

In this special Jubilee Year, the theme of the National Novena to Our Lady of Knock is Pilgrims of Hope. Hope is at the very heart of the Knock Apparition, and throughout this year’s Novena, we will explore how hope can shine through in the most unexpected places.
Each day, inspiring guest speakers will reflect on how hope has revealed itself in their lives and work. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in workshops that explore the daily theme more deeply, and guided prayer sessions will provide moments of quiet reflection, helping us to journey together in faith, prayer, and hope.
We warmly welcome to join us at Knock Shrine for this special time of grace, reflection, and renewal from August 13th to 21st.
Fr. Richard
Novena Ceremonies take place each day at 3pm & 8pm in Knock Basilica.
Anointing of the Sick takes place during the 3pm ceremony, with the exception of Sunday, August 17th, when it will take place at 2.30pm.
Rosary Procession takes place each afternoon after the 3pm ceremony (weather permitting).
Candlelight Procession takes place each evening after the evening ceremony (weather permitting).
Delve deeper into the theme of each day at our daily workshops with guest facilitators.
Workshops take place at 12.45pm each in St. John’s Welcome Centre.
Daily guided prayer sessions on the theme of the day take place in the Prayer Centre at 11.15am and 5.15pm each day.
Each session will be led by one of our trained prayer guides and lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
Wednesday, August 13th
Life without a home – Restoring Hope
Fr Kevin Kiernan, OFM Cap
3pm & 8pm
Fr. Kevin Kiernan OFM Cap is the Capuchin Director of the Capuchin Day Centre, Guardian of the Capuchin Friary of St. Mary of the Angels in Church Street, and sits on the Provincial Council of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of Ireland.
Fr. Kevin is a trained psychotherapist and his pastoral ministry has included work in friaries, parishes and hospitals across the country alongside direct support to refugees and asylum seekers in collaboration with the SMA Fathers.
Synod: Hope for the Church?
Miriam Wijlens
3pm & 8pm
Myriam Wijlens is a Dutch theologian and professor of canon law at the University of Erfurt (Germany). She served on the Coordinating Committee of the Synod on Synodality in Rome and participated in its sessions in 2023 and 2024. She is a former member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and serves on the international dialogue of Anglican and Roman Catholics.
By a lonely Prison Wall
Ita Lohan
3pm & 8pm
After working for 5 years in Bath and then London with people who were homeless and active in addiction, Ita Lohan moved back to Ireland in November 2004. On her return she studied Theology and the Catechism of the Catholic Church which lead her to her work as a chaplain, firstly in Castlerea prison and currently in Loughan House open centre.
Mary, Mother of the seeds of hope
Msgr Kevin Gillespie and Elaine Patton
3pm
Monsignor Kevin Gillespie serves as Diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Raphoe. A native of Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal, Monsignor Gillespie is also Administrator of St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny. He is joined by Elaine Patton, who is actively involved in youth ministry in the Diocese of Raphoe.
Family: The first place of accompaniment
Bishop Kevin Doran
3pm
Bishop Kevin Doran is Bishop of Elphin and 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.
Prayer: A Silent Doorway To Hope
John Farrelly
8pm
John Farrelly is Prayer Guidance Coordinator at Knock Shrine, where he also leads the Spiritual Direction Ministry. He writes The Weekly Witness, a contemplative reflection rooted in scripture and silence. A husband, father, and grandfather, he also works as a Special Needs Assistant in a primary school.
Monday, 18th August
3pm & 8pm: Beyond the Headlines
Eileen Dunne
3pm & 8pm
For more than 40 years Eileen Dunne worked in RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster, first in radio and then in the Newsroom where as a news anchor she got to cover all the big stories of the day, including two conclaves, the Eucharistic Congress in 2012 and the visit of Pope Francis to Knock in 2018. She also served as International President of the Association of European Journalists between 2010 and 2014.
“Our Place in the Garden: Living with Humility in Creation”
Fr Niall Leahy SJ
3pm & 8pm
Fr Niall Leahy SJ, a native of Blackrock, Co. Louth is inspired by the people who are working for a socially and ecologically embedded economy. He is currently Advocate for Localism at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, a social justice non-profit that advocates to change policy and opinion on issues including environmental justice, housing and homelessness, economic justice and penal policy. Fr. Niall is based at Gardiner Street Parish in Dublin.
Wednesday, 20th August
Be not afraid: Finding peace in illness
Breda Casserly
3pm & 8pm
Breda Casserly is a former healthcare Chaplain in the Galway Hospice. She is a graduate of Galway University and All Hallows College, Dublin, with postgraduate degrees in Pastoral Theology and Cross Professional Supervision. She is the author of the best-selling book ‘Lessons from a Bedside’. She lives in Oranmore, Galway.
Thursday, 21st August: Anniversary of the Apparition
Living Faith: How Young People Are Shaping the Future
Claire Kilroy
3pm
Claire Kilroy, a native of Galway, is a seconded Deputy Principal working in Le Chéile Schools Trust. She joined Le Chéile in January 2022 as Ethos Leadership Officer and progressed to Head of School Services of the Trust in July 2024. Claire has been appointed as CEO of Association of Patrons and Trustees of Catholic Schools starting in September 1st 2025
Celebration of the anniversary of the Knock Apparition
Hope is faith with its sleeves rolled up
Fr Richard Gibbons
8pm
Fr. Richard Gibbons, PP has served as parish priest and Rector of Knock Shrine since 2012. Fr. Richard will lead this special evening as we gather to celebrate the anniversary of the Knock Apparition. The evening’s celebrations will follow the ‘Witness Walk’, as we walk in the footsteps of the Apparition Witnesses as they made their way to the Parish Church on that wet Thursday evening on the 21st of August 1879. The evening ceremony in Knock Basilica will commence with a commemoration of each of the Witnesses.
Sunday, August 17th 2025
On Sunday, August 17th 2025, we will host a family day where children and families can join in a range of fun activities. Family Day is a lovely opportunity for families to get together and enjoy a fun day out at Knock Shrine.
The day begins with a special blessing of families in the Apparition Chapel at 11am.
All events and activities are free of charge and will take place on the beautiful grounds of Knock Shrine, near the award-winning Knock Museum and Cafe le Cheile.
There will be a range of outdoor activities taking place on the green (weather permitting) and marquees with indoor workshops, games and more.
Events and activities will include:
Kite Making – Design your own kite
Face Painting
Arts and Crafts
Drumming
Dance
Puppetry
Games on the Green
Join us as we journey back in time to the evening of the 21st of August 1879. On this special evening, we commemorate the lives of the witnesses who stood in the rain for two hours praying the Rosary. Although not a word was spoken by Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John during the silent Apparition, the vision spoke louder than words.
The witnesses were all ordinary people living in the village of Knock and surrounding area. For them, it had been a day like any other in carrying out the work of the day, bringing turf home from the bog, carrying out the usual tasks of the harvest time, visiting neighbours. Together we will meet each of the witnesses as they journey from their homesteads in the village and make their way to the gable wall of the Parish Church.
The Witness Walk will take place at 6.45pm , starting at the Chapel of Reconciliation. Some of our parishioners will represent each of the witnesses who ranged in age from 5 years to 74 years.
August 13th: Hope Amid Homelessness
August 14th: Hope for the Church:
August 15th : Hope Within Prison Walls
August 16th: Mary: Mother of Hope
August 17th : Hope in Family Life
August 18th : Hope in a Broken World
August 19th: Hope for Creation
August 20th: Hope Amidst Illness
August 21st: Hope in The Hands of Young
Guided Prayer Sessions take place at 11.15am and 5.15pm during the Novena
August 13th Fr Kevin Kiernan and Brian Friel
No-one Goes Hungry
14th Julieann Moran
Synodality – A Reason for Great Hope
15th Ita Lohan and Daniel Lohan
Beauty in the Broken: Seeing God’s Heart in Human Struggle
16th Knock Prayer Guides
Embodied Prayer: Praying With Our Whole Being
17th Godly Play
Godly Play: Making Meaning Through Story, Wonder and Play
18th Knock Prayer Guides
Accompanied on The Journey: The Ministry of Spiritual Direction
19th Fr Niall Leahy SJ
Creation Speaks: Listening with the Heart of Laudato Si
20th Knock Prayer Guides
Finding Hope and Healing: Praying in the midst of illness
21st Claire Kilroy
Young People Are Shaping the Future