Lithuanian Wayside Shrine
This Lithuanian Shrine was dedicated in 1963 to those who struggled for the freedom of that country fighting for liberty during World War II. Typical of the ancient practice of wayside shrines in Lithuania it is set in a grove of trees.
Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Shrine
This shrine was made possible in large part through the support of the local Polish community of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.
The outdoor shine at The Grotto contains a replica of the icon popularly known as the Black Madonna. The icon, depicting Mary and her child Jesus, darkened from the soot of candles and incense over the centuries, bears scars of vandalism from the fifteenth century.
A pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years, the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland continues to draw countless pilgrims today. The icon’s origins and early history are steeped in legend, attributing the authorship to St. Luke the Evangelist. Critical studies have dated the image back to the fourteenth century. Battles won, territories protected, and countless healings have all been credited to prayer before the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
Dambana, Filipino Faith Shrine
The Dambana (Tagalog translation for altar) is like a pergola, only shaped like a traditional Filipino woman’s head gear called salakot. The columns, which also serve as walls, are made of capiz, a kind of flat seashell commonly used on windows in Filipino homes. The Dambana was designed by Hermes Mallari.
In the center of this circular shrine there are three stands covered with bamboo. Three sculptures are enshrined on these stands: San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first canonized Filipino saint; the Blessed Virgin Mary; and the Santo Nino of Cebu – intercessors with whom Filipinos share a marked affinity. The beautiful sculptures were created by artist Ferdie Sacdalan. The Filipino Community of Oregon and SW Washington, in partnership with The Grotto, collaborated to build this shrine, dedicated in 2008.
Our Lady of Lavang Shrine (Dedicated July 5, 2016)
This shrine honors Mary and her apparition to the faithful Vietnamese Catholics as they hid in the jungle during the final years of the 18th century to avoid persecution for their faith. The Virgin Mary gave them courage and hope, and in the following years the faithful built a church to give thanks to God for the apparition of the Mother of God.
The construction of this impressive shrine was organized by the members of the Vietnamese community and the Southeast Asian Vicariate in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas (Dedication Oct. 29, 2016)
The mosaics in this shrine tell the story of Our Lady’s appearance to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian who had converted to the Catholic faith. Mary asked that a church be built on the hill of Tepeyac. Juan Diego delivered the message to the bishop, who demanded a sign from the Virgin Mary. The humble man returned to the place of the apparition, and once more Mary appeared to him. She told him to gather some roses in his cloak in front of the bishop. When Juan Diego opened his cloak in front of the bishop, an image of the Virgin, just as he had seen her, appeared on the cloak. The bishop believed and a chapel was built, which marked the beginning of the devotion to Mary in the new world and the spread of the Christian faith.
The Knights of Columbus of Oregon coordinated the construction of this shrine, in cooperation with the Hispanic community.
