| Flatrock | |||
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| — Town — | |||
| View from town wharf | |||
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Flatrock
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
| Census division | 1 | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Total | 1,214 | ||
| Time zone | Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Newfoundland Daylight (UTC-2:30) | ||
| Area code(s) | 709 | ||
Flatrock is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 1,214 in the Canada 2006 Census.
Flatrock, is primarily a Roman Catholic town. The first settlers, were Roman Catholic Irish fishermen, and also Roman Catholics of French descent. About 95 per cent is Roman Catholic, 2.0 % is Anglican Church of Canada, 1% United Church of Canada, or Methodist who attends the United Church in Pouch Cove, and 1% Presbyterian who attend St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (The Kirk) in St. John's. There is only one church in Flatrock, and that is St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. This church, as well as St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Church, in the neighbour community of Pouch Cove share the same parish. The Church currently shares two priests with Holy Trinity in Torbay, Holy Rosary in Portugal Cove, and St. Agnes' in Pouch Cove. There is no Presbytery in Flatrock. However, they do exist in neighbouring communities Torbay, Pouch Cove and Portugal Cove. Flatrock, is generally a traditional community.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto is a religious shrine located outside of the parish church in Flatrock, founded in 1954 by Fr. William Sullivan after his return to the parish from Lourdes, France. Fr. Sullivan saw many similarities in the terrain in Lourdes to that of his church in Flatrock, and saw that it would be a great opportunity to take advantage of this land.[1] It is to date the largest religious grotto east of Montreal and has been visited by Pope John Paul II on September 12, 1984 where it received a special blessing from His Holiness.[2]
The grotto has been designed by Michael Curtis of the nearby city of St. John's. Since its inception, a number of additional monuments have been erected including: a lifesize statue of the crucifix, a statue of St. Michael, a statue of the Blessed Mother that is placed in the cave portion, a statue of St. Bernadette and it contains the fourteen Stations of the Cross which are frequently venerated by parishioners. As well, there as a number of memorial plaques placed throughout the grotto.
The Our Lady of Loudes Grotto has also been voted the "Most Psychedelic Spot" by the St. John's bi-weekly publication The Scope in 2007.[3]
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