Reducing stress is aim of special week

CultureNL Libraries will be hosting a range of activities as part of their health and wellbeing week early next month.

The week’s activities aim to encourage people to relax and de-stress.

It’s the fifth year that the annual event has been held and activities will include mood-boosting book groups, gentle movement classes, and legal advice for the over-50s.

Partners involved in the event, which runs from Monday, February 3, to Saturday, February 8, include NHS Lanarkshire, Macmillan Lanarkshire, Solicitors for Older People education adviser for the Diocese of Motherwell and a lecturer in moral theology at Scotus College in Glasgow, as well as serving for a year as Vicar Episcopal for religious education.

Father Maguinness then moved on to become parish priest at St Edward’s for three years until 2012; since then, he has been the parish priest at St Ignatius in Wishaw, where he had previously spent three years as an assistant from 1996.

He said: “I look forward to serving the Catholic Church in Scotland as general secretary to the Bishops.

“I am grat e f u l to Monsignor Michael Conway and my parishioners from St Ignatius of Loyola parish in Wishaw for their support and prayers for this new challenge.”

Originally from East Kilbride, Father Maguinness was ordained 25 years ago in his home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, and had his first parish posting as an assistant priest at St Columbkille’s in Rutherglen.

Taking up his new post on February 7, he will be succeeding Father Jim Grant, who has spent two years in the general secretary role and is moving to become parish priest at St Francis Xavier in Carfin.

Bishop of Motherwell Joe Toal said: “I am grateful to Father Grant for the time and dedication he gave to the role, and I’m pleased that the Diocese of Motherwell can continue to contribute generously to the national church by allowing Father Gerard Maguiness to serve as general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

“I am sure he will bring his many talents to that role.” and CNL Museums and Community Arts.

This year there will also be a special one-day event at Bellshill Cultural Centre offering a variety of health and wellbeing information and activities from organisations across North Lanarkshire.

It takes place on Tuesday, February 4, from 10am to 4pm.

Anyone, regardless of age and ability, can drop in and join the free activities, such as the walking book groups, or try their hand at something crafty.

Check out the full programme at www. culturenl.co.uk/lovelife

Key new role Father Maguinness celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination with family members