National Novena To Our Lady of Knock 2024
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National Novena To Our Lady of Knock 2024
‘Hope for a changing Church’
Dr. Austen Ivereigh
3pm & 8pm
Dr Austen Ivereigh is a British writer and journalist known for his two biographies of Pope Francis, as well as Let Us Dream (2020), a bestselling book written in collaboration with him. His most recent book, published this year, is First Belong to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis (Messenger), an eight-day Ignatian retreat drawn from the Pope’s writings and talks as a spiritual director. He is Fellow in Contemporary Church History at the Jesuit-run Campion Hall, University of Oxford, and a theological expert at the assemblies in Rome of the current synod
Thursday, 15 August:
‘Keeping Mary close’
Fr. Richard Leonard
3pm & 8pm
Friday, 16 August:
‘Mission Possible’
Toni Pyke
3pm & 8pm
Saturday, 17 August:
‘Mary, Model of Eucharistic Prayer’
Msgr Kevin Gillespie
3pm
Monsignor Kevin Gillespie serves as Diocesan Administrator of the diocese of Raphoe, which is awaiting the appointment of a new Bishop. A native of Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal, Monsignor Gillespie also continues as Administrator of St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny. Previously he served as an official of the Congregation for Clergy, Rome, during which time he assisted in the papal liturgies as a master of ceremonies to both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
‘To Sing is to Pray Twice’
Donna Taggart
8pm
‘Praying the Mysteries of Creation’
Bishop Kevin Doran
3pm
Bishop Kevin Doran is Bishop of Elphin and Apostolic Administrator of Achonry. He serves as Chairperson of the Council for Life of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. He is also Chair of the Committee for Theology and a member of the Council for Justice and Peace and the Council for Doctrine. He represents the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference at the Anscombe Bioethics Centre (Oxford) and is the liaison between the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Irish pro-life groups.
‘Pilgrimage: A Walk with God’
Judith King
8pm
‘Everything starts from a prayer’
Sr Orla Treacy
3pm & 8pm
Sr Orla Treacy is a Loreto Sister from Bray, Co. Wicklow. After living and working in various parts of Ireland, Orla volunteered in 2006 to join a new mission in Rumbek, South Sudan. Today, Orla is the Director of a girls boarding secondary school, a primary school for boys and girls, and a child centre clinic. Orla studied at Mater Dei Institute of Education, furthered her education with a Master’s from DCU and Manchester University, and holds a Doctorate in the field of Missiology. She has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Award for Irish Abroad.
‘Connecting with God in a frantic world’
Dr Gráinne Doherty
3pm
Dr Gráinne Doherty works in pastoral ministry, retreat leadership, adult faith formation, and facilitation. Prior to becoming self-employed, Gráinne was part of the Theology department in All Hallows College (Dublin) for many years, while also working in pastoral leadership at both parish and diocesan level. Her Veritas publication “Joy of Love: A Family Perspective” (2018) is a book of spiritual reflections and prayers which situates the writings of Pope Francis in the reality of family experience today.
‘Prayer is where the impossible happens’
Fr Richard Gibbons
8pm
‘Why is God so silent?’
Fr Jos Moons
3pm & 8pm
Jos Moons is a Jesuit priest who works as a lecturer at KU Leuven (Belgium). After he focused in his doctoral work on the Second Vatican Council’s view of the Holy Spirit, he now explores how to build up a more inclusive and participatory, synodal Church. Besides his academic work, he trains people in spiritual direction. He published amongst others, “The Art of Spiritual Direction: A Guide to Ignatian Practice” and a much-read article “A Comprehensive Introduction to Synodality: Reconfiguring Ecclesiology and Ecclesial Practice”
Workshops take place at 12.45pm in St. John’s Welcome Centre
August 14th:
“From Holy Saturday to Galilee: the courage to change”
Dr Austen Ivereigh
August 15th:
“Mary Our Mother Through Thick and Thin”
Fr Richard Leonard
August 16th:
“Daring to Hope: Embracing the Unknown”
Toni Pyke
August 17th:
God Whispering: Praying with Guidance (The Work of Knock Prayer Centre)
Knock Shrine Prayer Guides
August 18th:
“Pilgrimage as portal to the Sacred”: Talking through the many blessings of pilgrimage
Judith King
August 19th:
“Finding God where we are”
Sr Orla Treacy
August 20th:
God Whispering:: Praying with The Senses (Lectio/Visio/Audio Divina)
Knock Prayer Guides
August 21st:
“ Discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary”
Dr Gráinne Doherty
August 22nd:
Seeking the Way Forward Together: On Synodality and the Discernment of Spirits
Fr Jos Moons
Guided Prayer takes place in the Prayer Centre
Sessions at 11.15am and 5.15pm daily
August 14: Praying in Hope for Personal Transformation
August 15: Praying in Hope for Unity and Community
August 16: Praying in Hope for the Youth and Future Generations
August 17: Praying in Hope for Healing and Health
August 18: Praying in Hope for Families
August 19: Praying in Hope for Justice and Equality
August 20: Praying in Hope for World Peace
August 21: Praying in Hope for All Creation
August 22: Praying in Hope for To See with New Eyes