Cathal BarrySeptember event a dry run for potential papal visit
A National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Knock in September, the Irish Bishops’ Conference have announced.
The Eucharistic Congress will be held on Saturday 26 and Sunday, September 27 at the world renowned Marian shrine in Co. Mayo.
The Irish Catholic understands that, if successful, the national congress could act as a dry run for a visit from Pope Francis as early as next year.
In a statement, the bishops said the congress “will be an opportunity to reflect on the fruits” of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, which was held in Dublin in 2012.
It will also take the form of “a spiritual preparation” for the next International Congress, scheduled to take place in Cebu, Philippines, in January 2016, the bishops stated.
They added that the context in which the National Eucharist Congress will be celebrated includes the Synod of Bishops on the ‘Vocation and Mission of the Family’ which will take place in the Vatican during October, as well as the Year of Consecrated Life.
It is hoped that a pilgrim group from Ireland will participate in the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu.
The last National Eucharistic Congress in Ireland was celebrated at the Marian Shrine in Knock during June 2011 and it marked the one year countdown to the 50th International Congress in Dublin.
However, extensive renovations to Knock’s basilica have since taken place and are scheduled for completion by 2016.
Knock is the site of an 1879 apparition of Our Lady, St Joseph and St John the Evangelist and a Lamb on an altar with a cross.
The apparition was witnessed at the gable wall of the parish church at approximately 8pm by 15 people from the village.
Knock is an internationally recognised Marian Shrine and was visited by Saint John Paul II as part of his 1979 papal pilgrimage to Ireland.