THE FIFTH ANNUAL PRAYER FOR LIFE NOVENA - SATURDAY 23RD TO 31ST MAY 2026
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Council for Life of Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference is inviting people across Ireland to join in prayer for a renewed culture of respect for life. This will be the fifth annual ‘Pray for Life Novena’, and this initiative will begin on Saturday 23 May and will end on Trinity Sunday, 31 May.
The Pray for Life Novena has two main aims explains Bishop Kevin Doran, Chair of the Council for Life, “To pray for women and their unborn children, that they will always get the support and care they need; and, to renew our own commitment asking God’s grace and strength to be witnesses for life in our society today.
“In his 1995 document Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) Pope Saint John Paul called for ‘a great prayer for life … an impassioned plea rising up to God from every Christian community, every family, from the heart of every believer’. The need for that great wave of prayer for life is greater than ever: the value of human life is under pressure here in Ireland and around the world.
“Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper in February, I referred to official figures showing that a shocking 10,852 babies were aborted in Ireland in 2024. This enormous human tragedy involved is the equivalent of 300 classes of primary school children. Abortion doesn’t just kill babies. It deprives communities all over Ireland of thousands of happy, laughing children.
“Five years ago, the Council for Life began inviting people across Ireland, and across the world, to join in praying for an end to abortion and for a culture that respects and protects all human life, from conception to natural death. I am delighted to say that, to date, thousands of people answered that call,” Bishop Doran concluded.
Each day participants who sign up on the prayforlife.ie website receive a short email with a particular intention, a short reflection, and small practical action steps. Themes include prayers for expectant mothers and fathers, for unborn children, for those who defend life, and for an end to abortion.
The Council for Life warmly encourages parishes, schools, families and individuals to take part in this year’s novena, and to invite others to join them.
How to participate
Visit prayforlife.ie and sign up to receive the daily emails.
Share the signup link https://prayforlife.ie/#signup with family, friends and parish community.
Download prayers, poster and resources from the ‘resources’ page on the prayforlife.ie website to use in your parish or group.
The novena prayers will also be posted daily on the Pray for Life Novena, and the Council for Life Facebook and Instagram pages.
🙏🏼 amen.