Busy Donegal people are invited to take part in digital detoxing and quiet retreats during the new season of Faith Renewal events at Knock Shrine in Co. Mayo.
The events for this autumn and winter are developed to give participants the opportunity to enliven and engage on a range of topics and take time out from busy life. The programme will run over a number of weeks and includes workshops, talks and a concert, all devised with the aim of reaching out to people to support and encourage faith.
Knock Shrine’s first series of faith renewal events was launched last autumn and ran again throughout the spring/summer months and proved very popular.
The hugely successful series of ‘Quiet Days for Busy People’ day workshops will make a return, and it includes a novel element with a day for ‘Digital Detox’ which will provide participants time to disconnect from technology and the demands of life in a quiet reflective space. Workshops will take place on the first Saturday of each month from September to December.
The award-winning interior of Knock Basilica is proving to be a top-class venue for concerts and as such, ‘The Story of Love’, a spectacular musical event celebrating God’s love for his creation will take place in the Basilica on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th October.
The sacred concert will bring together choirs from around the world, Italian singers and Irish musicians for a unique musical experience. The concert is a lively and colourful four-part story of love, loss, forgiveness and reconciliation told through song and screen presentations. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster and from the Bookshop and Mass card office at Knock Shrine.
A 12-week course on Adult Catechism Studies, facilitated by Mr. Liam Sadler will begin on September 29th, and will run weekly on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in St. John’s Rest & Care Centre.
‘Leading God’s People in Prayer’ training and formation evenings will take place on October 6th and October 13th for those interested in leading prayer in their parish. The course will be led by Mary Connolly, MA in Liturgy Studies and Member of the National Council for Liturgy. Those wishing to participate need to complete the booking form which is available on the Knock Shrine website (www.knockshrine.ie) or from their local parish.
Fr. Brian Grogan SJ will return with ‘God, You’re Breaking My Heart’, a one-day workshop based on the latest book from Fr. Brian which discusses themes around suffering and evil and our own personal response to it.
‘Living in Hope’ is a day for wellbeing and positivity, presented by Deirdre Ní Chinnéide, it offers an opportunity for time out to experience God’s presence to lead us to new hope.
Fr Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock, spoke about the wonderful feedback from previous events and is looking forward to opening the upcoming series.
“We recognise that people are busy and often overwhelmed with the demands of everyday life. Faith renewal events offer time away for reflection, to recharge and restore ourselves on a spiritual level.”
“We have developed new elements such as the ‘Digital Detox’ workshop as there is a clear need to people to put the phones away and simply disconnect for a while in a peaceful atmosphere. In addition to the more joyous events such as ‘The Story of Love’ concert, there are practical elements which provide an opportunity to deepen one’s faith. It is that duality of offering practical and spiritual elements that we strive for,” he says.
Booking is advised for all events in this series. For more information on faith renewal events at Knock Shrine this autumn/winter, visit www.knockshrine.ie/faithrenewal or telephone (094) 93 88100/ (094) 75355 or email: faithrenewal@knockshrine.ie
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