First chartered pilgrimage flight set for Knock Airport

About 200 people are expected to accompany Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, on the first chartered pilgrimage from that archdiocese to Knock shrine this month.

Cardinal Dolan will open this year's national novena at Knock on August 14th. It continues until August 22nd.

The flight leaves New York on Saturday, August 8th, for Ireland West Airport Knock and returns from there on August 16th.

It will be a flight of many firsts: the first transatlantic flight by Aer Lingus from the US to Ireland West Airport Knock; the first official chartered pilgrimage to Ireland's national Marian shrine from anywhere; and the first diocesan pilgrimage from the archdiocese of New York to the Marian shrine at Knock.

The parish priest at Knock Fr Richard Gibbons described the announcement of the New York pilgrimage as "a very important and historic step for the promotion of Knock".

‘Very proud’

He noted that Ireland West Airport Knock “was built specifically to welcome pilgrims to Knock shrine as well as to develop the economic life of the west. Monsignor

James Horan

, I’m sure, would be very proud.”

More information at knockshrine.ie, Knock Shrine on Facebook and Twitter or on (094) 938 8100.