Clonard novena continues to attract huge crowds

The new rector of Clonard Monastery in Belfast has described the annual novena as a real “phenomenon” with more than 15,000 people attending the services daily.

“It is a phenomenon,” said Fr Noel Kehoe. “We estimate that more than 15,000 people are attending daily this year. At the first session at 6.45am we have 1,500 people. We have an overflow into marques and the corridors of the monastery are always full.”

Volunteers

Established in 1943, the Redemptorists’ annual novena has become a landmark in the Church calendar in Belfast, and a team of 300 volunteers works behind the scenes to facilitate the crowds of all ages that attend the 10 daily sessions.

Fr Kehoe told The Irish Catholic he believed that it is a sense of hope that brings the crowds each year. “It’s hope and it’s the Church in community.

“I think during the ordinary week in, week out spiritual life we need mountain top experiences and this is a yearly mountain top experience spiritually,” he said.spiritually,” he said.