Limerick Leader
June 12, 2009
http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Limerick-priest-predicts-tough-times.5361127.jp
THE Ryan report into abuse of children in State institutions, rising unemployment and the murders of innocent Limerick people, may draw more to the annual novena, according to Fr Adrian Egan of the Redemptorists Fathers.
The city's biggest festival of faith - the nine day annual novena - will begin on June 19 and annually draws tens of thousands of people to the Redemptorist Church at Mount St Alphonsus.
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| Fr Adrian Egan |
Fr Egan said the findings of the report "will be very much in our thoughts and prayers at the novena", particularly following the reports of horrific abuse at St Joseph's Industrial School in Glin, Co Limerick.
"We're very conscious of all that's happening in this difficult time, with the recession, and all the hurt, shock and shame the Ryan report has brought, as well as the murders of Shane Geoghegan and Roy Collins in Limerick," said Fr Egan.
"The theme of this year's novena is 'Lord, that I may see' and with that we want to bring a new vision and a new light into people's lives. There's a lot of darkness there at the moment, a lot of uncertainty.
"The message we want to get across is that anybody and everybody is welcome, regardless of how long since they have been inside a church."
Fr Egan said he couldn't determine whether the Ryan report would have a negative impact on the number of people expected to attend to the novena, but said their congregation has been quite open in dealing with the issues raised.
"We have talked about it a lot in sermons recently and people have appreciated that. People want to do something about it – to pray about it, and think of all that's happened.
"I think a lot of people are now thinking deeply about aspects of their faith. This has knocked people back a bit," he added.
Up to 90,000 people from across the country are expected to attend the novena, which has become an annual feature in Limerick since the early
Furthermore, the church is hoping that expatriates around the world will tune in to the celebration at www.novena.ie, as well as those in Limerick and surrounding counties who may not be able to attend Mass.
The novena was broadcast live on the website for the first time last year, following the success of a similar initiative by the Redemptorist Church at Clonard, Belfast.
Visitors to the site can request a petition, send e-cards, light a candle and visit the church's online gallery.
This year's preachers are Fr Ciaran O'Callaghan, originally from Dundalk and a member of their Dublin Community, and Fr John Hanna, a native of Co Down, who is a member of the Limerick community.
Other preachers are past pupils of St Clement's College; Fr Gerry O'Connor now lives and works in Cherry Orchard, Dublin, and Br Brian Nolan, who is based in their Dublin Community, and will be ordained later this year.
The children's novena will be held on Sunday, June 21 at 4.30pm, where there will be a blessing for babies and young children.
On Monday, June 22, at 11.30am a special novena celebration will be held for First Holy Communion classes.
A Mass for the sick and infirm will be held on Saturday, June 27 at 11.30am, while the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be an all-day celebration on Tuesday, June 23.
A counselling service will be available from Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26, from 10.45am to 1.10pm, and from 5pm to 9.30pm.
There will be 10 sessions each day throughout the novena at 7am, 8am, 10am, 11.30am, 1.10pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm, 9pm and 10.30pm
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