Slovak Cenacolo Families Pilgrimage to Knock

Thank You, Lord, for This Great Gift of the Pilgrimage to Knock
Thank You, Lord, that in this Jubilee Year – the year of pilgrims of hope – I was invited to this holy place of the apparition of Mary, Our Lady of Knock.
I want to share a few moments that deeply touched my heart. I long to be guided by them so that I may fulfill the words of Pope Francis and become a pilgrim of hope in the reality of my life. Despite all the obstacles that arose before I embarked on this journey, God gave me the strength to overcome them and not give up on this invitation.
At the very beginning of the journey, I realized that this was a time to be with my community parents. To have the opportunity to get to know them better and also to discover more about myself by looking within and embracing the unique differences in each of us. Every personal conversation with any of them was a great gift and blessing to me. Pilgrimages are a time when we can experience the communal journey in the concreteness of shared life, just as the boys and girls live in the community houses.
After several hours of traveling by plane and bus, we arrived at our hotel within the Knock Shrine grounds. After dinner, we attended adoration in the Apparition Chapel. The next day, we learned more about the apparition itself. It was fascinating to hear about the event, which took place in the presence of a small group of people, including children, adults, and the elderly.
For me, it was deeply moving that Our Lady of Knock (as she was called) first appeared with St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, angels, and the cross of the sacrificed Lamb on the altar—and she said nothing. She was silent. The image of the apparition seemed to speak directly to me. In the presence of St. Joseph, I was called to sincere and persevering prayer. Through St. John the Evangelist, I was reminded to embrace God’s word in my daily life. Through the angels, I was encouraged to draw closer to God and to accept the crosses of each new day. And through the Lamb, who was sacrificed for me and the whole world, I was reminded of His continual presence in adoration and the Eucharist at Holy Mass.
It was a powerful moment when I realized how little I live up to the invitation of Our Lady and her Son, Jesus. During Holy Mass, the responsorial psalm 40 resonated deeply within me: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do Your will.” (It continues to echo in my heart every morning when I wake up.) I decided that I want to begin each new day with this prayer, allowing it to fill my heart with the quietness of Mary, Our Lady of Knock.
Another powerful moment was the visit to the boys’ community house. Even though the boys were not present at the time (as they were in Italy), they were strongly represented by former community members Karol and Roman, two Slovak young men. They gave us a tour of the house. I was deeply moved by the simplicity of the house and the strong presence of God’s providence in every corner.
The testimonies of these amazing young men confirmed to me that there are no bad people, despite everything they had gone through before joining the community, God had drawn out all the goodness He had placed in them before they were even born. To me, they were—and continue to be—great examples of faithfulness. Even after completing their time in the community, they remained committed to it. They fell in love with the land of Ireland and embraced it as their home. It was evident that they were happy and joyful, despite the crosses they continued to carry in their lives.
Their testimonies awakened in me a deep desire to discover the goodness that the Lord has placed within me and to allow the crosses of each day to purify me from the burdens of sin that I have accumulated over my life. St. Patrick became an inspiring model for me—to not be afraid and to bear witness to my faith, even if I am rejected or misunderstood by the world.
There are many more powerful moments that I carry in my heart from this pilgrimage, but as they say, long testimonies often lose their audience’s patience. 😊
However, I cannot leave out one last thing—how we truly became “Pilgrims of Hope.”
During a joyful evening of dancing, former community member Karol approached Evka and said, “You have no idea how much providence you have brought to the people in this place.”
To explain—one week before our arrival, a severe storm had struck, disrupting daily life. The country was left without electricity, hot water, or heating. Our presence at the hotel allowed local people to find refuge, enjoy a warm meal, take a shower, and feel welcomed and cared for.
Thank You, Lord, for all the gifts, graces, and blessings that I was able to receive on this pilgrimage and take into my daily life.
Thank you also, Evka, Elenka, Karol, and Roman, for playing such a significant role in everything I experienced.
Mama Vl.