The Grotto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother
The Grotto
The Grotto shrine, featuring the Pietà
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Type	Shrine, garden, sanctuary
Location	8840 NE Skidmore St Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Area	62 acres (25 ha)
Created	1924
Founder	Ambrose Mayer
Operated by	Order of Friar Servants of Mary
Visitors	300,000 (annually)
Designation	National Sanctuary
Religious Affiliation	Catholic (Friars of the Order of the Servants of Mary)

The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, often called The Grotto, is a special outdoor Catholic place in Portland, Oregon, USA. It's a shrine and a peaceful sanctuary.

It was built in 1924 and covers about 62 acres. This special place is built around a 110-foot tall cliff. It is run by a group of Catholic priests called the Servite Friars.

The Grotto has a large meditation hall that goes from the top of the cliff down to its base. A cross on the hill can be seen from far away. Besides a church, there are many trails. These trails include the Stations of the Cross, where visitors can walk and think quietly through beautiful botanical gardens. The Grotto also has a Conference Center and a Gift Shop.

The Grotto's History

The Grotto was started in 1924 by Friar Ambrose Mayer. He was a priest from Ontario, Canada who came to the United States. He found a piece of land outside Northeast Portland that was for sale. This land was owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

Friar Mayer paid $3,000 as a first payment and bought the land in 1923. People from all over the country helped raise the rest of the money needed to pay for the land.

Building a Natural Cathedral

Friar Mayer imagined The Grotto as a natural cathedral, which is a large church. Building started in September 1923. Workers carved a cave out of the 110-foot basalt cliff. Inside, they placed a statue of Mary holding Jesus's body after he was crucified.

Later, a marble copy of Michelangelo's famous Pietà statue was also put in place. The first church service at The Grotto happened on May 29, 1924, with 3,000 people attending.

In 1955, the Chapel of Mary was opened on the grounds. In 1983, The Grotto was named a National Sanctuary. This means it is a very important religious site. The Grotto's grounds include 62 acres of paths, forests, and a garden on top of the cliff. You can reach the upper garden by an elevator built into the cliff. From the top, you can see amazing views of the Columbia River Valley, the Cascade Mountains, and Mount St. Helens.

Statues and Vandalism

On November 30, 2012, some unknown people broke into the grounds. They damaged several statues. Statues of St. Joseph and baby Jesus had their heads removed. A statue of the Virgin Mary was pushed over, and its head was also taken off. All these statues were made of very old Carrara marble. Two angel statues were also harmed. Since then, the damaged statues have been fixed or replaced.

What You Can See at The Grotto

An elevator leads to the upper level botanical gardens located above the cliff.

The Grotto has many interesting features for visitors to explore.

Plaza Level Areas

The lower part of The Grotto, called the Plaza Level, includes:

• The Chapel of Mary
• The main Grotto cave
• The Stations of the Cross
• Various statues
• A Gift Shop
• A Conference Center

Other peaceful spots on the Plaza Level are:

• The Meditation Chapel
• Different shrines, like the Lithuanian Wayside Shrine and the Polish Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa
• The Dambana, a Filipino Faith Shrine
• The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• The Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang
• The Peace Garden
• Displays showing the Mysteries of the Rosary
• The Monastery building
• A beautiful Rose Garden
• St. Anne's Chapel
• The Via Matris path

Saint Joseph sculpture at the Grotto.

Important Sculptures

The Smithsonian Institution has listed 23 statues and memorials at The Grotto. Some of these include:

• Glorious Mysteries
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial
• Joyful Mysteries
• Kneeling Angels
• Lithuanian Wayside Shrine
• Marilyn Moyer Meditation Chapel Fountain
• Our Lady of Lourdes
• Peace Pole
• Pietà with Two Angels
• Sacred Heart
• Sacred Heart Shrine
• Saints in Niches
• Sorrowful Mysteries
• Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph
• St. Joseph
• St. Jude Shrine
• St. Philip Benizi
• Stations of the Cross
• Statue of Mary
• The Assumption of Our Blessed Mother
• The Calvary Statue
• The Christus
• Via Matris

Events and Festivals

The Grotto hosts many different events throughout the year. These include meetings, seminars, and special religious gatherings.

Festival of Lights

Every December, The Grotto puts on a huge light display along its trails. This event is called the "Festival of Lights." It first started in 1988 and lasted for ten nights. Now, the festival is much bigger and longer. For example, in 2015, it ran for 33 days.

Besides the beautiful light displays, there are concerts every night. Visitors can also enjoy caroling and other fun activities for families. More than 60,000 people visit the Festival of Lights each year.

The Monastery Building

The Grotto's monastery building was built in 1936. It is home to the friars of the Servite Order. These are the priests who manage and care for The Grotto.