SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A Lackawanna County church is celebrating the final day of its Novena service. This is the 101st year of the celebration. The final masses are going on in the basilica for the feast day of Saint Ann.
Saint Ann's solemn Novena began last Thursday with masses and services for anyone to attend in West Scranton.
The Novena is an annual pilgrimage of faith to honor Saint Ann, the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus, taking place over nine days and ending with a feast.
Parishioners are encouraged to come to the annual Novena with their own specific prayers, but many simply pray in general.
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Saint Ann's sees many familiar faces around this time of year, with many families making it a tradition.
Some parishioners even come from far and wide to celebrate.
One member, who's been coming from New Jersey to West Scranton for the Novena for five years, tells us seeing the event fills him with hope.
"It means that the Catholic Church is going to continue, and that's so important today. To see the young kids in this parish, under that tent, attend the Novenas, it means that the Catholic Church will continue," John Janelli from Hoboken, New Jersey, said.
There will be a final mass Saturday night, celebrated by the diocese of Scranton's Bishop Joseph Bambera.
