At the request of the Holy Father, the Secretariat responsible for the Universal Synod has invited the Church around the world to hold a moment of Marian Prayer on 31 May (the Feast of the Visitation and the last day of the Marian Month of May) to place the work of the Synod, especially the work of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in Rome this October, under the protection of Mary, Mother of the Church.
The Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland has organised a day of prayer at Knock Shrine, Ireland’s International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine, and an open invitation is being extended to all to join in this special day. The programme for the day includes a prayer service in the Apparition Chapel, Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland, prayer throughout the day with pilgrims invited to place the work of the Synod under Our Lady’s protection, and the Rosary followed by evening Mass in Knock Parish Church.
The programme timings for the day are:
11am – 11:45am Prayer Service in the Apparition Chapel
12:00pm – 1pm Mass celebrated by Archbishop Francis Duffy in the Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland
1pm – 7pm Pilgrims and visitors will be invited to pray for the work of the Synod
7pm – 8pm Rosary and Mass in Knock Parish Church
General Secretary for the Synodal Pathway, Ms Julieann Moran, said, “As we continue to strengthen our communion, deepen our participation, and enlarge our mission, I am conscious that many will not be able to travel to Knock on the Wednesday, so we have prepared a prayer resource ‘With Mary Towards the Synodal Assembly’ for parishes and groups to pray with us on the day.”
All are being encouraged to pray using the resource at the Angelus times of 12 noon and 6pm. The resource and other information about the day of prayer is available for download at https://synod.ie/day-of-marian-prayer-for-the-work-of-the-synod/ so as many people as possible can pray with us and seek the interceding presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, on the day. The prayer service and Masses will be livestreamed from Knock Shrine and can be viewed at www.knockshrine.ie.
ENDS
