Over 14,000 are expected to attend each day of the famous Galway Novena over the course of its nine days, according to Fr Tony Flannery, one of the organisers of the event, which began last Monday (5th February).The Novena in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, has become a feature of Galway life over the past two and half decades. The huge crowds which attend the six daily Novena Masses, regularly cause traffic problems, and its capacity to attract such public support is novel in an Ireland which has seen a steady decline in Church attendance.
And its appeal has remained undimmed, Fr Flannery, (pic'd here) a member of the Redemptorist order which organises the annual Novena told ciNews. The order runs a number of other major Novenas, such as one in Limerick in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which also draws large numbers.
But the Galway event is unique, he maintains. Despite the troubles which continue to affect the Church in Ireland, the popularity of the Novena has continued unabated, Fr Flannery says. 'The really surprising thing is that it is still going so well,' he continues.
'Possibly even more than any of our other Novenas around the country, this one attracts a big percentage of young people.'
However, he is at a loss to say why it has remained so successful. 'I don't really know,' he says when asked for the reason for the event's enduring popularity. 'There's a very good atmosphere at it. There's something about Galway Cathedral when it's full which young people find attractive.'
A well-prepared liturgy is a part of its appeal, he accepts. 'I'm sure it's a factor.' However, he stresses that that element is not one he 'would want to emphasise too much.' Drawing comparisons between the liturgical preparations for an annual event like the Galway Novena and those for weekly Mass is unfair, he feels.
'People will go where the liturgy is good,' he adds.
However, he feels that perhaps the more important element of the Novena's success is that people continue to yearn for spiritual expression.
'Undoubtedly there is still a hunger for spiritual experience among an enormous number of people in this country,' he says.
Whatever the reason, the Galway Novena looks set to retain its appeal for years to come.
There are six Masses a day in Galway Cathedral during the Novena, at 7.45 am, 11.00 am, 1.10 pm, 3.30 pm, 7.30 pm, & 9.30 pm, with Sunday Masses taking place at 9.00 am, 10.30 am, 12.15 pm, 3.00 pm, 6.30 pm, & 8.15 pm.
Last night, Thursday 8 February, there was the Rite Reconciliation. A special Mass for the anointing of the sick will be held at 11.00a.m. on Saturday 10 February.
The blessing of babies and children, which had been scheduled to take place at 3.00p.m.on Sunday, will now be replaced with a series of separate blessings after each Sunday Mass, as the original event clashed with the historic Ireland v France match, the first rugby match to take place at the GAA's Croke Park.
The main preachers at this year's Novena are Fr Jimmy Buckley CSsR, Fr Peter Flannery CSsR, Fr Michael Kelleher CSsR and Fr Gerry Moloney CSsR.
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