Dear Friends of St. Jude Thaddeus,

SEPTEMBER NOVENA - Honouring Our Lady of Sorrows

The month of September reminds us of our closeness towards the end of the year and our need to be thankful to God for his numerous blessings. It is also a special month dedicated for us to reflect on the life of our Blessed Virgin Mary as we celebrate her solemn feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.
 
The Blessed Virgin Mary went through great suffering and challenges as she cared for Jesus with great love and tenderness. In consonance with the law, she gave God her only Son upon which, Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, predicted how a sword of sorrow would pierce her own heart. Inspite of her pain, she kept steadfast with God and in the flight to Egypt, her heart remained in anguish as she sought safety and comfort for Jesus from the Soldiers and enemy in Bethlehem.

As Jesus was taken to Calvary, Mary met her only Son carrying the heavy cross on which He is to be crucified. She diligently and sorrowfully with deep anguish followed behind Him to His crucifixion. Further to her traumatic situation, our Blessed Mother gave her tenderly love to the full as she received the body of Jesus on her own arms - Oh, Our Lady of Sorrows. Our blessed Mother was not only loving to her Son Jesus but trusted and offered God all her predicament.

Our solemn novena preacher honouring Our Lady of Sorrows is Rev. Fr. Dominic Mbomson, O.P. He is a native of Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. He joined the Dominican Order of the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, where he academically obtained his B.A. and M.A. He religiously made his professions at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory (Dominican Institute, Ibadan). Simple profession - 1998, Solemn profession - 2003, Deaconate Ordination - 2006 and Priestly Ordination - 2007. Fr. Dominic worked as an Associate Pastor in Rivers State, at St. Paul's Parish, Oyigbo, from 2007 to 2009.

Presently, he is the Pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ime - Obi, Agbor and also the Episcopal Vicar and President for the Religious in the Diocese of Issele-ukwu in Delta State. We welcome him with joy to St. Dominic's Parish, Yaba - Lagos.

Like Mary, we are also faced with unbearable conditions, painful life challenges and even hatred / rejection in our own society. Let us in this Novena continue to learn from Our Lady of Sorrows, that the Lord will continue to grant us courageous heart. May the tears she shed in the terrible sorrowful mysteries, purify our hearts, teach us to accept all our life's sufferings so that we may give glory to God and save our souls. Amen

Kindly complete and submit your petitions for the Novena by picking up a Novena form from the Shrine or complete our online form on this website.

May God continue to bless you and your families through the special intercession of St. Jude Thaddeus….

St. Jude Thaddeus - Pray for us!

Devotedly yours in Christ,
Rev. Br. Stephen Lucas, O.P.
SHRINE DIRECTOR