THOUSANDS OF people who attended Galway’s novena yesterday heard that religious belief would outlast questionable material values.
“A life worth living – finding the key to happiness” is the theme of this year’s novena in Galway Cathedral, which continues for the next eight days.
More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the six daily sessions, hosted by the Redemptorist Order. The novena was initiated 27 years ago by former bishop of Galway, Dr Eamon Casey.
Its director, Fr Michael Cusack, said that the event continues to grow in popularity.
“Our hope is that the novena will offer people an opportunity to examine their lives and help them deal with the issues we all face in Irish society,” he said.
Worshippers attending Galway Cathedral yesterday morning were told that unemployment was a recurring theme in many of the petitions received. Some petitions were from people who had lost their jobs, and others were from those who feared losing work, and this was “reflective of what is happening in society today”.
Preachers are Fr Gerry Moloney, Fr Conall Ó Cuinn, Fr Michael Murtagh and Fr Kieran Brady, and singers are Fr Michael Cusack and Brother Derek Ryan. A novena of “all nations” to celebrate cultural diversity takes place this Sunday at 4.30pm, while blessings of babies and children will also take place after all sessions.
Traffic diversions are in place in the Galway Cathedral area.