“Uplifting, positive, warm, and beautiful” were the words used by Fr. Charles Cross, Superior of the Graan, describing the atmosphere and feeling of the Novena of Hope taking place at the Graan this week.

Speaking to this newspaper on Wednesday morning ahead of an address by Belleek native and Positive Futures’ Chief Executive, Agnes Lunney, Fr. Charles said: “It’s going great and it’s good to see the numbers. Yesterday I was talking to people who had come from Baileborough, and Virginia, and from all over.

“This is the first time that the people are able to get together [since the Covid-19 pandemic] and many people are expressing that it’s great to together, shoulder to shoulder and praying together.

“I think we need a wee bit of hope today – I think that’s the reason people are coming; we need that message today, in the light of everything that is going on.”

Fr. Charles also noted there were a large amount of people watching along online on the Graan’s webcam.

He said: “We had people phoning in from England, because we didn’t have any session on Sunday night, and they wondered could they get it [watch online] and how they could get it.

“There is a great atmosphere and a great attentiveness from the people. There are excellent, good people coming to pray with their intentions and their petitions, and I’m pleased it’s going so well.”

Large crowds gathered at the Graan to hear speakers this week, with Brendan O’Dufaigh addressing the Novena on Monday, and Newtownbutler’s Fr. Gary Donegan addressing the Novena on Tuesday.

The Novena of Hope at the Graan continues until next Monday, March 13. Today (Thursday, March 9), the speaker is Rev. Stephen McWhirter, rector of Rossorry Parish Church.

Tomorrow (Friday, March 10), Eoin Coyne from Cork will speak on addiction and his own gambling addiction.

Then this Saturday, the speaker will be Sr. Rowena Galvin, who works in the area of human trafficking, and she will address the secret reality of human trafficking,

Sunday will see the Novena being addressed by Fr. Brendan McKeever, a priest who ministered for some time in hospices in America.

The final day of the Novena, next Monday, will be addressed by Professor Jim Lucey, the retired head of St. Patrick’s Medical Centre, a psychiatric hospital in Dublin.

In addition, a service for the sick will take place beforehand, at 2.30pm this Saturday.

Further details and times for services can be found by contacting the Graan directly, or by visiting their website, at www.thegraan.com.

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