It is a phenomenon that has survived fundamental changes in Ireland’s social and economic fabric and, when it opens on Monday, the Galway Novena is likely to prove as popular than ever.

The city is bracing itself for the nine day event, which begins with a ceremony at 7.45am on Monday, and ends with another at 9.30pm on Tuesday week.

For many, it will mean dedicating an extra hour of their day, before, during or after work, to prayer time; others will travel on special buses from around the region for the ceremonies; some who have been away from the Church for many years will pay a visit; and, indeed, for others, the area around the Cathedral will be one to avoid during that time.

Fr Michael Cusack, the director of this year’s Galway Novena, says there has never been a better time for an injection of hope, in a year that has brought bank bailouts, clerical abuse reports, flooding, unemployment, recession, and increasing hardship in the lives of so many. The theme for the event is: ‘Lord that I may see! Seeking a vision for our day.’

Since 1982 people have been attending this great church event in the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas
“(They’ve) brought to it their joys and worries, their successes and failures, their pains and hopes and somehow have found consolation and support by the very fact that so many others share the same journey in life,” says Fr Cusack CSsR.

This year he expects that there may even be bigger crowds attending the Novena since so many people are “truly struggling and needing support”.

“This has been a very difficult year for so many people and more than ever before we need to know that we are not alone. The most important message that the Novena should bring is a message of hope and consolation.

“This Novena is always a time of great solidarity and really ignites the community spirit in the people of Galway and the surrounding towns and villages. Our doors are open to all and all will be welcome. The Novena is only possible because of the hard work and effort of so many dedicated women and men.”

There will be six daily sessions from Monday to Saturday: 7.45am, 11am, 1.10pm, 3.30pm, 7.30pm, and 9.30pm.

The times differ slightly on a Sunday: 9am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 4.30pm, 6.30pm, and 8.15pm. The 4.30pm session that day will be the Novena of all Nations, a true celebration of cultural identity and a time of special prayer for the people of Haiti.

Other special events that have been planned throughout the nine days are the Candlelight Prayertime at 9.30pm on Tuesday (remembering survivors of abuse); on Friday (praying for students and youth) and on Monday week (praying for families and relationships).

There will be a special celebration with anointing of the sick and aged at 11am on Saturday.