National Grandparents Pilgrimage - Sunday, 13 September

The National Grandparents Pilgrimage takes place in September each year at Knock Shrine. It has been one of the busiest, most well-attended pilgrimages of the year bringing grandparents, grandchildren and parents in their thousands to celebrate this special day.

Join the National Grandparents Pilgrimage broadcast live at 3pm from Knock Basilica

The pilgrimage is organised by the Catholic Grandparents Association and recognises the important role that grandparents play in family life, providing love, wisdom and by nurturing the life-long gift of faith in their grandchildren.

This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions that are currently in place, the National Grandparents Pilgrimage will be held online. Grandparents and their families everywhere are invited to take join with us online to celebrate this special day together at 3:00pm Sunday, 13 September 2020.

Catherine Wiley, founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association said:

"This year, more than ever it is important for us to recognise the invaluable role that grandparents play in family life. This has been an incredibly difficult year for so many grandparents around the world who have been isolated from their families, unable to enjoy the usual family celebrations or everyday contact which we would normally take for granted. The pilgrimage is a wonderful opportunity to make them feel cherished and valued."

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The National Grandparents Pilgrimage will be streamed live on the Knock Shrine website (click here to view) as well as on the Knock Shrine Facebook page

Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer for Grandparents

Lord Jesus,
you were born in the Virgin Mary,
the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne.
Look with love on grandparents the world over.
Protect them! They are a source of enrichment
for families, for the Church and for all of society.
Support them! As they grow older,
may they continue to be for their families
strong pillars of Gospel faith,
guardians of noble domestic ideals,
living treasuries of sound religious traditions.
Make them teachers of wisdom and courage,
that they may pass on to future generations the fruits
of their mature human and spiritual experience.

Lord Jesus,
help families and society
to value the presence and role of grandparents.
May they never be ignored or excluded,
but always encounter respect and love.
Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed
in all the years of life which you give them.
Mary, Mother of all the living,
keep grandparents constantly in your care,
accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage,
and by your prayers, grant that all families
may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland,
where you await all humanity
for the great embrace of life without end. 

Amen