Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was curated in 1925 as a place for people to go to connect with God, their spirituality, or to just be alone with their thoughts, here on campus. In the past it has been used for outdoor ceremonies, team meetings before games, mass, and the list goes on. Once a swamp, this beautiful grotto has withstood the test of time with the flourishing woods-growing with it, as well as the community here at St. Bonaventure.

Built in 1925, and with the help of previous St. Bonaventure students, this shrine was built from the various rocks that these builders could find around campus. Considered the largest shrine on the St. Bonaventure campus, this area played a pivotal role for students, especially during the pandemic. In a time where isolation was the norm, this grotto area gave students an outlet to explore campus and to escape the new implemented rules in their dorms and academic buildings. It also gave students a location where the stress of the global pandemic was diminished. The grotto was, and still is, a tranquil place that allows for people to take time and relax. People often pray or connect with themselves as a way to destress from the pressures of schooling and life events in general. Over the years, the significance of this grotto hasn't changed, still allowing for students to connect with each other, as well as themselves.

Accessed December 1st 2021. http://archives.sbu.edu/buildings/shrines/grotto.htm.