By Ali Biddiscombe
The Marian Grotto at Highgate Catholic Pastoral Centre has last month been blessed following several months of renovation and repair.
Leading the blessing and re-dedication on 5 September was Yangebup Parish Priest, Fr Peter Bianchini, and attended by fellow colleagues from across the Archdiocese.
Blessing of the grotto took place following a restoration project which began in 2018, however this was delayed by COVID-19, and finally finished in 2022.
Restoration work on the stonework began when the structure’s stability was threatened by overgrown plants, causing the grotto to be cordoned off for safety while repairs were completed.
Faced with the prospect of fencing off the grotto permanently and honouring that it would be a great loss to parishioners and local cultural history, a restoration program began.
A stonemason and an experienced builder were engaged to oversee the restoration of the statue to its original construction in 2022.
The process involved removing any corroded metal and stabilising the structure at the rear with iron rods, replacing perished limestone, returning stones and re-concreting to ensure that the grotto was restored “like for like,” a requisite stipulated by the State Heritage Office.
The project reached fruition at the end of 2022 thanks to contributions from The Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission and the Knights of the Southern Cross.
At the rededication ceremony stories were shared about how the grotto played an important spiritual role in the lives of Highgate parishioners and Sacred Heart Catholic School students, some of whom have posed before the grotto for communion and confirmation photos.
Former Sacred Heart Highgate student Barbara Johnson shared photographs of her own Holy Communion memories in front of the grotto.
Her photos show that for a period there appeared to be a tradition of leaving large seashells at the grotto which explained the large shell collection uncovered during the restoration.
For the sisters, the rededication ceremony reaffirmed a wonderful place of reflection in the convent garden where they had entrusted their future consecrated lives to Our Lady. On summer evenings the Postulants and Novices had enjoyed having their recreation by the Grotto.
After their Profession of Vows ceremonies in the chapel, the sisters too had photos taken in front of the grotto with their family and friends.
History
The history of the grotto began just under a century ago in June 1925 with the unveiling of the original statue in the grounds of the convent and parish.
The convent was the home to the sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, an international mission and congregation of women originally founded in Lyon, France in 1861.
In 1897, the five founding Sisters of the Australian Province arrived in Perth, Western Australia to establish educational opportunities for the young.
In 1925, The Record first published a story on the original unveiling of the statue.
“It was indeed an inspiring sight, when all were assembled around the grotto, and the unveiling revealed the superb image of Our Lady of Lourdes and a lovely statue of little Bernadette kneeling on
Once home in Perth, the sisters continued this devotion which found its way into the spiritual lives of the parishioners of Highgate Hill leading to the creation of the Grotto which is still revered and enjoyed as a place of reflection today thanks to this latest restoration project.
