Thankful Relocation of the Grotto Of the Blessed Virgin
-In the event you have not noticed here in the fall of 2008, the Blessed Virgin has a new location at St. Jerome. As we arranged for the various people, companies and groups to do this project plus others, it made me wonder, how she came to be here?
-I began to ask around, among those who I know to have been at St. Jerome for a few years. The story that developed was that the building of the Grotto goes back to the year 1970. The organization that was responsible was a young woman's organization which was active in the Parish in that era. The name was the "Our Lady's Committee of the Sodality"
See - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodality_of_Our_Lady
-I began to ask around, among those who I know to have been at St. Jerome for a few years. The story that developed was that the building of the Grotto goes back to the year 1970. The organization that was responsible was a young woman's organization which was active in the Parish in that era. The name was the "Our Lady's Committee of the Sodality"
See - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodality_of_Our_Lady
 An Early Photo of the Grotto |
-The man who worked with the youth who built the Grotto was Bud Webb. I understand that he is now deceased. Roxanne Rix is the one who remembered the timing of the construction project, for she was sick in the hospital at that time. It was Lucy Webb, who looked after some of Roxanne's children, during her incapacity. The grotto had been built as best as can be remembered by Roxanne's children, the Webb's and possibly other youth in the Sodality group. The original site was on the north side of the original church and predates the building of our current sanctuary and breezeway.
-As I took pictures, it was amazing the cooperation that we gained to get this project completed. The main participants were the Preach Companies, Mark Preach and his men along with the use of their boom truck. Thank you to all the Preach Families for being there for our Parish when we need you! The ground support mainly came fromJose Carbajal, our Parish Landscaper and his dedicated men of Carbajal's Roundup. It is their beautiful work that you now see surrounding the Grotto. There were no design plans drawn that I am aware, truly inspirational! John Putz, Joe Danko, John Moreno and Apollo Asccacio, plus a couple of men he works with not only did the lights at the Grotto, but also did the work on the new lights and electrical outlets on the breezeway. The way that this continues to build is not only amazing; it actually verges on the realm of miraculous. Now why would I say this? Well a few weeks back we were contemplating spending $550 for a ground based light in order to light the Grotto at night. The first weekend in September, Kevin Smith, a St. Helen's Parishioner was coming to Mass when he noticed our "New" Grotto. He was really struck by its presentation. Kevin immediately wrote to Dale Canady's Parish Website offering to provide the lighting for us! Thank you, Kevin! Thank you, Dale! http://saintjerome.org/
-As I took pictures, it was amazing the cooperation that we gained to get this project completed. The main participants were the Preach Companies, Mark Preach and his men along with the use of their boom truck. Thank you to all the Preach Families for being there for our Parish when we need you! The ground support mainly came fromJose Carbajal, our Parish Landscaper and his dedicated men of Carbajal's Roundup. It is their beautiful work that you now see surrounding the Grotto. There were no design plans drawn that I am aware, truly inspirational! John Putz, Joe Danko, John Moreno and Apollo Asccacio, plus a couple of men he works with not only did the lights at the Grotto, but also did the work on the new lights and electrical outlets on the breezeway. The way that this continues to build is not only amazing; it actually verges on the realm of miraculous. Now why would I say this? Well a few weeks back we were contemplating spending $550 for a ground based light in order to light the Grotto at night. The first weekend in September, Kevin Smith, a St. Helen's Parishioner was coming to Mass when he noticed our "New" Grotto. He was really struck by its presentation. Kevin immediately wrote to Dale Canady's Parish Website offering to provide the lighting for us! Thank you, Kevin! Thank you, Dale! http://saintjerome.org/
 Grotto's flight over the breezeway - JJK |
-However, generosity and synergy of our Parishioners does not end here. Mike Mead, who was a 20 year Parishioner here with his family and currently attends St. Thomas More Parish, did the excavating for the new outlets on the breezeway at no cost to the Parish. Gosh Mike, thanks for putting up with my bad humor and the new digs you have put in for us. Even if it does put a bite now and in the future into our old beer garden.
-"Muchas Gracias" to Miguel Vega and his men for doing the repair and stuccoing of wall in front of the Parish offices and Father Andres' office. You did a superb job and for only a mere fraction of what it would have cost to do the task, otherwise!
-If we look to the School, the remodeling of the two lower bathrooms involved many volunteer hours of superb tile work by Jose Cortez, Jose Aguilar, Oswaldo Herrera and M.V.Wittman. New coats of paint exist due to the work of Armando & Elsa Bustamonte and Polo in the school. "Letty" Rodriquez and Monica Gaynor contributed to the Parish Offices painting and interior decorating of Conference Room. Hector & Sandra Chayaite did excellent carpet cleaning in the Sanctuary.
-Thanks most sincerely to Randall Brenes and his firm for doing the regrouting of the breezeway tile at absolutely no cost to the Parish. How many of you noticed? It is a miracle. An on going thanks must be extended to Doug Grey, American Express Co. and Jessco Electric Co. for the donations of the 2 new Bollard lights in the Northwest Parking Lot berm area, donation of a light pole and lights toward the West Parking Lots and not least Doug's and Harold Doyles contribution of fiber optics and expertise toward the schools new computer lab. Again the Carbajal's Roundup came to the rescue to finish work that was needed to complete the berm lighting project. Don Meek did a top self of manufacturing the cabinets in the Computer Lab with installation help of Mark Dunn, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Gross, Rick Asmus and his son. I can go on and on, but I would be most remiss if I did not mention those who stepped forward to take on the responsibility of our new Parish Building and Properties Committee - Ernie Delgado, Tim Mitchell, George Donaldson, John Putz, John Moreno and Bob Gallas. This along with the members of our volunteer work committees: Isabelle, Gio, Maria, Bob, Thomas, Jim, John, Ray, Mark, Andrew, Roberto, Diana, Armando and Gary. If you encounter any of these individuals or others who have given of themselves to build this community family, please say thank you! I would hope that you would all agree that this coming together for a common goal is a boost to OUR community building.
-The second reason I classify these happenings as near miraculous goes back to August 20th when we moved the Grotto and the Statue of the Blessed Virgin. There was a small incident or observance that translated much symbolism and meaning to me. The crews doing the moving used a number of cargo straps (see photo) to wrap the Grotto in the travel over the breezeway. Upon placing the statue in its final resting place, Jose Carbajal noted to me that one of the straps which was about 5 inches wide and maybe 1/3 of an inch thick had been cut and worn to where there was only around ½ inch of material holding it together. The combination of the straps working together, even though they were challenged, held to complete the task of everything we wanted. His comment to me was "She really wanted to make it to the new location to be among us." So with the seeds that were planted in this ground 38 years ago, we truly do receive by giving of ourselves.
If we build on the strengths of our community, with Christ and his Mother among us and in our hearts, how can we not fulfill our faith journey?
John J. Kornfeind
Volunteer Development Director
St. Mary's Grotto Relocation 8/20/08. Click on movie below
or for larger click here then click on movie.
-"Muchas Gracias" to Miguel Vega and his men for doing the repair and stuccoing of wall in front of the Parish offices and Father Andres' office. You did a superb job and for only a mere fraction of what it would have cost to do the task, otherwise!
-If we look to the School, the remodeling of the two lower bathrooms involved many volunteer hours of superb tile work by Jose Cortez, Jose Aguilar, Oswaldo Herrera and M.V.Wittman. New coats of paint exist due to the work of Armando & Elsa Bustamonte and Polo in the school. "Letty" Rodriquez and Monica Gaynor contributed to the Parish Offices painting and interior decorating of Conference Room. Hector & Sandra Chayaite did excellent carpet cleaning in the Sanctuary.
-Thanks most sincerely to Randall Brenes and his firm for doing the regrouting of the breezeway tile at absolutely no cost to the Parish. How many of you noticed? It is a miracle. An on going thanks must be extended to Doug Grey, American Express Co. and Jessco Electric Co. for the donations of the 2 new Bollard lights in the Northwest Parking Lot berm area, donation of a light pole and lights toward the West Parking Lots and not least Doug's and Harold Doyles contribution of fiber optics and expertise toward the schools new computer lab. Again the Carbajal's Roundup came to the rescue to finish work that was needed to complete the berm lighting project. Don Meek did a top self of manufacturing the cabinets in the Computer Lab with installation help of Mark Dunn, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Gross, Rick Asmus and his son. I can go on and on, but I would be most remiss if I did not mention those who stepped forward to take on the responsibility of our new Parish Building and Properties Committee - Ernie Delgado, Tim Mitchell, George Donaldson, John Putz, John Moreno and Bob Gallas. This along with the members of our volunteer work committees: Isabelle, Gio, Maria, Bob, Thomas, Jim, John, Ray, Mark, Andrew, Roberto, Diana, Armando and Gary. If you encounter any of these individuals or others who have given of themselves to build this community family, please say thank you! I would hope that you would all agree that this coming together for a common goal is a boost to OUR community building.
 Photo by Joe Danko |
If we build on the strengths of our community, with Christ and his Mother among us and in our hearts, how can we not fulfill our faith journey?
John J. Kornfeind
Volunteer Development Director
St. Mary's Grotto Relocation 8/20/08. Click on movie below
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