To mark Organ Donor Awareness Week 2017, a special Mass will be celebrated at Knock Shrine on Sunday 2 April at 12 noon. The Mass, organised by the Family Centre at Knock Shrine, is held in solidarity with those who are waiting and those who have received an organ.
Monica Morley, director of the Family Centre at Knock Shrine said of the Mass, ‘Thousands of lives are touched by organ donors every year. The Mass is a celebration for all who have been saved, and indeed for those whose loved ones were organ donors and wish them and their wonderful legacy to be remembered.
‘It is also to give families a chance to be part of a special and prayerful day, whether it’s to give thanks or to pray for someone. Families will be taking part in the liturgy and it is hoped that it will be a very special and memorable occasion for all.’
Speaking in 2015 about organ donation, Archbishop Eamon Martin said, ‘The Flesh and Blood campaign calls on all of us to recognise the importance of being an organ or blood donor, and it challenges us to recognise the need to respond with an act of generosity and love. It aims to raise the profile of donation within our Churches and encourages donation as a personal gift.’
Organ Donor Awareness Week is organised by the Irish Kidney Association and offers a great opportunity to highlight the phenomenal impact organ donation can have on a person’s life and their families. The focus of the Week is to raise awareness about the ongoing and ever-increasing demand for organ transplantation which relies on the public for organ donation. Its key message is that families need to talk and keep the reminders of their willingness to donate visible.
For more information see www.knockshrine.ie.
