Novena to offer spiritual response to addiction

THIS year’s Matt Talbot Novena will kick off next Tuesday, when Br Martin Browne of Glenstal Abbey comes to Shannon. It will then continue every Tuesday night until November 30, with different preachers every week.

The novena is aimed at people suffering with addictions and those who share in the lives of people with addictions.
Shannon parish priest Fr Tom Ryan is the author of a book entitled Comfort my People – Prayers and Reflections inspired by the venerable Matt Talbot.
He said that Matt Talbot had found a spiritual solution to his problems with alcohol.
“He was an Irish person who died in 1925 and who had been addicted to alcohol. He overcame it through prayer, mass and contact with God.”
Fr Ryan said the novena is offering a spiritual response to addiction.
“It’s a spiritual response to what is a growing problem in our society. The novena has grown over the last 17 years as the problem has grown. It’s affecting more and more people, who are having problems with things like drink, drugs and gambling.”
Fr Ryan said that people shouldn’t ignore the spiritual dimension of life and he believes that real contentment can’t be found if it is neglected.
“When he was in England, the Pope said that people are looking for happiness but they are looking in the wrong place. The only way it will be found is through God.”
Petitions can be left at the shrine in Ss John and Paul Church. This year, for the first time, people can send petitions to the novena online. The parish website www.shannonparish.ie has a section dedicated to the Matt Talbot Novena in an attempt to reach out to as many people as possible.
This year, the preachers at the novena will include: Rev Pat Conroy PP, Ballinakill, County Galway on October 12; Rev Tom Whelan CC, Nenagh on October 19; Rev Gearóid O’Griofa CC, Gort on October 26; Rev Frank O’Connor, Pastoral Centre, Limerick on November 2; Rev Ulic Troy OFM, Guardian Franciscan Friar, Merchants Quay, Dublin on November 9; Rev Kevin O’Boyle, SSC Quilty on November 16; Ellen O’Neill, Bushy Park Treatment Centre, Ennis on November 23 and Rev Pat Larkin PP, Kilmurry Ibrickane on November 30.
The first Matt Talbot Novena took place in October 1993 and over 600 people attended the first session.
The response was very encouraging for the organisers and the following year, 1,300 people were attending each week, while the numbers attending have stayed high over the years.