Spring/Summer Faith Renewal Programme 2025

‘Whisper of God’ Retreats

Join us for the “Whisper of God” retreats at Knock Shrine. Take sacred time to step away from the noise of daily life and reconnect with silence and God in the peaceful, prayerful atmosphere that is unique to Knock Shrine.

One day retreats

Location: Knock Prayer Centre

Dates:

Saturday, February 8^th, 2025

Saturday, March 22^nd, 2025

Cost: €70 per person (includes refreshments and lunch)

The one-day retreat offers a serene space for silence, quiet prayer, reflection, and spiritual direction. Participants will be guided through moments of scripture-based prayer, group sharing, and personal spiritual guidance.

Weekend Retreat

Dates: Saturday 12^th and Sunday 13^th April 2025

Location: Knock Youth Village

Cost per person:

Overnight retreat: €200 per person (full board basis)

Option to extend to 2 nights, to include ‘Healing Voices’ musical performance on Friday, April 11^th: €250 per person

For a deeper experience, the two-day “Whisper of God” retreat invites you to immerse yourself in two days of silent reflection. Stay overnight in the peaceful Knock Youth Village, where you’ll have time for guided prayer, spiritual direction, and personal quiet time. A retreat designed to rejuvenate your spirit and deepen your relationship with God.

Knock Youth village offers exceptional facilities – stylish, eco-friendly self-catering accommodation and communal meeting spaces, all presented in a modern aesthetic.

Saturday 22^nd and Sunday 23^rd February 2025

‘Picking up my pen – Finding God in writing’

With Deirdre Rowe and Sr Moira McDowall

Location: Knock Youth Village

Fully residential retreat

Cost: €200 per person ( includes accommodation on full board basis)

Whether it’s a poem, a book, a letter, or a journal entry, who amongst us has never been moved at some time in our lives by the power of the written word?

Writing and journalling allow us to explore feelings and emotions at a level beyond the words themselves and can lead us to a deeper sense of God working in our lives. Picking up our pens can help us to focus when we are too restless or distracted to pray in silence, or when we have something we need to mull over with God, or then again because we enjoy this way of praying!

The retreat will include some inputs which will facilitate different ways of reflective writing and journalling. There will be times of silence and also a time for sharing some conversation. No previous experience of writing or journalling is needed, just a willingness to pick up one’s pen and be open to what happens next.

Moira McDowall is a Sister of La Retraite, living in Galway. No stranger to Knock she has been part of the Prayer Guide’s Community for a number of years and regularly accompanies retreats and courses in the Ignatian tradition at home and abroad.

Deirdre Rowe is a member of the St Beuno’s Spirituality team in North Wales where she accompanies retreats, coordinates the online retreat programme and is involved in a variety of spiritual direction training courses. She has a particular interest in Ignatian Spirituality and ‘finding God in all things.

Saturday, April 5^th, 2025

‘Visio Divina’   – Lent and Easter seen through the eyes of the artist’

With Dr Nora Donnelly and Rev. Dr. Eugene Duffy

Location: Knock Prayer Centre

10am to 4pm

Cost per person: €15

The paintings that Nora Donnelly has chosen are ‘all about’ the Sacred.   They present images of Holy Week and Easter, featuring both well-known pieces from the Old Masters and works by various artists working  right up to the present.

Nora believes that by approaching these wonderful paintings where you rely on nothing more than your eyes and your imagination you can –and will – be placed in the realm of prayer.

She will be joined on the day by Rev Dr Eugene Duffy, author and former lecturer at Mary Immaculate college, who will provide a scriptural reflection on each of the main themes displayed in the images.

Friday, April 11^th, 2025

‘Healing Voices’

Location: Chapel of Reconciliation

Time: 8pm to 9pm

Admission is free of charge

Schola Cantorum Basilicae will present ‘Healing Voices’, a concert of sacred music, in the beautiful surrounds of the Chapel of Reconciliation at Knock Shrine.

The programme will include some of the Schola’s favourite sacred music pieces, which will complement the chapel’s peaceful atmosphere.

Saturday, April 26^th, 2025

‘Raising Hope for Our Common Home’

Location: Blessed Sacrament Chapel

10am to 4pm

Cost: €15 per person

Guest speakers:

‘Treading lightly on the earth’

Dr Eanna Ni Lamhna, scientist and broadcaster

Eanna Ni Lamhna qualified as a scientist in the 1970’s. She set up the Irish Biological Records Centre in 1974 and is responsible for the original distribution maps of mammal and insects. She lectured postgraduates on sustainability for 20 years in TU Dublin. She was President of An Taisce from 2004 – 2009 and more recently President of the Tree Council of Ireland. She is a judge of Environmental initiatives undertaken by local groups on a county level such as Pride of Place and Love Where You Live. She is a highly respected radio and television broadcaster on environmental issues. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in Science by the University of Galway in November 2024.

‘Laudato Si’ 10 Years on – Sowing Seeds of Hope’

Jane Mellett, Church Outreach Officer, Trocaire

Jane Mellett is the Church Outreach Manager at Trócaire. She is also a spiritual director, retreat facilitator and author. Jane’s work involves sharing the wisdom of Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home with faith communities, in a variety of settings. Jane has a specific interest in how faith communities can contribute to addressing the environmental crises our world currently faces.

‘Making Laudato Si a Reality – Pathways for Parish Communities’.

Dr Brendan O’Keeffe, Geographer and Social Scientist

Dr Brendan O’Keeffe is a geographer and social scientist. He lives in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, and he is active in his local parish community. Professionally, Brendan runs his own research consultancy for the past six years.  Previously, he was a lecturer, in geography, in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He also has a practitioner background in community development.

 Programme for day: 

10:30           Registration , Tea and Coffee

11:00           Input 1: Jane Mellett

11:30           Q & A

11:40           Eanna Ni Lamhna: Treading Lightly on the Earth

12:10           Q & A

12:20           Lunch

1:30             Input 3: Brendan O’Keefe

2:00             Q & A

2:10             Eco Congregation

2:30             Panel Discussion

3:00             Depart

Cost for the day: €15

Eanna Ni Lamhna qualified as a scientist in the 1970’s and did her post graduate thesis on the ecology of sand dunes and saltmarshes which was published in the Journal of Life Sciences. She set up the Irish Biological Records Centre in 1974 and is responsible for the original distribution maps of mammal and insects. She lectured postgraduates on sustainability for 20 years in TU Dublin. Her publications include a series of five studies on Irish Air Quality, nine books including Wild Dublin and her most recent – The Great Irish Biodiversity Book.  She was President of An Taisce from 2004 – 2009 and more recently President of the Tree Council of Ireland. She is a judge of Environmental initiatives undertaken by local groups on a county level such as Pride of Place and Love Where You Live.

She is a highly respected radio and television broadcaster on environmental issues.  She writes the weekly Eye on Nature column in the Irish Times. She is a Co. Louth woman and has a husband, three children and seven grandchildren. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in Science by the University of Galway in November 2024 – the first Irishwoman to be awarded a D Sc. by that university.

Jane Mellett is the Church Outreach Manager at Trócaire. She is also a spiritual director, retreat facilitator and author. Jane’s work involves sharing the wisdom of Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home with faith communities, in a variety of settings. Jane has a specific interest in how faith communities can contribute to addressing the environmental crises our world currently faces.

Dr Brendan O’Keeffe is a geographer and social scientist. He lives in  Cahersiveen, County Kerry, and he is active in his local parish community. Professionally, Brendan runs his own research consultancy for the past six years.  Previously, he was a lecturer, in geography, in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He also has a practitioner background in community development.

Location: Prayer Centre

Friday, May 23rd 2025: 7.30pm to 9pm

Free admission

‘Can what matters to me matter to my children and grandchildren?’

In this session we look at the wonderfully complicated family lives we lead and consider what we can offer parents to help them flourish. Should parents let their children make their own mind up about everything or do they have a responsibility to set an example?

Let us consider together the challenges our family lives present to us and ask ourselves whether what matters to us can ever matter to our children?

Saturday, May 24th 2025, 10.30am to 4pm

Location: Prayer Centre

Cost: €10 per person

“Be united, in mind and purpose” 1 Corinthians 1:17

A synodal approach to building up Parish Councils.

A day exploring authority, corporate wisdom and the quest to grow in unity

Join us for an enriching experience designed to help you deepen your connection with your parish and grow together in faith and purpose! This event is an opportunity for parish members to explore the themes of Authority, Wisdom, and the Quest for Unity.

Equip Yourself to Become Part of Your Parish
Whether you’re new to your parish or a long-time member, this event will provide you with tools and insights to grow in your role and contribute meaningfully to the journey ahead. Together, we will explore how to build a stronger, more unified community and grow in wisdom to face tomorrow’s challenges with grace and faith. Come be part of this exciting conversation—your voice and perspective are essential as we work toward a future of unity and growth.

International speaker, teacher, catechist and author, David Wells has worked with parishes and dioceses internationally, encouraging and inspiring people to share the Joy of the Gospel, through the lens of building parish life. David invites us to witness to the Gospel and to encourage others on their journey of faith, in the context of taking up opportunities, ministries and responsibilities at local parish level and, in doing so, living out the Joy of God’s Word. A family man, former teacher, author and education advisor, he has spoken at more than 2000 conferences and meetings since 1995.

Please note that the National Novena will take place from the 13th to the 21st of August this year.

Full programme to follow