A Place of Sanctuary
Bringing The Grotto to You
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Daily Spiritual Reflection
Prayer to Overcome Racism
Mary, friend and mother to all,
through your Son, God has found a way to unite himself to every human being, called to be one people, sisters and brothers to each other.
We ask for your help in calling on your Son, seeking forgiveness for the times when we have failed to love and respect one another.
We ask for your help in obtaining from your Son the grace we need to overcome the evil of racism and to build a just society.
We ask for your help in following your Son, so that prejudice and animosity will no longer infect our minds or hearts but will be replaced with a love that respects the dignity of each person.
Mother of the Church, the Spirit of your Son Jesus warms our hearts: pray for us.
Amen.
Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC.
Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
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Volunteers Needed for Reopening
We expect to reopen our gates and our gardens this Friday, June 12.
As we prepare to reopen, 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.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering at The Grotto, please contact Vinci Paterson, our Director of Community Engagement. She can be reached at
volunteer@thegrotto.org
, or by phone at 503-261-2433. Or just click the button below.
Thank you for your continued support of The Grotto.
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Bringing The Grotto to You
Until we are fully open, we will continue our daily email feature, "Bringing The Grotto to You."
Was
this email forwarded to you? Would you like to receive our emails on a regular basis? Please click the button below to sign up.
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Day 87: Plans for Reopening
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What to Expect
We are very excited to be reopening this Friday, June 12. However, we must follow strict guidelines so we may keep our staff and guests safe.
Temporary Hours of Operation Beginning Friday
9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. daily
Admission to the Upper Gardens is sold until 7:30 p.m.
Visitor Center closes daily at 5 p.m.
Please read on to learn about what to expect while we are in Phase 1 of reopening.
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Please follow these basic guidelines when visiting The Grotto:
Wear a mask.
Sanitize hands.
Keep social distance of at least six feet.
Stay out of closed areas.
Follow instructions of our staff and volunteer guides.
Please do not enter the property if you are feeling sick.
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Visiting The Grotto Gift Shop
The Grotto Gift Shop is currently open. Our employees are all wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
We have installed clear partitions at the registers.
We are cleaning and sanitizing beyond what is required in the governors guidelines for reopening retail shops.
We have placed distance markers to assist shoppers and staff. We require that all customers maintain a minimum of six feet of distance between other shoppers.
Shoppers must sanitize hands before entering and we request shoppers wear masks.
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Maintaining Social Distance
All our visitors will be asked to maintain a minimum of six feet of social distance, with the exception of people from the same household.
We will have reminders posted throughout the grounds
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Pathways
Some of our more narrow paths are now marked as one-way paths. Please obey the signs.
On our wider, two-way paths, please stay to the right as you pass other guests.
Please continue to maintain social distance.
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Limited Numbers in Some Areas
Some areas of The Grotto, especially those which are indoors, have a temporary maximum occupancy based on social distancing requirements. This includes the Chapel of Mary, the Meditation Chapel, The Grotto Gift Shop, The Visitor Center, and the area directly in front of The Grotto.
Volunteers and staff will attend these areas to maintain safe occupancy. Please follow the guidance of these greeters.
We thank you for your understanding.
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Visiting The Upper Gardens
Our scenic Upper Gardens will reopen on Friday.
Admission to the Upper Gardens can be purchased in The Grotto Gift Shop. We will not be using tokens or the turnstile at this time. Instead, you receipt will be your ticket; a greeter will be at the gate to usher you through. The gate will be open so you do not need to touch anything.
We ask that only groups from the same household ride in the elevator at the same time. If there is a wait for the elevator, we ask that you maintain social distance while waiting. Markers on the handrails going up the ramp will help assist you.
We have closed the stairs up to the elevator, and ask that everyone use the ramp so we have fewer handrails to keep clean.
Please continue to wear your mask in the elevator. We thank you for your understanding.
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Large Seating Areas Limited for Social Distancing
The pews in The Grotto Plaza, as well as those in the Chapel of Mary, have only every third row open for seating, to ensure physical distancing. These areas will be sanitized regularly.
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Visiting The Meditation Chapel
The Meditation Chapel will be open with limited capacity. A guide will be there to let you know if it is a good time to enter.
For the time being, we have removed the large chairs. There are still benches you may sit on in the Meditation Chapel, which will be cleaned regularly.
We will bring the large, comfortable chairs back as soon as it is safe to do so.
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Cleaning Common Areas
All common areas will be sanitized throughout the day. Our cleaning schedule exceeds the requirements set by the county and state. This includes all bathrooms, common areas, and frequently touched surfaces.
If you would like more detailed information, please email
events@thegrotto.org
and we will be happy to answer your questions.
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Mass
Under the guidelines set by the Archdiocese of Portland, The Grotto continues to celebrate Mass on Sundays at 10 a.m. and noon in the Chapel of Mary. The guidelines include an attendance limit, and those attending must be registered in advance for contact tracing and crowd control. 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.
Daily Mass is scheduled to resume on Monday, June 22, at noon in the Chapel of Mary.
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Bless All Who Visit
Gracious God,
Life these past three months of uncertainty and isolation has been difficult.
Staying connected to this holy place, and to the people in my life - although in different and unexpected ways - has brought me closer to you.
Help me continue to grow in faith, hope and love.
I rejoice that the Grotto can again open its gardens and chapels.
Continue to bless all who visit and support this sanctuary so that your peace and mercy abound.
Amen.
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Light a Candle at The Grotto
Purchase a candle to be lighted at The Grotto while we are closed. Your candle will burn for seven days in the outdoor cradles by The Grotto.
Your support will help The Grotto continue its ministry through this difficult time.
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Perpetual Enrollment in The Grotto’s Guild of Masses and Prayer honors yourself, your family or your loved ones, and provides support for The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother.
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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.
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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
Today:
Reopening Plans
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The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother
NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon
503-254-7371
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