Annual Clonard Solemn Novena begins

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The annual Solemn Novena in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help has begun at Clonard Monastery in West Belfast.

The Novena takes place daily from Wednesday 19th June until Thursday 27th June 2024.

Masses can be attended online at https://Clonard.com , as well as in person in Belfast.

The theme of this year's Novena is Pope Francis' call of cultivating a culture of care, following the example of our compassionate God.

During the nine days of the Novena, Masses will be celebrated at the monastery and online on weekdays at 6.45am, 9.30am, 11.30am, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. On Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June, Masses will be celebrated at the same times, with an additional Mass at 1.30pm.

There are special sessions as follows:

Blessing of Families: Saturday 22nd June at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Sacrament of the Sick: Sunday 23rd June at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Youth Session with Mass: Sunday 23rd June at 8pm.

Ecumenical Day: Monday 24th June.

Petitions and thanksgivings are an integral part of the Novena. You can send yours to Clonard via email to: petitions@clonard.com or by post to: Petitions and Thanksgivings, Clonard Monastery, 1 Clonard Garden, Belfast BT13 2RL.

The Novena Team 2024 comprises Fr Ciarán O'Callaghan C.Ss.R, who has been a member of the Clonard Community since 2016; Rev Jonathan Frazer, minister of Garnerville Presbyterian church, author and podcaster; Fr Carlos Diego Gutierrez C.Ss.R, a Redemptorist of the Province of Southern Europe; Elyse McCroskey, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church of Indonesia; Marcella Phillips, who hails from Belfast and is involved in the Beginning Experience; Dr Andrea Rainey, also from Belfast, who has been involved with Clonard's initiatives for more than twenty years; Dr Billiejoan Rice, a registered nurse and senior lecturer at Queen's University Belfast; and Rev Ivan Steen, minister of South Kirk Presbyterian.

In 1866, Pope Pius IX entrusted the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists and asked that the congregations 'make her known to the world'.

The Novena prayer is as follows:

Mother of Perpetual Help,

with the greatest confidence we come before your holy picture

to be inspired by the example of your life.

We think of you at that moment when, full of faith and trust,

you accepted God's call to be the mother of his Son.

Help us, your children, to accept with joy our own calling in life.

When you learned that your cousin Elizabeth was in need

you immediately went to serve her and offer your help.

Help us, like you, to be concerned for others.

We think of you, Mother, at the foot of the cross.

Your heart must have bled to see your Son in agony.

But your joy was great when he rose from the dead,

victorious over the powers of evil.

Mother of Sorrows, help us through the trials and

disappointments of life.

Help us not to lose heart.

May we share with you and your Son

the joy of having courageously faced up

to all the challenges of life.

Amen.