THE annual Clonard Novena will take place online for the second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event, which normally attracts tens of thousands of people, is held in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
The news was announced on social media this week by Clonard rector Fr Peter Burns.
Many of those who attend the annual event will have been left disappointed as there had been hope the Novena could have returned to an in-person celebration.
Clonard church as well as its monastery, garden marquee and grounds, are usuallt packed with visitors with those gathered outdoors able to take part in each session thanks to a loudspeaker system.
The event is spread across 10 sessions per day for nine days however this year, there will be fewer sessions.
Taking place from June 16 until June 24, this year's Novena will consist of four daily sessions at 7am, 9.30am, 6.15pm and 8pm.
Last year, tens of thousands of people logged on each day to take part in the event.
Speaking during the online announcement, Fr Burns said the Clonard team had considered, "briefly at least, the possibility of having a limited number of people in the church for the sessions... but really, it became very clear to us that it would almost certainly draw larger crowds and it would be a risk and it wouldn't be safe
"...so we decided anyway the Solemn Novena would go again online this year as it was last year."
Fr Burns said the team was "very much looking forward to celebrating" this year's Novena.
He revealed there would be two guest speakers namely Helena Connolly, who has worked with the Redemptorist mission teams in the west of Ireland, Limerick and Clonard, and Fr Brendan O'Rourke, a former Clonard Rector, who is now based in Dublin.
They will be joined by Clonard Redemptorists, Fr Johnny Doherty, Fr Ciaran O'Callaghan as well as Fr Peter Burns.
"Last year, there were thousands of people, literally thousands of people from all over the world who joined us each day (online) so even though we won't be able to have crowds...there will be a very large online congregation and we are hoping that you will be able to join us to take part in this year's Novena in whatever way is possible for you," he urged participants.
"We look forward to it and we warmly welcome you to join us during the nine days."
Further information is available at www.clonard.com
