Big crowds attracted to novena

OCTOBER 2008

ST Gerard’s Novena attracts thousands to nine days of prayer at St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church.

‘We are having very big crowds as usual, particularly so on Sunday when I can’t believe the numbers who come for all the sessions,’ says Fr Dick Delahunty Adm.

He is delighted at the large number of families with young children who attend the blessing of the babies.

One notable feature of the novena is the strong presence of young people at a time when many no longer attend Mass on a regular basis.

The theme is ‘A life worth living – the key to happiness’ and the preachers in the Redemptorist are Fr Peter Burns, Fr Brendan Keane, Fr Michael Cusack and Fr Michael Dempsey; and in the Redeemer, Fr Derek Meskell and Fr Denis Luddy.

Guest speaker is Dr Tony Hanna, co-ordinator of the Armagh Archdiocesan Plan, who talks about Catholic education in today’s society. For the second year, a Novena for all Nations, acknowledges the presence of people from different countries among the congregation.