Groundbreaking for San Antonio Grotto Ministry Center

 

  
     
     
  With Oblates, employees and friends looking on, Fr. Dick Houlahan, OMI, Director of Oblate Missions in San Antonio, TX, aided by Fr. Sal DeGeorge, OMI, Area Councillor for the Southwest, Mrs. Margie Fretz, and Brother Paul Hoemeke, OMI, Project Supervisor, broke ground for the new Ministry Center for the Oblates' Lourdes Grotto in San Antonio. 

 

  
     
 

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto of the Southwest   The spiritual center of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate and Oblate Missions is Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto of the Southwest, dedicated on December 7, 1941. To honor their patroness, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate erected the Grotto, the most perfect replica in America of the original Shrine in Lourdes, France. Towering from level ground, it is carved from stone and shaped to resemble the cave in which the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Bernadette. Within the grotto a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes looks down upon Bernadette who is kneeling in prayer. Located on five acres, the beautiful Grotto honors two revelations of Our Blessed Mother: as Our Lady of Lourdes in the Old World and as Our Lady of Guadalupe in the New World. Both the Grotto and the Hill of Tepeyac sites welcome pilgrims from around the world and serve as eternal signs of hope for all who visit. Daily Mass is offered by the Oblate Fathers in the Eucharistic Chapel located within the Grotto. The prayer petitions and intentions of MAMI members and Oblate Missions' donors are remembered each day in the liturgies.  There is also daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel.

 
     
     
 

Grotto Timeline

 

1915 – Concept of Mary Immaculate League conceived by Fr. Cullen Deckert, OMI.. 

 

1935 – Concept of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto envisioned  by Fr. Cullen Deckert as spiritual center of  Mary Immaculate League.. 

 

1938 – Parcel of land identified for Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto from the grounds of the Oblate Seminary.

 

1940 – January ground breaking for current Grotto site.

 

1941 – December 7th Grotto dedicated. 

 

1958 – Grotto Chapel renovated by Fr. Edward Cronin, OMI.

 

1999 – Grotto Sanctuary expanded and Tepeyac Hill

            dedicated with bronze statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe & Juan Diego.

 

2002 – Concept of Grotto Ministries Center conceived by

                Fr. Salvatore DeGeorge, OMI.

 

2003 – Here we are to break ground!

 PHOTO GALLERY: CLICK TO ENLARGE

  
 

l-r: Bro. Paul Hoemeke, Frs. Dick Houlahan and Sal DeGeorge.

Architectural elevations.

Floor plan.

Fr. Houlahan addresses the participants.

Digging in.

Fr. Sal DeGeorge thanks the participants.