‘Whispering With God’: Year of Prayer Is The Focus of National Novena 2024

The National Novena to Our Lady of Knock takes place at Knock Shrine from 14 to 22 August 2024

In this dedicated Year of Prayer, the theme of this year’s Novena is ‘Whispering with God – How do you pray?.’  The nine-day programme will explore how prayer, in all its forms, is an integral part of our daily lives.

The Year of Prayer, Pope Francis explains, is dedicated “to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer, prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church, prayer in the world.”

Fr Richard Gibbons, Rector of Knock Shrine, looking forward to this year’s diverse programme,  says:

“Here at Knock , we witness the many ways in which people pray on a daily basis – from people making the Sign of the Cross as they pass by the Shrine, the parishioners who call into the Apparition Chapel during the day for a silent prayer, the candles that are quietly lit and the 1 million pilgrims who visit the Shrine each year, all engaging in their own personal whispering with God”.

Ireland’s International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine will host guest speakers over the nine days, offering insights on how they connect with God through prayer in their professional and personal lives. Daily programmes will include workshops at which participants will have the opportunity to discuss these themes in more depth.

Guest Speakers at this year’s National Novena to Our Lady of Knock will include:

Dr Austen Ivereigh is a writer and journalist, known for his two biographies of Pope Francis. On the opening evening of the Novena, Dr Ivereigh will discuss ‘Hope for a changing Church’. (Wednesday, 14 August)

Fr Richard Leonard sj has lectured on faith and culture all over the world. His theme is ‘Keeping Mary Close’. (Thursday, 15 August)

Toni Pyke is the Justice, Peace and Ecology co-ordinator with AMRI. Toni has lived in Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia and will share insights into her work on issues of international development and education development. (Friday, 16 August)

Monsignor Kevin Gillespie will lead the Raphoe Diocesan Pilgrimage on Saturday, 17 August. Later that evening, singer-songwriter Donna Taggart will talk about how her dedication to helping others has shaped the artist that she is today. (Saturday, 17 August)

Sunday, 18 August is Family Day at Knock Shrine, which takes place from 11am to 3pm in the magnificent grounds at Knock Shrine. Bishop Kevin Doran will lead the Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage in the afternoon and will discuss the mysteries of Creation. That evening Judith King will explore the gifts of pilgrimage.

‘Everything starts from a prayer’ is the theme for talks by Sr Orla Treacy, a missionary Sister based in South Sudan. Sr. Orla has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Award for Irish abroad. (Monday 19 August)

Fr. Michael McCullagh CM is a priest of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). He is currently based at Knock Shrine with his Vincentian colleague, Fr. Aidan Galvin, CM. They provide ‘A Listening Heart Ministry’ – a support ministry to priests. (Tuesday, 20 August)

Dr Gráinne Doherty works in pastoral ministry, retreat leadership, adult faith formation and facilitation. Her talk on Wednesday afternoon, 21 August will explore how prayer helps us to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Fr. Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine will lead the celebration of the anniversary of the Knock Apparition later that evening. The National Novena will conclude on Thursday, 22 August with Fr Jos Moons sj, author and lecturer at KU Leuven.

Novena ceremonies will take place at 3pm and 8pm daily, with Anointing of the sick at 2.30pm. Daily workshops with guest speakers will offer participants the opportunity to delve deeper into the topics discussed at these ceremonies. The full programme for the National Novena is available now at www.knockshrine.ie