Christmas Day is more than a week away, but the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion hopes you begin remembering the reason for the season a little bit earlier. Friday marked the first day of the Novena of the Nativity of Our Lord, a series of nine days of prayers leading up to Christmas. The Shrine’s grounds are quieter this time of year due to the winter weather. Father John Broussard, the Shrine’s rector, hopes people use the novena as a way to connect with God this Christmas and possibly even let go of some of the stress this season can bring.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help will still host one of the few midnight masses in the region along with two other services on Christmas Day.