A CLARE-born Capuchin priest has produced a series of on-line reflections with messages of support and hope in challenging times.

Fr Flann Lynch is a native of Quin and celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his priesthood earlier this month. A member of the Capuchin community, he spent much of his life in ministry overseas and worked with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, before returning to Ireland where he now lives at the Ards Friary in Creeslough, County Donegal. Inspired by the difficulties of the lockdown and ongoing Covid-19 crisis, Fr Lynch has most recently created a meditation for those experiencing grief.

“I’ve called it ‘Grief, A Stepping Stone’ and it’s a response to the huge amount of suffering that is in the country at this time,” Fr Lynch said. “We have had a situation where people haven’t been able to be present at the death of loved ones, or to attend funerals in some cases. People have been telling their stories on local and national radio. Many people are also dealing with grief over the loss of their job and income, and of their plans for the future. People are worried for their children who are out of school and young adults with good qualifications are seeing their opportunities limited, with no option to emigrate.”

As well as the grief produced by the coronavirus pandemic, Fr Lynch identifies past, unresolved grief as a major issue for individuals and families. “Most of us carry a certain amount of unattended grief from the past,” he said. “Men are especially likely to. When people aren’t in touch with their feelings, this grief can come out as irritability and anger, and that in turn affects relationships.” The reflection, which is around six-and-a-half minutes long guides people through the process of acknowledging grief and towards emotional healing. “It is so important to acknowledged the grief that is there and to open a window to healing and the future,” Fr Lynch noted.

Fr Lynch is the author of Entering the Heart, a book to support people in their spiritual development. He is also the founder of the ecumenical spirituality programme, Vision, which has been attended by an estimated 20,000 people in 16 years at venues globally, including in Ennis and Kilrush.

Other recently posted video meditations by Fr Lynch include ‘Peak Experience – Joy the Healer’ which encourages an appreciation of beauty and ‘All Will Be Well,’ which is available in a version for children as well as adults.

All of the meditations are available free-of-charge on Fr Lynch’s YouTube channel ‘Vision Be Inspired’.