Thousands attend annual Novena in Holycross this weekend

Despite the inclement weather over the weekend, thousands of pilgrims still made their way to Holycross Abbey for the annual Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and thousands more are expected over the course of the next six days.

The focus has been on the family, with the impending World Meeting of Families to be staged in Dublin next August when Pope Francis is expected to visit Ireland. And, a special icon is present in Holycross Abbey until Tuesday morning with visitors invited to place petitions in a box at the icon.

This is the 40th year of the Novena in Holycross and preaching in the Abbey tomorrow (Monday) will be Martin Kennedy, with Fr Jim Bartlett preaching in the marquee on the subject - Family: The Domestic Church.
Preparations have been underway for the Novena for some weeks now under the watchful eye of new Parish Priest, Rev Fr Celsus Tierney who has been joined by priests from the surrounding parishes as well as Redemptorists, and Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, and Archbishop Emeritus Dermot Clifford.

The remaining themes are:
(Tuesday): Addiction and the Family.
(Wednesday)- The hurting/broken family
(Thursday) - Social media and family.
(Friday) - Bereavement and family
(Saturday) - Supporting family.
Confessions will be heard before, during and after all the sessions which get underway at 7.00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 4.30 p.m.; 7.30. p.m; 9.30. p.m. However, confessions on the weekend days are restricted due to priests involvement in their own parishes.