Knock Novena set to attract 100,000

Knock Novena set to attract 100,000


Michael Commins

THE annual Knock Novena gets under way on Friday, August 14. The nine day event has become far and away the largest religious gathering in Ireland and the UK and attracts over 100,000 to Ireland’s most famous Marian Shrine village.
The Novena is coordinated by Msgr Joe Quinn and Fr Richard Gibbons, assisted by Pat Lavelle, Tom Neary and a large team of dedicated workers who ensure the smooth running of the venture throughout the nine day period. It is a huge effort by so many people, including the local Order of Malta who are on constant stand-by throughout the entire event.
One of the headline speakers during the novena will be RTE news presenter Bryan Dobson who will address both sessions on next Monday, August 17. He will speak on the issue “Hope in Contemporary Culture.”
The theme for this year’s novena is “Seeds of Hope”. Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland will be the first guest speaker on the opening day and night. Bishop Philip Boyce from Raphoe, Donegal is the speaker on Saturday 15 while Bishop Christy Jones of Elphin will address the congregations on Sunday 16.
Fr Frank Fahey, Ballintubber Abbey and a former curate at Knock Shrine, is the featured speaker on Tuesday 18. Fr John Harris Op from St Xavier’s, Dublin will speak at the ceremonies on Wednesday.
Patricia O’Brien from Kilmaine, who is closely involved with the Tuam Diocesan Youth Council, will address the congregations on Thursday while Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam will once again deliver the main address on Friday 21, the 130th anniversary of the apparition. The Novena will close on Saturday 22 when the guest speaker will be Cardinal Keith P O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland. Despite the major downturn in the economy, numbers at the Novena are expected to be as strong as ever with hundreds of enquires pouring into Knock Shrine offices in recent days. Many people do the entire nine days of the Novena while others just like to come along and sample the special atmosphere of the prayer festival.
The outdoor processions (weather permitting) are a beautiful sight each night as its winds its way up the hill and back to the Apparition Chapel.
The basilica has seating for 5,000 while some prefer to stand around at the back which can cater for several more people. The largest crowds of the Novena are always on the 15th and 21st.It is often said that people find more time for religion in times of recession and the Knock Novena is likely to endorse that theory and observation still further as thousands prepare to descend on the Mayo village for this annual festival of faith that gets underway at the weekend.
{mospagebreak title=Knock FM goes live}
Knock FM goes live


IT may be a long way from Vatican Radio with its array of shortwave transmitters and FM and internet outlets but Knock FM has its own role to play in the world of religious broadcasting. The tiny station, located in Knock Basilica, operates a “special” licence each year during the August Novena which enables it to broadcast every second of the ceremonies to the people of the Knock and neighbouring regions.
The station operates on 101.9FM and comes on the air on Friday, August 14 at 2pm. It will broadcast daily until Saturday 22.
Sean Egan from Knock, who pioneered the project ten years ago, is the driving force behind Knock FM. And over the coming days, he will be putting the finishing touches to the 2009 schedule.
“The whole thing is run on a completely voluntary basis. All of the ceremonies from the opening address of welcome to the closing of the novena are carried live on the station.
“We also feature a variety of shows each day ranging from current affairs to music shows of all kinds to matters relating to local history around the area.
“Our regular presenters are back with us again and they include John Kelly, John Egan, Noel Grogan and Marsie Sloyan. Broadcasting will commence at 2pm and conclude at 10.30pm. Knock FM has become very much associated with the Novena,” says Seán.