What do Legos, Catholicism, and Disability Awareness have in common? For JM Kraemer, the answer is obvious: his work for The Lego Church Project.
Since 2001, JM has built complex, impressive, and beautiful churches out of Legos. He brings these displays to local parishes to show off his hard work and to inspire people to see the beauty of our faith, in particular, the Mass.
Despite his fantastic work and social media presence, JM still has trouble getting the attention his project deserves. In this interview, we discuss his projects, disability awareness, and how the Catholic Church can better serve those with disabilities.
At the end of the interview, we have a giveaway so you can build your own Lego church.
What inspired you to start this project?
When I was younger my friends were building these massive and complex space ships. Something that I wasn’t very good at doing. Over time I found that I could make buildings which slowly developed into churches. Back in 2001 I did my first public display at Mt. Zion Catholic Pastoral Center in Flushing MI. That was the start of what has become The Lego Church Project.
What is your favorite church you’ve built?
The Project has been going on for nineteen seasons. It’s rather hard to pin down just one specific project that is my favorite. Season 4 was the first project I brought to my home parish, Christ the Good Shepherd, back when it was still called St. Helen’s. It was small compact layout that was very different from the first three seasons. The other one that stands out is last year’s Season 18. That one was dedicated to Blessed Solanus Casey. I had a rather fun time building that one. It was a reflection of a few past seasons in that I revisited several ideas from the past. Season 19 which is my current Project is just a fun quick build that is just so massive in scale. Probably has the most number of parts than any of the previous seasons.
What is the most challenging aspect of this work?
The build of the season has its own challenges. I’m working on a narrow work station. So consideration of the over all size is important. The layout process can be hard depending on what my goals are for the story I want to tell. Sometimes things have to be changed and ideas don’t work out as planned. But that is a normal part of the process. For me a bigger challenge is trying to find locations willing to host and provide me and the Project transportation. It is an area that I struggle with every year. A project of this nature needs to be shared with others. It’s not doing me any good hiding in my apartment. Because I don’t drive that adds to the challenge. Despite my social media presence I’m still not widely known in my own region.
A project of this nature needs to be shared with others. Click To TweetWhat is the most rewarding aspect?
Sharing my work. Either online or through the public displays. I enjoy talking with people what I am doing and the reasons behind it. You see an honest sense of joy when they first come across this. If they are new to The Project there is a sense of wonder and total amazement. If they have seen my past seasons then there is that same wonder as to what did I do for this season. Watching the children and adults swarm over and taking the time to explore. Even when I’m having a rough day it recharges the batteries.
What is your dream location to display your project?
There are a few parishes in Saginaw, MI region that I want to visit. One is St. John Vianney here in Saginaw. Back in 2006 I was there with the Season 7 project. The other local parish is St. Thomas Aquinas which isn’t too far from where I live. The ultimate dream location would have to be the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit, MI. Partly because of how well Season 18 turned out.
On your website, you say “The entire core idea is about raising awareness for those who have some kind of disability.” How do you think The Lego Church project does that?
I feel that it is important that no matter what kind of challenge you face that God can still use your talents. I have a mild form of cerebral palsy. I have a host of other challenges connected to that. Yet here I am. Unable to work or drive. Here I am using my talents in a very creative way. I would like to think that hope is the core of my message. You have parents who have been told their child “has a disability.” With that kind of thing there are a lot of unknowns. Here I am showing that despite my own that I face. I am still able to do something with my life. The Project also serves as an important reminder that all should be welcome and that we need to see people for who they are. Not for the struggles that they face.
I have a mild form of cerebral palsy. I have a host of other challenges connected to that. Yet here I am ... using my talents in a very creative way. I would like to think that hope is the core of my message. Click To Tweet
How do you think the Catholic Church can better serve those with disabilities?
We start by being more welcoming. We take the time to get to know each other. We put a focus on being more understanding that everyone has their own struggles and challenges. If we truly are a community then we need to act like it. More so if that family or person is just visiting the parish. We need to show that people are truly welcome in this place.
We put a focus on being more understanding that everyone has their own struggles and challenges. If we truly are a community then we need to act like it. Click To TweetYou recently attended the Disabilities Awareness Conference hosted by the Diocese of Saginaw. What was that experience like?
A very powerful one. It was a chance for me to learn more than I could ever hope to. Understanding some very basics when it comes to how people look at those who are not like themselves. I also think that for the Priests who were attending that they also learned a lot. If anything it is a hope that people in the diocese are listening and will now have some ideas of what areas to work on for the future.
From a pure Project stand it was probably one of the more important displays I have done. Disability Awareness is what I am about. So it really brought the message home to me. People loved The Project. They fired off a lot of good questions and were surprised by a few of the answers. When you have a display it is important to have support of the host location. You want to feel like you are being welcomed. That was very much the case and I am thankful for the chance to share my talents.
How can people learn more about The Lego Church Project?
They can check out the Lego Church Project Facebook Page! That has all the information including information and pictures of all the Seasons.
How can people support The Lego Church Project?
They can check out the blog post from “Praying At The Bricks” What Can You Do to Help? That has all the information on sharing the FB page. Paypal donations. Or helping to set up displays.
***
