The Grotto - Portland, Oregon

(Photo provided)

Destination: Known informally as The Grotto, the proper name of this spot is The National Santuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. Located minutes from downtown Portland, the 62-acre site is both shrine and botanical gardens dedicated to Mary. It is administered by the Order of Friars Servants of Mary, USA Province.
Masses are at 10 a.m. (weekly) and noon (May-October, in the Grotto Plaza weather permitting) Sunday; noon weekdays; 8 a.m. Saturday.
Why to go: The informal title derives from a grotto in a cliff wall that holds a white marble copy of Michelangelo’s Pieta. But there are also a number of gardens that feature hundreds of statues, shrines and religious art.
Its acreage includes manicured gardens and paths that provide year-round access to the plaza and upper levels. The plaza level showcases native northwest plants, and the Chapel of Mary. Upper-level gardens, 110 feet above the lower level, sit atop the north face of Rocky Butte.
The shrine is the work of Father Ambrose Mayer, who, as a boy, promised a great undertaking for the Church if God would spare his mother and the baby girl she delivered in a difficult labor. He joined the Servite Order, for whom, in 1918, he was sent to the Archdiocese of Portland. In 1923, when all he had was $3,000, he used the money as a downpayment on a $48,000 site owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Pope Pius XI, in his own handwriting, gave a boost to Father Mayer’s efforts when he offered a Special Apostolic Blessing to all those who “in any way or measure, show their good will and assist in erecting the Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother in Portland.”
The first Mass, offered May 29, 1924, for the shrine’s dedication, drew 3,000 people.
Special events: The shrine just closed its Advent Festival of Lights. It will also host International Freedom Sunday events on July 4, highlighting the traditions and contributions of the Portland area’s Polish, Croatian, Russian, Korean, Filipino, Hispanic, Eritrean, Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese cultures.
Amenities: A Welcome Center and Gift Shop is open Monday—Sunday (except Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Access: Because of the multi-level terrain, some parts of the shrine might be challenging. The lower level, however, should be accessible to most.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Outdoor sites are always open to younger visitors.
Info: Address: The Grotto, P.O. Box 20008, Portland, OR 97294-0008 Phone: 503/254-7371. Web: www.thegrotto.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
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