The Newbridge Parish Novena this year to Our Lady of Perpetual Help will focus on mercy. The parish has chosen the familiar phrase ‘Lord, Have Mercy’, as our theme. We say these words each time we participate in the Mass but do we ever stop to think about what we are asking of the Lord when we recite them? This theme reflects the theme ‘Merciful Like the Father’, chosen by Pope Francis for the Jubilee Year of Mercy which we are currently celebrating.
The Newbridge Parish Novena will begin on Monday 11 April at 7.30pm and will run for nine consecutive Monday nights until 6 June.
The speakers chosen for this year’s Novena will offer much food for thought on the theme of Mercy, Faith, Love, Family and much more. Bishop Denis Nulty will open the Novena on Monday 11 April and he will also preach the homily.
The remaining eight speakers are: Ms Kate Liffey, Mr Paul Moran, Brother Richard Hendrick, Father Paddy Byrne, Ms Amalee Meehan, Mr John McAreavey, Sister Mary Lawlor and Father John Harris OP.
Kate Liffey, as well as being a busy mum of three, is National Director for Catechetics and Coordinator of the National Faith Development Team. Paul Moran will share his very moving experience of grief and loss with us and will tell us how an experience in Lourdes gave him back his life and gave him the courage to record a CD of beautiful Lourdes related hymns and songs.
Brother Richard Hendrick is a Capuchin Franciscan who works with young people, is part of the team at The Sanctuary with Sr Stanislaus Kennedy in Dublin.
Father Paddy Byrne is no stranger to Newbridge Parish and the parish looks forward to welcoming him back and to hearing his inspiring words. Father John Harris OP is also no stranger to Newbridge as he is a Dominican who is regularly with the community in Newbridge. Sister Mary Lawlor will share her testimony about ministering to the sick.
John McAreavey will share his story of how his faith helped him cope with the loss of his wife in such tragic circumstances while they were on honeymoon. Amalee Meehan will share ‘The Message of Mercy’ with us as she draws from her recently published book of the same name. Amalee is involved in Catholic education with CEIST and is a lecturer in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.
Parish Priest Father Paul Dempsey said: “We are grateful to have such a rich and diverse range of speakers for this year’s novena who we are sure will leave us all with nourishment for our own faith journeys. All are welcome to the Novena and we also look forward to welcoming some of the parish choirs as well as our parish cantors as part of our celebrations this year”.
For more information please see www.newbridgeparish.ie
Dates: Monday nights 11th April – 6th June
Venue: St. Conleth’s Parish Church
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Theme; “Lord, Have Mercy!”
Guest Speakers;
11th April Bishop Denis Nulty D.D., Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin
18th April Kate Liffey, National Director of Catechetics
25th April Paul Moran, Experience of Lourdes
2nd May Bro. Richard Hendrick OFM Cap, Retreat & Mission Ministry
9th May Fr. John Harris O.P., Retreat and Mission Ministry
16th May Sr. Mary Lalor, Chaplain to Naas Hospital
23rd May Fr. Paddy Byrne, former Curate in Newbridge
30th May Amalee Meehan, Faith Development and Support
6th June John McAreavey, Footballer and husband of the late Micheala Harte RIP.