A Place of Sanctuary
Bringing The Grotto to You
Daily Spiritual Reflection

A Prayer for Today

Father, you created all things in your image and likeness and pronounced these to be good. In you “all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Somehow we have let pride create divisions, walls and barriers where you had none when you created us. Father, what ails us now is the cause of our shortsightedness. We see what we want to see. We believe what we want to believe. We live as we want to live. Doing so has caused a mess of the beauty and harmony that you established as the norm for all creation from its beginning.

Grant us the humility to see what you see, neither male or female, black or white, poor or rich, but just your children, united in the common family of humanity with you as our Father. Lord, restore our senses to be kind and loving, caring and compassionate, forgiving, helpful and respectful to each other. Give us the wisdom to restore your equal justice to all that the reverence and upholding of each person’s dignity is our life’s work.

Lord, give us your eyes to see the goodness in each other. Give us your heart to love as we are loved. Give us your creative Spirit to build up each other that unity may be humanity’s greatest and lasting achievement.

Father, bring us deep and abiding peace in Him, your Son, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Fr. Don Siple, OSM, Rector of The Grotto
Pray the Servite Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Present Pandemic

Join Fr. Richard Boyle, OSM, in praying this special Rosary.

Recorded at the Via Matris (Way of the Mother) in The Grotto's Upper Gardens.

Reopening Plans

We have some very exciting news to share. At this time, we expect to reopen our gates and our gardens on Friday, June 12. We will be taking guidance from Multnomah County.

As we get closer to that date, we will inform you of visiting guidelines and our sanitation practices. We want to keep our visitors safe.
10 DAYS
 UNTIL WE OPEN
Sunday Mass

Under 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. 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.
The Grotto Gift Shop

The gift shop is now open from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily, following the governor's strict operating guidelines. Click the button below for shopping instructions.
Bringing The Grotto to You

Until we fully open, we hope you continue to enjoy 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 and send us your email.
Day 79: Meet Me at The Grotto
Bring The Grotto to Your Meetings

While we are delighted to be making steps toward opening back up, we understand that as a community we are still a long way from "business as usual."

Business meetings and family reunions will remain virtual for a while longer, so today we give you something we hope will make those moments a little nicer.

This email contains a collection of images suitable for virtual backgrounds for your virtual meetings, whatever platform you use.

Simply save the photos from this email to your desktop or phone, and upload them following the instructions of the application you are using. It's pretty simple and fun.

And if you aren't participating in any virtual meetings, consider using these photos as headers on social media ... or just enjoy looking at them.
A Prayer for Community

Gracious God,

You create every person and call each one into life.

We seek you, and celebrate you, and learn about you in a community of believers.

Right now my community is distant ... separated.

Across a divide of at least six feet - often much farther.

Across the street feels like a world away.

Help me to find meaningful ways to connect with my communities ... my faith community, my family, my neighborhood.

Help me make time to unite with my communities in prayer, in my conversations, in my simple acts of kindness, so that I bear witness to the fact that it is you who unite and bind us all together in faith, hope and charity.

Amen.
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.

Mass Enrollment Cards
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.

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
The Grotto
The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

NE 85th & Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

503-254-7371