Contributed by Veronica Nevard of Ryde

In August, 2018 five parishioners from St. Mary’s, Ryde attended the Divine Mercy Day of Retreat at Portsmouth Cathedral. The day was very worthwhile. As well as Mass and the Divine Mercy Hour there were two talks concentrating on the love of God for each one of us and the graces He offers us in order that we may open our hearts to cultivate an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Mention was made of a 5 day pilgrimage to Knock in November. It would be led by the same priest from the Marian Fathers and it would focus on praying for the Holy Souls. (The Apparition at Knock by Our Lady together with St. Joseph and St. John, in 1879 occurred on the last day of 100 consecutive days’ Masses offered for the Holy Souls by the Parish Priest, Fr Cavanagh). The Church approved these apparitions in 1971. Five years later a new Shrine church was built holding two thousand people. In 1979 to mark the centenary of the apparition, Pope John-Paul II visited Knock as a part of one of his first overseas papal visits.

Today, pilgrims from not only Ireland, but all over the world, come to visit Knock

Two of the Ryde parishioners decided to join the pilgrimage. 31 of us with Fr, Andrzej Gowkielewicz and Fr Timothy Gorham from Ealing Abbey flew from Gatwick to Knock and stayed in a very comfortable hotel within the Shrine precincts. The programme was very dense: Morning and Evening Prayer, Mass and Divine Mercy Hour each day as well as Stations of the Cross, Rosary and a candlelit procession. The organisation throughout was relaxed but efficient. Fr. Andrzej never lost an opportunity to encourage us in our spiritual lives and to help us respond to the graces Christ is pouring upon us. The Marian Fathers have been responsible for the promotion of the Divine Mercy message since 1941 (Sr Faustina died in 1938 and was canonised in 2001)

We are fortunate on the Island that Father Andrzej is coming to South Wight Parish in December, 2018. In Our Lady and St. Wilfred church in Ventnor on “Gaudete” Sunday he will lead a half day of Recollection. It would provide a good way of trying to come closer to Jesus, Mary and Joseph during the few remaining days of Advent.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF KNOCK

Eleventh Century Irish Litany of Mary

Great Mary,
Greatest of Marys,
Greatest of Women,
Mother of Eternal Glory,
Mother of the Golden Light,
Honor of the Sky,
Temple of the Divinity,
Fountain of the Gardens,
Serence as the Moon,
Bright as the Sun,
Garden Enclosed,
Temple of the Living God,
Light of Nazareth,
Beauty of the World,
Queen of Life,
Ladder of Heaven,
Mother of God.
Pray for us.