Bishop Reidy has asked all parishioners in the Diocese of Norwich to pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven gifts on the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost, from May 30 to June 7. See below to read Bishop Reidy's full letter to the diocese.
Click here to go to the Diocese of Norwich website for the Novena prayers
Click here for a larger print booklet version of the Novena prayers
Letter from Bishop Reidy:
My dear friends in Christ,
Thank you all very much for your very warm welcome of me as your new Bishop.
As I meet with priests, deacons, and parishioners and make my way around the Diocese to parish Masses, Confirmations, school visits, Holy Hours, and dinner events, I am reminded how fortunate I am to be with you in our diocese. Thank you for all you do.
I am also acutely aware that all the good I hope to do together with you for God and His people depends utterly on God's grace. To that end, I am endeavoring to keep in mind the necessity of prayer and the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Each day in the Easter Season, the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that the conversion of the Apostles, the fruit that they bore and the people they drew to the early Church began with Pentecost which they anticipated by devoting themselves with one accord to prayer.
To that end, I am asking that on the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost, from May 30 to June 7, you pray the following brief novena for a deepening of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Pope Leo and in all our bishops, priests , deacons, religious and lay faithful with the intention of sparking a new Pentecost in the Diocese of Norwich that we may continue and build upon all the good that has gone on in our local Church. The novena prayers are brief. Perhaps, they could be prayed after daily Mass or at home through the link on the diocesan website: www.norwichdiocese.org.
Again, thank you for your welcome, all you do and your dedication to God and Hs people.
With every prayerful good wish, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich