| Pilgrimage of thanksgiving at Knock Shrine |
 On Saturday 25th July the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart hosted a most successful pilgrimage day at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock. We were delighted to welcome over four thousand pilgrims from all parts of Ireland as well as some from England and even from as far away as the United States. Pilgrimage of thanksgiving at Knock ShrineCardinal Brady addresses the congregation We were delighted to welcome over four thousand pilgrims from all parts of Ireland as well as some from England and even from as far away as the United States. Our missionaries from South Africa, Venezuela and the United States, currently home on holiday, joined with MSCs from Ireland and England for the ceremonies. Pilgrims/benefactors and MSCs were delighted to meet each other. MSCs were happy to avail of the opportunity to express their appreciation to our benefactors for their generosity. Benefactors were glad to meet in person the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who promise to pray daily for their intentions. The Service of Reconciliation was led by Fr Kevin Shanahan MSC and the Stations of the Cross were led by Fr Des Farren MSC and Mrs Ann Laird, a parishioner from Sacred Heart Parish, Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin.  Fr Michael O'Connell MSC welcomes the entrance procession The principal concelebrant at the Mass was His Eminence Cardinal Brady who congratulated the missionaries and the benefactors for promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart as well as to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.  Fr Mark McDonald MSC preaches the homily In his homily Fr Mark McDonald MSC, the Superior General of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, also thanked the benefactors and encouraged the Irish MSC province to continue the good work entrusted to them by the Lord. Fr Mark gave one example from his recent visit to India of the help given by Irish benefactors not only to Irish MSCs but to the wider MSC missionary brotherhood working abroad.  Cardinal Brady leads the concelebrated Eucharist The full text of Cardinal Brady’s address and Fr Mark McDonald’s homily can be read on the Knock Thanksgiving Pilgrimage page of this website. Archbishop Neary from Tuam thanked the MSCs at the end of the Mass for being such an inspirational presence in his diocese until our move to the diocese of Galway in the late 1970s.  Archbishop Michael Neary thanks the MSC for their contribution to the life of the Tuam diocese The provincial of the Irish province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr Patrick Courtney MSC, expressed his delight at the end of a very successful day describing it as a specially graced occasion and a time filled with blessings for both MSCs and our many friends and benefactors. Fr Michael O’Connell, director of the Mission Support Centre was inundated with hundreds of benefactors who queued for long periods just to meet the man who for them is the major contact between the Congregation and themselves. More photos of the day can be seen on the special page devoted to this year's pilgrimage - click here. |