Chai Brady
Thousands of pilgrims at Knock shrine. Charismatic RTÉ personality and “man of Faith” Marty Morrissey is set to make his debut appearance at the Knock annual novena next month. With the theme ‘Living Life to the Full’ the National Novena to Our Lady of Knock will run from Monday, August 14 until Tuesday 22.
Mr Morrissey will speak on Wednesday 16 and sport will be the topic of the day; the sports aficionado and commentator was chosen because he was described as a “man of Faith” by a Knock spokesperson.
Fr Kevin O’Gorman, the author of Saving Sport: Sport, Society and Spirituality, will deliver workshops on the same day.
The diverse workshop-filled event will focus on family and the gift of life, with one of the highlights being the launch of the World Meeting of Families 2018 (WMOF) programme ‘Amoris: Let’s Talk Family: Let’s be Family!’ on Monday 21.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, President and Host of the WMOF, will highlight family life with a reflection entitled ‘When Plates Fly! Pope Francis on the joys and challenges of family life’, and the Secretary General of the WMOF, Fr Timothy Bartlett, will deliver workshops on how to make technology more family-friendly.
The Parish Priest of Knock Shrine, Fr Richard Gibbons, said: “The novena is about embracing our spiritual selves and in today’s world it is a valuable thing to take some time alone or with family and friends to experience the richness of our faith and to escape the material and fast-paced world.”