Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock

Photo album available here

Sunday 09 August

While throngs of Meath people headed to Croke Park last Sunday for a ‘showdown’ with Mayo, thousands more made a pilgrimage of a more traditional (and devotional) kind to Our Lady’s Shrine in Knock, County Mayo.

The annual diocesan pilgrimage marked a noticeable increase in the number of people taking part in the day’s events, which culminated in the celebration of Mass in the Basilica. Bishop Michael Smith was joined in the liturgy by pilgrimage director Rev. Stan Deegan PP, V Rev Joseph Gallagher Adm and also by recently ordained deacons Rev. Joe Campbell and Rev. Stephen Kelly.

The Meath diocesan choir, which this year marks its tenth anniversary, provided a rich and varied repertoire for the occasion.

In his homily, Bishop Smith reflected on the Scripture readings of the Mass - the words of Mary give direction to the Church today; the example of Elijah speaks to the experience of the human family.

"Over recent decades, we have had calls for the Church to have an option for the poor, nowadays an option for the environment and other similar social tasks” the Bishop said. “There is only one option that the Church can ever have and that is an option for Christ, summed up by the words of Mary who said at Cana ‘do whatever He tells you’. The other options of reaching out to the suffering and poor, protecting the gifts of God’s creation, seeking to heal the wounds and pains of those afflicted by the sins of others must all flow from that central option of our faith, namely the option for Christ, doing what He asks of us”.

The example of Elijah in the first reading finds parallels in the life experience of some people today. Elijah was broken, he felt lost and abandoned. Yet it was at that moment that God provided him with the strength that renewed his hope and courage. No one is, at times, without reason to be fearful, to be worn out, to lose heart.

Yet it is especially at those very moments in life that we are invited to find hope in God’s abiding presence with us. We are invited to be open to the voice of conscience. We are invited to seek a meaning and purpose to life that transcends the pains and difficulties that come our way. When we delve deep into our inner selves and reflect in the light of faith, our brokenness and sense of loss are not only better understood but these pains are actually healed.”

Jesus echoes this experience of Elijah in his words that place faith in Him as the centre of all life. It is in Him as the bread of life that we find our way to God. Mary’s words at Cana reaffirm the centrality of Christ. The apparition here at Knock pointed to the Eucharist with the lamb and the altar of sacrifice central to the image.

The Eucharist is at the heart of faith. Though the Eucharist we find the strength to live our faith. It draws us into the very mystery of God. The words of Christ in our Gospel make it clear that it is in Him as the bread of life that we find the sustenance and courage to affirm and witness to faith.

What happened here at Knock offers much to reflect and ponder upon. The experience of Elijah and the words of Jesus in the Gospel also offer much to ponder and wonder. Both readings offer a deep hope about life, The silence of the apparition here at Knock points clearly to Christ, to the Eucharist. It truly affirms the clear promise Christ made to His Apostles and to us ‘I am with you always, yes to the end of the world’. It is that faith we seek to affirm and strengthen as this day we gather here in prayer with Mary the mother of Jesus.

 

High-resolution versions (200dpi) of the above pictures available by clicking on the image.

Further images (courtesy of Mr James Wims) from

Fr Robert McCabe CF Tel 01-8413990

Further information from

Mrs Irene Connaughton
Bishop's House
Dublin Road
Mullingar

Tel 044-9348841