ST. PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH
GROTTO OF THE REDEMPTION
WEST BEND, IOWA

     Rev. Father P.M. Dobberstein, the creator and builder of the Famous Grottos of West Bend, Iowa, laid down his trowel July 24, 1954, at 7:25 P.M. It was as if God had waited until the last ruddy rays of the setting sun had shed the last warm friendly rays over the twinkling towers of his grottos, and then called the tired artist home from his life work.
    Paul Matthias Dobberstein was born in Rosenfield, Germany, on Sept. 21, 1872. When Paul was 20 years old, he emigrated America. He received part of his early education at the University of Deutsche-Krone in Germany. On coming to America, he entered the Seminary of St. Francis near Milwaukee to prepare for the Priesthood. It was here that he began to show signs of the unusual artistic ability that was to characterize all the waking hours of his earthly existence.
     The story of how the grotto came into being is as moving as the scenes it portrays. It is generally told as a fact that as a young seminarian, Father Dobberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. As he fought for his life, he prayed to the Blessed Virgin to intercede for him. He promised to build a shrine in her honor if he lived. The illness passed, the student completed his studies and, after his ordination, he came to West Bend as pastor in 1897. For over a decade, he was stockpiling rocks and precious stones. The actual work of giving permanence to his promise began to take shape in 1912.
     As time went on, the work of building the grottos progressed but there were many other projects sandwiched into his building schedule. The cornerstone for the new grade school building was laid in 1899. The new parish church was completed in 1922. The Casino-Restaurant was built in 1928.
     Before 1947, all the work on the grottos was by hand labor, that is, the cement, mortar, rocks, steel, and precious stones were moved to the building site and placed on the building platform or scaffolds by bucket or wheelbarrow. Only in 1947, when perhaps 80% of the gigantic project was completed, was an electrical hoist installed to make the work lighter for the ailing artist. This was done at the urgent suggestion of Father Louis Greving, who came to St. Peter and Paul's as permanent assistant June 21, 1946. After Father Dobberstein was physically unable to continue the work, his general plans were carried out in the minutest detail by Matthew Szerensce. Father Dobberstein often referred to him as "his good right hand" and it was he who worked side by side with the good priest since the first stone was laid in 1912.
     West Bend is located in the center of a vast, lush, level expanse of Iowa farmland. The surrounding area is populated by wise, industrious and fairly prosperous farmers. It is located northwest of Fort Dodge and about midway between the busy state highways; number 18 to the north and number 20 to the south. On most road maps, West Bend is marked as the site of the Grotto of the Redemption.
     It might seem odd that here where scarcely any type of rock is known, not to mention any deposits of precious, geological specimens, that this great collection of unique stones should be found. However, it is merely the play of Divine Providence that determined the setting in this particular place. The site was chosen because the Bishop decided to send Father Dobberstein to that particular parish, located at West Bend.
     As early as 1901, it is known that Father Dobberstein had begun to prepare the setting for the Grotto. First it was necessary to purchase a satisfactory parcel of land. After it was secured, he began excavating the lake. The birch trees with which he first surrounded it have long since lived their lives. As the years went by other trees took their place and the lake front was covered with verdant grass, and became a restful picnic area. When the summer crowds of visitors had grown quite numerous, he constructed a substantial restaurant near the lake. Here, the ladies of the parish undertook the task of providing food for the convenience of the pilgrims to West Bend. Besides the restaurant, there is a little souvenir stand. There, mementos, a small history of the grottos and colored picture cards can be purchased. This, however, never became a commercial venture of any ambitious magnitude. It was through these ventures that much of the untold expense of building the grotto was liquidated.
     It is evident from his work that Father Dobberstein was a great lover of beauty. In fulfilling his vow to erect a shrine to the Mother of Christ, he was determined to make the most of material beauty and to emphasize the spiritual beauty of the Woman he had in mind. We can imagine with what love his heart beat when he found pearls, warm glowing rubies and celestial hued sapphires to incorporate into the shrine. It was a source of great pleasure to him to gather them here that all might see and admire what he had done. It was his purpose that others might see in the beauty of stones, the Beauty of the Creator and by being charmed and attracted by his work learn to imitate the virtues of the Mother of our Savior.
     Although there were never any blueprints of the Grotto, it might be said that all that the artist decided to do in a creative way was crystallized when he finished his course of Sacred Theology. His only plan was to tell the story of the Redemption. That story is the backbone of Theology. Man lost the friendship of God and regained it through the Incarnation, Passion, Death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.
     Actually the whole panoramic outlay of artistry is made up of nine grottos or scenes, from the Life of Christ, each of them portraying a portion of the complete story of the Redemption: (1) Garden of Eden; (2) The Grotto of the Stable of Bethlehem; (3) The Home of Nazareth; (4) The Grotto of the Trinity; (5) The Grotto of the Ten Commandments; (6) Gethsemane; (7) Twelve Stations of the Cross; (8) The Fourteenth Station of the Cross and the Eighth Grotto is placed on a lower level in a beautiful setting. The coffin-like receptacle for the Body of the Redeemer, with its cover open and consisting of shaded inset stone will long arrest the visitor's attention. In it is laid the Savior's sleeping figure, in costly white Carrara marble. (9) The next grotto is that of the Resurreection. It contains the Savior's empty tomb, with the angel sitting upon it to tell the early morning callers that Jesus is no longer there. "He is not here; He is Risen. Behold the place where they laid Him." These words of the angel appear in gold mosaic in front of the empty tomb.
     The Future of the Grotto:- Any one who has approached the Grotto must have been impressed by the spirit of prayer that pervades the whole atmosphere here, giving it the air of a sanctuary. It is for this reason that no rules are laid down for the behavior of the visitor. This is a religious shrine.
     The Christmas Chapel:- Father Dobberstein considered some of the fine mineral specimens which he found on his trips too delicate to be used in the out-of-doors grottos. The elements, the weather and the changing seasons all would conspire to spoil their beauty. He decided, therefore, to incorporate them into an in-door piece of art, which he placed for shelter in St. Peter's and Paul's Church. They represent the birthplace and the Nativity of Our Divine Savior. In other words, this particular piece of art portrays the "Incarnation."
     Since the death of Father Dobberstein in 1954, the Grotto has been expanding under the direction of Father Louis Greving who, for 8 years, was assistant to Father Dobberstein before his death. Under Father Greving's supervision, the mountain of Calvary was completed. At night, Calvary is illuminated with a spot-light.
     Father Greving has added several features to the Grotto which makes it more meaningful. There are free systematic tours through the Grotto every hour on the hour from June 1 to October 15. Soft chimes pealing through the Grottos give an air of reverence to the whole structure. After every hourly tour, a 20 minute geological lecture is given in an air-conditioned Rock Display studio. There is no admission charge for either the tour or the Rock Display lecture.
     Plans have been completed for a museum in which various specimens of rocks, ores, and minerals used in the Grotto will be displayed. The exterior of this 50x30 building will be completely covered with ornamental rock and agates. Father Greving has been continuously cutting and polishing agates from all pars of the world for a period of almost 10 years. These will be set into cement on the exterior of the museum. This display of agates will undoubtedly be the largest display of its kind in the world. Construction of this building was  started in the fall of 1965. Also in the plan is a new souvenir stand, a 60x40 structure. It too will be completely lined with ornamental rock.
     The 125,000 tourists who visit the Grotto annually necessitated the erection of new rest room facilities. In the summer of 1965, these facilities were completed. The exterior is covered completely with over 100 tons of petrified wood which came from Montana.
     Extensive landscaping beautifies the Grotto grounds. Ten huge 1000 watt mercury vapor spot lights illuminate the whole Grotto until 11:15 every evening. Many people stay overnight at West Bend to see the Grotto at night.
     Not least among the new things which make the visit to the Grotto pleasureable is a new cafeteria which features home cooked meals.
     In 1964, new faceted stained glass windows were put into St. Peter and Paul's Church. These windows tell the story of the Redemption in another medium. Already they have gotten international recognition.
     Further plans call for an 8' bronze statue of Father Paul Dobberstein which will be placed on the pedestal in the center of the fountain in front of St. Peter's and Paul's Church. Then, too, a large fountain will be placed in the center of the lake adjacent to the Grotto. The flowing waters will be illuminated with revolving colored spot lights at night.
     When Father Greving was asked when this would be completed, he said, "I don't know. Come next year to see how we are coming. And then come again in ten years. Maybe twenty years will see it completed. But really the life of Christ is never completed. Anything that we can do to embellish it and to make it more beautiful and attractive is our privilege."