Upwards of 70,000 people are expected to descend upon the picturesque village of Holycross over the next two weeks or so with the annual Solemn Novena in Honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help kicking off on Saturday morning next, September 8th in historic Holycross Abbey.
The nine day festival of faith continues until Sunday September 16th with pilgrims expected from far and near for the daily sessions which will see preachers coming from all over Ireland to discuss the chosen themes.
Devotions and Mass will take place at 7:00am, 10:30am, 4:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm on weekdays, with Sunday 9th devotions taking place at 7:00am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm. There will be no 12:30pm devotions on Sunday 16th. There will be an Anointing of the Sick ceremony on Saturday September 15th at 2:00pm and a Special Mass for Young People will take place on Saturday 15th at 7:30pm. Blessing of Infants will be held on Sunday 16th at 2:30pm.
Confessions will be heard before, during and after each session of the Novena, except on Sunday. There will also be a special reconciliation rite on Thursday 13th at the 7:30pm and 9:30pm sessions.
Of course the Abbey was the focus of much media attention last year, shortly after the Novena came to a close, when the relics of the True Cross were stolen having been cut from a protective steel case. However, there was much rejoicing locally and nationally when the relics were miraculously recovered by An Garda Siochana after extensive investigations and they made a triumphant return to the Abbey early in 2012. They will once again be central to the celebrations during the Novena and those who come to visit will have the opportunity to be blessed with the relics, while visiting the beautiful new resting place for them in one of the side altars of the historic Abbey.
Rev Fr Celsus Tierney has been very busy preparing for the Novena and is really looking forward to welcoming so many to Holycross. The Novena, he said, offers a real opportunity for people to put their troubles and worries behind them for a while and take some time out for reflection and prayer.
“We have always found that the annual Novena gives people a chance to sit back and reflect a little for a time. They can relax, listen to the petitions, and pray in the company of so many others. Of course there is also the whole social side to the Novena with people meeting up, chatting and interacting with each other. It really can be, and is, an up-lifting and positive experience and we are throwing open the arms of welcome to everyone to come along,” Fr Tierney told The Tipperary Star. He added that with so much doom and gloom about in terms of the economy, unemployment etc, the Novena offers pilgrims the chance to get away from it all and infuse their lives with a dose of positivity.
Together with their teams of helpers, Fr Tierney, Fr Michael Mullaney and the clergy are all set to bring the faith to the community at large and they are encouraging people to come along, bring a neighbour or friend and participate fully in the goings on. At Mass on Sunday in Holycross, which was attended by scores of visitors from the USA, Fr Tierney encouraged Novena goers to bring someone along. “Bring a friend and let God do the rest,” he encouraged.
The Novena is always a special time for the village of Holycross and the arms of welcome will be extended to all visitors, especially those who have been coming there for many years. There will be car parking facilities available throughout and stewards and attendants will be on hand to ensure the safe access and egress of vehicles. These people form just a small part of the huge team effort which goes into overseeing the Novena. There will be teams of caterers, stewards, attendants, cantors, musicians, readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Order of Malta, Gardai, clergy, sacristans, shop attendants and many more on call throughout the nine days to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly will be in attendance for a number of the sessions of the Novena which is regarded as one of the most popular in the land.
So, if you want a slice of Heaven on earth – come along to Holycross Abbey from next Saturday morning at 7:00am until Sunday 16th for the final session at 9:30pm.