Faithful flock in their droves to Novena at Galway Cathedral

The biggest annual event on the Church calendar in the west of Ireland opened this week, with organisers reporting a packed house at the late morning and evening services for the 33rd Novena.

The Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help run by the Redemptorists is held over six daily sessions, attracting up to 10,000 a day, bucking the trend of plummeting mass attendances for regular services.

Petitions about health and family disputes appear to have replaced stressed mortgages, failing businesses and money worries which dominated the thousands of petitions submitted to the petitions and thanksgiving boxes at the Cathedral in the last few years.

Extra seating can accommodate up to 2,500 people. So far the 11am and 7.30pm sessions have been packed to the rafters, according to the diocesan secretary, Fr Martin Whelan.

“It can be hard to get a seat at certain times unless you’re here in time. People are very happy with the new heating and lighting system and they’re very happy with the theme this year, which is about bringing the Church onto the streets,” he explained.

“Numbers are certainly on a par with last year. The Novena is a very particular thing, it’s very much of a style and people are reporting back they are really happy with the talks.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.