Novena pulls in 120,000

Date Published: 12-Feb-2008

BY the end of this week, it is estimated that 120,000 people will have attended the Novena at Galway Cathedral. The Novena, which started yesterday and is due to continue until next Monday, has taken place in February for the past twenty six years.

It has consistently attracted huge crowds despite priests’ complaints over the last number of years that attendances at Masses in general have been waning.

There was a general consensus among people, asked yesterday what it is that draws them to the Novena more than Sunday Mass, that the Novena was more ‘special’ than Mass.

Bar worker Adrian (28), explained: “I think it’s the Novena’s novelty status. It’s not like ‘ordinary’ Mass. It just seems more spiritual.”

His friend Joe (32) agreed with him saying: “Everyone told me to go to the Novena, that it would be different. I’m glad I went now and I’m going to try to get back. I usually go to Mass about once every two months.”

Aoife (23) echoed the boys’ views. “I felt like I needed a spiritual cleansing. It’s different to Mass as it doesn’t require the same dedication or commitment and you get the same out of one week that you’d get out of ‘three months of Sundays.’ It’s like a week of detox.”

All of them said…..