This is the time of year when Christians seem to pay more
attention to the Holy Family, the parents of Jesus of Nazareth. Of
course, Roman Catholics (and, to a lesser extent, members of the
Eastern Orthodox and Anglican/Episcopal churches) are notable in
their regard for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 But most churches of the Protestant tradition seem to remember
Mary and Joseph only in connection with the nativity story and
events at Bethlehem.
This is the time of year when Christians seem to pay more attention to the Holy Family, the parents of Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, Roman Catholics (and, to a lesser extent, members of the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican/Episcopal churches) are notable in their regard for the Blessed Virgin Mary. But most churches of the Protestant tradition seem to remember Mary and Joseph only in connection with the nativity story and events at Bethlehem.
Today seems like an appropriate time to mention sites devoted to the special roles in Christian history played by these two remarkable people.
While traveling in Oregon last summer, I visited The Grotto, more formally known as The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. This 62-acre retreat is located near the Portland International Airport and easily accessible from anyplace in the metropolitan area; it welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year.
Adjacent to the free parking lot is the lower level, a plaza that features the facility’s namesake, a rock cave carved into the base of a 110-foot cliff. A marble replica of Michelangelo’s Pieta is displayed at its center; it is the backdrop for an open air chapel where Mass is celebrated during the summer months.
Also located on this level are the (indoor) Chapel of Mary, gift shops, snack bar, restrooms, art gallery, and elevator which takes guests to the upper level garden for fifty cents per passenger.
The upper level features more restrooms, a smaller chapel, ponds, statues, and a meditation chapel with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall window affording a magnificent view of the Columbia River Valley, Cascade Range, and Mt. St. Helen’s.
The lush vegetation, manicured lawn, and towering fir trees combine to make The Grotto a memorable location to visit and commune with God or nature. It all began with the promise of a young Canadian boy who vowed that if his mother were cured from her illness he would do a great work for the Church. In 1924, Father Ambrose Mayer’s dream came true when this shrine was dedicated. From a modest $3,000 investment, it has grown to become a place of refuge and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Portland area. For more information, write P.O. Box 20008, Portland, OR 97794 or visit www.thegrotto.org.
Closer to South County is a special place of devotion dedicated to the father of Jesus. The Shrine of St. Joseph Guardian of the Redeemer is located at 544 West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz.
Founded by two priests of the Oblates of St. Joseph in 1952, it took some 40 years for construction to be completed on a chapel and related buildings and for dedication by Monterey’s Bishop Ryan, who declared it to be a diocesan shrine.
The chapel, set well back from the street on handsomely landscaped grounds, seats approximately 300. It contains a variety of beautiful decorative art work, including a six foot by eight foot woodcarving of Joseph. Adjacent is an art exhibit illustrating events in his life. There is also a bookstore specializing in items of devotion relating to St. Joseph.
A focal point of the property is the Shrine of St. Joseph, Patron of the Unborn. A statue of Joseph holds a representation of a 6-month-old fetus. Two circular walls tiled in small flat stones frame the shrine with names of lost children inscribed on the stones.
Chuck Flagg teaches English at Mt. Madonna High School. Contact him at cf****@sv**********.com or write to him at P.O. Box 22365, Gilroy, Calif. 95021.
