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Thousands flock to Clonard Novena and arrival of St Anthony's relics in Derry

Three-week-old Freddie McMullan pictured on the first day of the Clonard Novena yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell
Three-week-old Freddie McMullan pictured on the first day of the Clonard Novena yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell Three-week-old Freddie McMullan pictured on the first day of the Clonard Novena yesterday. Picture by Hugh Russell

AS pilgrims flocked to Clonard Monastery yesterday for the SolemnNovena, thousands more from across the world joined online for the first day of the annual event.

Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend the nine-day festival of faith at the monastery.

The 10 daily sessions, which take place from early morning until late at night, are also being streamed live on the internet.

A woman from Turkey and a man living in Florida were yesterday among the thousands of people abroad who watched online, while a regular Clonard visitor who recently underwent knee surgery was also among those to view the sessions on the internet.

Little Freddie McMullan, just three weeks old, was believed to be the youngest member of the congregation in the packed monastery yesterday for the start of the annual devotion.

Rector of Clonard Monastery, Fr Noel Kehoe opened the first session, which consists of special prayers and services between June 15 and 23.

The theme of this year's Novena is the 'Icon of Mercy'.

It also marks the 150th Jubilee Year of the Redemptorists’ special mission of making the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help known throughout the world.

This year sees a change of some of the session times of the annual celebration of faith following concerns that the most popular session, held at 8pm, had become overcrowded.

Clonard has now altered the schedule to have one at 7.30pm and another at 9pm.

During weekdays, an early afternoon session will be held at 12.45pm and next will be at 4.30pm.

The new times of the Clonard Solemn Novena are weekdays: 6.45am, 8.15am, 9.30am. 11am, 12.45pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm, 9pm, 10.30pm and weekends: 6.45am, 8.15am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.45pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm.

The Novena can be viewed live on www.clonard.com

Meanwhile thousands turned out in Derry yesterday to welcome the arrival of the relics of St Anthony to St Eugene’s Cathedral.

The relics of the Italian saint, which include a rib bone and a cheek bone, arrived shortly before lunch time yesterday.

St Eugene’s Cathedral is one of two northern churches selected on the relics’ Irish visit.

They have also toured across the Republic visiting Cahir, Killarney, Knock, Sligo, Dublin and Longford.

In a short prayer to welcome the relics, St Eugene's administrator Fr Farren said: “You relic is a sign of your presence among us.”

One of the first members of the Franciscan Order of Friars – founded in 1209 by St Francis – St Anthony is often asked by people to intercede to help find things they have lost.

The saint’s relics are being accompanied by a number of Franciscan friars from Italy, including Fr Mario Conte, editor of the Messenger of St Anthony magazine.

The relics will move to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh later today where Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin. The saint’s relics will remain in Armagh until lunchtime tomorrow.