‘Living Water’

Season of Creation 2026

September 1st marks the beginning of the Season of Creation 2026, which concludes on 4 October 2026, the east of Saint Francis of Assisi.

This year’s theme, “Living Water”, explores Ezekiel 47:9 and 12 as a powerful biblical vision of hope and ecological healing. Set amid exile and loss, the image of living water flowing from God’s sanctuary reveals divine healing that renews land, water, biodiversity, and human responsibility towards the whole creation.

“Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. […] Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” (Ezek 47:9,12)

The Creation Walk at Knock Shrine

Take time to explore the Creation Walk at Knock Shrine during this Season of Creation.  This peaceful, reflective path invites pilgrims to connect with the sacredness of Creation through nature and scripture. Tracing the story of the universe from its origins to the present, it encourages prayer, ecological awareness and reflection in the spirit of Laudato Si’.

The Creation Walk begins at Knock Museum car park and meanders through the natural woodland pathways along the grounds at Knock Shrine. These pathways,  that have previously been inaccessible to pilgrims and visitors, offer a quiet space in which to take time to appreciate nature, to listen to birdsong and to take time for personal reflection.

The Creation Walk has been inspired by Brian Grogan SJ’s  book ‘Creation walk – the story of a small blue planet’, which is available at Knock Bookshop here

‘Living Water’

Season of Creation Retreat

This contemplative residential weekend inspired by the global Season of Creation movement and this year’s theme: Living Water, takes place in the Retreat Village at Knock Shrine on September 26th and 27th.

During the worldwide Season of Creation, we are invited to slow down and listen again – to the cry of the earth, the longing of the human heart and the quiet voice of God moving through all living things. Set within the peaceful grounds of Knock Shrine, this gentle residential retreat draws inspiration from this year’s Season of Creation theme: Living Water. Together, we will explore what it means to receive creation once more as gift, sacrament and sacred invitation.

Across the weekend, participants will be invited into reflective prayer, contemplative practices, shared silence and guided experiences in nature, making use of the beautiful prayer spaces and Creation Walk throughout the grounds. There will be time to rest, to walk slowly, to notice deeply and perhaps to rediscover the streams of living water that still flow quietly beneath the surface of our busy lives. This retreat is open to anyone longing for a more prayerful and compassionate relationship with creation, with themselves, and with God.

Together we will slow down, notice deeply and rediscover Creation as gift, sacrament and sacred invitation.

Find out more here

‘Come Away to a Quiet Place’

4 Night Residential Retreat

This residential directed retreat takes place from September 14th to 18th 2026. There are moments in life when the soul longs simply to pause, to breathe more deeply, to rediscover silence, prayer and rest. This gentle 4-night residential retreat at the Retreat Village offers space to step away from the busyness of everyday life and spend time in the peaceful surroundings of Knock Shrine.
With access to the shrine grounds, prayer spaces, and quiet walking areas, participants are invited into a slower rhythm of reflection, stillness and renewal. During the retreat you will also have the opportunity to meet individually with an experienced Spiritual Director for gentle one-to-one spiritual companionship and conversation.

Find out more here