Grotto of the Redemption Shrine - West Bend, Iowa

(CNS photo/courtesy Catholic Globe)

Destination: If this looks familiar, don’t be surprised. We’ve sent you to West Bend, Iowa, before. (See August 2008 in our archives.) What’s new is Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa, has signed a decree making the Grotto of the Redemption a diocesan shrine. It is only the second shrine in Iowa and is the largest grotto in the world. Father Thomas Hart, who is rector of the grotto, is starting paper work to ask the USCCB to make it a national shrine.
Masses are offered at 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, around which the grotto was built.
Why to go:  The grotto, on the National Register of Historic Places since 2001, is a composite of nine separate Grottos, each portraying a scene in the life of Christ, the story of the fall of woman and man, our divine redemption through Christ, and Mary’s presence in the redemptive process. Its builder, Father Matthias Dobberstien commented, “If your messages are carved in stone they are well nigh imperishable. The imperishableness is the outstanding feature of the Grotto.”
As a young seminarian, Father Dobberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. As he fought for his life he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for him for the grace of health. He promised to build a shrine in her honor if he lived. The illness passed, the student completed his studies and after his ordination he came to West Bend as pastor in 1898. For over a decade, he  stockpiled rocks and precious stones until the actual work of his promise began to take shape in 1912.
Among specimens at the grotto are agate, amethyst, azurite and malachite, barite and barite rose, drusy quartz, calcite, fluorite (found primarily in Southern Illinois), geode (Iowa’s state rock), jasperm petrified wood and quartz.
Extras: The gift shop is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Hours are seasonal, so check the website before going.
(Grand) Kid friendly:  Yes, with plenty of room for exploring, as long as they remember this is a shrine. Climbing the stairs is OK; shouting is not. Taking pictures for school projects is definitely OK.
Info: Address: 300 N. Broadway Ave., West Bend, Iowa 50597  Phone: 515/887-2371  Web site: www.westbendgrotto.com

 - Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld and Tony Carton; CNS contributed to this story
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