SUPPORT for marriage and family will be at the heart of the two-day National Eucharistic Congress which opens in Knock, Co Mayo on Saturday.
Congress organiser Dr Kevin Doran, the Bishop Of Elphin, said thousands of pilgrims "from the four corners of Ireland" are expected to attend.
"There is no charge for attending this national celebration of faith and its schedule includes prayer, the daily celebration of the Eucharist in the recently refurbished and beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of Knock, the opportunity to receive the sacraments, a youth programme, interesting and topical workshops and considered talks delivered by experts in their field," he said.
"The theme of the congress - 'Christ Our Hope' - will continue to allow us to harvest the fruits from the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which took place in Dublin in 2012; serve as spiritual preparation for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu in January; and it offers us an opportunity to focus, in the light of our Eucharistic communion, on some of the important pastoral questions in the life of the Church at the present time, especially regarding the need to support marriage and family at this time."
:: More information at www.nec2015.ie
