All welcome to annual National Pilgrimage for Life in Knock

18 Jun, 2025 | Bishops, Church, News

This Saturday, 21 June, the National Pilgrimage for Life organised by the Bishops’ Council for Life, will be celebrated at Ireland’s International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Knock, Co Mayo, in the Archdiocese of Tuam.

This pilgrimage will start in the Knock Basilica with Mass at 3.00pm, during which the Anointing of the Sick will take place.  The main celebrant and homilist will be Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore who is also a member of the Council for Life.

Speaking ahead of the pilgrimage, Bishop Hayes said, “I look forward to this Pilgrimage for Life, which is a profound opportunity for us all to celebrate the sacred gift of human life and unite in prayer for its protection.  Through the birth of Jesus among us, each of us is called to uphold the dignity of every human life – respecting, promoting, and protecting it from conception to its natural end.  Our Eucharistic gathering in Knock on Sunday will celebrate this reality.”

The Council for Life was established by the Bishops’ Conference in 2019 with the purpose of advising the Irish Bishops’ Conference, and its Commissions, Agencies and Councils, on matters relating to a consistent ethic of life and care for the unborn and those most at risk at any stage of life.  The Council also supports the work of individual bishops and dioceses on pro-life matters.  In addition, the Council keeps abreast of developing ethical issues concerning the beginning and end of life, as well as other developments in treatment and research, and advances in medical technology and in the pharmaceutical industry, which present ongoing challenges to Catholics in the promotion of the right to life of the unborn.

The Council acts as a ‘think-tank’ to research questions related to the dignity and protection of human life.  This involves the consideration of public policy and legislative proposals with a view to anticipating future challenges both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.  The work of the Council also involves examining queries and misinformation in relation to the right to life and the protection of life.

An example of the work of the Council for Life is captured in this video on end of life care called Through the Valley.

For more information and updates please see online councilforlife.ie, on Facebook, and on X.

ENDS

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