National Novena to mark 50th anniversary of Knock Basilica

Knock Basilica will host the annual Novena. Picture: Sinead Mallee

Three weeks on from ending their 75-year wait for All-Ireland senior football glory, the celebrations in Mayo show no sign of ending anytime soon.

Knock Basilica will mark its 50th anniversary this week, hosting the annual Knock National Novena from Thursday, with pilgrims flocking to the shrine from across the country for the nine-day event.

This year's celebrations come after Mayo's historic All-Ireland final victory over Kerry on July 26. The triumph coincided with National Grandparents Day at Knock Shrine, where prayers were offered for the county's success ahead of the decider.

The basilica was also lit up in the county colours of green and red for the weekend.

From Thursday, the focus will be firmly on the Knock Novena, during which a series of speakers will address pilgrims at the shrine. 

The closing day of the Novena on Friday, August 21, marks the anniversary of the apparition experienced by 15 local people in 1879. They claimed to have seen a silent apparition of Mary, St Joseph, and St John the Evangelist at the south gable of the parish church.

Among the speakers will be Fr Paul Murphy, the Defence Forces’ chaplain, who was repeatedly stabbed by an Irish boy in an Islamist-inspired knife attack at Renmore Barracks in Galway two years ago. 

He will discuss the theme of the 'healing power of love' at 3pm on August 21.

 The first speaker of the novena will be former RTÉ presenter Mary Kennedy, who will speak twice on the theme of 'faith in full view'. 

Dublin City University associate professor of religious education Sandra Cullen will discuss faith in the face of artificial intelligence.

The programme of events for the novena includes liturgies, talks, workshops, and prayer, “inviting people of all ages to step away from the demands of daily life and rediscover the peace found in faith”.

Organisers say Family Day on Sunday will be a special event.

Fr Richard Gibbons, parish priest and rector of Knock Shrine, said: "Each year, the National Novena offers people an opportunity to pause, pray, and experience the peace that Knock has offered pilgrims for generations. 

"This year's theme, 'Sheltered in God's Love', reminds us that, whatever challenges we carry, God remains our refuge and our hope. 

"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Knock Basilica, we look forward to welcoming pilgrims from every parish and every walk of life to share in these special nine days."

Knock shrine was upgraded to international status in 2021 by Pope Francis, granting it the same status as the Marian shrines in Lourdes and Fatima.