To the weekly tidal wave of congregants and local residents who drive down Maple Avenue and turn into the driveway of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, it’s a familiar sight — one they may even take for granted. After all, the same rustic grotto and shrine have been there for the last 35 years.
But for 15-year-old Alex Pennise, the grotto is not only a representation of his faith, it’s an enduring symbol of his family and his roots. And this summer he worked hard to ensure it would further stand the test of time.
It was Alex’s grandfather, Joseph Pennise, who first built the grotto in 1958 and installed it on East Henrietta Road in Rochester. He ran a grocery store and garden center there at the time, and through subsequent moves and career changes, the grotto and shrine were relocated to three other locations — Rush, on Route 96 near Eastview Mall, and on Victor Egypt Rd. Finally in 1978 Joseph Pennise donated them to St. Patrick’s Church where it has remained.
“The shrine was kind of run down, full of weeds and stuff,” said Alex’s father, Joe Pennise. “Alex tried to revamp it and make it look better.”
And revamp it he did. Enlisting the help of uncles, cousins, friends, members of the Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus, he pulled weeds, amended the soil, planted fresh plant stock, and added an electrical hook up.
It didn’t hurt that those relatives were in the garden and landscape business themselves. Russ Pennise of Flowers by Stella, and Len Sorbello of Wayside Garden Center worked with Alex to bring the project to life.
Alex took on the project because “it was the right thing to do,” and hopes to add a water feature in the future, and a winter nativity scene at some point down the road.
And Joe Pennise couldn’t be more proud of his son, his brother or his cousin.
“We grew up with this our whole life and it means a lot to us,” said Pennise. “It’s got a long history.”
To the weekly tidal wave of congregants and local residents who drive down Maple Avenue and turn into the driveway of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, it’s a familiar sight — one they may even take for granted. After all, the same rustic grotto and shrine have been there for the last 35 years.
But for 15-year-old Alex Pennise, the grotto is not only a representation of his faith, it’s an enduring symbol of his family and his roots. And this summer he worked hard to ensure it would further stand the test of time.
It was Alex’s grandfather, Joseph Pennise, who first built the grotto in 1958 and installed it on East Henrietta Road in Rochester. He ran a grocery store and garden center there at the time, and through subsequent moves and career changes, the grotto and shrine were relocated to three other locations — Rush, on Route 96 near Eastview Mall, and on Victor Egypt Rd. Finally in 1978 Joseph Pennise donated them to St. Patrick’s Church where it has remained.
“The shrine was kind of run down, full of weeds and stuff,” said Alex’s father, Joe Pennise. “Alex tried to revamp it and make it look better.”
And revamp it he did. Enlisting the help of uncles, cousins, friends, members of the Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus, he pulled weeds, amended the soil, planted fresh plant stock, and added an electrical hook up.
It didn’t hurt that those relatives were in the garden and landscape business themselves. Russ Pennise of Flowers by Stella, and Len Sorbello of Wayside Garden Center worked with Alex to bring the project to life.
Alex took on the project because “it was the right thing to do,” and hopes to add a water feature in the future, and a winter nativity scene at some point down the road.
And Joe Pennise couldn’t be more proud of his son, his brother or his cousin.
“We grew up with this our whole life and it means a lot to us,” said Pennise. “It’s got a long history.”
