Marty Morrissey among speakers at National Novena in Knock

Michael Commins

MARTY Morrissey, the well known RTÉ sports commentator, will be among the guest speakers at the 2017 National Novena at Knock Shrine in August.  The Clare man will speak at both the 3pm and 8.30pm ceremonies on Wednesday, August 16.
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 workshop that afternoon.
The theme for this year’s National Novena to Our Lady of Knock is ‘Living Life to the Full’ and it gets underway on Monday, August 14, with Dr Mary Healy, international speaker on scripture and healing, followed by Redemptorists Fr Seamus Enright, CSsR and Fr Michael Cusack, CSsR on Tuesday, August 15.
The sessions on Thursday, August 17, will have major local interest when Knock native Bernadette McNeive (nee Sweeney from Cloonlavish) and professional motivational speaker Darren Cawley from Aughagower will both deliver moving accounts of their own personal stories of organ donation.
To mark 500 years of the Reformation, Rt Revd Patrick Rooke (Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry Diocese- Church of Ireland) will be welcomed to the ceremonies on Friday, August 18 and he will be joined by Dr Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth who will conduct workshops on this day.
Most Rev Philip Boyce, DD, retired Bishop of Raphoe will be welcomed to Knock for the ceremonies on Saturday, August 18 and will be joined by writer and theologian, Fr Daniel O’Leary, to facilitate workshops.
Most Rev Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin will speak during the ceremonies on Sunday, August 20 and workshops will be facilitated by Dr Aoife McGrath, lecturer in Pastoral Theology and Parish Placement Coordinator at the Pontifical University, Maynooth.
On Monday, August 21, Very Rev Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin will highlight family life with ‘When Plates Fly! Pope Francis on the joys and challenges of family life,’ and workshops will be facilitated by Fr Timothy Bartlett on how to make technology more family friendly.
The Novena will conclude on Tuesday, August 22 with Maria Steen, spokesperson for the Iona Institute at the ceremonies and workshops with Cora Sherlock, deputy chairperson of the Pro Life Campaign.
Fr Richard Gibbons, PP, Rector of Knock Shrine, says the annual Novena continues to be the biggest event in the Shrine’s annual calendar. “The Novena is about embracing our spiritual selves and in today’s world it is a valuable thing to take some time alone or with family and friends to experience the richness of our faith and to escape the material and fast-paced world.
“We are engaging more and more with our visitors and pilgrims on social media and this year it is planned to have all of 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.”
Ceremonies will take place at 3pm and 8.30pm and workshops at 12 noon and 6pm daily.