24/02/2026
Parish Novena
Day 1: Speaker: Colin Whitla
Date: Friday 6th March
Topic: Called to Courage – Courage as a Gift from God
About Colin:
Colin is from Galway, a youth worker and trainee psychotherapist. Had an encounter with Jesus in his youth that transformed his life and he is eager to share this same gift with others!
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who gives me strength"
Day 2: Speaker: Paddy Joe Burke
Date: Saturday 8th March
Topic: Courage in the Desert – Facing Trials and Temptations
About Paddy
Paddy Joe Burke, a much‑loved figure in the Roscommon community, recently retired after 52 years as a barber, during which he became known not only for cutting hair but for listening, encouraging, and accompanying people through life’s joys and challenges. A passionate Roscommon GAA supporter with a deep love for his county, Paddy has witnessed the full spectrum of human experience - resilience, loss, hope, temptation, and perseverance - and speaks with honesty, warmth, and humour about the trials and opportunities life has offered him. Grounded in real-life experience, deep faith, and quiet wisdom, his reflections invite us to consider “Courage in the Desert: Facing Trials and Temptations,” reminding us that God is present even in our most testing moments.
Day 3: Speaker: Ruth Burke
Date: Sunday 8th March
Topic: Courage to Witness – Living Faith Boldly
About Ruth
Born and raised in Galway, Ruth grew up in a Christian family, who taught faith in Jesus as the highest choice for life. After experiencing a crisis pregnancy as a teenager, she had a conversion that allowed the faith she was raised with to become real for her. Now a wife to Keith and a mother of three children, she works in An Tobar Nua, a Christian charity in Galway, and spends all her time sharing the Good News of God’s love with secondary school students across Ireland.
John 6:68 “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the message of eternal life”
Day 4: Speaker: Colette Furlong
Date: Monday 9th March
Topic: Courage in Suffering – Finding Meaning in Pain
About Colette
Colette Furlong is from Dublin originally, and worked as a Resource Person for the Diocese, until she moved to Sligo in 2012 as Catechist and later also Chaplain to Sligo University Hospital. She has just embraced a fulltime role as Chaplain or Pastoral Care Worker in the North West Hospice. Colette has sat at the bedside of many who have had to work through pain and suffering to recovery, as well as those who are entering the end of life journey. She will share some of her experiences and insights that have exposed her to the courage and realism to which suffering invites all of us.
Day 5: Speaker: Martina Lehane Sheehan
Date: Tuesday 10th March
Topic: Courage to Forgive – Healing Relationships : Rest, Release & Restore
About Martina
Martina is a spiritual director, psychotherapist, author and retreat director with a talent for weaving compelling narratives and drawing inspiration from the intricacies of human emotions and the wonders of the world around us. With a career spanning over 30 years in retreat facilitation, she has published a range of books that explore everything from psychology, mental health, spiritual awareness, meditation etc. Martina draws from solid psychological research interweaved with Christian contemplative spirituality.
Her talk on Healing Relationships : Rest, Release & Restore aims to be a transformative experience where we will attend to the relational wounds that seek healing and compassion…through guided meditation, scripture, prayer etc.
www.ruahrest.com
Day 6: Speaker: Fr. Michael Drumm
Date: Wednesday 11th March
Topic: Courage to Serve – Selfless Love and Charity
About Fr. Michael
Michael Drumm is a priest of the Diocese of Elphin and ministers in Rosses Point, Co Sligo. Previously, a Lecturer in Theology and Director of Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin, he has published books and articles on theology and on the role of religion in Irish society. He was the founding chairperson of the Catholic Schools Partnership.
Day 7: Speaker: Monica Morley
Date: Thursday, 12th March
Topic: Courage in Community – Strength Through Parish & Family
About Monica
Monica Morley is from Knock and studied theology and psychology before specialising in the area of bereavement care. This is the main focus of her work now both at Knock Shrine and with individuals, groups and parishes across the West. She also co- presents Faith Alive, a weekly religious programme broadcast every Sunday morning on Midwest Radio.
Day 8: Speaker: Clare O’ Loan
Date: Friday 13th March
Topic: Courage to Hope – Trusting God in Uncertainty
About Clare
Clare, with her husband Henry, lives the rural life in the Glens of Antrim. A seasoned retreat leader and pastoral worker, Clare has been working in the 'field of faith' for over 25 years. Now a hospital secretary, she remains a part time member of the Redemptorist Parish Mission team and has contributed articles to various publications over the years. In her free time Clare enjoys farming, dancing, and spending time with family, which often includes trips to visit her brother and his family in Roscommon.
"All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well" - Julian of Norwich
Day 9: Speaker: Cilla Farrell
Date: Saturday 14th March
Topic: Courage of the Cross – Embracing the Paschal Mystery
About Cilla
Cilla Farrell is a wife and mother living in Co. Kildare and has many years' experience working in pastoral ministry and music ministry across the country. Her own faith was nurtured and developed through faith in family life, friendships and most powerfully using the gift of music as prayer. As well as speaking during Mass, Cilla will lead music and reflections during the Novena Holy Hour of Adoration on the theme of “Courage of the Cross”.
