A SERIES of weekly Lent reflections hosted by St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh begins on Tuesday, with singer/songwriter Malachi Cush speaking on the theme of 'Giving witness to faith in the world today'.
Cush, who is studying a programme in pastoral theology, is a member of the Armagh Diocesan Synodal Core Group.
Sister Elaine Kelly will be the speaker on March 15, addressing the theme 'Only in God is my soul at rest, in Him comes my salvation'.
Sr Elaine is a Poor Clare Sister, a native of west Belfast and a guide on The St Patrick's Way, hosting walks around the life and legacy of St Patrick in Co Down. She was a barrister before becoming an Adoration Sister and lived in community in Belfast.
She says that she's now "living the dream" as a child of God in St James' Parish, Monksland, Co Louth and she lives in community at Faughart Monastery, close to the birthplace of St Brigid.
On Tuesday March 22, Dr Bob Brown will talk about 'Covid-19 - the call to look forward in a spirit of hope'.
Dr Brown lives in Armagh and retired recently after working as Chief Nurse and Director of Community and Older People's Services in the Western Health and Social Care Trust.
He's a member of St Mark's Parish in Armagh and he hopes to develop a wellbeing and spiritual support service for people connected with the Church. He is studying at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and Trinity College, Dublin.
Oisin Walsh will talk about 'Finding God in a pandemic world' on March 29.
From Trim in Co Meath, Oisin - a gifted musician - has been working in the Catholic Communications Office in Maynooth, Co Kildare for the last three years and is also assistant to the editor of Intercom, the Catholic pastoral and liturgical resource.
On April 5, Stephen Donnelly will address the theme of 'Care for oneself amidst the challenges of life'.
He has worked in the field of mental health for 30 years. A former mental health nurse, he's now employed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust as team lead for the regional trauma network and as a specialist Psychologist Trauma Therapist.
The April 12 reflection will be given by Paul Mallon on 'Grief - a process that's experienced one day at a time'.
Paul is a counsellor in private practice in Armagh City. He also works with businesses and public sector organisations and is currently the resident counsellor in Southern Regional College, Armagh.
Having previously worked in engineering, he works as an Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner. He has contributed EFT meditations to the recently launched 'Sibling Grief Club', a support group website for the bereaved.
Each Tuesday reflection begins at 7.30pm in the cathedral and can also be viewed online via the webcam at armaghparish.net/cathedral-webcam.
