WOLF HALL: Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall sparked a revival of interest in the history of the English Reformation, a period occupied by a particularly rich cast of characters including Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas More and John Fisher.
Dr Richard Rex, a reader in Reformation history at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge, is an expert in the Reformation and will be giving a lecture in Belfast next month on 'Wolf Hall: Saints John Fisher and Thomas More in fiction and history'.
The lecture will take place on Monday October 26 at 7pm in room OG.GO29, in the Geography Building, of Queen's University on Belfast's Elmwood Avenue. Tea and coffee will be served in the Catholic Chaplaincy beforehand.
HOLY CROSS: Were you an altar boy in Holy Cross, Ardoyne during the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s? If so, a reunion is planned for Saturday October 3 at 7pm in Holy Cross. More information from Brian McKee, email brian@seedlingsireland.com
DROMORE RE: A new primary school religious education curriculum, thought to be the first of its kind in Ireland, has been launched in the Diocese of Dromore.
Bishop of Dromore Dr John McAreavey said it represented "an important moment in the life of our Catholic schools".
"It will probably take the teachers some time to become familiar with the new programme," he said.
"However I believe that in the longer term it will be beneficial for the growth of faith for teachers, parents and indeed grandparents, all of whom have an important role in helping the children of the next generation grow into the Catholic faith."
The programme is already being used with P1 and P2 classes and it is expected that it will be fully issued over the next four years.
The curriculum was written by Anne Hession from St Patrick's College at Dublin City University.
She said that the home and parish were responsible for a child's catechesis and the school responsible for their religious education.
"The parents are the first teachers of the faith to their children," she said.
"This is what the Church always pointed out to parents when they bring their child to be baptised."
