Hundreds Celebrate Restoration of the Grotto and Way of the Cross at Franco American School

October 14, 2012 by PaulM Posted in Culture, History, Lowell 1 Comment

Congratulations to Franco American School Principal Lorraine Richard, SCQ, Director of Development Colleen Tully and the Board of Directors of the Franco American School, former state Sen. Steven Panagiokos, and all the generous craftspeople and donors for the extraordinary restoration of the Way of the Cross at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on the grounds of the school. More than 500 people attended the outdoor Mass celebrated by Cardinal Sean O’Malley yesterday, and hundreds attended a dinner at Mt. Pleasant Golf Club in the Highlands.

Special credit goes to Kevin Roy, Jussaume Construction and Mill City Fabricators, and Dennis McGrade for their fine craftmanship in restoring this special place in Lowell.

Of note also is that seven stations of Our Lady of Sorrows were added to the site this fall in memory of Brian Kinney, a 1987 alumnus of the school, who perished on 9/11 as a passenger in United Airlines Flight 175, which was crashed into the World Trade Center by terrorists.

Learn more about the Grotto and Way of the Cross here.

Below is a photo of the 2008 Mass in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the school.

 

One Response to Hundreds Celebrate Restoration of the Grotto and Way of the Cross at Franco American School

  1. Marie says:

    Pleased that we could attend the Mass and rededication yesterday, Since our boys attended the FAS K-8 we feel a strong connection. The Cardinal’s homily – focused on wisdom, life, poverty and the poor.- was appropriate to say the least. The choir and trumpet sounds from Joe Reagan, the kids in uniform, the many nuns and priests, the Knights of Columbus in full regalia, the winding lines of communicants, the sun filtered through a magnificent tree, the lone bird flying above the grotto, the sirens sounds and traffic nearby all lent a certain symmetry to the scene of stone, statuary and sacredness. Now we’ll go back for a more private view and opportunity for reflection. It’s a treasure for the city and the area.