Outside of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto is one of the most sacred prayer spaces on Duquesne’s campus. At all times of the day and night, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors make their way to the Grotto for quiet reflection and prayer. It is holy ground dedicated to Mary, the Mother of our Lord. While secluded from campus traffic, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto overlooks the City and the Liberty Bridge as an outward sign of the Duquesne University community’s deep faith.
Hand-crafted by Spiritans and fraternity members in 1956, the iconic Grotto was thoroughly restored and rededicated in 2019. Dennis Brenckle, B’67, (an alumni brother of the Alpha Epsilon fraternity) and his wife Patricia were principal benefactors of the effort, with additional financial support from Highmark Health.
The renovated Grotto honors the memory of Brenckle’s mother, Helen Dorothy Spock Brenckle, who as a young widow, attended classes at Duquesne that prepared her for a 35-year career as a Catholic school teacher. Her Duquesne legacy has since extended to her son, his son, a niece, a nephew and his wife.
Candles have been added to the Grotto as part of the recent renovation. For those who cannot be on campus, Spiritan Campus Ministry would like to fulfill your prayer requests and light a candle for you.
We welcome you to submit a prayer for yourself or on behalf of others. Your prayer will be offered at the Grotto by a member of the Spiritan Campus Ministry staff and a candle representing your prayer request will be lit.
Please submit your prayer request(s) for the Grotto by filling out the form below. | 
