John Bruton

Theme: Faith, Future and Europe

12pm Seminar

3pm & 8 pm Novena

John Bruton is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Taoiseach from 1994 to 1997. He was also the EU Ambassador to the United States and held various other Leadership and Ministerial roles throughout his career.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Annette Griffin with Knock Schola Choir

8pm: Mary Flaherty, Soprano

Most Rev. Rino Fisichella, Rome, Italy

Theme: Mary in the life of the Church

12pm Seminar

3pm & 8 pm Novena

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, is the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation. He has served as President of the Pontifical Academy for Life and as President of the International Council for Catechesis since 2013. Previously, he taught fundamental theology for 20 years at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also served as an Auxiliary Bishop of Rome, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University and in various curial positions.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Knock Schola Choir

8pm: Knock Schola Choir

Olive Foley

Theme: Family and Faith

12pm Seminar

3pm & 8pm Novena

Olive Foley is the mother of two young boys and wife of the late Anthony Foley, the Munster Rugby coach who died suddenly in his sleep at the age of 42 in 2016. Olive is an ambassador for the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick, which offers support services for children who have lost a loved one.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Our Lady’s Choir, Castlebar

8pm: Tuam Cathedral Choir

Most Rev. Alan Mc Guckian, Bishop of Raphoe

Theme: What Knock means to me

3pm Novena

Bishop Alan Mc Guckian is a native of Cloughmills, Co. Antrim and has been Bishop of Raphoe since 2017. As a Jesuit priest, he worked in communications for many years. In recent years, Bishop Mc Guckian ran the Living Church Office in the Diocese of Down & Connor. A key element of the work of the Living Church has been the rolling out of Facilitative and Discerning Leadership training which aims to foster a culture of co-responsibility for the mission of the church between clergy and laity.

Dr. John Feehan

Theme: God in Creation – learning to read the other Book of Revelation

12pm Seminar

8pm Novena

Dr. John Feehan is an Irish geologist, botanist, author and broadcaster. He was a Senior Lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin, where he taught for twenty years up to his retirement in 2012. In recent years he has devoted his attention more particularly to the interface between religion and science. His book on creation spirituality, The Singing Heart of the World won a Nautilus Book Award in 2013.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Columcille Gospel Choir

8pm: Kathryn Craig, soloist and Knock Schola Choir

Family Day at Knock Shrine

A day to celebrate all things family throughout the grounds at Knock Shrine. Activities include drumming, kite design, face painting, games and much more! The day begins at 12 noon.

Most Rev. Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin

Theme: A joy that lies ahead of us

3pm Novena

Bishop Kevin Doran has been Bishop of Elphin since July 2014. He is a member of the Council for Marriage and Family, the Council for Justice and Peace, the Council for Healthcare and he chairs the Consultative Group on Bioethics and Life Questions of the Irish Bishops’ Conference.

Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Armitage, Rector at Our Lady’s Shrine, Walsingham, UK

Theme: Mary and the reality of family life

8pm Novena

Mgr. John Armitage is the Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, known as ‘The Nazareth of England.’ Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage for almost a thousand years since Richeldis de Faverches was inspired to build a Shrine in perpetual memorial of the Annunciation.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Sligo Cathedral Choir

8pm: Anne Marie Gibbons, Soprano with Knock Schola Choir

Carole Coleman

Theme: Motherhood, media and me

3pm & 8pm Novena

Carole Coleman is an experienced multimedia journalist. Carole is well known to Irish audiences as the former Washington correspondent and Education and Environment correspondent at RTÉ. She is currently a presenter and reporter on ‘This Week’ on RTÉ Radio One.

12pm : Seminar : ‘New Shoots’ with Knock Youth Ministry

The Youth Ministry Team at Knock Shrine run a vibrant faith centre for school retreats and summer youth programmes. Their aim is to give young people a positive experience of Knock and a powerful encounter with God. They do this by celebrating the Sacraments, spreading the Gospel message and giving witness to the loving presence of Jesus in our world.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: James Kilbane, Soloist and Knock Schola Choir

8pm: John Mc Nicholl and Knock Schola Choir

Rev. Trevor Sargent

Theme: Faith in Action

3pm & 8pm Novena

12pm : Seminar

Rev. Trevor Sargent is a Church of Ireland Minister and a former Irish Green Party politician who served as Minister of State for Food and Horticulture from 2007 to 2010 and Leader of the Green Party from 2001 to 2007. Trevor was ordained in 2018 and serves the parishes of the Waterford Union.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Seán Tunney, Soloist

8pm: Castlebar Parish Choir

Most Rev. Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam

Theme: The message of the Knock Apparition then and now

3pm & 8pm

On the 140^th Anniversary of the Apparition at Knock, Archbishop Neary will be the main Celebrant at the ceremonies as we gather to celebrate this momentous occasion. We will remember in particular the local people of all ages who witnessed the heavenly vision on a wet August evening in 1879.

12pm Seminar: Place, People and the Knock Apparition

Nollaig O Muraile & Tom Neary

Nollaig Ó Muraíle is an Irish scholar. He published an acclaimed edition of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh’s Leabhar na nGenealach in 2004. He was admitted to the Royal Irish Academy in 2009. Tom Neary served as Head Steward of The Knock Shrine Society for many years and is the author of many books and publications on the Knock Apparition.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Knock Schola Choir

8pm: Knock Parish Choir

Special Events to mark the 140th Anniversary of the the Apparition of August 21st

 12 pm: Unveiling of the historic model of Knock Village in 1879

For the 140th anniversary of the Knock Apparition, Knock Museum unveils a unique and historic model of Knock Village as it was in 1879. The village recreation is filled with wonderful miniature details of the Old Church, the houses the Witnesses lived in, schools, people, animals, roads, pathways and farmland. It offers a fascinating insight into village life in Knock and into the historical and social context of the Knock Apparition. The model will be unveiled at a special historic seminar in St. John’s Rest and Care Centre.

3 pm: Dedication of the new Processional Statue of Our Lady of Knock at Knock Basilica

To mark this special occasion in our journey so far, a new processional statue of Our Lady of Knock will be blessed at the 3pm ceremony. This beautiful piece was hard carved in Italy by the Stuflesser studio in Ortesei, Italy, known as the European capital for wood carving and sculpture.

7 pm: ‘Meeting heaven at harvest time’ – Witnesses’ Walk

Step back in time as we commemorate the events of a wet August evening in 1879. The local people who witnessed the Apparition lived and worked in the village of Knock. On this special evening, we reflect and pray as we retrace their steps from their homes to the Parish church.

Fr. Peter Mc Verry

Theme: Following the dream of Jesus

3pm & 8pm: Novena

12pm:  Seminar

Fr. Peter McVerry is the founder of Peter McVerry Trust, one of the country’s largest organisations responding to the issue of homelessness. In 2017 the charity worked with over 4,900 vulnerable youths. As a social activist, Peter is a strong advocate for those who have no voice in society. He has written widely on issues relating to homeless young people.

Soloists & Choirs:

3pm: Úna Nolan, Soloist

8pm: St. Muiredach’s Cathedral Choir, Ballina