Pictured in Knock Basilica at the celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Knock unit of Order of Malta, with Fr. Richard Gibbons, P.P., Knock Shrine, were five members of the unit who were part of the organisation at its establishment 40 years ago. From left: Brian Egan, Dr. Diarmuid Murray jnr, John Egan, Michael Rattigan and Dr. Diarmuid Murray, snr.

Order of Malta unit in Mayo celebrates 40 years

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MEMBERS of the Knock unit of the Order of Malta gathered at Knock Basilica on New Year's Day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the organisation at the celebration of Holy Mass on the feast day of Mary, the Mother of God, writes Michael Byrne.

The organisation came into being on January 1, 1984, at the request of the late Monsignor James Horan, who felt there was a pressing need for such a service to cater for the growing number of pilgrims descending on Knock Shrine every year.

Chief celebrant Fr. Richard Gibbons, rector and parish priest of Knock Shrine and Magistral Chaplain to the order, paid tribute to the members of the Order of Malta for the work which they have carried on in the local area over the past four decades.

The organisation has been a wonderful asset to the shrine, particularly during the pilgrimage season when medical assistance is so often required by the large volumes of pilgrims during the height of the busy pilgrimage season.

Present among the gathering at the Mass celebration were five members of the Order of Malta who were part of the group which formed the Knock unit on that January day of 1984 - Brian Egan, John Egan, Michael Rattigan and Dr. Diarmuid Murray (snr) and Dr. Diarmuid Murray jnr.

Tributes were paid to the five members by Fr. Gibbons who presented each with a special memento medal in recognition of their 40 years of service to the Order of Malta in the Knock region.

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