Mags GarganRedemptorists in Belfast and Limerick report large crowds
Two of Ireland’s largest annual novenas, at different ends of the island, attracted bumper attendance this year, thanks to the good weather and to a new sense of optimism amongst the faithful, according to the organisers.
The annual novena in Clonard Monastery in Belfast attracted record numbers to the first day’s sessions last week, and the rector, Fr Michael Murtagh told The Irish Catholic that they maintained high numbers for the rest of the week, with around 300 volunteers working alongside the Redemptorist community to facilitate 15,000 people a day.
“We’ve had terrific weather and this really brought out great crowds, and the first day was bigger than I have ever seen before,” he said. “There was a great outpouring of faith from people in great difficulty, but there was also little uplifts too when you heard the thanksgivings and the blessings people have received, which gives people hope and courage to keep going.”
Successful
In Limerick, Rector of the Redemptorist Mount St Alphonsus Monastery, Fr Adrian Egan, said people had come out in their thousands to make this year “incredibly successful”.
“We had glorious sunshine all week and people were in great form and very enthusiastic about the novena,” he said. Estimating that “up to 10,000 attended per day”, with more watching the ceremonies online from around the world, Fr Egan said “every year we are astounded by the number of people who come out in great numbers” and the generosity of the “hundreds of volunteers” behind the scenes who make the novena possible.
He said that this year in particular there was a tangible sense of people feeling more hopeful, which he attributed to the “Pope Francis effect”. “You can see people’s spirits have lifted and they are feeling more confident in their faith and hopeful for the future.”