Knock Shrine invite to attend Vatican celebration

REPRESENTATIVES from Knock Shrine will make a special trip to Rome at the end of the month.

Eighteen months after welcoming Pope Francis to the Mayo Marian Shrine, they have been invited to a celebration in the Vatican on January 26, which will feature the Our Lady of Knock processional statue.

The Mass will include the statue and also the Knock Schola Choir, who are busy with rehearsals ahead of the special celebration. The representatives from the shrine have also been invited to take part in readings and gifts.

An invitation has been extended by the shrine to the cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council to attend the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

This is the first time since 1954 that the shrine will be officially involved in a ceremony at the Vatican.

A report in The Irish Catholic said a spokesperson had described it as 'a momentous occasion' for Fr. Richard Gibbons and all involved. Many people plan to travel over from the shrine, parish and surrounding area.

The reported added it is believed that Cardinal Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, who spoke at the 140th anniversary of the shrine last year, was instrumental in bringing the visit about, specifically with regard to requesting the statue of Our Lady for the ceremony.