Ave Maria Grotto celebrates 75th anniversary CULLMAN, Ala. — Ave Maria Grotto is celebrating its 75th anniversary this weekend. The grotto consists of over 125 miniature reproductions of famous churches, shrines, and buildings. These miniatures are displayed along a walking path that meanders through a landscaped garden that covers four acres.
In preparation of the celebration, construction crews recently completed an overall remodeling of the gift shop including new restrooms, a new video room, an extended screened-in porch, and a community room.
Abbot Cletus Meagher said, “It has been 41 years since any kind of expansion has been done on the grotto gift shop, and we are delighted to see the project completed.”
The gift shop offers a wide variety of gifts including books, religious articles and candles made by one of the St. Bernard monks.
A life-size bronze statue of Brother Joseph Zoette, OSB, has been placed in the gardens he created adjacent to the main grotto. Brother Joseph worked in the Abbey Power House where he developed his hobby of building miniature shrines. This hobby evolved into his lifework that is now on display in the Ave Maria Grotto gardens.
“We owe Brother Joseph a great debt of gratitude. He left us with a work of art, love and dedication to the reality and mystery of God,” Abbot Meagher said. “Brother Joseph was very unassuming, but at the same time left St. Bernard Abbey one of our greatest legacies. The grotto has been a mainstay when other areas of our ministries sometimes had difficulties.”
In recognition of the 75th anniversary, St. Bernard Prep School is hosting a 5K run on Saturday, Oct. 17. For information contact Jeff Taylor, race director, at 256-708-0044 or visit www.stbernardprep.com.
Seymour Lenz, a student from the Class of ’58, will be part of a book signing at the grotto also on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18. Lenz has written a book of memoirs titled “Raised in the South by the Benedictine Monks at St. Bernard Abbey.”
A ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of the new gift shop will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. Abbot Meagher invites everyone to come and register for door prizes. Refreshments will be served. Admission to the grotto is free from 2 p.m. until closing on Oct. 18.
For more information visit Ave Maria Grotto online.
