By Grainne Treanor - 03 April, 2017
Knock Shrine will be the location next Saturday 8 April 2017 for one of the most important events of the year when it hosts ‘Celebrating Family; Preparing for World Meeting of Families 2018’.
The event aims to help families discover what the World Meeting of Families, which will be celebrated in Dublin in August 2018, means for them, and to find out how they can prepare for this international occasion.
Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine, expressed his hope that the day will be both informative and inspiring for families.
“We hope that it will offer families the opportunity to start thinking about the World Meeting of Families 2018 and how it can inspire and guide them in family life. The family as a collective faces enormous challenges today. However, it is hoped that this event will be a positive and meaningful connection for people, facilitating open discussion, time for questions, as well as a prayerful and special day, with family Mass celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Michael Neary.”
Fr Gibbons also said that “In light of all the recent heart breaking news that has come out in recent weeks, it is hoped that this will offer people the opportunity to engage with the new direction Pope Francis is taking and renewed hope for the life of the Church in Ireland.”
Keynote speaker on the day will be Fr Timothy Bartlett, who is Secretary General of the World Meeting of Families. Fr Bartlett will discuss the theme chosen by Pope Francis for World Meeting of Families 2018, ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy to the World’.
Breda O’Brien, who writes a weekly column in the Irish Times, will facilitate a public discussion with a number of families about their experiences and the challenges of living as a Catholic family today.
There will be a range of workshops and activities for children and young people aged five and over, facilitated by the shrine’s Youth Ministry. The Youth Ministry runs the HUB programme every summer, and offers children and young people a fun way to learn more about their faith.
For more information, contact the Faith Renewal team in Knock on 094 9375355 or email faithrenewal@knockshrine.ie.
For more information about the World Meeting of Families, see www.worldmeeting2018.ie.
