Blessed. Archbishop Shawn McKnight reads the blessing from his prayer book. The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto was dedicated Sept. 9.
During a rainy Tuesday morning, Archbishop Shawn McKnight dedicated the new Our Lady Of Lourdes Grotto on Sept. 9, marking the end of a 5 month construction project and realizing the dream of the Dunn family. During the Archbishop’s first official visit to the school, he used actual water from the grotto in Lourdes, France to bless the new prayer site, provided by french teacher Leigh-Ann Haggerty after her family’s recent visit to the famous grotto.
While the Archbishop, members of administration, select students, and the Dunn family gathered in the reimaged circle drive, near the grotto under tents, students and faculty witnessed the ceremony from the gym which included a prayer service lead by principal Maureen Engen.
During the service, Haggerty gave a witness talk, sharing her experience with the original grotto in Lourdes, France.
French teacher Leigh-Ann Haggerty speaks to students about her experience in Lourdes, France. Haggerty served as the guest speaker during the grotto dedication ceremony. Photo by Emma Lonergan.
“Grand miracles do happen,” Haggerty said. “These are unexplained things that can only be explained by faith.”
A donation from the Dunn family, who has several generations of Miege alumni, made the grotto possible and dedicated it to Bill and Jean Dunn. The goals for the grotto include serving students and the community as a place for prayer and worship, fostering spiritual growth and honoring the school’s Catholic identity.
“The family hopes that the grotto can serve as a ‘focal point’ for our Catholic faith,” Bill Creach, campus ministry team director, said.
According to Alex Keith, dean of students, school leadership was looking for ways to make the campus more beautiful. A team made up of administration, JE Dunn Construction and HTK Architects took inspiration from the original grotto in Lourdes, France and made the Dunn family vision a reality.
Illuminated. Students wave their candles in the air singing “Praise”. Students stayed inside during the dedication ceremony because of the rain. Photo by Emma Lonergan.
“Design choices were made so that it looked good as a solo structure and was made uniquely for Bishop Miege,” Keith said. “The Lourdes Grotto gave us an opportunity to not only make our campus look better, but bring a place of prayer and worship to the community.”
Students were excited about the new grotto at school. Many are already praying at the new site, especially during theology class.
“It’s exciting we get to go outside and have a new experience here at Miege,” sophomore Mi’Nia Barksdale-Bey said.
“The grotto will become a place of peace to all who visit,” president Joe Schramp said.
Meet Norah Murtha! Norah is an incoming senior and the Photography Editor for the “Miegian”. She first joined the staff during her Junior year as a photographer, eager to capture both sports and student life from a unique perspective. This year marks her second on staff and her first as Photography Editor. As a creative yet competitive hard worker, Norah is excited to document the memorable moments of her Senior year while also encouraging growth among the staff. Known for her organization and determination, she brings personality and depth to her work, helping showcase the spirit of Miege. Her goal this year is to capture sports photos that her classmates can both enjoy and be proud of.
