Century-old Naperville grotto is dedicated at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery
The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery at 911 E. North Ave. was recently rededicated by clergy at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church - but it may have been the century-old monument's first actual dedication.
The Rev. Brad Baker, pastor of the downtown Naperville church, explained that although church records indicate it was built in 1922, there is no record of a formal dedication Mass at that time.
"It's likely that the historic church fire that same year understandably preoccupied the clergy and leadership," said Father Brad, "so this may be its first formal dedication Mass, despite the fact that the grotto is now 101 years old."
A grotto is a natural or artificial cave often used as a shrine, and one of the world's most famous is the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, where then 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous - now an official saint of the church - saw Marian apparitions in Lourdes, France, in 1858. The image of Our Lady of Lourdes has been widely reproduced in shrines, including the grotto at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.
The structure was designed and built by local masons Paul Baumgartner and Art Miller, whose grandchildren - Gary Baumgartner and Carolyn Finzer - were present at the rededication mass to witness the historic occasion.
Carolyn and Gary, who are both graduates of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School, are among the grotto's most-ardent supporters. Gary donated stones from his property for the restoration, and Carolyn has lovingly maintained the rosary gardens surrounding the structure for decades.
Although the grotto has had other updates to it over the last century, major restoration work was done last spring by Marian Restoration in Chicago.
Mario Machnicki and his crew replaced missing stones and cleaned the grotto, along with repairing the roof, stairway, and archways using waterproofing membranes and galvanized steel supports. Following that work, Eric Holloway, the Diocese of Joliet Director of Cemeteries, had additional lighting and bench seating installed last fall.
The May 6 Mass was presided by the Rev. John McGeean and concelebrated by Father Brad Baker, Father Mike McMahon, and Father Nestor Sanchez.
Although this may have been the grotto's first dedication Mass, the site has been used for years to host recurring liturgies. A Memorial Day Mass is held here each spring, and parish sacristan Rita Schmidt organized a fall Luminary Mass for many years until her death in 2020.
"No matter the occasion or season, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto serves as an important year-round prayer space for all visitors of the cemetery," Father Brad said. "Saints Peter and Paul understands the importance and legacy of our local Marian shrine.
About Saints Peter & Paul
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, founded in 1846, is the oldest established parish in DuPage County - currently one of the most active in the Diocese of Joliet. Throughout its history, the parish has been a vibrant and vital part of the Naperville community through dozens of ministries that focus on parish life, worship, evangelization, and Christian service. Today, Saints Peter and Paul School educates over 475 students in preschool through eighth grade, and the parish serves over 4,000 families. Its campus includes seven buildings - including its stunning Gothic edifice with bell tower - on a seven-acre campus in the heart of Naperville, a Chicago suburb with a population over 145,000.