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Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
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The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto holds a special place in the history of St. Nicholas Church and in the hearts of its parishioners. First created in 1947 through the vision of a beloved parish priest, the women of the Holy Rosary Society, and kindness of parishioners, the grotto is being rebuilt in 2026 through that same spirit of faith and generosity. The history of our cherished grotto is outlined below.
In the words of Father Zagar, “By whatever name we call her—dear and beloved Mother of God—she is dearest to the Christian heart under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes!”
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The original Špilja Gospe Lurdske, or Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, was dedicated, and celebrated on October 5, 1947. It fulfilled a 10-year vision of Father Albert Zagar, T.O.R. (February 8, 1931–March 18, 1966), who in April 1947 requested and received permission from Bishop H. C. Boyle to build a grotto for the parish dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. The Holy Rosary Society played an essential role in raising the funds needed to bring this vision to life. Given this, Father Zagar timed the grotto’s dedication to coincide with the Society’s 25th anniversary. Because the Society’s origins in 1922 were inspired by Saint Bernadette’s vision at Lourdes, the grotto held special purpose and meaning for its members. Learn more about the Holy Rosary Society
The Build
Fr. Zagar in front of Parishioners and the Grotto at the dedication ceremony with
the Witt & Sons (the Grotto builders) October 5, 1947From L to R: R.Frederick Witt, Reinhold Witt, Fr, Zagar, Ernst Witt
The 1947 grotto was built by Mr. Reinhold of Witt & Sons for $2,500 in what is now the corner church-side parking lot closest to the rectory, near the edge of the hill.
To pay homage to the spring Saint Bernadette discovered, in front of the grotto was a pond fed by water that flowed unseen from the grotto into a small stream and then into a pond. A large wall was built around the grotto and the entire church property. Excavation reached depths of up to 20 feet before hard ground was found, allowing a fence with posts to be placed around the property with the wrought-iron fence posts painted green.
A plaque on the grotto’s side wall, donated by Mr. Laushill, Monumental Co. of McKees Rocks, PA, was inscribed with the words: “In Honor of the Heavenly Mother, Queen of the Holy Rosary, this Grotto was Erected on the Occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Founding of the Society of the Holy Rosary in the Croatian Parish of St. Nicholas, Oct. 5, 1947, Millvale, PA.”
5ft tall Blessed Mother bronze statue
The Statues
Parishioner Mrs. Anna Ladesic donated the five-foot-tall bronze statue of the Blessed Mother Mary in memory of her son, Lt. Frank J. Ladesic, U.S. Army. The statue was artistically painted to depict the Mother of God as described in her appearance to Saint Bernadette in Lourdes.
3ft tall knelling St. Bernadette bronze statue
The kneeling three foot bronze statue of Saint Bernadette, artistically painted as a shepherdess, was donated by parishioner Mrs. Katherine Wittmer in memory of her daughter, Harriette Wittmer.
Dedication plaques are in place at the base of each statue.
The Grotto’s Journey
Wedding Party photo of
L to R: Joe Rozankovic, Stefania Ceh, Nada Bubanovic Rozankovic
Over the years, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto served as a peaceful place of reflection and
1950 May Queen, Rosemarie Stankovic with Fr. Zagar a focal point of pictures around Parish activities and celebrations.
It served as a regular ceremony site for the annual May Crowning ceremony of the Blessed Mother statue.
Sadly, the Grotto was crumbling over the hillside and was re
May Crowning inside the glass enclosed grotto circa 2007
L-R: Frances Kristoff, Karen Kristoff George
1975 Metzer-Olesinski Wedding Blessed Mary honoring inside the glass grotto moved sometime before October 1967 to make room for a St. Nichoals school bus garage.
May Crowning celebration in front of the glass enclosed grotto circa 2003
L-R: Nada Bubanovic Rozankovic, Dorthy Frketich McGinn, Elaine Simler
Sometime in the early 1970s, a glass enclosed grotto was created in the church- side parking lot closest to the school, to stand in place of the original grotto and house the bronze Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Bernadette statues.
This then became the annual site of the Holy Rosary Society May crowning. It also served as a stop to honor the Blessed Mother as part of a marriage ceremony.
The glass enclosed grotto was enjoyed and visted for more than four decades by St. Nicholas Parishioners.
glass enclosed grotto was removed in September 2018 and the area paved over. 
The statues in the Rectory to create a grotto-like setting
Prior to the removal of the glass enclosed grotto, the bronze statues were moved to the rectory house enclosed back entry area. This location allowed for a secluded area of reflection and a kneeler for devotional prayer.
The Grotto Today
Future site of the new Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto Under ConstructionWe are excited to announce that once again due to generous parishioners and the Holy Rosary Society, our beloved Grotto is being rebuilt and is currently under construction. Matt Didiano Landscape Construction Company began the work on the new Grotto in August 2026 with an expected completeion date at the end of September 2026.
Please check back and join us for our dedication ceremony of this new St. Nicholas Church's Lady of Lourdes Grotto in October of 2026.
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About Saint Bernadette of Lourdes
St. Bernadette Grotto and Basilica in Lourdes, France
Bernadette was deeply spiritual and blessed with heavenly visions that she bore with dignity and resolve. She was the oldest of 9 children and when she was 14 years old, Bernadette experienced her first vision at the rock of Massabielle near Lourdes, France. Over the next six months, the same apparition of a beautiful young woman appeared to her 18 times.
In the words of St. Bernadette,
"I raised my head and looked towards the grotto. I saw a Lady dressed in white, wearing a white dress, a blue girdle and a yellow rose on each foot, the same color as the chain of her Rosary."
No one else saw or heard the vision but there were witnesses to her reaction. The vision eventually informed Bernadette that the beautiful woman was Mary of the Immaculate Conception and asked three things of her 1) for a chapel to be built on the grounds 2) for Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners 3) for her to drink the spring water that was revealed to her at the grotto.
Church clerics and minor state officials interrogated Bernadette for months. Her answers were simple and unchanging, leading some of her inquisitors to label her as stupid, but most were impressed by her sincerity. The attention and notoriety frightened Bernadette but she faced the jabs and cruel insults with dignity and no anger. No matter how much she was harassed for her visions, she never denied her miraculous experience.St. Bernadette Key Facts - Visionary
- Dates: 1844-1879
- Birthplace: Lourdes, France
- Beatified: 1925
- Canonized: by Pope Pius XI on December 1933
- Feast Day April 16 ( Feb 18th in parts of France)
In 1866 she joined the Sisters of Notre-Dame of Nevers and found merciful seclusion from the public. Her health was poor and she spent her remaining years in stoic suffering. Given this seclusion in the convent, Bernadette was unaware that the site where she had met the Blessed Virgin was being transformed into a pilgrimage center, or that the basilica built there was consecrated in 1876, three years before her death in 1879.
Bernadette was canonized in 1933, in recognition of her patience, integrity, simplicity and devout trustfulness. Today, Lourdes has become one of the great pilgrimage centers of the Christian faith, drawing to its miraculous waters those seeking spiritual healing.
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