Today's Hours of Operation   Grounds: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Gift Shop: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Upper Gardens admission sold until 7 p.m.)   Recitation of the Rosary 11:30 a.m. Chapel of Mary   Daily Mass 12 noon Chapel of Mary   Priest Office Hours 10-11:45 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. Office is located inside the Visitor Center.

A Prayer of Welcome Gracious God, We are blessed to have this beautiful Sanctuary in the city. May pilgrims and visitors feel welcomed as they are surrounded by the majesty of the tall cedars. May the bird's song, the rustling leaves, and the greeting of our staff allow all who visit to lay down their burdens here. May they feel your loving mercy, and be inspired by the images of angels and saints to follow your Son Jesus more sincerely. And may Blessed Mary offer her humble encouragement as visitors pray, explore, seek and learn. As our visitors leave this place may they be filled with the gift of compassion and hope.   Amen.

Your Sanctuary of Peace   We hope you enjoy the photographs of our beautiful sanctuary, which we will share throughout the month of May, as we celebrate 100 years of The Grotto.   Today: Arriving at The Grotto

A Sanctuary of Peace As soon as you enter the parking lot from busy Sandy Boulevard, you are surrounded by the majestic natural beauty of the Northwest. It is hard to believe you are in the middle of a city. Our visitors come from around the world, and the one word they all use to describe The Grotto is "peace".

Welcome to The Grotto Today we will remind you of what it is like when you step from the city into our sanctuary. Every photo in this edition is taken from the parking lot.

The Calvary Scene As you enter the parking area of the lower level, you are greeted by a sculpture depicting the death of Jesus at the crucifixion. The white Carrera marble tableau was installed in 1951 and carved by the Eredi Studios in Peitrasanta, Italy, a religious art colony near Pisa in Tuscany. It is fitting that such a simple and elegant sculpture greets the visitors who come to our sanctuary, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, for in Catholic literature and piety, the source of Mary's sorrow is the death of her son, Jesus.

The Twin Sequoias The entrance to The Grotto is flanked by two Giant Sequoia trees, each over 130 feet tall. The circumference of the slightly taller tree is one of the largest on The Grotto's property. Its circumference is approximately 40 feet.

The Forest of Rocky Butte The Grotto's 54 acres are set among, and are surrounded by, a thick, evergreen forest. Much of the forest is made up from varieties of fir trees, but you can spot dozens of other species as you stroll through the lower level and the Upper Gardens.

The canopy of the giant firs creates a wonderfully cool shade in the hot summer months. With the forest and the gentle breeze from the Columbia River Gorge, The Grotto is often one of the coolest places in town on a hot, summer day. We invite to to join us this summer for a refreshing walk.

Stations of the Cross Path A circular path beginning near the parking area leads to the Stations of the Cross. These 14 Stations of the Cross in bronze were purchased in Eugene by Servite Fr. Ambrose Mayer, founder of The Grotto, and shipped to Portland in 1930. They were stored at the Monastery until 1936. Set in shrines of tufa stone, surrounded by trees, flowers and ferns, they were erected along two rising paths at the base of the cliff. The Stations were refurbished in 1995.

The Marvelous Ash Trees The line of ash trees which divide the parking lot are spectacular throughout the year. While blossom and the bright greens of spring are beautiful, nothing can compare to the amazing show of color they produce every autumn.

Awesome Autumn Watch this video and enjoy the spectacular sights of autumn in the parking lot. Recorded one early morning in the fall.

The Grotto Gift Shop Set among towering trees and native shrubs, the Gift Shop greets all visitors entering from the main parking lot. Gift Shop Hours: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. The Grotto Gift Shop has a wide variety of books, Rosaries, cards, medals, jewelry, home accessories, yummy treats, and much more.   We invite you to come and explore the store.

Getting to The Grotto If arriving by car, our main entrance is located at NE 85th Ave. and Sandy Blvd. If you come via public transportation, we are situated on bus lines #12 and #72. We are also less than a mile from the Parkrose/Sumner MAX station. During our annual Christmas Festival of Lights, we provide a free shuttle from the MAX station. For detailed directions, click here. For TriMet information, click here. And if you are local, we have a bike rack waiting for you.

Bus Parking Would you like to bring a group to The Grotto? We have special bus parking set aside to make your trip easier. Your driver can drop everyone at the entrance, and then head to the special zone in the parking lot. For information on booking a group retreat or school field trip, please contact events@thegrotto.org.

Pets on the Lower Level Did you know that pets, properly restrained, are welcome in the outdoor areas of the lower level? The forested grounds are a wonderful place for a stroll with your furry friend. They will love all the smells of nature through the woodsy trails.

A Sanctuary in the City for 100 Years Did you know The Grotto turns 100 this month? This photo was taken in one of the earliest years of The Grotto.

Sights from the Parking Lot We hope you enjoy these scenic sights, all viewed from our free parking lot. And if this is just the parking lot ... can you imagine inside?