A National Eucharistic Congress will take place in Knock on Saturday/Sunday, 26th/27th September 2015. It is customary that the host country of an International Congress would hold a National Congress before the following International one, which is due to take place in Cebu, Philippines in January 2016.
The theme of our National Congress will be: ‘Christ Our Hope’.
The proceedings will commence each day at 10am with morning prayer, followed by talks, workshops and various events around Knock Shrine. Archbishop Eamon Martin will celebrate the Mass on the Saturday just prior to his departure to Rome for the Synod on the Family.
On Saturday night after some early evening talks; ‘Vespers’ will be recited followed by a ‘Concert of Praise’ in the Basilica. ‘Compline’ will then be recited after which there will be a ‘Candle-lit Procession’ and an ‘All Night-Vigil’ in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Both afternoons will follow the usual Knock programme, and the Congress will conclude with Benediction after the afternoon programme on the Sunday. Marquees will be set up for the ‘Youth Space’, ‘Children’s Events’, ‘Exhibition Space’ and for other such events. An outside screen may also be provided over the weekend. Following the successful IEC 2012 of which you were all a part and helped to bring in under budget, there is money left over to help defray the costs of this event.