Novena
Five times during the year (January, March, May,
July and October) a Novena of Masses and prayers
is offered for the intentions of all the members
by the Dominican Fathers and Brothers at St. Dominic's
Church. A novena means nine days of prayer, modelled
after nine days the Disciple (including St. Jude)
and Mary spent together in prayer between the Ascension
and Pentecost. During these novenas, St. Jude members
participate by prayerfully sending in their petitions
to the Shrine in Yaba and by reciting the novena
prayers at home. The petitions are placed at the
altar and remembered during each of the Novena Masses.
Petition
Members and non-members may send petitions to the
Shrine in Yaba for special prayer requests. These
petitions are received daily and are the very heart
of the Shrine and center of St. Jude activity. Petitions
come from distressed individuals praying for assistance
in their problems, or asking help for friends and
relatives. It is the special work God has designed
for St. Jude, and he seems to take a special delight
in obtaining favours for his friends - old and new.
Many petitions are thanksgiving offerings for favours
already received. For all petitions, many Masses
are offered at St. Dominic's, the Dominican Community
Ibadan, and even at the tomb of St. Jude in Rome.
These petitions are distress signals to St. Jude.
They are silent prayers for aid in some desperate
emergency.
Votive Light
The beautiful St. Jude Shrine in Yaba is surrounded
by vigil lights which burn day and night. They represent
the devotion of those who have sent petitions and
burn before the his statue as a prayer for some
particular intention, or as a thanksgiving for some
favours received.
Benefits of Joining the St. Jude Apostolate
1. A participation in the spiritual
wealth of the Masses of the Dominican Fathers, Student
Novices and Brothers.
2. A special weekly Mass offered
for your intentions.
3. A novena of Masses offered each
day for nine days for your intentions. Solemn Novenas
take place five times a year.
4. A beautiful certificate is issued
for each membership whether Annual or Perpetual
and a suitable souvenir sent to the one making the
enrollment. |