By Our Lady of Mount Carmel for CatholicPhilly • Posted June 21, 2024

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Doylestown will host its annual Summer Novena in July to honor Mary, Our Blessed Mother, with devotion and prayer

The Novena is set to begin on Monday, July 8 at 7:00 p.m. and continue for nine days concluding on July 16.

A novena — a Latin word that means “nine” and is typically a time of prayer consisting of nine days — is a devotion to ask Jesus and Mary to grant a specific intention such as clarity on an important decision, forgiveness, courage, healing or another need.

“It’s not magic,” Father Guckin, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel said, “but the primary intention is always to grow in patience as we place our trust in God.”

“It consists of traditional hymns in honor of Mary, psalms, and readings that reflect her life, homilies by some really great preachers, a special novena prayer asking for Mary’s intercession, and the blessing and distribution of brown scapulars.”

Novena devotion is rooted in the Bible. The Acts of the Apostles (2:1) recounts how the disciples gathered around Mary on the Ascension of Jesus Christ and prayed for nine days while awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Bishop Keith Chylinski, an Auxiliary Bishop for the Church of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist on Wednesday, July 10,  the third night of the novena.

Eight other priests including Father Chris Walsh, Father Randy Kraft, Father Frank Giuffre, Father Dennis Fedak, Father Eric Banecker, Father Pat Welsh, Father Shane Flanagan, and Father Matthew Guckin will lead faithful in prayer throughout the nine-day devotion.

“Believe it or not,” said Father Guckin, “I’ve never preached during our Novena before.”

The Novena concludes on The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16, with Mass.  The Homilist for the closing of the Novena is Father Chris Walsh, pastor of Saint Cecilia Parish in Philadelphia.  This will be the third time Father Walsh has preached during the Novena.

“I’ve always enjoyed the people at Mount Carmel and Father Matt does a great job as their Shepherd.  I’m really honored to be part of their Novena,” said Father Walsh.

Each night begins at 7:00 p.m. The Saturday, July 13 will take place within the 5:00 p.m. Mass.

For more information, please call the parish at 215-348-4190 or visit ourladymtcarmel.org.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is located at 235 East State Street, Doylestown.