Many have requested this justgiving to be set up online in response to the damage done to Carfin Grotto

It has saddened us all at Carfin as we approach our centenary next year of the opening of the Grotto on October 1st 2022.

Covid has reduced a lot of our annual intake by reducing pilgrimages so we are already on a tight budget before this attack.

The fire was quite fierce and set deliberately by the piling of items together and setting them alight. The Lourdes memorial cave dedicated in 2009 by Bishop Perrier of Lourdes contains memorials to deceased relatives and provides a space for prayer.

The iron candle stands have been completed melted and fire damaged and are unusable and some of the plaques have damage to their letters.

We are waiting further info from police and we will need to do more security checks and structural checks to the cave, including lights and cables.

We do not wish to close the current 24/7 access to the Grotto. It has been a place of prayer and solace for over 99 years. A welcome place to all. However we need to tighten security as we hear almost daily attacks, vandalism and damage to Catholic churches across Scotland. Catholics on the ground are concerned and believe more needs to be done at a national level