BEATIFICATION OF FATHER MICHAEL McGIVNEY – AN AMERICAN PRIEST WITH KILMORE CONNECTIONS: 

Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be beatified during a special Mass on Saturday 31 October 2020 at 3:00p.m. (Irish time) in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

The Vatican announced last May that Pope Francis had signed the decree recognising a miracle through the intercession of Father McGivney, clearing the way for his beatification. Once he is beatified, he will be given the title “Blessed.”

The miracle recognized by the Vatican occurred in 2015 and involved an U.S. baby, still in the womb, with a life-threatening condition.  That baby, Mikey Schachle, is now five years of age. His parents, Dan and Michelle Schachle, of Dickson, Tennessee, prayed to Father McGivney to intercede with God to save their son, still in his mother’s womb, who was given no hope of surviving.

Father McGivney was born of Irish immigrant parents on 12 August 1852 in Waterbury, Connecticut.  His father, Patrick, was a native of Drumkilly (Crosserlough Parish) and his mother, Mary Lynch, came from Castlerahan – both in the Diocese of Kilmore.

Saturday’s Beatification Mass and a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday can be viewed by logging onto www.kofc.org/en/events/father-mcgivney-beatification/index.html 

More information is also available at www.FatherMcGivney.org