The sacred relics of the French Saint — the Curé of Ars, St John Vianney, who is the patron of parochial clergy will be at Knock Shrine for veneration on Tuesday, April 27. The relics will arrive in Knock at 12pm, when there will be a liturgy of welcome at the Apparition Chapel.
After that the relics will be taken in procession to the Basilica where veneration will take place from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, when veneration will end to allow for preparation for Mass. There will be concelebrated Mass at 3pm when the chief celebrant will be the bishop of Raphoe, Most Rev Philip Boyce. Before Mass begins the relics will be taken in procession to the altar in the Basilica and will be on the altar during the Mass. After Mass veneration will resume again and will continue for as long as necessary. There will not be any overnight veneration.
There will be a special talk in the conference centre of Knock House Hotel at 5pm dealing with the sacrament of reconciliation. There will also be an Eucharistic holy hour in the blessed sacrament chapel commencing at 8pm, which will be followed by night prayer at 9.30 pm. The relics will leave Knock for Armagh at 9am on the following day, Wednesday April 28.
