Rendering shows the planned chapel addition for the Grotto. Courtesy | grottoexpansion.com
Floor space is at a premium when students pack into the Grotto, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church’s student outreach house. That may change if the parish can raise the money for expansion.
The Grotto has a goal to raise $1 million for construction and a hope of raising $1.2 million to set up an endowment for maintenance costs, according to Ben Hufford ’22, director of campus ministry for St. Anthony’s. The project will start once the parish has $800,000 in hand.
Hufford said the parish had been thinking of expanding the Grotto for the past few years, but it was not a possibility until six months ago.
“We’ve always known it would be great to have more space,” Hufford said. “Last year, we were approached by a donor who was willing to pledge a lead gift toward an expansion project. Once we were approached, we decided that now is the time to move forward with this.”
Including the lead gift, the parish has raised more than $500,000 since official fundraising began three weeks ago, according to Hufford.
Hufford said fundraising will mostly come from within the Hillsdale College extended community, as the Diocese of Lansing is currently involved in a fundraising campaign for Catholic schools.
“We are targeting our fundraising outside the Diocese of Lansing, which is where most of our students and parents come from,” Hufford said. “We are doing campaigns with alumni and parents mostly, but also with anyone who supports Catholic projects.”
Hufford said early plans included constructing a freestanding chapel behind the home, but they changed after conversations with St. Anthony pastor, Rev. David Reamsyder.
“We came to the conclusion along with Father Dave that it would be better to have a larger Grotto instead to preserve the homeyness of it,” Hufford said.
The Grotto holds several weekly events, such as rosary on Monday and Wednesday evenings, Tuesday Mass, and Thursday Convivium, an event where students can share a home-cooked meal and hear a lecture, usually from a priest or a Hillsdale professor.
According to Hufford, the average weekly attendance for Convivium has grown from around 50 to an average of more than 80. Some Conviviums see well over 100 in attendance. The biggest event of the year was the Welcome Bonfire, with 270 in attendance at its peak.
Hufford and his wife, Shelby Hufford ’22, have run the Grotto since fall 2021.
“Since the Grotto’s inception, it’s been small, and then in the past three years, it’s been packed to the gills,” Hufford said.
The Grotto is especially crowded in the winter months when it is too cold to hold events outdoors.
Senior and Catholic Society President Charlie Miggins said he is excited about the coming expansions.
“The Grotto expansion is such a joy to be a part of,” Miggins said. “Hillsdale is so on the map nationally. I’m extremely grateful for the formation I’ve received from the Catholic Society and the Grotto.”
Senior and Head of Men’s Outreach Paul Sri said he has witnessed the growth during his time at Hillsdale.
“The Grotto has been a center for my personal growth here at Hillsdale,” Sri said. “In my three years here, I’ve seen it really grow in number.”
Sri said he’s thought of the possibility of expanding the Grotto in the past.
“What Ben and Shelby do at this house is unique. There’s a reason why people keep coming back,” Sri said. “If such a small house can be so effective in drawing people together, I can’t wait to see it when it is expanded and revamped to be able to accommodate people more comfortably. God is so at work in this tiny little house.”
“If such a small house can be so effective in drawing people together, I can’t wait to see it when it is expanded and revamped to be able to accommodate people more comfortably. God is so at work in this tiny little house.”