This Sunday (September 11 ) thousands of grandparents are expected to attend the annual National Grandparents Pilgrimage in Knock hosted by the Catholic Grandparents Association. The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, will be the chief celebrant with Fr Benny McHale as the homilist. EWTN’s Kathy Sinnott will deliver a reflection. Liam Lawton and Ann Marie Gibbons are guest singers with music under the direction of Finola Higgins-Cosgrove.
Catholic Grandparents Association founder Catherine Wiley says that the pilgrimage is going from strength to strength with about 14,000 grandparents expected. “The pilgrimage honours St Joachim and St Anne, grandparents of Jesus and parents of Mary. We also honour all grandparents and thank them for what they have done for us over the generations, especially in passing on the faith. Gathered together united by the same aim grandparents always do the very best they can for their grandchildren.”
This Sunday, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, pilgrims at Knock will remember all victims of terrorism and especially all those affected by 9/11, in which almost 3,000 people died. All of those who died were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon. Four hundred and eleven emergency workers were among the dead.
