The annual Little Way Novena in honour of St Thérèse of Lisieux began in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Saturday, 12th May at 7.30 pm with Mass and the Anointing of the Sick. Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry, led prayers for the Novena on Sunday 13 May, and welcomed the theme ‘My Vocation is Love’.
The Little Way Novena will continue throughout the week until Sunday 20 May. During weekdays Novena Masses will be celebrated each morning at 6.30am and 10.00am, with prayers and devotions each evening at 7.30pm.
This year’s theme ‘My Vocation is Love’ is inspired by Saint Thérèse’s words in her autobiography ‘Then, beside myself with joy, I cried out: “O Jesus, my Love, at last I have found my vocation. My vocation is love! Yes, I have found my place in the bosom of the Church, and this place, O my God, Thou hast Thyself given to me: in the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be LOVE!”’
Music at 10.00am Masses will be provided by students from local primary schools as follows: Rosemount Primary School on Monday; Saint Anne’s Primary School on Tuesday; Nazereth House Primary School on Wednesday; Saint Thérèse Primary School on Thursday; and Saint Eugene’s Primary School on Friday.
Each evening, following prayers, guest speakers will be welcomed to the cathedral to offer a reflection to those gathered. Guest speakers will include, Fr Dermott Donnelly, a priest of Newcastle in England who is invoved in youth ministry; Church of Ireland Archdeacon Robert Miller, rector of Christ Church, Infirmary Road; and Dr Freddie Pimm, author of The Selfish Gospel, a book exploring how the church can better transform the world.
As part of the Novena, a Mass for the Dead will be celebrated in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral on Saturday 19 May at 10.00am. The closing Mass will take place on Pentecost Sunday, 20 May, at 3.00pm followed by a blessing of the roses.
All are welcome to attend the Novena events. For more information on the Little Way Novena see www.derrydiocese.org.
ENDS
