A Novena for Fr. Mulvehill

Last week Fr. Jack Mulvehill, a long time pastor of St. Anthony's in Cohasset passed from this life. As his former parish, it is fitting that we take on a special intention in prayer to invoke  our almightly and merciful God that he might welcome our brother in Christ into his heavenly home.

At the bottom of this page is a Novena prayer for the respose of the soul of Fr. Mulvehill. A novena is a prayer that is said over nine days recalling the time between the Ascension of the Lord and the Feast of Pentecost. For these nine days the Apostles prayed for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we can use this nine day model to guide us in our own prayers today.

We will begin this Novena on Monday, May 13th, the day of his funeral. Please join us in this special prayer.

If you wish to receive the daily prayer (starting Monday) in your inbox for the next nine days, click here to join the flocknote group. 

If you wish to download a printable version, click here to access the file. It can be printed double sided and folded into a booklet. 

Opening

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 
- Amen 

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, 
- and let perpetual light shine upon him. 

Daily Reading

1. Matthew 11:28-30 
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” 

2. John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” 

3. Colossians 3:3-4
You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. 

4. Romans 6:8-9
If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 

5. Matthew 25:34 
Come, you who are blessed by my Father, says the Lord; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

6. John 6:39 
This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day. 

7. See Philippians 3:20
Our true home is in heaven, and Jesus Christ, whose return we long for, will come from heaven to save us. 

8. Revelation 1:5a,6b
Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead; glory and power be his forever and ever. Amen. 

9.1 John 3:2 
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

Intercessions 

For Jack, who in Baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that he may now be admitted to the company of the saints. 
Lord in your mercy:
- Hear our prayer. 

For our brother Jack, who shared in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ leading God’s people in prayer and worship, that he may be brought into your presence where he will take his place in the heavenly liturgy. 
Lord in your mercy:
- Hear our prayer. 

For those who have fallen asleep in the hope of rising again, especially all deceased priests of the Archdiocese of Boston, that they may see God face to face. 
Lord in your mercy: 
- Hear our prayer. 

For all the friends, family, and former parishioners of our brother Jack, that they may
be consoled in their grief by the Lord, who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. 
Lord in your mercy: 
- Hear our prayer. 

Concluding Prayer

Let us pray. 

Grant, we pray, O Lord, 
that the soul of Jack, your servant and Priest, 
whom you honored with sacred office
while he lived in this world, 
may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven. 

Through Christ our Lord. 
- Amen.