Friday, September 23, 2016

Quiet Days for Busy People and Digital Detox are part of Knock Autumn/Winter Faith Renewal Programme

Quiet Days for Busy People and Digital Detox are part of the Autumn/Winter Faith Renewal Programme at Knock Shrine. 

The new series of events will run throughout the Autumn/Winter and will encompasses a range of events which have been developed to give participants the opportunity to enliven, engage on a range of topics and provide solace from busy lives. 

A lively and varied programme of workshops, talks, concerts and courses has been 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 and Summer months and proved very popular. 

The hugely successful series of ‘Quiet Days for Busy People’ day workshops will make a return and 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 the month from September to December.

A 12-week course on Adult Catechism facilitated by Liam Sadler will begin on 29 September 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 6 and 13 October 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 his latest book which discusses themes around suffering and evil and our own personal response to it.

‘The Story of Love’, is a spectacular musical event celebrating God’s love for his creation which will take place in the Basilica on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October. This sacred concert brings 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 Ticket Master and from the Bookshop and Mass Card Office at Knock Shrine.

‘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.

Father Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock, spoke about the wonderful feedback from previous events and is looking forward to opening the upcoming series. He said, “We recognise that people are busy and often overwhelmed with the demands of everyday life. Faith renewal events offer time away for reflection, to re-charge 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 ones faith. It is that duality of offering practical and spiritual elements that we strive for.”

Booking is advised for all events in this series. 

For more information visit www.knockshrine.ie/faithrenewal or telephone (094) 93 88100.