction of mass in one of John Kraemer’s Lego churches. Credit: Photo courtesy of John Kraemer

Filled with gratitude

Kraemer’s first exhibition of the 2024 “season” took place at Holy Spirit Parish in Shields, Michigan, just outside of Saginaw. He plans to bring the model to St. Helena during the Advent season.

Kraemer said he is filled with immense gratitude for the support he has received throughout the 25 years of the Lego Church Project. He said he views his work as a testimony to the power of God’s grace and a reflection of his desire to share his faith and advocate for the needs of others.

As he begins the next chapter of his Lego ministry, Kraemer said he remains committed to using his unique talent to inspire and uplift others.

“I’m grateful to the people who (supported me) over the last 25 years. I can’t say thank you enough. Without the support of those around me, this would not be possible,” he said.