Together in Faith Visit of Faith Renewal How you can Initiative Francis and Youth continue to Faith Renewal and Youth Ministry Progress Update to Knock Ministry support our work

One of our core ambitions is for the Shrine to become a National Centre for Evangelisation. Funded by donations to the Autumn/Winter 2018 Witness to Hope campaign, the Faith Renewal Programme was officially Stewardship launched in 2015. Since then we have embarked on a series of successful events NEWSLETTER which have flourished and now involves two programmes per year in Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter.

The various events have grown in popularity as they give pilgrims and

parishioners the opportunity to engage HUB Summer Camp VAKS during Papal Visit and explore their faith at a deeper level. The calendar includes sacred music Growth of VAKS through the years Youth Volunteers and Visit of activities and concerts, day retreats, talks, workshops on a range of topics, as well as A record 220 VAKS played a crucial role on the parish and pastoral days. day of the Papal visit. They welcomed Pope Francis’ CAMPAIGNS TO DATE We are delighted to share the details of our thousands of pilgrims and assisted the Autumn/Winter 2018 schedule on our Eucharistic Ministers with the distribution of Historic Visit to Knock Shrine website at www.knockshrine.ie which Communion during Mass. John 10:10 encompasses a wide range of experiences, Michaela Camp Leaders We are confident that the popularity of our Dear Friends, the Apparition Chapel, ensuring that we including the very popular ‘Quiet Day for various programmes will continue to grow and are protecting these holy sites for this and It is my pleasure to present this Busy People’ retreat led by Deirdre Ní we want to thank all those who have donated future generations. I know that many of Chinnéide. Youth Outreach and Enrichment Summer Fun at ‘The HUB’ so far, it is your ongoing support that helps us Autumn/Winter 2018 edition of our you were present for the Papal visit and reach out and touch the lives of so many young Stewardship Newsletter and to share with others came over the summer months. With your support, we look forward to at Knock Youth Ministry I hope you had the opportunity to take in Thanks to the generosity of people. you highlights from our various projects. welcoming new and returning pilgrims some of the wonderful improvements. Knock Youth Ministry has taken on a life and energy of its own, donors towards the Witness to over the coming years and want to thank If you would like to learn more about the work 2018 has been a year of historic through the promotion of our message ‘explore, strengthen and Hope campaign, ‘The HUB’ The work also encompasses our desire to you for your ongoing generosity. we do, please visit the website at significance for Knock Shrine. ignite’. (Hear, Understand, Believe) share Knock’s message www.knockshrine.ie/youthministry As many of you know, on was opened in 2014. It is a with pilgrims worldwide Sunday 26th August, His Our ethos is to give young people a positive experience of Knock place for young people to and so included a Holiness, Pope Francis and a powerful encounter with God. comprehensive participate in a range of blessed us with a Papal Information Technology We offer a range of Communion, Confirmation and Secondary events and explore their faith. Remember Us in Your Will visit as part of the World (I.T.) upgrade, making it School retreats, providing an opportunity for young people to Meeting of Families. One of the stand-out Let your legacy become part of our story possible for everyone to step back from modern day pressures and reflect on the Knock Shrine was the livestream daily Masses programmes is the by leaving a gift in your Will to the only destination outside sacraments as well as themselves and their spirituality. from the parish church ‘Volunteer@KnockShrine’ of Dublin visited by Pope Our Lady of Knock Legacy Programme and various ceremonies (VAKS) for teenagers aged 16 Francis which was a from the Basilica. and over. It provides an tremendous honour for the Shrine, the occasion for our youth to Your memory can live on at Knock Shrine by helping Catholic Faith throughout Ireland and our We look to the future with a renewed us to make a lasting difference to others and in supporters. sense of enthusiasm and I want to thank volunteer for a weekend, spreading Knock’s message of Hope. all who have donated to our Witness to helping to make a difference The Papal visit was a source of inspiration To find out more about our Legacy Programme, Hope and Together in Faith campaigns. in the lives of the many for us all and it is a testament to the hard contact our Knock Shrine Development & pilgrims who visit Knock, work undertaken and generosity shown to Information Centre on 094 93 75070. It is essential for us to continue our while also reflecting on their Knock Shrine since we embarked on our development works making sure that own faith with other young Further details are also available at first fundraising campaign – Witness to Knock remains a place of welcome for people. www.knockshrine.ie/legacies Hope – over four years ago. all those who wish to experience our ‘Messiah’ Concert and www.mylegacy.ie message of Hope. The energy and growth witnessed here assured us that we can continue to achieve

# With every blessing, great things and so in late 2017 we KNOCK SHRINE DEVELOPMENT & INFORMATION CENTRE embarked on our second major IRELAND’S NATIONAL MARIAN SHRINE, KNOCK, CO. MAYO, IRELAND fundraising initiative –Together in Faith. T: 094 937 5070 E: [email protected] W: www.knockshrine.ie Together in Faith centres on our 1828 Fr Richard Gibbons, P.P., Stewardship Newsletter, Parish Church of St. and Knock Shrine 5 Autumn-Winter 2018 Privacy Notice- If you would like to read our full privacy policy, please visit our website at https://www.knockshrine.ie/our-privacy-policy/. Knock Shrine would like to continue sending you Stewardship Newsletters to keep you updated on our progress – if you do not wish to receive these, please contact our information centre on 094 93 75070 or via email at [email protected] Together in Faith Preserving Knock Shrine and Sharing Our Message Papal Visit to Knock How You Can Donate

St. John the Baptist Parish Church Sharing Knock’s Message of Hope Following months of planning and It is through donations to Witness to Hope that so much has been achieved. Many donors have also extended preparation, the momentous visit of their generosity to include Together in Faith and it is this support that has contributed to the completion of so At the very heart of Knock Shrine is the The final element of the Together in Faith campaign involved a His Holiness, Pope Francis, took much essential work already. parish church, dating back to 1828. Given comprehensive I.T. upgrade to the entire Shrine. This part of the place on Sunday 26th August 2018. its historic and international significance, project was a significant undertaking and involved a complete Circumstances allowing, we would be grateful if you would respectfully consider a contribution towards our extensive renovation work has been overhaul of the existing I.T. infrastructure, bringing it up to modern After landing at Ireland West current campaign – Together in Faith. There are a number of ways to do so: carried out this year as part of the standards and allowing Knock’s message of hope to be shared Airport Knock and subsequently 1. Please complete the standing order mandate below and return it to the address printed on the form ongoing Together in Faith campaign. worldwide. arriving at the Shrine, Pope Francis made his way through the crowd, 2. Send a cheque with your name and details, made out to Knock Shrine Development Project, and post it to The careful renovation of many features cheered along by a sea of specially the address printed on the form has created a bright, welcoming space, commissioned blue Knock flags. Pope Francis’ Address 3. If you wish to make a donation over the phone, please contact the Development and Information Centre while ensuring this celebrated structure on 094 9375070Standing or visit the centre Order on the Shrine Mandate grounds where the team will be happy to assist you remains a special place for pilgrims to A gift of Golden Beads was After his time in the Apparition Chapel, Pope come and pray. presented by Pope Francis which Francis gave his public address which was are on display beside the Shrine followed by the prayer bringing to an together with the Papal Candle. The Apparition Chapel end this remarkable day for Knock Shrine. STANDING ORDER MANDATE Date: Like the parish church, refurbishment Special Elements “Mary our Mother is also the Mother of the To the Manager of: works to the Apparition Chapel also Church, and it is to her that we commend The Papal Chair used by Pope Francis in the Apparition I/We hereby authorise and request you to debit the account of: began in early 2018 thanks to support for today the journey of God’s faithful people on the Together in Faith campaign. Chapel was inspired by a simple family kitchen chair, symbolising the importance of family prayer and in this emerald isle. We ask that our families be Name: It was in the Apparition Chapel that on particular the tradition of reciting the Rosary together. sustained in their efforts to advance Christ’s Sunday 26th August, in honour of his The chair is currently on display in Knock Museum. Kingdom and to care for the least of our IBAN: BIC: devotion to Our Lady and St Joseph, that The Papal Candle is surrounded by a floral display and set Your IBAN and BIC codes can be found on Bank Statements. Pope Francis presented a beautiful brothers and sisters.” in a hollowed-out tree trunk, symbolising the light of hope, With the sum of: € Donors who are registered with Online Banking can also find Golden Rosary. these numbers online. spoken of by the Apparition Witnesses. – Pope Francis Knock Shrine Ireland 2018 in words: 1. 2. Frequency : Monthly Annually and to credit: (tick) Works completed so far include: Knock Shrine Development Project. Account no: 09913945 Re-pointing of original church tower AIB CLAREMORRIS, JAMES STREET, CLAREMORRIS, CO. MAYO. (image 1) IBAN: IE52 AIBK 9374 4409 9139 45 BIC: AIBKIE2D Restoration of parish church interior, Start Date: Completion Date: including sanctuary and new flooring (image 2) Payments in total: Total payment to Knock Shrine: € Cleaning and repair works to stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross It is understood that the Bank is not be under any liability for damage or (image 3) loss caused by any omission to make these payments.

Conservation works to Carrara marble Images: (top) Pope Francis praying in Signature: statues, sculpted in Italy in the 1960s by Papal Chair and on stage at Knock Shrine. Professor Lorenzo Ferri and re-glazing of (above) Golden Rosary Beads Name (BLOCK CAPITALS): Apparition Chapel (images 4 & 5) 3. (centre) Excitement builds as Pope Francis arrives at Knock Shrine. To make your gift to ‘Together in Faith’, please tear o( this page along the (far right) Specially commissioned Papal Candle. dotted line and return to the Information Centre on the Shrine grounds.

All images courtesy of Maxwells/WMOF2018, Sinéad Mallee and McLaughlin Photography. Alternatively, you can post your form Within the to:- ‘Together in Faith’, Knock Shrine O)ce, Knock, Claremorris, FREEPOST CMS46, Co. Mayo.

Outside the Republic of Ireland:- ‘Together in Faith’, Knock Shrine, Knock, Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland. (Please affix postage stamp) “We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love” A large crowd of pilgrims gather to welcome Pope Francis. 3 4 4. 5. © Maxwells/WMOF2018 –Pope Francis