Grotto centre to shut doors

A pilgrimage centre in Motherwell is set to close after 23 years – despite a petition to save it receiving over 5000 signatures.

The Diocese of Motherwell announced this week with “deep regret” that the Carfin Pilgrimage Centre, which hosts the gift shop and cafe, will shut its doors next month.

It opened in July 1996 and since then has provided a range of services to pilgrims visiting the grotto, and currently operates mainly as a gift shop and cafe.

Bishop Joseph Toal said: “This decision has been taken with deep regret, but I feel it is one which has had to be made, as the number of visitors and consequent income have not been sufficient to meet the operational costs of the centre.

“It has had to rely on financial subsidies from the diocese, which can no longer sustain such expenditure or meet the significant additional costs of complying with new statutory food and hygiene and health and safety standards.

“I would like to express my grateful thanks to the management and staff at the pilgrimage centre for their excellent work, service and commitment to the centre over the past 23 years.”

Many have gone online to express their sadness at the closure.

One said: “I can’t believe this, absolutely gutted.”

Another added: “Sad read this!”

Someone said: “Unbelievable! This was a thriving and very important environment when visiting the grotto. The book store and gift shop was busy, I myself have spent hundreds in this place.”

Another added: “Ridiculous. How can you have such a significant place of pilgrimage with no visitor centre? Very bad decision.”

And another said: “This is extremely sad news. A visit to the beautiful grotto isn’t complete without a wee wander around the shop and cup of tea in the cafe.

“This will most definitely affect the footfall to the grotto itself too.”

Despite the petition being created in a desperate bid to save the centre and a huge backlash from the statement, the diocese released a further statement saying that it simply does not make enough money to continue operating.

Bishop Toal said: “The centre was always expected to operate as a business and to generate enough income to cover its costs and hopefully, some profits which could be put back into the enterprise, particularly the maintenance of the building.

“It has not succeeded in to doing this for many years and has instead, depended on loans from the diocese, and support from the parish, to continue trading. It is a business that is not making money, shows no signs of doing so and costs the diocese a substantial amount of money.”

He added: “I accept people may feel disappointed about this decision but they have to be aware that we are now a diocese of modest means, which can’t afford to ignore the reality of the limited resources we can invest in a business that is not financially viable.

“The total income of the diocese, in the last financial year was £11 million, as was our expenditure.

“We basically spend everything we take in, leaving us unable to save for the future.

“That is the reality of where we are now, and parishioners need to be aware that there no surplus funds that can be accessed to pay for short-falls in income.

“We have been left with no option, but to make a difficult choice in regard to the pilgrimage centre. Unfortunately, it will not be the only one we must make, as we face a future of reduced numbers and modest incomes.

“As a diocese with more limited financial resources than in the past, we must cut our coat according to our cloth.”