A Spirit-Filled Novena in Killenummery and Killery Parish – 3rd & 4th November

Fr. Godfrey and I have just returned from two wonderful days in North Leitrim, where we had the privilege of attending the Parish Novena in Killenummery and Killery Parish, North Leitrim on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th November. We were invited to preach on the life and ministry of Saint Padre Pio – a saint whose life of prayer, suffering, and deep love for souls continues to speak so powerfully to our own times. Each evening of the Novena, we spoke about Padre Pio's hidden wounds, his love for the Eucharist and Confession, and his simple call to "pray, hope and don't worry." A very special moment each night was the blessing of the people with the relics of Saint Padre Pio and Saint Carlo Acutis. To see the long queues of people of all ages coming forward with such faith and devotion was deeply moving. The presence of Carlo – that young saint of our digital age – spoke particularly to the young people present. A Mission to the Young and the Elderly One of the great joys of our visit was the opportunity to visit three local national schools – St. Joseph’s N.S, Killenummery, Ardvarney N.S. Drumahair, and St. Theresa’s N.S. Ballintogher and St. Felim's Nursing Home. In the schools, the children welcomed us with such warmth and curiosity. Fr. Godfrey, as always, worked his magic – teaching the children a beautiful hymn and sharing in a very engaging way the story of Saint Carlo Acutis. To see their faces light up hearing how Carlo used his computer skills for God and loved the Eucharist so much was a real grace. The future of the Church is certainly alive in Ballintogher. Our visit to St. Felim's Nursing Home was equally special. It was a privilege to bring the relics to the residents, to pray with them, bless them, and listen to their own stories of faith through the years. Their quiet witness is the backbone of the parish. Gratitude We could not have been better looked after. A heartfelt word of thanks to Hubert McHugh and his wife Christina, who provided such wonderful hospitality and accommodation. Their kindness and generosity made us feel so at home. We are also so grateful to Fr. Patsy, the parish priest, who was so generous in his welcome and in his praise for our little mission. He has built up a wonderful community of faith in Ballintogher, and his own pastoral care for his people was evident everywhere we went. We also took the opportunity while in the area to visit Creevalea Abbey – the beautiful ruined Franciscan Abbey dating back to the 1500s/1600s. As Franciscans at heart, standing among those ancient walls where the friars once prayed was a very poignant moment for us and linked our preaching on Padre Pio back to our own Franciscan roots. We came away from North Leitrim feeling truly inspired and energised by the witness of faith of the people of the parish. In a world that can often seem noisy and distracted, Ballintogher showed us a community that still prays, still believes, and still gathers together in hope. Thank you to all who came, who prayed with us, who sang, and who shared your faith with us. We look forward, God willing, to repeating the mission again next year. St. Padre Pio and St. Carlo Acutis, pray for us.