University Ministry will hold a Novena of Grace to pray for the graces that God wishes to bestow on us. This is a nine-day novena that will begin on Wednesday, March 4, and continue through March 12.
Praying the Novena will take place at 4 p.m. each day in the St. Ignatius Chapel in the Commerce & Finance Building. Associate University Minister Gray LaFond will lead the first three days of the Novena.
From Saturday, March 7, to Thursday, March 12, due to spring break, students are invited to continue the Novena prayer on their own.
What is the Novena of Grace?
The Church has long taught that the saints intercede on our behalf, asking God to grant the graces and blessings we may forget to request or struggle to find time to pray for ourselves.
The Novena of Grace is a traditional nine-day devotion dedicated to Saint Francis
Xavier, a co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). It comes with a promise
that those who pray it for nine consecutive days and receive the Sacraments may
receive any grace for the good of their souls, through the saint’s prayers.
As a Jesuit, St. Francis Xavier’s writings reflect the spiritual insights of the Spiritual Exercises, which are to know ourselves better, to discern the will of God, to hear and generously answer Christ’s call and to understand that everything is an unmerited gift from God.
In addition, each evening throughout the duration of the Novena of Grace, Gesu Church will hold a reflection by a variety of guest speakers, one per evening, as follows:
- Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m.: Fr. Joe Daoust
- Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m.: Jim Sweeney/Laura Silveri
- Friday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m.: Ellie Hidalgo
- Saturday, March 7, part of 4 p.m. liturgy: Ellie Hidalgo
- Sunday , March 8, at 3 p.m.: Anita Klueg
- Monday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m.: Sr. Sue Rakoczy
- Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m.: Shirlene Smith
- Wednesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.: Rev. Barry Randolph
- Thursday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m.: Brother Tom Skowron
All are invited to pray this novena.
Access Novena guide here.
