The first feast day of the Great Mercy Pope, Saint John Paul II, is Oct. 22.

In preparation for the celebration, we've begun a special novena that extends from Oct. 13 through Oct. 21. We encourage you, through this novena — drawn from the official prayer of the Diocese of Rome — to ask for the intercession of Saint John Paul II and Our Blessed Mother for the New Evangelization of the Church.

In light of the new challenges the Church faces in the contemporary world, Saint John Paul II said it is the "supreme duty" of the Church to "proclaim Christ to all peoples" (Redemptoris Missio, 3.)

Together in prayer, let's follow his call. On behalf of my fellow Marians and Marian Helpers around the world, I invite you to join in this novena as we pray that the Light of Christ may shine ever more brightly to all the corners of the world. You'll find below that on each of the nine days, we have chosen a specific intention for the New Evangelization.

— Fr. Joseph, MIC Director of the Association of Marian Helpers

• Oct. 13: Our Holy Father
• Oct. 14: Our Bishops
• Oct. 15: Our Priests and Deacons
• Oct. 16: Religious and Consecrated
• Oct. 17: Lay Apostles and Teachers  O
• Oct. 18: Married Couples and Families
• Oct. 19: The Youth
• Oct. 20: Sick and Suffering
• Oct. 21: All Souls Novena
• Oct. 22: Happy Feast Day of Blessed John Paul II.

If you missed a day of this novena, fear not. Read this.