SPECIAL PLACE Thousands will gather in Knock from August 14 to 22 once again for the annual Novena.
Michael Commins
ONE of the most recognisable people on television in Ireland, Marty Morrissey, is looking forward with great enthusiasm to addressing the congregations at the Knock Novena ceremonies on Wednesday, August 16.
The renowned radio and TV sports commentator, and occasional host of a variety of other programmes and shows, was delighted to accept an invitation from Knock PP and Shrine Administrator, Fr Richard Gibbons, to be a guest speaker at the 2017 Novena that gets underway next Monday.
“I often stop off there for some quiet reflection if I am in Castlebar for a match or doing some news piece in that region. Sometimes I get Mass there and other times I just enjoy the tranquillity of the place and the great sense of history too,” says the Clare native.
‘Living Life to the Full’ is the theme of Marty’s address and he confesses that he has ‘not thought about it yet’.
“Life is so hectic just now as we are in the prime period of the football and hurling championships. But I’ll make time over the next few days to put some thoughts together.
“While I have been to Knock many times over the years, I have never been to the Novena so this is going to be a whole new experience for me. I love Knock and it’s going to be great to be part of it for a little while.”
Marty will address the afternoon (3pm) and night (8.30pm) sessions on August 16. Capacity congregations are expected at both ceremonies.
Sport will have a special place in the Novena on the same day as Fr Kevin O’Gorman, author of ‘Saving Sport: Sport, Society and Spirituality’, will be the guest speaker at the workshops. Fr Kevin is a native of Tipperary Town and is a priest of the Society of African Missions (SMA).
Dr Mary Healy, professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and an international speaker on topics related to Scripture, evangelisation, healing, and the spiritual life, is the guest speaker on Monday 14, the opening day of the Novena.
Fr Seamus Enright, CSsR, and Rector of Mount St Alphonsus in Limerick, will speak at both Masses on Tuesday 15. Fr Michael Cusack, CSsR, will conduct the daily workshops at 12 noon and 6pm.
Knock parishioner Bernadette McNeive (nee Sweeney from Cloonlavish) is the speaker at the ceremonies on Thursday 17. The theme of her address is ‘Organ Donation: giving and receiving life.’
Darren Cawley from Aughagower will speak at the two workshops sessions (12 noon and 6pm) on the same day. While studying for a degree in Sports and Fitness in the University of Bedfordshire, Darren was diagnosed with Kidney Failure. It has become his passion to promote the lifesaving gift of organ donation, and to share the positive experiences garnered from living with kidney failure. There are various other high calibre speakers during the Novena, including Very Rev Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin.
Fr Richard Gibbons, Fr Nigel Woollen, and the team at Knock Shrine are preparing for another hectic nine days when crowds in the region of 120,000 to 150,000 are expected to visit the village and Shrine during the Novena.
Stewards and Gardaí will ensure that traffic disruption is kept to a minimum at the peak traffic flow times in the half hour before and after the afternoon and night-time sessions.
This year, it is also planned to have the ceremonies steamed live via the Knock Shrine Facebook and Twitter pages. The Masses will also be streamed as usual on the Knock Shrine website and YouTube channel.
Marty Morrissey thrilled to be part of Knock’s National Novena
