The recent Crown of Advent Novena, led locally by Janet Northing at Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, Corby, has been widely celebrated as a moment of grace, renewal and shared prayer across the Diocese. For the first time, this much-loved devotion was amplified by a diocesan-wide virtual novena, enabling people to participate both in their parishes and online.
The response was remarkable. Across the three churches in Corby, 129 Novena Packs were purchased, with a further 48 packs at St Gregory’s, Northampton, clear evidence of a deep hunger for prayerful, accessible devotion in the life of the Church. Online engagement echoed this enthusiasm, with the Crown of Advent Novena webpage welcoming over 2,000 visitors during the Novena, many accessing daily prayers and resources digitally.
Reflecting on the experience, Janet Northing said:
“These numbers are quite incredible and demonstrate that there is a real desire for this type of spiritual devotion or ‘popular piety’, to use Pope Leo’s terminology.”
The Novena was prayerfully rooted in the O Antiphons, guiding participants through the final days of Advent as they prepared their hearts for the coming of Christ. Its success highlights the growing impact of blending traditional parish devotion with accessible digital outreach—allowing prayer to reach far beyond church walls.
Looking ahead, Janet has already begun preparations for the next diocesan devotion: the Holy Face of Jesus Novena, running from Monday 9 February to Tuesday 17 February (Shrove Tuesday). This historic devotion, approved by Pope Leo XIII and later given a feast day by Pope Pius XII, will be offered especially for the intentions of the clergy and religious of the Diocese. Unique prayer cards and chaplet beads are being prepared, with the blessing of Novena Packs planned for Sunday 18 January at Our Lady of Walsingham.
The success of the Crown of Advent Novena stands as a powerful sign of what is possible when prayer, parish life and digital mission come together – nourishing faith, fostering unity, and opening hearts to Christ.
