Life

Drumalis Zooms online for Lent spirituality talks

A cross of ashes, symbolising Ash Wednesday - celebrated yesterday - and the start of the Lenten period that leads to Easter. Many churches and organisations, including Drumalis retreat centre in Larne, have arranged Covid-safe online events to mark Lent
A cross of ashes, symbolising Ash Wednesday - celebrated yesterday - and the start of the Lenten period that leads to Easter. Many churches and organisations, including Drumalis retreat centre in Larne, have arranged Covid-safe online events to mark Lent A cross of ashes, symbolising Ash Wednesday - celebrated yesterday - and the start of the Lenten period that leads to Easter. Many churches and organisations, including Drumalis retreat centre in Larne, have arranged Covid-safe online events to mark Lent

DRUMALIS is hosting a series of 'Zoom' online events during Lent, including a couple with an Ignatian theme.

'Connect - An Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality' is aimed at helping those taking part to "develop your spirituality and figure things out for yourself".

"Want to learn about meditation and contemplative practices and see how they can help you find space, peace, and purpose in a busy life?" it asks.

Connect will run for five Sundays evenings, starting at 7.30pm on February 21, and will be facilitated by Suzanne Hesketh and Justine Sweeney. Both are Ignatian spiritual directors.

Monday mornings during Lent will see Marian Curran lead 'A Lenten Prayer Journey in Ignatian Spirituality' for the Larne-based retreat and conference centre.

"You are not alone," says Marian, a senior religious studies lecturer and experienced spiritual director.

"We will travel together with the Lord through the days and weeks of Lent on to Holy Week and the joy and hope of the resurrection.

"Let us make this Lenten period a place of stillness where we leave behind what has come before and prepare to enter fully into what comes next."

The first session is on Monday February 22 from 11am to 12.30pm.

Also next week is the Drumalis Day of Prayer for Lent, which runs from 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday February 27.

It will be hosted on Zoom and led by Sr Magdalen Lawler SND and Fr Tom McGuinness SJ.

They will reflect on 'Living Water and Living Light - Gospel Mysteries for Lent' with scripture, art, music and poetry.

Sr Magdalen, a Sister of Notre Dame, has a special interest in women's spirituality and in the relationship between spirituality and the visual arts.

Fr Tom is a facilitator of the international Jesuit final formation programme in Dublin.

The Sisters of the Cross and Passion at Drumalis are marking the bicentenary of the birth of Elizabeth Prout, who founded the congregation
The Sisters of the Cross and Passion at Drumalis are marking the bicentenary of the birth of Elizabeth Prout, who founded the congregation The Sisters of the Cross and Passion at Drumalis are marking the bicentenary of the birth of Elizabeth Prout, who founded the congregation

Meanwhile, Drumalis will next month host two further lectures in its series marking the bicentenary of the Elizabeth Prout, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.

Abbot Christopher Jamison OSB will lead a 'mini retreat' on March 4, from 7pm, as he considers 'Perseverance: Love and Prayer in a Time of Pandemic'.

Sr John Chittister, the best-selling US author, speaker and Benedictine sister, will talk on Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis's latest encyclical, on March 25.

For more information and Zoom joining details for the Lent events and Elizabeth Prout lectures, contact Drumalis by emailing, telephoning 028 2827 2196 or 028 2827 6455, or visiting here.