A CHURCH has had to lay on extra seating to cope with the huge number of people flocking back to God.More than 10,000 people turned up every day this week to attend the annual novena to St Gerard at the Redemptorist church in Dundalk, Co Louth.
And organisers believe the massive crowds are a direct result of the recession.
"The economy may screw you but God won't -- He is always there," said Fr Michael Cusack, who is the director of the novena which ended yesterday.
"We had 10 sessions a day and averaged around 1,100 at each with 1,500 coming in the evening one."
The main church holds 800 people and to cope with the crowds, the priests had to set up CCTV cameras and relay the services to the parlours and corridors around the church.
"People who don't know where to turn to are turning to God as He is faithful; when you are desperate you grasp and grab," he said.
People have travelled from Armagh, Co Down, as well as the border counties of Cavan and Monaghan to attend the services.
Recently qualified nurse Fiona McGeough was amongst them. "I think a lot of people are turning to their faith in these difficult times. It is tough out there at the moment."
Ms McGeough has three children and recently returned to college for further training in nursing. She now works as an agency nurse, but she is looking for a permanent job.
Fr Cusack said the huge numbers reflected the devotion to St Gerard and acknowledged that they were far from the weekly figures for church attendances.
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