Support Programmes
Support Programmes
This two day conference on Synodality will take place on Friday, April 19th and Saturday, April 20th in St. John’s Welcome Centre, Knock Shrine.
Synodality Explored: Facing the Future Together
Facilitated by Prof Eamonn Conway, Notre Dame University, Perth
Friday April 19th 2024
10.00 Opening Prayer
10.15 The Synodal: a Global View
Cardinal Mario Grech
11.15 Coffee
11.45 Being Synodal in Dioceses and Parishes
Rev Declan Hurley
1.00 Lunch
2.15 Our Church on a Missionary Footing
Professor René Kohler-Ryan
3.30 Break
3.40 Open Forum
4.15 Closing Prayer
Saturday
10.00 Opening Prayer
10.15 The Synod: Ireland and the World
Cardinal Mario Grech and Julieann Moran
11.15 Coffee
11.45 Parish Pastoral Councils as Instruments of Synodality
Dr Dermot Ryan
1.00 Lunch
2.15 Becoming a More Inclusive Church
Austin Burke, Sr Josephine Enenmo, Julian Drapiewski
3.30 Break
3.40 Open Forum
4.15 Closing Prayer
‘Art as a doorway to mystery’ is the theme for a very special art appreciation day, focusing on how artists have aimed over the centuries to give us a glimpse of the Divine. Taking place at Knock House Hotel on Saturday, June 8th, this promises to be a unique event, drawing together experts from the art world. Fr. Patrick van der Vorst is a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Westminster, London. Patrick was born and raised in Bruges, Belgium. Before being ordained to the priesthood in June 2023, Patrick was a former Director of Sotheby’s Europe and worked 25 years in the art world. He is a specialist in 18th century French furniture. In 2010 Patrick left Sotheby’s to set up his own online art valuation company and appeared on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.
He launched the www.christian.art.com website in the period after having left the art-world and before starting seminary. In his daily reflections, Fr. Patrick combines his knowledge of the arts with the Gospel. The website now has 70,000 daily readers.
Dr. Caroline Campbell is Director of the National Gallery of Ireland and is the first female Director in the Gallery’s 158-year history. Dr Campbell has spent her career in three leading international art museums as a curator and senior leader. She has held positions at Ashmoleum Museum, the Courtauld Gallery and the National Gallery, London and has worked as Director of Collections and Research at the National Gallery, London.
Dr. Nora Donnelly is an Educator and Art Critic as well as an artist. She has taught both at Primary and University levels and written extensively about the value of the experience of art to humankind. In the afternoon, Grace Mulqueen, curator at Knock Museum will lead us on a journey through the wide variety of artworks at Knock Shrine, by renowned artists including Harry Clarke, Imogen Stuart, Ger Sweeney, PJ Lynch, Roisin De Buitléir, Lorenzo Ferri and Timothy P Schmalz.
2024 Ignatian Week Retreat
began in 2016.
…be prepared give an account of the hope that is in you… (1 Pt. 3:15)
“God where are you?”… Finding Hope in our Fragile World
Details to follow