ST BRIGID'S LECTURE: St Brigid's Parish in Belfast will be hosting its annual St Brigid's Day Lecture on Saturday February 6.
This year's speaker is Dr Edward Sri, a lay-theologian and author, as well as a much in demand Catholic speaker.
He holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome and lives, with his wife and seven children, in Colorado in the United States.
Dr Sri will give two talks which promise to be highly practical: Living Pope Francis's Joy of the Gospel and the Year of Mercy; and Vibrant faith in a secular culture - today's challenge to parents, teachers, and laity.
There will be an opportunity for questions and inter-action, and all are welcome.
:: The St Brigid's Day Lecture will take place at St Brigid's Parish Centre, 38 Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast, on Saturday February 6 from 1pm.
EXTREMIST RELIGION?: The British Academy is hosting a debate on the question 'Is true religion always extremist?' in Belfast in March.
Among the propositions up for debate are: 'Religious extremism isn't a new phenomenon, so what makes the challenges we face today different from those that have come before?'; 'Is religious extremism really on the rise, or does it just have a new look for a modern, technologically-advanced age?'; and 'Given the pressures caused by an expanding global population in an increasingly interconnected world, is a clash of faiths inevitable?'.
The speakers scheduled to take part are: Professor Richard English from the University of St Andrews; Tehmina Kazi, the director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy; John Brewer, Professor of Post Conflict Studies at Queen's University Belfast; and Innes Bowen, a BBC Radio 4 producer.
The debate will be chaired by BBC broadcaster William Crawley.
The event is free and places can be registered at www.britishacademy.ac.uk/faith.
:: 'Is true religion always extremist?' takes place at Riddell Hall, Queen's University Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast on Thursday March 3 from 6.30pm-8pm.
YOUTH FOCUS: The Church of Ireland will be holding a Day of Prayer for Young People and Youth Ministry across Ireland on Sunday February 7.
Last year's day of prayer was the first of its kind and a number of dioceses featured prayer spaces, worship services and 'prayer and pancake' parties.
At each of these events, the focus was on praying for the needs of young people and for the youth leaders and ministries that serve them.
The Church of Ireland Youth Department has developed a resource pack to help parishes, groups and individuals organise their own events.
The pack contains a selection of prayer ideas that can be used during a service, with some for praying aloud and others as a stimulus for silent prayer or a more interactive form of prayer, including writing and drawing.
Packs are available from Amy McCrea, Youth Ministry Development Officer, at amy@ciyd.org
