WATERBURY – The blessing by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell of a new, 50-foot-high, stainless steel cross atop Pine Hill may be a first step toward rehabilitating Holy Land USA, a favorite destination for pilgrims until its closure in 1984.

“Oh yeah, there are plans,” said Sister Frances Stavalo, provincial superior of Holy Land Convent, a chapter of the Religious Teachers Filippini. The Sisters are caretakers of the 18-acre Holy Land USA property. “There are different phases that will take place, but, like I said, in stages,” Sister Frances said.

The Archdiocese of Hartford donated $25,000 toward the reconstruction of the cross, a project that cost $250,000. It was built by O, R & L Construction of Branford and dedicated June 18. Archbishop Henry J. Mansell said on that occasion that it was “a new and stronger, more sturdy cross and one that can shine ever more brilliantly to the people who pass by.”

He said, “As we stand up here, it is not hard to imagine that it is the Lord who overarches all the seasons, all the times and all the landscapes.”

As he invoked the blessing, Archbishop Mansell said, “May this cross serve as a reminder to all who pass beneath it of the price of our redemption, the Passion and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May the sight of this cross turn hearts to repentance and trust in your love. May the raising of this cross upon the heights be a sign of your watchful care for all who gaze upon it.”

Westport residents Ned and Annie Lamont helped spearhead the funding for a new cross, which replaces a weather-worn cross that had stood on the spot for 40 years. Mr. Lamont, owner of Lamont Digital Systems and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2006, told The Catholic Transcript, “This is a first step toward Holy Land.” He cautioned, “One step at a time, but just think what a symbol this was a generation ago, and … we’re coming back.”

Waterbury Mayor Michael J. Jarjura, addressing about a dozen spectators, said, “So many people have commented to me how much they’ve missed seeing the [old] cross,” which was removed in April. “So I’m so happy that it is back here and it’s bigger and better and brighter than ever,” he said.

Later, Mayor Jarjura told The Transcript, “I think it’s wonderful that so many people see this as a source of comfort and peace, and now to have it back and erected again is just a wonderful thing…. I’m so grateful and thankful to the Archdiocese and the sisters and everybody who made this possible.”

Mr. Lamont told the gathering, “For those of you here in Waterbury, it’s a symbol that you’re home. And for me driving by on Route 8, it was always a symbol that I’m on my way home.”

Clifford Lennox, project manager at O, R & L Construction, said the new cross is built of structural steel and is fully galvanized to withstand the elements. Four light poles illuminate it from four angles, using energy-efficient lighting that uses about 25 percent of the electricity that the old cross used, he said.

He said the cross now faces directly at the Shrine of St. Anne on South Main Street.

Tony Durso, a Thomaston resident who grew up in Waterbury, said he wasn’t sure the new cross was better than the old one. “Better is a relative term. We’re used to the old one, obviously, but a cross is a cross. It’s the symbol, rather than the construction,” he said.

Waterbury resident Tom Durso, Tony’s cousin, also attended the blessing. He said, “We were raised in a religious family, and I went to St. Mary’s grammar school right down here, and the nuns would walk us up here back in fifth grade, walk us up here at Easter time, when this place was really cooking.”

Holy Land USA, which the cross overlooks, was built in the 1950s by John Greco, a local attorney. In its heyday, it attracted up to 50,000 pilgrims a year with its replicas of Roman catacombs, Herod’s temple and other sites in and around Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The park fell into disrepair after Mr. Greco’s death in the 1980s, and it has been closed ever since.

Addressing the gathering at the blessing, Sister Frances said, “We want to keep John Greco’s dream alive, and we’ve done that; we’re happy about that.… We can certainly say this is the day that the Lord has made.”

Asked later about details for her plans to revive Holy Land USA, Sister Frances said, “I think the next phase probably will be something like getting a path up here so people will be able to walk up here.”

She also said she hoped rosary stations would be installed.

“We don’t know what the future will be, but this will be alive,” she said.

She stressed that more than $75,000 has been raised, and she challenged business leaders to help fund the rest. Donations may be sent to Holy Land Peace Cross, c/o The Queen of Apostles, Religious Teachers Filippini, 474 East Road, Bristol, CT 06010.