Red Cross Blood Drive

Monday, June 17

10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The Grotto Conference Center

The Grotto is pleased to be partnering once again with the American Red Cross.



To register to give blood, click here.

A Prayer for Peace

Loving God,

Our world is in need of your Peace. Fill the hearts of all peoples with honor for every human life.

May your loving touch heal those who dwell in anger, pain and sorrow.

May your Holy Spirit reconcile and unify strangers and neighbors.

I, too, am in need of your Peace. Plant your words of healing and understanding within my heart. Give me strength to live peace, and speak peace, and be a peacemaker.

Amen.

Your Sanctuary, Your Stories

As we continue the celebration of our Centennial Anniversary, we hope you will enjoy this month's feature, "Your Sanctuary, Your Stories".

We look forward to sharing YOUR stories about what The Grotto means to you. Every day this month, check this space and discover how the sanctuary has brought peace and joy to so many.

Today: John Nelson

John Nelson (seen above with Fr. Jack Topper, OSM) served on the Board of Advisors in the 1980s and more recently as a member of the Board of Directors. He has assisted on numerous construction projects and garden improvements both as a volunteer and consultant.

Finding Peace, Sanctuary

Two words associated with The Grotto are ‘Peace’ and ‘Sanctuary’. You and I hear the words regularly and see them in print again and again, but do we fully grasp their meaning and understand why they have a purpose here at this 100-year old shrine?

My Experience

It was a breezy spring day in 1988 and patches of hail whitened the Monastery driveway. I had been working outside all morning inspecting progress on upper garden projects. Now cold and hungry, and late for a meeting at my downtown office, Father Gerry urged me to warm up with a hot lunch.

Opening the Monastery’s side door I was struck immediately by the appetizing aroma of lunchtime dishes and I could hear the soft, comforting voices of the Sisters working in the kitchen. As I stepped into the dining room a single unfamiliar man was seated off to the side. He looked up and motioned to me to join him.

With hot soup and cold cuts I sat down and introduced myself. He reached out - our hands touching lightly - saying his name was Marty. Wearing a black sweater and wire frame glasses, a hesitant smile was revealed from behind the salt and pepper beard. We ate quietly, but when he asked what I do at The Grotto I said something about the peaceful landscape and was looking forward to the season’s first Rhododendron blooms. “Yes", he said, "Portland is peaceful and so colorful”.

His words came slowly: said he wouldn’t stay long at The Grotto, maybe just through the summer. I looked up from my soup and turned to his eyes. In the briefest of moments my thoughts froze: all morning I had hurried to stay ahead of commitments - too busy, too preoccupied, and was due back at my office soon. Now, at once, everything stopped - this person was too important - don't be in a rush; share the meal; take time to sit, listen, and talk. ”You have time for this man”, I told myself.

Memory and Meaning

Last fall, just two weeks before the 7 October attack on Israel, my eyes scanned the outskirts of Jericho while my guide announced a tour cancellation due to explosions a day earlier. At that moment my thoughts recalled Father Jack’s Holy Lands tour many year's earlier, interrupted by a violent terrorist uprising in Cairo, then to the memory of ‘Marty’ whose Christian faith his captors failed to weaken. 

Fr. Jenco came to The Grotto finding peace and sanctuary.

- John Nelson

Send Us Your Stories

We would love to hear from you and share your story. What does The Grotto mean to you? When did you first visit? What is your favorite place? What would you like us to know?

Let us share your stories. Please email jtokito@thegrotto.org for more information or to share your story.

We will be sharing stories all month long. Thank you.