2026 Assumption Novena
We are excited for this year’s Novena as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Consolation Province and the Year of Saint Francis. The annual novena runs from August 6 through August 14. Each day, Mass will be offered at 11:00am in the Upper Basilica. Novena Devotions in honor of Our Lady are held at 8:00pm on weeknights and at 2:00pm on Sunday, August 9 and Friday, August 14. The novena culminates with the Candlelight Procession to the Shrine Park and celebration of the Vigil Mass for the Assumption on August 14 at 9:00pm. We We look forward to welcoming all pilgrims—those who have been here before and those who are coming for the first time. May your time here be greatly blessed by Our Lord and Lady!
Novena Homilist
Friar Thomas Piolata, OFM Cap.
We are excited to welcome Friar Thomas Piolata, OFM Cap., Ph.D, to preach the 2026 Assumption Novena. Friar Thomas was here last in 2025 and preached all the Masses and Devotions for the 150th Annivesrary of the arrival of the Statue of Our Lady of Consolation. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at The Catholic University of America.
Friar Thomas is a Capuchin friar of the St. Augustine province. His research focuses on the Franciscan intellectual tradition. Within this tradition, he is especially interested in the figure and writings of St. Francis of Assisi and the theology of St. Bonaventure. Thematically, much of his most recent and ongoing scholarship explores topics related to pneumatology and Trinitarian theology. In addition to the Franciscan tradition, Friar Thomas has a keen interest in the thought of the great 20th century theologian, Romano Guardini.
