Marian Grotto

RAPID CITY — During last year’s spring semester St. Thomas More High School students were given a project in Theology Class to do something that would enhance the Catholic identity of the school by their teacher Sr. Brooke Happ, SCTJM.

Project partners Megan Lee and Claire Wojtanowicz created a plan to fill a former flagpole area with a grotto. “Together through praying, internet researching, idea sharing, and mathematical designing, we were able to create the Mary Grotto,” said Lee.

Both students wondered if their class could complete the project. “We started it junior year around April — then it was just an idea. We had a whole plan to get everything going,” said Wojtanowicz. “Then one day I came to the school and they’re building the brick wall.”

“We fundraised with a ‘comfy day’ in the high school. A local landscaping crew donated the bricks and the labor. They started laying the bricks on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. We also received donations from a local florist,” said Sr. Brooke. “We are looking into donors for benches.”

September 8 the grotto was blessed by school chaplain, Fr. Mark McCormick.

Looking over the senior class legacy to the school, Wojtanowicz, said, “I am really excited.” She added the students helped with landscaping by planting some of the donated flowers.