99th Novena of Grace
"Practicing Catholics - Transformative Spiritual Disciplines”
Monday, February 23 to Tuesday, March 3
2026 Novena Presenter: Fr. Jack Bentz, S.J.
Enter Lent 2026 with a rich experience of the Christian Spiritual Disciplines. Fr. Jack Bentz, S.J. will lead nine days of inspiring presentations on practical tools to start/restart your spiritual life.
Expect beautiful music, special blessing with the relics of St. Francis Xavier, and an outpouring of grace in your life.
12:15 p.m. Prayer Service Monday through Saturday
5:30 p.m. Novena Mass Monday through Friday
Fr. Jack Bentz, S.J. is the host of the popular podcast, Catholics in Ordinary Time and writes for Substack under the same title. He also currently serves as the coordinator for ministry to young adults at St. Al’s and is a part time campus minister at Gonzaga University.
He initially became interested in religious life when he read a broken spined paperback copy of Thomas Merton’s Seven Story Mountain which recounts one man’s conversion from the emptiness of worldly life into the vocation of a silent monk. Fr. Bentz was familiar with a worldly life but becoming a silent monk seemed a stretch, so he responded to Christ’s call to join the Jesuits where he has flourished.
99th Novena of Grace
The Novena of Grace is grounded in our celebration of liturgy. Liturgies of the Word and Eucharist are held daily for nine consecutive days and feature a reflection by one of our guest presenters, live music and prayers of petition and thanksgiving through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier. The Novena of Grace affords time to reflect and to open one’s self to God’s Spirit and the healing grace that rejuvenates and transforms our lives.
No sign-up is necessary. The event is free and open to all! If you have any prayers or petitions, scroll to the bottom of this page to submit them to us.
These Novena days accompany our journey into Lent as we pilgrimage with Jesus in company of His unfailing love.
The theme for the 98th Annual Novena of Grace is “The Call to Relationship“, centered on the various ways we engage with our relationships to God, others and ourselves. GU Professor of Psychology & St. Al’s Parishioner Annmarie Caño and Gilbert Sunghera, S.J., the superior of the Della Strada Jesuit Community, will partner together to break open this theme along with the Scriptures each day.
The weekday Novena Services (Liturgy of the Word) will be at 12:15pm. Weekday Novena Masses will be at 5:30pm. Each service and Mass will include praying out loud the community’s various novena prayer intentions and individual blessings with the relics of St. Francis Xavier. Each day will be livestreamed and recorded for those unable to attend in person.
Novena of Grace
Petition & Prayers
St. Francis Xavier Novena Prayer
Most lovable and loving St. Francis Xavier, in union with you, I adore the Divine Majesty. The remembrance of the favors with which God blessed you during life and of your glory after death, fills me with joy; and I unite with you in offering to God my tribute of thanksgiving and praise. I implore you to secure for me through your powerful intercessions, the great blessing of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beseech you to obtain the favors I ask in this novena (silent pause for individual petitions). But if what I ask is not for the glory of God or the good of my soul, obtain for me what is most conducive for both. Amen
Pew Prayers
