This summer there is a series of events happening that could see the church explode into new life.
The Knock Summer Festival kicks off this June 24th-26th. The festival has been running for the past 5 years and this year has been promised to be bigger and better than previous years. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Fuel for the Journey’. ‘The theme of the festival will explore the questions what is our fuel? What drives us? In most cases everyone is looking for something more, something deeper. Essentially that is what the festival is about exploring our lives and finding God in your life, helping participants realise the power God has to transform your life’ explains Helen Toner, Youth Director at Knock Shrine and leader of the organising committee.
Over the past four years, top speakers have been flown from all over the world to attend the festival and this year is no different. Lino Rulli a popular radio host from New York will travel to Knock Shrine, to give a talk titled ‘Are we running on empty?’ and ‘Reconciliation-what does it mean’. Lino has earned his nick name ‘The Catholic Guy’ from hosting a catholic chat show in New York, other speakers include Fr. Benny Mc Hale, Ronan Johnson, Fr. Sean McDonagh. ‘It is an exciting time in the church a lot of things are taking place in the next few years, that will catapult young people back into the church and we can really feel the energy beginning to build up’ said Helen.
Over the weekend there will be workshops on drum, dance, art, clay and pottery, environmental ethics, and prayer, the festival wants to show people that there are so many ways to praise God and to come closer to Him. ‘We have seen so many people come to this festival for different reasons but they all take something away from it’ continued Helen.
The National Eucharistic congress will take place on the Saturday of the festival and on the Sunday there will be a session titled ‘Journeying together’ this session will encourage young people to return home from Knock Shrine and become active in the church and their dioceses.
There will also be time to chill out over the weekend. On Friday night there will be a hip hop dancing performance and a concert by Elation Ministries. There will be a marquee set up solely for the purpose of relaxing, titled ‘the chill out café’ this marquee will see acoustic sessions each night, open mic night. On Saturday there will also be a bbq and on Saturday night there will be a reconciliation and healing service where participants will be invited to attend individual confessions. ‘This is always the high point of the festival for me, to see people that may not have been in confessions for 7-8 years coming back to the church and seeing the power of the sacrament is truly amazing’ said Helen.
The festival in Knock Shrine is not just for practicing Catholics but for all young people around the country aged 18-35. So if you are practising your faith or someone who is not sure where God is in your life, or maybe you just want some time away in a completely new setting, come along. It is a chance for all people to question, explore, ignite and celebrate their faith.
The cost of the festival is €70, this includes all your food, accommodation and access to all talks, workshops, concert and everything that’s happening over the weekend.
For more info check out the website. Or call 0876927850.