New Lourdes Grotto Opens in Stunning Newry Cathedral Garden

Newry Cathedral Parish held a picnic event in the cathedral garden on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the opening of a new Lourdes Grotto in the beautiful green space at the side of the cathedral. The grotto was donated by the Burns family who also planted the facility with flowers.

Carla Maney and the Cloughmore Male Voice Choir provided the music for those in attendance on the wonderful sunny day. Parish Administrator Canon Francis Brown blessed the Lourdes Grotto accompanied by Fr Carlos Esteban Rojo and Deacon Anthony Moffett.

Speaking at the event Canon Brown said "Many people have done work, many others have done much work, and we appreciate all that has been done to ensure that this beautiful resource beside our cathedral is there for the people of Newry.

"There have been many, many long hours of tedious work and the result you see today first-hand. Sincere thanks to all those people, many, many who worked in the garden, and we really appreciate the work which they have done.

"The Garden, as you know, has been here for many, many years, long before any of us, and for many years it was beautiful, It was closed, but now it is available for those who wish to have a few quiet moments and wish to come here and just sit and contemplate the beauty of nature and the beauty of this Grotto and the beauty of the Cathedral, which is one of the nicest in Ireland, if not the nicest."

As the Cathedral approaches its 200th anniversary in 2029 the parish will be celebrating the laying of the foundation stone of the building next month on 8 June.

Also on the day a new bench was also unveiled, donated by the Knights of St Columbanus CK10, Newry to celebrate the opening of the grotto and to look forward to the bicentenary of the Cathedral in 2029. Supreme Knight Brother John Murphy said: "Newry and the cathedral here is glorious. This is a glorious resource for the city and I'm delighted here to represent the Knights in supporting CK10 and Brother Pat here. Our work is to support our priests and our parish and this is a fine example of that."

Canon Brown also thanked the Knights for their donation. "Thanks to the Knights of Saint Columbanus, always there when we need them, and they do help in so many ways in our parish, and this is just one example of what they do. They always look for what they can do, so that the life of this parish is enhanced by their presence."

The garden is open daily so if you need a moment of calm or quiet contemplation you should call in.