DECEMBER 2009

spiritual
site
St. Thomas grotto is a peaceful oasis
BY JOYCE WISWELL
Clockwise
from above:
The grotto is all
dressed up for the
holidays.
A statue of the Holy
Family is enhanced
by the rosaries
visitors leave
behind.
The stone tower
soars up 22 feet.
St. Bernadette
kneels in prayer
outside the
structure.
Fr. Frank Kalabat relishes the chance to sit alone in church,
praying in quiet refl ection in front of the Eucharist – often
late at night when his busy day fi nally nears an end. Now
he’s thrilled that everyone has the opportunity to do the same
at the new grotto at St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church in
West Bloomfi eld.
“I go to the Eucharist every day and pray, sometimes at 11:30 p.m.
or at midnight. I have a key to the church, but most people don’t,” said
Fr. Frank. “Now they have access to adoring our Lord Jesus Christ face
to face. That is the most profound thing about this grotto.”
Three years in the making, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto was
officially blessed in mid-October. Located on the far southern end
of St. Thomas’ parking lot, it’s carved into the side of a small hill
that’s surrounded by a patch of woods and wetlands. The inspiration
for the structure, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, came from the grotto at St. Mary’s of Orchard Lake.
Built of large fieldstones, the new grotto is striking with its sloped
“live” roof covered with vegetation and a tower that soars 22 feet
high. Statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Bernadette grace the outside,
as does a seven-foot-high marble statue of Jesus that was crafted
in Italy.
The entranceway consists of paving stones, an altar below a
large cross impressed into the wall and memorial candles that
visitors can light for special intentions. Behind double wooden
doors is a circular tabernacle that exudes peace and spirituality.
A large mosaic depicts Jesus Christ and next to that is a small
opaque glass door beyond which lies the Eucharist. The space
also includes a statue of the Holy Family, more memorial candles,
and simple folding chairs and a wooden kneeler.
Light pours in from a skylight atop the tower and a lovely
26 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2009
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