By CatholicPhilly Staff Report • Posted June 17, 2025

For the fifth consecutive year Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown will host a Summer Novena in July.  The novena will honor Our Lady of Mount Carmel beginning on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. and continue for nine days.

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

“This year’s a little more special though because we’re celebrating the 175th anniversary of our parish!” said Father Matthew Guckin, pastor of the Bucks County Parish.

He pointed out the scriptural roots of a Catholic novena, specifically to   “the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles (that) 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.”

A novena — a 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 said, “but the primary intention is always to grow in patience as we place our trust in God.”

Father Shane Flanagan, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, loves the parish novena.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I got here two years ago,” he said. “I was amazed at just how many people come to it.”

One of  his best friends, Deacon Charles Capelli, is scheduled to preach  on the first night of the novena. “Charlie is from our parish and he was just ordained so we’re looking forward to welcoming him back,” said Father Flanagan.

Bishop Christopher Cooke will be the celebrant and homilist for the closing Mass of the novena on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Wednesday, July 16.

Other priests preaching during the novena include Father Douglas McKay; Father James Cox; Father Louis Monica; Father Christopher Walsh; and Father Philip Bochanski, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia.

Also set to preach are newly ordained Permanent Deacon Charles Dern of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Deacon Griffen Schlaepfer.

Father Walsh, who will preach on the eighth night of the novena on Tuesday, July 15, is looking forward to the experience.

“I always love preaching the novena at Mount Carmel,” he said. “That place is alive. I enjoy the people there and Father Matt and Father Shane do a great job.”

The novena each night begins at 7 p.m. except  for Saturday, July 12, which takes place within the 5 p.m. Mass.

For more information, call 215-348-4190. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is located at 235 East State Street, Doylestown.