The Algerian-born architect designed and built the replica cave, as well as reconfiguring the fiberglass statue that resides next to Our Lady Star of the Sea church.

“It was early last year that we talked about needing a bit of action here. We thought something had to be done to attract people here,” Mr Alba said.

”I suggested a grotto would be nice. Suddenly late last year the Archbishop of Canberra, Christopher Prowse, he told Fr James that we needed to have the grotto this year.”

The completion of the grotto was timely, as Mary is celebrated in May.

Mr Alba designed the grotto late last year before starting the building process in 2017.

“In a couple of months it was done, but trying to find a statue was very hard,” Mr Alba said.

“We looked at ones in Sydney but they were very expensive and not the statue we wanted.

“This is a copy of the statue in Lourdes, which came from the Philippines.”

Unfortunately the statue was “completely different” to the one the parish thought they were receiving.

“I changed the whole thing and built it up,” Mr Alba said.

The result is one that “is exactly what you have in Lourdes”. 

The grotto and statue was funded by the parish through a series of raffles and donations.

Proud of the final outcome, Mr Alba said he would now take a rest.

Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic title of Mary, the mother of Jesus, venerated in honour of the Marian apparitions that reportedly occurred in 1858 in Lourdes, France.

The Eden grotto will be officially blessed on Saturday, May 13 in a service from 4.30pm.