Garrigan and St. Edmond high school students make pilgrimage to Grotto of the Redemption

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Nearly 300 students from Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona and St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge made a pilgrimage Sept. 17 to the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope.

According to Rose Walker, director of operations for the grotto, this was the most recent in a series of pilgrimages hosted by the diocesan shrine given that the Grotto of the Redemption is one of four pilgrimage sites named in the diocese for the holy year.

“What a great place to bring people together,” said Walker. “We are the eighth wonder of the world.”

Msgr. Ed Girres, rector of the shrine, pointed out the whole idea of the jubilee year is to have a special religious experience that renews the faith and that was the intention of this gathering.

The pilgrimage for the Catholic high school students began with Mass celebrated by Bishop John E. Keehner in Sts. Peter and Paul Church located on the grounds of the grotto.

Bishop’s homily
Classifying himself as a Generation Xer, in his homily the bishop mentioned that Baby Boomers preceded his generation, Millennials followed and the students in attendance were Generation Z.

“Classifying generations and classifying persons by generations is nothing new,” said Bishop Keehner, who noted that it happened even during the time of Christ.

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel, Luke 7:31-35, the bishop reminded them that Jesus had questioned how to compare the people of his current generation. The passage goes on to highlight how Jesus and John the Baptist were unfairly judged.

Bishop Keehner pointed out that the people had tried to classify and pigeon-hole without properly getting to know not only John the Baptist but Jesus.

Bishop John E. Keehner celebrated Mass for the pilgrimage, which was concelebrated by five priests.
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY​ 
Having a preconceived idea of who the Messiah would be, the bishop noted that the people saw Jesus and even listened to his words of salvation but did “not recognize who he is. They do not understand that God has come into their presence and is walking in their very midst.”

This is an invitation, stressed Bishop Keehner, to live lives that are authentic and genuine without being focused on impressing others but rather to open ears and hearts to hear God’s call.

“He invites us to see who he is that we might recognize his lasting presence among us,” he said. “We can’t do this if we are so concerned about how others see us – that we pretend to be something or someone we are not.”

The bishop told the students that Jesus invites them to forgo the illusion of conformity to realize they are not just part of a certain generation, defined by characteristics set by society.

“I am not defined by the fact that I was born in a certain year and neither are you,” said Bishop Keehner. “Jesus invites the crowd to recognize that each of us are created in the image and likeness of God and that we are all therefore different, reflecting the many faces of God.”

The bishop concluded his homily by saying that Jesus invited them to live authentic lives, lives that proclaim the goodness of God and the greatness of the Lord’s mercy of which they should also show to others.

Vocations awareness
Following Mass, the students remained in the church for a talk by Father Travis Crotty,Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations for the diocese, gave a talk during the pilgrimage.

 diocesan vocations director.Acknowledging that most of the students would be called to a vocation of marriage, he asked them to keep an open mind when it comes to considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

When discerning about their own vocation and path in life, Father Crotty asked them to reflect upon three main questions: 1) What does God want for your life? 2) What do you want for your life? 3) What’s a real need that I see in the world?

“We need priests, we need religious sisters, but even more we need people of faith,” said Father Crotty, who reminded the students that they are not alone in this life or as they reflect upon their futures.

Grotto history
Students were able to learn about the history of the Grotto of the Redemption and its founder Father Paul Dobberstein from long-time tour guide Jane Kirchner.

She told the students how Dobberstein immigrated from Germany to the United States at 20 years old and came to Iowa to study for the priesthood after an Iowa bishop placed a help wanted ad for German-speaking priests. 

Students tour the grotto.“Two weeks away from being ordained, he nearly died of double pneumonia,” said Kirchner, who noted that back then people with this usually died. “He prayed to get well. He asked the Blessed Mother to intercede for him and promised that if he got better and got to be a priest one day he would build a grotto.”
To honor that promise, the priest started the Grotto of the Redemption at age 40 in 1912. Sharing details about how it was accomplished and who was involved in the process, she pointed out that the grotto was completed in 1992 after 80 years.

From there, the students broke into three groups where they rotated between eucharistic adoration with the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song and confession, a tour of the grotto and lunch.

Student thoughts on day
Rylee Garman, a ninth grader from Bishop Garrigan, liked the opportunity to attend Mass with the bishop and visit the grotto.

“I really liked being with all of my friends – the community. It’s fun to be together in our faith,” she said.

Andrew Horrell, a junior from St. Edmond’s, said he was impressed by the beauty of the grotto and the church. This was only his second visit to the grotto and it has been since middle school.

While he is not Catholic, he found the spiritual day to be very relaxing.

Carter McGregor, a senior from Bishop Garrigan, said the day was great and thought adoration was the best part of the day.

“It was also cool to see the bishop for the first time,” he said. Gathering with students from St. Edmond’s was also fun “because you don’t get to see them very often unless it’s on a playing field.”

Aaron Hindt, a junior from St. Edmond’s, described the pilgrimage as relaxing and enjoyable. 

“Mass with the bishop was pretty special,” said the native of Webster City, who noted that while he had heard of the grotto, this was his first visit. He was impressed by the grotto and encouraged others to visit.

Pilgrimages at grotto
Msgr. Girres and Walker explained that it was Dale and Peggy Heider of Humboldt who first approached the grotto about hosting a pilgrimage for fourth through sixth grade students and from there the grotto developed several different pilgrimage options. 

Various groups have participated in pilgrimages to the grotto and more are planned for the Jubilee Year of Hope.

“During this jubilee year we hope that it establishes a pattern – but it does not have to be to seek renewal,” said Msgr. Girres. “Coming to the grotto is always a time for renewal.”

Deacon Bruce Helleseth, custodian at the grotto and a member of the committee that organizes the pilgrimages, said it is always beneficial for young people to gather together for prayer and confession – especially Mass with the bishop. An added bonus is the story of the grotto.

“It is the story of salvation,” said the deacon, as it portrays the fall of man and redemption through Christ’s passion. “That’s what it’s all about so it’s awesome.”

During the recent high school pilgrimage, Walker called the day spiritually uplifting and added, “I believe the Holy Spirit is touching many people in many different ways whether it’s through song, the tour or learning about the path of Christ’s life.”

HOME