A pilgrimage to Knock organised by the Cloyne Diocese Chaplaincy to the Traveller Community and the Travellers of North Cork took place on Tuesday, 14th June 2016. A great day was had by all!
Traveller Women’s Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine
The Knock pilgrimage was a joint initiative between Travellers of North Cork & Cloyne Diocese Chaplaincy to the Traveller Community and took place on Tuesday 14th June 2016 with some forty pilgrims coming from the parishes of Doneraile, Mallow, Mitchelstown, Fermoy and Charleville taking part in the trip in honour of Our Lady of Knock.
On our journey to the Shrine recitation of the Holy Rosary took place with accompanying hymns enthusiastically sung in veneration of the Mother of God.
Indeed, continuous singing all the way by splendid singers – making up nearly everybody on the bus. The energy and good humour were contagious and both sincere spiritual joy and human warmth energised everybody; not being dampened even by the rain when we arrived at Knock Shrine.
Soon, the pilgrims were off to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Stations of the Cross before Mass was celebrated at Our Lady’s Shrine by Fr. Tom Naughton, C.C., Charleville, who is Chaplain to the Traveller Community for Cloyne Diocese. Here we were immersed in the mysterious message of Knock and reflected on Mary’s concern for all her children, especially those who are downtrodden, marginalized or forgotten. Cllr. Ian Doyle also took part with the First Reading and participated with us in the pilgrimage.
More celebration of faith and culture through the medium of song on the way back to our various parishes, with a beautiful meal half-way home to break the journey. Friendships were consolidated and faith renewed by this pilgrimage and we all expressed a desire to continue to build on this experience into the future.
Cllr. Ian Doyle also took part with the First Reading, Margaret meehan the Psalm and Amanda the Second Reading.
Fr Tom Naughton is the Diocese of Cloyne chaplain to the Travelling Community.
