History 
When Rev. Edward Spitzig arrived at St. Joseph in 1926 to assume his charge as pastor, he found a splendid rural church and a newly erected school and Sisters’ convent on the well-kept grounds. To the rear of the rectory, however, where an earlier church had stood on the hill, there was a gravel pit, which came about when the highway was built from Randolph to Suffield.

 

In a letter to Bishop Joseph B. Schrembs of Cleveland, Father Spitzig said, “Ever since I put foot on this ground,

I have had this thought in mind – I see it by day – I dream of it by night.” Father Spitzig saw the perfect place to construct a grotto much like the shrine of Massabielle on the banks of the Gave river in southern France. Father Spitzig’s plan was presented to Bishop Schrembs, who was agreeable as long as it conformed in every detail to the shrine in France.

 

On February 11, 1927, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the children of the parish marched in procession into the crowded church carrying a miniature of the Grotto and sang the famous Lourdes hymns with great gusto. Bishop Schrembs confirmed 82 children on April 12, 1927 and then proceeded solemnly to the hill to break ground for the Grotto.

 

Mr. John Winterich, the architect, spent some weeks in France and returned with drawings and measurements to begin the actual work of building this Lourdes replica. Reinforced most sturdily with steel, the cement framework was shaped into a thing of outstanding beauty. The statue of Our Lady standing in an alcove with her eyes gazing prayerfully toward heaven is a replica of the statue in France. People who have been the Grotto in France constantly remark on the close resemblance.

 

On August 14, 1927, the eve of the Feast of the Assumption, Bishop Schrembs solemnly dedicated the completed Grotto. It was reported that five thousand people witnessed this dedication. Although the weather was inclement, the moment the statue of Our Lady was unveiled, the sun pierced through the darkened skies. This was a scene never to be forgotten.

 

Father Spitzig suffered a fatal heart less than four months later, on December 10, 1927. Death ended his hope of making the Shrine a national pilgrimage site.

 

In the spring of 1928, Rev. Frederick Bertram was assigned to St. Joseph. He was a man of wide experience and innate energy; he was endowed with good judgment and fine priestly zeal. He undertook perfecting the Shrine and beautifying the environment with artistic landscape gardening. Father Bertram fostered devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, and arranged pilgrimages to this cherished Lourdes Shrine. St. Joseph soon attracted visitors from near and far.

 

On the 100th Anniversary of the parish on October 4, 1931, Bishop Schrembs and members of the diocesan clergy celebrated High Mass at 10 A.M. Later in the day, Monsignor Ferdinand Schreiber, pastor of St. Bernard’s In Akron, blessed the statue of the visionary Bernadette. She had been beatified in 1925. The blessing of the statue was followed by a procession and Benediction.

 

Surrounding the beautiful Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at St. Joseph's Church, there is a lovely outdoor Stations of the Cross. Winding up and around the Grotto, the Stations path offers a quiet, reflective opportunity to follow Our Lord's footsteps through His passion and death.