Archbishop Eamon Martin invites priests to join with him in Knock to celebrate Mass of Thanksgiving for priests
At 3.00pm this Monday, 4 August, during the ‘National Day of Intercession for Priests’ retreat, Archbishop Eamon Martin will be the chief celebrant and homilist at the Mass of Thanksgiving for priests which will be held at the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Knock, Co Mayo. Ahead of this annual celebration of the ministry of priesthood, Archbishop Eamon said:
“I am really looking forward to celebrating Mass for the golden anniversary of the ‘Intercession for Priests’. Fittingly, Monday is the feast day of Saint John Marie Vianney, the Curé d’Ars, and patron saint of priests. We thank God for our priests. I wish to pay special thanks to Sister Briege McKenna OSC, who will also be in Knock, for all of her work in support for the ministry of priesthood. I commend Sister Briege’s invitation to the laity to both attend the Knock gathering, and to continue to pray for, intercede and support our priests in their day-to-day ministry. This annual Intercession makes a wonderful contribution to the spiritual lives of priests, and I invite priests who are available to visit Knock and join us on Monday.
“At this time, I remember with great fondness the late Father Kevin Scallon CM, who passed away in 2018, and was widely known for his ministry and work with Sister Briege in support of priests. Father Kevin is remembered for his deep faith, humility, and dedication to the priesthood. Since Father Kevin and Sister Briege founded the worldwide Intercession for Priests’ retreats fifty years ago, tens of thousands of priests have discovered a renewal of their priestly vocation and a deeper grace of contemplative prayer. May God rest Father Kevin’s gentle soul, and bless Father Pablo Escriva de Romani, who has joined Sister Briege in her important ministry.”
Sister Briege said,
“I am very much looking forward to attending Our Lady of Knock Shrine to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Intercession for Priests. I am inviting the laity to this special anniversary event, as lay people have been core to this Intercession over the past fifty years. I am grateful to everyone for your prayers, and for interceding and supporting the Intercession, and am asking you to please come and join us in thanksgiving. To priests, please pray in thanksgiving for your own priesthood and for the many graces that you have received since your ordination.”
See short video here
Archbishop Eamon concluded, “I ask everyone to pray the Rosary for the intention of priests. Saint John Vianney, pray for priests!”
ENDS
Archbishop Eamon Martin is Archbishop of Armagh, Apostolic Administrator of Dromore and Primate of All Ireland.
Monday’s schedule for the ‘2025 National Day of Intercession for Priests’ at Knock Shrine is:
10:00am: Talk, priests only
11:30am: Eucharistic Hour of prayer and praise, open to all
2.00pm: Outdoor Stations of the Cross, open to all
2.30pm: Praying the Holy Rosary, open to all
3.00pm: Archbishop Eamon will be chief celebrant and homilist at the concelebrated Mass in Knock Basilica, concluding with Eucharistic Healing Service with Sister Briege, open to all.
Since 2018, the annual, week-long, Intercession for Priests retreat has been hosted at the national seminary of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. It is open to bishops, priests and deacons. For this year’s fiftieth jubilee, and following the National Day of Intercession for Priests in Knock, the priests’ retreat will run from 5th to 8th August in Maynooth.