Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde has lost millions of visitors and faithful since the health crisis -
CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP
Deprived of tourists with the Covid-19 crisis, and in particular the flow of cruise passengers, Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde loses nearly 1,700 euros per day.
A deficit which forces it to put its 16 employees on partial unemployment and not to be able to operate this emblematic place of Marseille properly.
A call for donations was therefore launched.
The economic crisis clearly spares no one.
As revealed by RCF, in Marseille, the sanctuary of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde is approaching this year 2021 with a serious hole in the coffers, which has for origin ... the epidemic of coronavirus.
"We lack 1,700 euros per day to be able to balance," notes Anne-Sophie Houzel, treasurer of the sanctuary.
Blame it on a drastic drop in site attendance, especially on the part of tourists who usually come en masse to La Bonne Mère.
“The site usually receives two and a half million visitors,” explains Father Olivier Spinosa, rector of the basilica.
In particular, we receive a lot of cruise passengers who come here to visit and light a candle, deposit a little money in the trunk after a guided tour.
However, we see, for example, a drop in candles of around 50% for the year 2020. "
Lights and candles
A drop that is not anecdotal when we know that the main source of income for the basilica comes from donations from the faithful.
“This includes the offerings of candles and candles, explains Anne-Sophie Houzel.
There are also donations from individuals and businesses.
It's supposed to cover all of our expenses, and it's already limited in other years.
"
And to specify: “We have 16 employees.
We also have maintenance expenses, to maintain the site in terms of heating, water.
There is also a large part of our expenses devoted to securing the site.
"We must also accommodate the 25 nuns who live in the convent next to the basilica," added Father Spinosa.
There are also expenses for the renovation of stained glass for example.
"
Partial unemployment
So, like any other structure affected by Covid-19, the basilica has adapted its activity.
“Thirteen of our sixteen employees are on short-time work,” explains Anne-Sophie Houzel.
We had to revise our opening hours, which is heartbreaking.
We only open in the afternoon on weekdays, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and Sunday from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. ”
And to note: "We must also completely rethink the burner, with security work, because the air extraction does not work well".
“There is also a whole subject on the car park to be brought up to standard in order to welcome the public,” continues Father Spinosa.
Also, the clergyman appeals to the generosity of the Marseillais to come and fill this deficit and allow the basilica to continue to function.
"It is possible to make a donation on our website," Father Spinosa recalls.
We have also set up an online candle system: you make a candle offering, and a nun will come to the basilica to lay it on your behalf, and pray for you.
We can also do online quests, we have a mass said at Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde ”Each year, the diocese spends nearly a million euros to operate the basilica.
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Marseilles
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Call for donations
Basilica
Coronavirus