A Place of Sanctuary
Bringing The Grotto to You
A Message from Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto

We live a world that is tired, frightened, angry and unsettled. Many situations concern us and weigh heavily upon our thoughts and hearts. Our concerns can easily overwhelm us. The need for peace in the world and peace in our hearts is more necessary now than before.

The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother - The Grotto - exists to be a place of peace, the peace that only God can give. We believe that God is ever close to us and wishes peace for our troubled hearts. The religious shrines, artwork and the gardens of the Grotto offer a place that one’s full heart can find peace and the overwhelmed mind, tired from many things, can rest surrounded by the beauty of God’s carefully crafted creation.

Making time to be at a place like the Grotto is a gift to oneself to unwind and think clearly for a moment. It is a place to find hope to move through the troubles of the world and the troubles of the heart with clarity, hope and peace. God provides all of this to the believer.

To encounter this peace and hope one needs to make time to rest the mind and heart, even for a moment. When the Servite Friars founded the Grotto in 1924 it was their belief that the world, tired of war and strife, needed places of quiet and peace to refresh one's soul and spirit. The Friars hold this same belief today.

There are many wonderful charities and social organizations asking for your assistance at this time to keep them in fulfilling their mission. We ask you to consider us as well in your giving. We need your prayerful and financial support to keep The Grotto operating, so it can remain a place of peace and refreshment for the tired and the overwhelmed.

Your support will assist the Grotto in being the place of encounter with God, the Prince of Peace. Thank you.

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
TOMORROW WE OPEN
What to Expect When We Reopen

In yesterday's edition of "Bringing The Grotto to You," we explained some of the new procedures put in place as part of our phase one reopening plans. Keeping our staff and guests safe is our number one priority. To read about the guidelines in place, and what to expect, please click here.
Volunteers Needed for Reopening

As we prepare to reopen tomorrow, we must follow strict guidelines set out by the state and county. We are in need of volunteer help to guide visitors and help keep areas clean. Shifts vary and we can work around your schedule.

We need you. If you would like to learn more about volunteering at The Grotto, please contact Vinci Paterson at volunteer@thegrotto.org. Thank you for your continued support.
Bringing The Grotto to You

We hope you have enjoyed this the feature "Bringing The Grotto to You." It has been our pleasure to share a piece of The Grotto with you for 88 straight days.

We are excited about tomorrow. We hope you will be able to visit us very soon.

This closure has been financially devastating. We will need all the support we can get. If you have enjoyed these emails, we hope you will consider donating.
Day 88: Thank You
What The Grotto Means to You

Never before have we received such a response from our readers as we have with this series. Sometimes it was just a short "thank you" and other times a more detailed response, sharing thoughts about The Grotto.

We loved hearing your stories and appreciate all the support. It has been an emotional and heartwarming 88 days, learning what an important role The Grotto plays in so many people's lives.

We share you appreciation and awe of this beautiful sanctuary, a place of solitude, peace and prayer.

Today, we would like to share some of the words YOU wrote during the past three months. We thank you for standing by us.
"As soon as I arrive at The Grotto, I immediately feel peace."
"Just looking at the gardens gives me peace and comfort. In these trying times, this is certainly a respite."
"My life changed the day I just sat for a while in the Meditation Chapel. I will always be thankful."
"Thank you for the lovely photos. One day I hope to get there again."
" Missing all of this. Thank you for these moments of peace."
"Going to visit The Grotto will be one of the first things on my list when we are freed."
"I sure do miss being able to enjoy the beautiful gardens at The Grotto. I have been going there at least once a month since I moved into the neighborhood five years ago. "
"This is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been."
"Amazingly comfortable chairs in that room, I could spend hours staring out that huge window watching the world go by."
"I miss my walks through your beautiful gardens."
"A visit to The Grotto puts your soul at rest."
"Praying to St. Peregrine has been a great source of comfort."
"I love this amazing place ... wonderful to walk, reflect, pray and renew."
"I look forward to returning to The Grotto someday to pray and meditate, and enjoy the gardens and art."
"I recommend The Grotto for its serenity, beauty, nature, holiness and vistas."
"The path with all the shrines from around the world is my favorite part of The Grotto. I feel like I am home."
"The Grotto has always been a precious place of peace in my life. Thanks for the uplifting words each day. "
"My favorite part is the peace and quiet even when people are around."
"I hope The Grotto will open up again. I can't imagine living here without it."
Thank You

Thank you for spending part of your days during this historic time with us. We are honored you chose to include us in your daily routine.

While "Bringing The Grotto to You" maybe be coming to an end, we plan to continue the Daily Spiritual Reflections. So keep looking for our emails.

And if you ever want to reread or reminisce, the entire 88-day series will remain on our website at thegrotto.org/a-place-of-sanctuary-bringing-the-grotto-to-you/.

We look forward to this new chapter for The Grotto. We are blessed to have you
moving forward with us. Thank you.
Mass

Following the guidelines set by the Archdiocese of Portland, The Grotto will celebrate Mass on Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon in the Chapel of Mary. Under these strict guidelines, there is an attendance limit, and those attending must be registered in advance for contact tracing and crowd control.

At this time, we can only sign up 21 people per Mass, so we ask that you please sign up for only one Mass per four week period.

We expect Daily Mass to resume on Monday, June 22. More information about signing up for Daily Mass will be coming soon.
Red Cross Blood Drive

On Wednesday, July 8, we will roll up our sleeves and help save lives. Please join us for our quarterly blood drive. Since beginning these drives in 2019, we have collected 107 units of blood.

Each pint of blood we collect can save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community.
The Series

We hope you are enjoying our daily feature A Place of Sanctuary: Bringing The Grotto to You.

Week 1
St. Francis of Assisi
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day
St. Anne's Chapel
St. Joseph's Grove
The Marilyn Moyer Meditation Chapel
Spring in the Garden
Our Lady's Grotto

Week 2
St. Jude Thaddeus
Statue of Mary, Our Mother
The Pollinator Garden
St. Philip Benizi's Retreat
Pathways of The Grotto
St. Peregrine Shrine
The Servites

Week 3
Here Light Shines
The Peace Garden
Dambana
Looking Up
Feast of Our Lady at the Foot of the Cross
The Rose Garden
Palm Sunday, The Christus Garden

Week 4
Crosses and Crucifixes
Sacred Heart Statue
Angels of The Grotto
Holy Thursday of The Lord's Supper
Good Friday, Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday, Via Matris
Easter Sunday

Week 5
The Forest
Blessing of the Animals
Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
Colors of The Grotto
Mysteries of the Rosary
Lighting a Candle
Chapel of Mary

Week 6
Come to the Water
Our Lady of Lavang Shrine
Celebrating God's Creation
Our Lady of Lourdes
The Labyrinth
Looking Out a Window
How The Grotto Began

Week 7
The Cliff and Elevator
Lithuanian Wayside Shrine
The Grotto by the Numbers
Music at The Grotto
May Flowers
Take a Closer Look
Outdoor Mass

Week 8
The Feast of St. Peregrine
Celebrating Your Favorites
A Year at The Grotto
The Seven Holy Founders
Views and Perspectives
The Rhododendrons
Mother's Day at The Grotto

Week 9
Twilight at The Grotto
The Peace Pole
Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine
A Seat Waiting for You
The Murals
Mosaics of The Grotto
The Chapel Saints

Week 10
The Grotto Gift Shop
The Servite Mission
Architecture of The Grotto
A Retreat at The Grotto
The Visitor Center
Arriving at The Grotto
Sr. Ruth's Well

Week 11
Celebrating Memorial Day
A Gallery in the Woods
Hope and Healing
The View
The Grotto Plaza
The Leaves
Celebrating Pentecost

Week 12
Then and Now
Meet Me at The Grotto
A Sanctuary of Peace
In Every Sense
Reflections
A Parade of Roses
Volunteering at The Grotto

Week 13
Circles
Whatever the Weather
Reopening Plans
Today: Thank You
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371