John Kraemer knows that what he does is unusual. In fact, he relishes the improbable path that God has set him on for the past quarter-century.
Every year, Kraemer assembles some 30,000 Lego bricks into a painstakingly intricate model of a Catholic church. Though often inspired by the designs of real churches he has visited, each one is a unique creation.
Kaemer’s Lego Church Project, now in its 25th year, blends creativity, his Catholic faith, and disability advocacy — a subject near and dear to Kraemer’s heart as a disabled person himself.
“I am thankful to God that I have a purpose in my life that goes beyond myself. Without God in my life, without the Church, I would not 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 talk about issues related to disability, to show people what it means to live the faith and have a disability or challenges. I know that there are a lot of people out there who have their own struggles. So if I can bring some insight into how I deal with it, it may give them some wisdom on how to navigate their own issues that they may be facing.”
Every year, Kraemer builds his Lego church, displays it at a number of parishes in the Saginaw, Michigan, area around the holiday season, and then tears it down and starts again.
Kraemer’s first display, in 2000, was at Mount Zion Parish in Flushing, Michigan. St. Helen’s Parish in Saginaw, which has since been renamed Christ the Good Shepherd, is his longest-running location — in addition to singing in the choir, Kraemer has displayed his creations there every year since 2004.
He has also toured numerous other parishes and assisted-living facilities with his creations, always garnering a warm reception and enthusiasm, especially from children, who are particularly drawn to the bright colors and interactive elements, such as the bells in the towers.
A foundation of faith
As he previously told CNA, Kraemer enjoyed playing with Legos as a kid, but the spaceships his peers were building didn’t appeal to him. Looking for inspiration for what to build, the obvious solution soon presented itself — churches.
“At that time period for me, church was the core of who we were … so there was a strong emphasis on that, and as I grew up it kind of developed from there,” Kraemer said.
What started as a hobby blossomed into something much more, as Kraemer realized he had a knack for large builds.
The dimensions of his Lego churches, which can weigh as much as 80 pounds, are somewhat limited by the necessity that they must be transported by car, but they’re still a lot bigger than anything you’ll find at a toy store. Each one is constructed on a plywood base, and his latest effort measured nearly 4 feet long and 2 feet high.
When not in use, Kraemer stores the tens of thousands of Lego bricks required for each church in his one-bedroom apartment. During the annual construction stage, Kraemer said he spends anywhere from two to five hours each day laying bricks — or, as he calls it, “praying at the bricks.”
“As I am building, I’m laying out all of my own personal fears, all my own personal anxieties, any challenges that I’m personally facing … I’m praying with my hands as I am building because I’m trying to build the faith in a very creative way,” he explained.
An expression of faith
Like a real church architect, Kraemer is very intentional about his designs. Each element has significance and meaning as part of the larger whole, and also sends a message about the things Kraemer values. For one thing, he explains that his models are “filled to the brim with people,” representing “a prayer for a future” where Mass attendance is revitalized.
In light of the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival, Kraemer said he takes care to make the tabernacle a prominent feature in each of his churches, a design preference that fits with his own ideas of what a Catholic church should look like. Alongside the tabernacle, he also for this anniversary season undertook a “complete brand-new build” of the pipe organ model he uses.
“When I go into a build, I’m always praying about what I’m about to do, and to [find out] what story the Lord wants me to tell. Where’s my focus going to be overall in terms of the design?” he said.
Kraemer said he enjoys the “display” period each year because it allows him to answer questions about his Lego creations and to enjoy people’s reactions upon seeing his work, especially the reactions of kids.
But he said it also allows him to explain his deeper motivations for such a labor-intensive project.
“I’m showing that no matter what challenge, whether it be medical or emotional or whatnot, no matter what challenge or disability you face, God can still use your talents,” Kraemer explained.
