IT’S that time again, when we see hordes of people packed together, some standing outside praying, while watching a big screen – and I’m not even talking about the World Cup.

The Clonard Solemn Novena has again seen pilgrims travel from far and wide over nine days to bring their petitions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, while the local residents in west Belfast get their parking cones out of the shed.

Over the course of my adult life, my relationship with the Catholic Church has had more ups and downs than a congregation trying to follow the new Mass responses.

My faith in God has remained steady enough, but my patience with the institution has been known to wobble.

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I have, on more than one occasion, complained at length about how boring Mass can be, and muttered darkly about the timetabling of organised religion into our children’s curriculum.

And yet, in a move that would make hypocrisy blush, I still found myself seeking comfort in that same faith, returning to my Granny’s parish of Clonard to take part in the annual novena.........

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