Pray for Journey In Faith:

St. Patrick Church’s 54-Day Rosary Novena Begins Monday, Sept. 29

The 54-day novena is a traditional series of 9-day novenas in which we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her intercession. Originating in Naples, Italy in the 19th century, this novena was first offered by a young girl who was battling an illness. Thinking she couldn't be cured, she was miraculously healed at the conclusion of the novena she had prayed!



A 54-day novena is made up of six smaller novenas, three in petition and three in thanksgiving. As we continue on this journey in faith, we invite all to pray for our parish, for our archdiocese, for Archbishop Zinkula, and for the leadership teams aiding in the process.
 
This novena will begin on Monday, September 29th - the Feast of Saints Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, archangels. This is the patronal feast day for our archdiocese!
 
The novena will end on Friday, November 21st, 2025, which is the last day feedback for Journey in Faith will be collected.

Save the Dates for these two Parish Input Meetings:

 Sunday, Oct. 19, 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Both meetings will be held down in the basement in Youth Center (Wood Gym).

Sept. 26, 2025

From the Pastor:

The Journey in Faith process that the archdiocese has embarked upon is going to involve the restructuring of parishes throughout the entire Archdiocese of Dubuque. The information that has been put out about future parish alignments suggests that we are looking at a reduction from our current four-Mass schedule to a two- or three-Mass schedule. starting on July 1, 2026.

Those of us who have spent our lives going to Mass and saying our daily prayers understand the importance of --- and the power of – prayer. Most of us would agree that our parish needs at least three Masses a weekend to minister to all our parishioners. The proposed models of parish alignments would suggest that members of outlying parishes will also be attending Mass at our facility starting in July 2026. We are trying to prayerfully help our parish navigate these developments that are taking place in our midst.

This scenario of events has compelled me to want to enter more fully into prayer, and the 54-day Novena is as powerful a prayer as I am able to find. I am asking all parishioners to please start this Novena on Monday, Sept. 29, and to pray it faithfully each day through Friday, Nov. 21.

That date – Friday, Nov. 21 – is also the final day in which you as parishioners can provide written feedback to the archdiocese through the Journey in Faith portal. Archbishop Zinkula sincerely wants to gather as much feedback from parishioners as he considers many difficult decisions that he will have to make. Our prayers during this Novena, coupled with your participation in our October and November parish input sessions and your thoughtful input to the archdiocese, are vital.

Everyone’s voice needs to be heard. Please offer your voice on behalf of St. Patrick Parish.

Fr. Ivan Nienhaus 

Origins of the 54-Day Rosary Novena

In 19th century Italy, a girl named Fortuna Agrelli was suffering from a painful and incurable illness.  After 13 months of unsuccessful medical treatments, Fortuna and her family began praying the Rosary on February 16, 1884. On March 3, Mary appeared to Fortuna as Our Lady of Pompeii, seated with the Child Jesus and surrounded by Sts. Dominic and Catherine of Siena.

How to Pray the 54 Day Rosary Novena

The 54 Day Rosary Novena is divided into two parts, each lasting 27 days.

First 27 Days – Petition:
For the first 27 days, you will focus on petition, asking Our Lady for a specific grace or miracle. During this time, you will pray three novenas—each one lasting 9 days.

Second 27 Days – Thanksgiving:
The second half of the novena (also 27 days) is dedicated to thanksgiving, regardless of whether your request has been granted. Like the first half, this section also consists of three novenas.

Praying the Mysteries

Each day, you will pray one set of the Rosary mysteries—Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious—in a specific order: Day 1: Joyful Mysteries, Day 2: Sorrowful Mysteries, Day 3: Glorious Mysteries.



This pattern repeats throughout the entire novena.

Proposed pastorate configurations - Sept. 2, 2025

Proposed pastorate configurations - Sept. 2, 2025

Model A map and Model B map are two proposed Pastorates under consideration for your review. Model A map suggests that the parishioners of St. Patrick Church will only receive 2 Masses on a weekend. Model B map suggests that the parishioners of St. Patrick will receive 3 Masses on a weekend. We need the parishioners of St. Patrick Church to give us input on which Map would address the needs of the parishioners in our Church. There are multiple considerations to be taken into account with it comes to making a final decision on a Pastorate. There are pluses and minuses with both Model A and Model B. This is why it is so important to  attend a listening session. The final Pastorate will take effect in July of 2026. All the parishes within a proposed Pastorate will also be combining their human and financial resources over the course of the next three years.

— Fr. Ivan Nienhaus