Join the Pope John Paul II Award annual national pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Tuesday, 22 March 2022.
All young people in your diocese are invited to attend!
All dioceses are encouraged to reach out to all young people between the age of 16-18 in their parishes and schools to invite them to attend this special event. They will learn how the Pope John Paul II Award can help them become involved in their parishes and help grow their faith.
Date of pilgrimage: Tuesday, 22 March 2022
There are some exciting activities and special guests arranged for the day. Young people in attendance will be encouraged to participate – singers, musicians, readers, stewards, prompters and audience warm-ups.
Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm. Mass at 2:30pm
Location: Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Map: View location on Google
Details of the pilgrimage to Knock Shrine
This is the Award’s fouth pilgrimage Knock Shrine where Pope Saint John Paul II visited in 1979, Pope Francis visited in 2018 and where over 1.5 million pilgrims visit this special place each year. The Pope John Paul II Award is running in 24 dioceses in Ireland and 3 in Britain. We are looking forward to meeting representatives from every dioceses this year at Knock Shrine.
PILGRIMAGE PROGRAMME:
10:30am Assemble in the Basilica
11:00am Welcome ceremony
11:30am Song, prayer, discussion and guest speakers.
GUEST SPEAKER: Fr Peter McVerry – Homelesses Campaigner.
12:45pm Lunch break
2:00pm A history of Knock and Prayers of thanksgiving
2:30pm Celebration of the Eucharist, lead by Award Patron, Bishop Donal McKeown.
Music: Elation Ministries
Guest Speaker – Fr Peter McVerry
Fr McVerry began working in Summerhill in Dublin’s north inner-city in 1974, where he witnessed first-hand the problems of homelessness and deprivation. He is a leading advocate for those marginalised in Irish society. The charity has grown and increased its services to include drug treatment, more U18s residential services, and a drop-in centre run by Fr McVerry.
Fr Peter McVerry speaks about the origins of Peter McVerry Trust.
Transport, what time should you arrive and when does the day start and end?
Pope John Paul II Award participants should contact their Award Leader in their school or parish for details on transport arrangements. The event programme will begin promptly at 11:00am and finish after 3:00pm Mass. Allow plenty of time of get to the event. It would be best to time your arrival for about 10:15am – 10:45am.
There is an good road network to Knock Shrine with excellent parking and access. View Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo, Ireland on Google
Buses and cars are asked to park in the North Car Park. It is sign posted but it’s easier to follow the signs to Knock House Hotel. Stewards will be on hand to guide attendees to the Basilica. A map of Knock grounds can be downloaded here.
Bring your lunch!
We ask that everyone brings a packed lunch. There will be a venue available should attendees wish to eat their lunch there. There are also many food outlets in Knock close to the Basilica as well as Café le Chéile within the grounds.
School Uniforms & wrap up warm!
Attendees do not have to wear their school uniforms but if their school wishes them to do so that is fine. We would advise though that everyone wraps up well and be prepared for the elements. Knock can be cold!
Bring your school, parish or diocesan banners
It would be great if each dioceses, parish and school could bring their banners. It’s not often we are able to get so many dioceses, parishes and schools together at once so we want to let everyone know. We hope to have a short procession of all banners into the Basilica.
More information on this event
Telephone: 0044 (0)28 7126 4087
Email: admin@thepopejohnpauliiaward.com
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Pope John Paul II’s visit to Knock Shrine
Pope Saint John Paul II visited Knock Shrine in 1979. His visit to Ireland from Saturday, 29th September to Monday, 1st October was the first visit by a pope to Ireland.
On Sunday morning, 30th September he celebrated a Youth Mass for 300,000 at Ballybrit racecourse in Galway. It was here that the Pope uttered perhaps the most memorable line of his visit: “Young people of Ireland, I love you”. That afternoon, he travelled to Knock Shrine which he described as “the goal of my journey to Ireland”. The outdoor Mass at the Shrine was attended by 450,000. [source: wikipedia.org]
Pope Francis’ visit to Knock Shrine
Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday, 26 August 2018.
The Holy Father arrived at Knock Shrine at 9.45am to pray for families from around the world and the fruits of WMOF2018. He did a circuit in the pope mobile and prayed the Angelus at the Apparition Chapel before departing from Knock Shrine at 11.15am.
History of Knock
The Story of Knock began on the 21st August 1879, when, at approximately 8 o’clock in the evening, fifteen people from the village of Knock in Co. Mayo, witnessed an Apparition of Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, a Lamb and a cross on an altar at the gable wall of the Parish Church. The witnesses watched the Apparition in the pouring rain for 2 hours, reciting the Rosary. Although they themselves were saturated, not a single drop of rain fell on the gable or vision. There were fifteen official witnesses to the Apparition, most of whom were from the village of Knock and surrounding areas and ranged in age from just 5 years old to 74 years old.
