Centenary of Carfin Grotto

That this House congratulates all those associated with Carfin Grotto in the Diocese of Motherwell, which was opened by Monsignor Thomas Canon Taylor in October 1922 as a place of pilgrimage, prayer and reflection dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes; notes that the Grotto now attracts over 70,000 pilgrims each year from around the world, and that as part of the anniversary celebrations the Grotto was the Scottish host of the relics of St Bernadette Soubirous, the Lourdes visionary, which where were visited by thousands of pilgrims in September 2022; further notes that a special anniversary Mass on 22 October 2022 was celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, and that to mark the anniversary the Grotto has been declared Scotland’s National Marian Shrine by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland; and sends its best wishes to all those who serve, visit and pray at the Shrine as it enters its second century as a place of worship, devotion and pilgrimage.