Novena with a master story-teller
Father Vincent Sherlock, parish priest of Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, was the preacher at the Novena to the Sacred Heart in St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner St Church, Dublin 1» A large congregation turned up for the nine days of this annual event which began on Wednesday 18 June (2025) and concluded on the Friday 27 June, the feast day of the Sacred Heart. It was a Novena full of surprises, as Brendan Comerford SJ, recounts below.
“The Best Novena I’ve Ever Been At”
Vincent came highly recommended by Donal Neary, SJ and Vincent did not disappoint! Right from day-go you could tell this was going to be a Novena with a difference. On the first day of the Novena he suddenly broke into song, a rendition of Raglan Road. As if this wasn’t enough of a surprise for the congregation, the next thing, out comes the harmonica and we are treated to Raglan Road again with a faultless rendition The bemused congregation responded with a spontaneous round of applause.
And so it was to go on for the next eight days, twice a day. Vincent is a master story-teller. One story followed on another, little parables, to catch us in our tracks. You never knew when Vincent was going to burst into song and the stories kept coming! The congregation loved it. One lady was heard to say on leaving the church, “The best Novena I’ve ever been at!”
Vincent was in for a surprise himself. The music provided by Seamus Brett (organist) and his wife, Margaret Brennan (cantor) was superb, as also was the faultless singing of Roisin O’Reilly. People said to me, “You’re so lucky to have such musical talent in Gardiner St Church.”
There was another little surprise for Vincent. He couldn’t get over the fact that we had five teenagers serving at Mass – Sam, Evin, Vivian, Chris and Adam, not to speak of Tom Casey S.J.’s niece, Rebecca. The boys just love incense and swinging that thurible! Vincent said that he was going back to Tubbercurry to spread the news!
It really was a graced nine days. Thanks to the Sacred Heart and to Vincent!
Brendan Comerford SJ,
Gardiner St Church,
June 2025
